PAM MATTHEWS
EXECUTIVE DIR., INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS ASSOCIATION, NASHVILLE, TENN.
HOMETOWN: Memphis, Tenn.
UNIVERSITY: Pepperdine, Calif.
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: Runner with Bob Kelley of Mid-South Concerts.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR CURRENT JOB: The previous ED, Tiffany Davis, left and Barry Jeffrey called me.
FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: Being in the music and concert business.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF NOT THIS: Lawyer.
MENTORS: Steve Moore and Naomi Judd.
WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD DO WHEN YOU WERE A KID: First female senator from Tennessee.
FREE TIME PURSUITS: Spend time at the pool.
WHERE WOULD YOU GO IF YOU COULD ESCAPE FOR ONE DAY: On Mars in 2050.
TOP SONG ON YOUR PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW: “Love & Hate” by Michael Kiwanuka.
MOST EMBARRASSING SONG ON YOUR PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW: “I Think I Love You” by The Partridge Family.
FAMOUS PERSON IN HISTORY YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET: Buddha.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I can literally tap dance.
BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: Bloom where you are planted.
IF YOU COULD HAVE AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE: Wisdom.
BIGGEST GUILTY PLEASURE: Jeni’s Ice Cream.
FAVORITE LIVE EVENT YOU'VE ATTENDED: Prince at the United Center in Chicago in 1997.
PREFERRED SUPER POWER: To Time Travel.
JON PETRUNAK
VP, LIVE NATION ARENAS, PHILADELPHIA
HOMETOWN: Johnstown, Pa.
UNIVERSITY: James Madison Univ., Harrisonburg, Va.
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: Box office manager, Santander Center, Reading, Pa., which was called Sovereign Center back then.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR CURRENT JOB: I was booking arenas for SMG buildings and Mike Evans brought me to Live Nation.
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB: Working in different markets across multiple venues.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN'T IN YOUR JOB: Athletic administrator.
MENTOR: Mike Evans.
FREE TIME PURSUITS: Playing golf and spending time with my twins, Charlotte and Kaden.
WHERE WOULD YOU GO IF YOU COULD ESCAPE FOR ONE DAY: A beach in the Caribbean.
TOP SONG ON YOUR PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW: “If I Ever Feel Better” by Phoenix.
MOST EMBARRASSING SONG ON YOUR PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW: “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” by Brian Hyland.
FAMOUS PERSON IN HISTORY YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET: Benjamin Franklin.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I’ve got seven siblings and played college football.
BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: There’s never a bad show, only a bad deal.
IF YOU COULD HAVE AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE: Bourbon.
FAVORITE LIVE EVENT YOU'VE ATTENDED: Eminem with Busta Rhymes during spring break in Cancun. Tom Green was the MC.
EDWARD “TEX” DIKE
GM & VP, AXIS AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD, LAS VEGAS
HOMETOWN: Okemos, Mich.
UNIVERSITY: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: Box office manager at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR CURRENT JOB: I was approached by Kurt Melien, who was a VP with Caesars Entertainment.
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB: Show nights. It never gets old.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF NOT THIS: Something in music.
MENTOR: My dad, George, who taught me ‘people skills.’
WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD DO WHEN YOU WERE A KID: Cowboy, farmer and pro football player, all at the same time.
FREE TIME PURSUITS: Playing golf, spending time with my family and listening to music.
BIGGEST PET PEEVE: Dishonesty.
ONE DAY ESCAPE: Glacier National Park in Montana.
TOP SONG ON YOUR PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW: “Heavy Dirty Soul” by Twenty One Pilots
FAMOUS PERSON IN HISTORY YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET: Beethoven.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I play the violin.
BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open.