Humboldt Pride

Festival & Community Engagements

2009-2016

Eureka, California

Production Management: Orchestrated the annual Humboldt Pride Festival, a comprehensive September event featuring a parade route transitioning into a large-scale festival with two entertainment stages (Live Performance and DJ).

Logistics & Operations: Managed site layout and operations for 80+ vendors, multiple food trucks, and a dedicated children’s area with interactive crafts and bounce houses.

Community Engagement: Coordinated a month-long series of lead-up events, including fundraisers, community picnics, a dedicated Pride baseball game, and an official After Party.

Government Relations: Successfully secured official proclamations recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride Month from two separate municipalities and the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors.

Talent & Stakeholder Management: Booked and managed a diverse lineup of local and touring artists while collaborating with local businesses to coordinate window display campaigns, fostering county-wide visual support.

As the Lead Logistics Coordinator, I was responsible for transforming a public space into a fully functional festival ground and parade route. This required precise timing and complex spatial planning.

Site Design & Mapping: Designed the layout for a multi-zone festival ground, integrating 80+ vendor booths, a "Food Truck Alley," and a dedicated Kids Zone with bounce houses and craft stations.

Dual-Stage Management: Coordinated the technical setup and run-of-show for two simultaneous stages (Live Performance & DJ), ensuring sound bleed was minimized and schedules adhered to strict timelines.

Parade Operations: Managed the parade route logistics, coordinating street closures with the city, staging parade entries, and ensuring a seamless transition of crowds from the parade finish line directly into the festival entrance.

Municipal Compliance: Acted as the primary liaison for city and county permits, securing necessary approvals, road closures, and official proclamations.

A non-profit festival runs on the energy of its volunteers. Managing a team of 80 people required a structured system of recruitment, training, and deployment to ensure every shift was covered without burning out the crew.

Recruitment & Placement: Spearheaded the recruitment drive, interviewing and assigning volunteers to roles that matched their strengths—from security support and stagehands to sanitation and information booths.

Shift Management: Created and managed complex rosters to ensure full coverage during the high-stress "load-in," the active festival hours, and the critical "load-out" phase.

Training & Safety: Conducted briefings to ensure all volunteers were trained in festival protocols, safety procedures, and conflict de-escalation, ensuring a safe environment for attendees.

Team Morale: Oversaw volunteer hospitality (hydration, meals, and breaks), recognizing that a happy volunteer team is the face of a successful festival.

As the Parade Coordinator, I acted as the "Grand Marshal" of logistics, ensuring the parade was not just a march, but a structured performance that moved safely through public streets.

Staging & Dispatch: Managed the chaotic staging area, organizing floats, marching bands, and walking groups into a pre-set order of march to ensure a dynamic visual flow for spectators.

Route Safety & Pacing: Served as the lead on the ground, controlling the pace of the parade to prevent gaps or bottlenecks. I coordinated directly with police escorts and volunteer course marshals to ensure pedestrian safety at intersections.

Transition Management: Successfully managed the critical "end-of-route" transition, guiding parade entries directly into the festival grounds to convert parade watchers into festival attendees instantly.

VIP & Dignitary Handling: Coordinated the placement and transportation of high-profile participants, including city officials and Grand Marshals, ensuring they were properly announced and visible.

Managing over 80 vendors required a balance of administrative organization and on-site diplomacy. I served as the single point of contact for all merchants, non-profits, and food service providers.

Curation & Placement: Curated a diverse mix of 80+ vendors to ensure a balance of merchandise, resources, and art. I strategically mapped vendor locations to maximize foot traffic flow and prevent "dead zones" in the festival layout.

Food Truck Logistics: Managed a dedicated "Food Court" area, coordinating specific technical needs for food trucks (power requirements, grey water disposal, and health department compliance).

Revenue & Compliance: Oversaw the application process, collecting booth fees and verifying that all vendors held current insurance and necessary permits to operate within city limits.

Load-In/Load-Out Operations: Orchestrated a tight schedule for vehicle access during setup and teardown, preventing gridlock and ensuring all 80 vendors were set up and open for business by the festival start time.