EJ Encalarde

President and Chief Operating Officer of Festival Productions,  Inc. - New Orleans

Eugenié Jones Encalarde serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Festival Productions,  Inc. - New Orleans, commanding the operational execution of the nation's most prestigious music  and entertainment events. As senior coordinating producer, she has delivered the New Orleans Jazz  & Heritage Festival, Essence Music Festival, Bayou & Buckeye Country Superfest, NFL Kickoff at  Jackson Square, Super Bowl Boulevard, and Presidential Inaugural Celebrations—establishing her as  a defining force in large-scale festival production. Billboard recognized her influence by naming her  a 2024 Touring Power Player. 

As Coordinating Producer for Jazz Fest, EJ operates under the mentorship of Producer/Director  Quint Davis, leading comprehensive production planning, strategic team alignment, and post-event  analysis. She drives Festival Productions' turnkey operations, directing cross-departmental initiatives,  executive coaching, and agile team deployment across the organization's high-caliber producer  network. 

A sought-after voice in festival management, EJ has addressed international audiences, including the  European Festival Summit in Germany, alongside Fest Forums and industry panels on the future of  live events. She lectures at Tulane University's Freeman School of Business, where she develops the  

next generation of entertainment leaders. A Gallup-certified strengths coach, EJ brings three  decades of mastery in project management, organizational leadership, and team architecture. 

EJ's mission: developing high-performing leaders and team builders who achieve transformation,  fulfillment, and sustained excellence.