Meet Our Staff: The Team Behind FestForums
By: Holly Owen, FestForums | October 14th, 2025
With FestForums just around the corner, we wanted to pull back the curtain and introduce you to the talented team alongside Laurie Kirby, orchestrating the festival industry's most essential gathering.
FestForums is the premier B2B conference for festival producers, organizers, and industry leaders—a place where deals are made, relationships are forged, and the future of live events takes shape. Each year in Santa Barbara, we bring together hundreds of professionals to tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the festival world, from cutting-edge technology and sustainability initiatives to safety protocols, marketing innovations, and operational excellence. Through dynamic panels, curated exhibitions, prestigious awards, and unparalleled networking opportunities, FestForums has become the annual must-attend event for anyone serious about the festival business.
But none of this happens by accident. Behind every perfectly timed panel, seamless logistics, and memorable connection is a dedicated team working year-round to make the magic happen. Here's who's making it all possible:
Meet the FestForums team:
Phoebe Choi
Speaker and Marketing Director
Phoebe is a marketing, media, and events expert who makes coordinating 100+ speakers annually look effortless. With over four years of experience orchestrating events and campaigns, she leads the conference's marketing initiatives while ensuring every detail—from speaker logistics to promotional rollouts—runs like clockwork.
Her creative portfolio reads like a highlight reel: designing marketing materials for Francis Ford Coppola's MEGALOPOLIS, including the official Cannes Film Festival poster, and serving as Marketing & Events Coordinator for the Sponsorship Marketing Association, where she helps organize the annual Sponsorship Mastery Summit for 500-600 industry professionals.
But Phoebe's impact extends beyond corporate events. As a professional photographer running her own business, she's created over 4,000 visual assets for ANACAONA Community, a nonprofit supporting the Haitian community—proving that her talents are matched only by her commitment to meaningful work.
Eddie Bernard
Events Manager
Eddie brings the kind of entertainment marketing expertise that transforms events into experiences. As FestForums' special events manager, he's the driving force behind our benefit concerts, overseeing everything from overall logistics to production details that make the conference run seamlessly.
In his current role, Eddie serves as Senior VP of Entertainment Marketing at TheSocialArchitects, a boutique agency where he crafts impactful campaigns and builds vibrant communities for top-tier brands. His specialty? The full spectrum of modern marketing—from explosive social media growth and strategic influencer campaigns to media buying and promotional strategies for major film and TV studio projects.
When he's not orchestrating conferences or brand campaigns, you'll find Eddie serving as Digital Marketing Manager for Francis Ford Coppola—because apparently, one dream job wasn't enough. His unique blend of event production mastery and cutting-edge digital marketing makes him an invaluable architect of FestForums' continued growth and innovation.
Dave Demer
Sponsorship Relations
Dave Demer brings over two decades of sponsorship expertise to FestForums, specializing in strategic partnerships between sponsors and events since 2001. Dave handles Sponsorship Sales for FestForums, giving opportunities and access to businesses who sell to events and festivals. He's been a sponsorship sales representative for events, venues, teams and influencers, and always works hard to ensure sponsors see a strong ROI. His collaborative mindset and passion for tailored engagement strategies strengthen the festival community and advance the industry forward. We're so excited to have him back at FestForums 2026, where he'll be onsite engaging and connecting sponsors and attendees throughout the conference.
Traci Collins
Conference Manager
Traci Collins brings extensive knowledge in artist and tour management to her role as Conference Manager at FestForums. Since 1994, she has worked with Little Wing as an Artist & Tour Manager, giving her unique insight into the operational challenges and opportunities facing festival professionals. As Conference Manager, Traci oversees the seamless execution of FestForums, ensuring every detail contributes to a valuable experience for attendees. Her hands-on understanding of the live events industry allows her to anticipate the needs of festival organizers and create programming that addresses real-world challenges. Traci's dedication to fostering meaningful connections and her commitment to operational excellence make her instrumental in bringing the festival community together. We're thrilled to have Traci leading the FestForums conference experience, where her expertise ensures every aspect runs smoothly.
Olivia Sorgman
Operations Manager
Olivia is a seasoned event professional with a passion for creating experiences that bring people together. She currently serves as the Festival Director for the California Avocado Festival, Summer Solstice Celebration, and Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, as well as the Show Manager for the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. Her extensive background also includes serving as Local Operations Manager for major events such as the X Games, The Throwdown Cornhole Tournament, and Skull & Roses.
Before her festival career, Olivia spent a decade with Hornblower Cruises, where she served as Director of Marketing and Entertainment and Nightlife Manager. She later became the Director of Product and Implementation for Anchor Operating System, where she collaborated with engineers to develop an event software platform that now powers ticketing for iconic destinations including the Statue of Liberty, Niagara Falls, and Alcatraz Island.
Driven by a deep love for live events, innovation, and community connection, Olivia is dedicated to creating moments of shared joy and celebration through her work.
Holly Owen
Media & Events Coordinator
Holly manages media and outreach for FestForums, overseeing the conference blog with content that highlights industry insights and conference updates. She actively seeks out new stories and innovative ways to connect with festival professionals, building strong relationships within the community. With a background in HR instructional design and management, she brings a strategic approach to communication and relationship-building. Her passion for live events drives her engagement with the festival industry, keeping the FestForums community informed and connected throughout the year.
Nicole Rocha
Marketing & Events Coordinator
Nicole is a Music Industry student at the University of Southern California, where her passion for live events has evolved from enthusiastic fandom into focused industry expertise. She is currently serving as FestForums Marketing and Events Coordinating Intern, returning for her second year at FestForums after previously working in sponsorships. Nicole brings hands-on experience in brand partnerships from her work with BeachLife Festival and has contributed to the prestigious NAMM Parnelli Awards in Anaheim. She has also worked with Incite Management, gaining valuable experience in artist relations. Nicole is mentored by USC professor Kevin Lyman, founder of the iconic Vans Warped Tour, whose guidance continues to shape her path in the festival industry.