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David Heilbrunn

President of Lifestyle Events Inc.

David Heilbrunn joined Festivals Inc., in February 1992. Over the past 17 years, he has been instrumental in event creation, production, sales, marketing, promotion, advertising, public relations, venue selection, contracts and staffing for the Coffee Fest Trade Show and many other company events.

To date he has helped produce 50 Coffee Fest Trade Shows around the country. Prior to Festivals Inc., David was one of five marketing representatives for the Tri-Cities Chinook C.B.A. franchise. As one fifth of the marketing team, he was responsible for producing more than 55 percent of all sales. Prior to that, Heilbrunn had spent seven successful years in sales and sales management with Tandy Corporation Radio Shack. His leadership produced sales gains in excess of 25 percent and increased profits more than 15 percent. He won the coveted leaders club diamond ring (Tandy’s most prestigious management award) and was ranked in the top 2 percent of 6000+ sales managers nationwide in annual percent increase of sales and profits.

Heilbrunn became the second youngest district manager in the 75-year history of Tandy Corporation. A graduate of Dale Carnegie Sales Management and Public Speaking, Tandy Corporation Sales Management, Tom Hopkins’ Champions Unlimited “How to Master the Art of Selling” and numerous professional and technical courses, David brings 25 years of success in sales, marketing and management to Lifestyle Events, Inc., where he is charged with overseeing all aspects of daily operations. His vision, dedication and entrepreneurial energy has helped brand Lifestyle Events as one of the savviest and most successful special events companies on domestic and international fronts.

Marni Heilbrunn

Vice President, Lifestyle Events, Inc.

Marni Heilbrunn joined the Festivals team in 1992 after a sales career in cosmetics. It’s a family affair for Marni who was drawn to Coffee Fest by her father, who created the company and show. Over the past 15 years Heilbrunn has been instrumental in the creation and production of Coffee Fest Trade Shows. Under her direction and management she has streamlined the registration process -- from Exhibitors to attendees pre show and on site. With some show’s attendance levels nearing 10,000 people, it’s no small feat.

A Los Angeles native, Heilbrunn has called Seattle home since 1972. When not tying together disparate details of Coffee Fest shows, she spends time hiking with her well-loved dog, Molly. Socializing with friends is high on her list of must-do after work activities, that and enjoying as much time as possible with her nieces.

Her coffee drink of choice? Double Tall Soy Latte.

Lee Anne Thibodeaux

Senior Event Coordinator

Lee Anne thought it was a temporary gig when she came to Coffee Fest to do some temp work in pre-registration. That was in 2004, and she is still here. Thibodeaux is now Senior Event Coordinator and works on attendee registration prior to and during the annual shows. She oversees all direct mailings and maintains and updates the extensive database.

Born and raised in Seattle, and many points in between, Thibodeaux and her husband have raised 4 children and have 7 grandchildren to show for it. That and a dog named Schmoopy. Outside of work, Thibodeaux likes to board an RV and hit the open road, or closer to home you will find her in her garden or engaging in miscellaneous arts and crafts, and sewing projects. She is also a member of the Red Hat Society.

Coffee drink she can’t do without? Double-Tall, Almond Latte.

Tom Tate

Operations Manager

Tom Tate picked up a seasonal job with Festivals, Inc. working at the Taste of Tacoma show in 1994. He stretched his seasonal position into a 14-year career where today he takes on all the details of running a successful Coffee Fest as Operations Manager. A carpenter for 25 years, Tate is handy with a hammer and a passel of other tools necessary when he coordinates everything from security to AV companies, water and electricity, and milk, water and ice needs for exhibitors – anything that falls under the purview of operations. He is also the go-to man for air travel and hotel arrangements and entertainment. He is also charged with gathering classroom surveys from Coffee Fest’s educational program and tabulating the input from attendees.

A Washington native, Tate headed south to California for more than two decades before returning home to the Evergreen State. He has three children and 6 grandchildren. When not working, Tate heads for the hills and sets up a tent for camping. He can also be found hiking in the Olympics or Cascades Mountains. At home, he is building things or relaxing in front of the television.

Give Tom his coffee French Press-ed -- hot, black, and sweet!

Royce Cassel

New Business Research and Development Analyst

Royce Cassel knows how to run a show. He spent four years as operations manager for Coffee Fest and sister events, Bite of Seattle and the Taste of Tacoma, before the banking industry caught his eye. In his time away from Coffee Fest, Royce worked as a technology manager at Washington Mutual as a senior level programmer where he also led the development of many cutting edge application and data warehousing efforts. Coffee Fest’s investment in technology and the convivial team-oriented approach pulled Cassel back into the Coffee Fest fold. In his new role, Cassel is charged with systems administrative duties and new business research and development analysis. A BS degree in Business MIS and a Masters of Education in Community Counseling means that Cassel can address the Coffee Fest staff’s computer problems and counsel them regarding their technical frustrations.

Kentucky-born and Nebraskan-raised, Cassel takes advantage of the mountains and waterways of the Pacific Northwest, snowboarding, surfing and windsurfing. He also gets his hands dirty indulging in his love of gardening. He and his wife Janet also tend to an obese cat named Gracie.

Coffee of choice for Cassel is espresso con pana, but the when need for caffeine supersedes, he drinks large quantities of drip coffee. Too much caffeine sends him into decaffeinated mode for a few months, but he inevitably returns to the high-octane stuff.

Tamara Smith

Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Tamara Smith came to Coffee Fest as a college intern in 1994. By the time she collected her diploma -- a BS in Communications from Washington State University -- she was offered a full time position at the company. Nearly 14 years later, Smith serves as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, filling up the shows’ rosters with exhibitors and attendees. On various hiatuses from the company, Smith spent time as a corporate recruiter, a production manager for a non-profit Seattle arts-funding organization, and dabbled in feature film production in Los Angeles.

Smith appreciates the mix of art, science and agriculture that the coffee world encompasses and enjoys working in an industry that remains on the cutting edge of practicing and promoting social responsibility.

An Eastern Washington native, Smith calls her family’s third-generation wheat and cattle farm, home. French press, Americanos and nonfat vanilla lattes are her drinks of choice and help to fuel her running hobby, which includes a marathon, half-marathons and a few triathlons thrown in for good measure. When not logging miles, Smith likes to read historical novels, cook and enjoy a good bottle of wine with friends and family.

Damion Wan

Market Manager, Asia

Damion Wan joined the Coffee Fest roster to manage the show’s entrance into the Asian market with its Hong Kong debut trade show coming up in November 2008. Reaching out to prospects in Asian and European markets, developing relationships with trade associations, overseeing advertising efforts, and selling sponsorships are part and parcel of Wan’s role as Market Manager for Coffee Fest Hong Kong.

Wan parlayed a master’s degree in International Marketing; a BA in Hotel and Business management; and a higher national diploma in hotel, catering and institutional management; into a nearly 20-year career in exhibition and conference management. His most recent post before coming to Coffee Fest was a management position with Tea and Coffee WorldCup. Wan knows his way around a trade show floor.

Married with two daughters, Wan spends his little spare time reading and traveling. Europe ranks high on his list of favorite travel destinations. Although green tea takes precedence over coffee as his beverage of choice, he does reach for the occasional cup of coffee – black.