Where it all started:

Raised in a household where music and numbers intertwined, I grew up with a music teacher father and an accountant mother, learning early on about both artistic and financial worlds. My upbringing included handling tickets and money for my father’s performances, which sparked my interest in both fields.

After high school, instead of heading straight to college, I joined a two-week bus tour along the East Coast, duct-taping stage equipment. It was there I noticed the tour accountant’s polished career and realized that accounting could be my way into the world of live events. Excited by this realization, I called my father and told him I would study accounting and return as the tour accountant. He humorously advised me to keep the touring part a secret from my mother. That moment shaped my future.

A major motivation came after a tragedy. On my 21^st birthday, I worked as a runner for a local Pittsburgh promoter at a WHO concert, interacting backstage with Peter Townshend. That unforgettable birthday gift sparked my passion for live events. The next night Dec 3^rd 1979 I joined the crew in Cincinnati for another WHO show, but a tragic stampede claimed the lives of 11 fans, leaving a lasting impact on me. Over the years, I witnessed more tragedies at festivals like Roskilde with Pearl Jam. It is still happening, in Las Vegas s mass shooting, and the Houston stampede just a few years ago. There was no way for FANS to get help to save lives and prevent injuries. Today everyone has a mobile device so there is now a way to directly communicate with event officials, event security and staff keeping them up to date while maintaining privacy, and data securely. Internal staff communications are also real-time and focused by reported incidents.



These events pushed me to innovate solutions for event safety and wellness. My experiences led to the development of  FestivalResponder and BackStageResponder mobile apps, revolutionizing how safety is managed at live events, and providing immediate emergency assistance for attendees, staff, and artists. Driven by a deep desire to increase communications to prevent future tragedies, my work continues to focus on enhancing safety and wellness in the live event industry.