Our Team
Gary Solomon, Jr.
Co-Founder & CEO
What topic could you give a presentation on without having anything prepared?
Where to eat and drink in New Orleans. (Ask me for my Dining and Drinking Guide to New Orleans if you're coming to visit us.)
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts - Louisiana's Arts Conservatory - http://nocca.com/
This high school for pre-professional artists in New Orleans is nothing short of world-class. From dance to creative writing to culinary arts -- and of course Entertainment Production & Design -- if you've got the ambition, commitment and talent, there's a place and a course of study for you here. And there's no cost to attend. This institution has set the national standard for arts education at the high school level for 50 years and continues to change and enrich lives every day. (Oh, and I'm an alum, past chairman of The NOCCA Foundation, and current board chair of the school.)
Describe your career journey in a few words.
I modeled for Saks Fifth Avenue as a child, and they didn't ask me back after my 4-year-old season. I was crushed. So I found my way backstage, first as a lighting designer and later theatre producer. I do miss the magic of the theatre, but it wasn't the path for me. I was #madeforthis.
Steve Fink
Co-Founder & Executive Producer
Sam Aouididi
Chief Financial Officer
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
Amaana - Disability Community Resource Center helps provide resources for children with special needs in my community, including my son.
What are your hobbies/passions outside of work?
Spending time with my sons, motorcycles, cars, playing Call of Duty, getting involved in my community, and practicing my faith.
What song do you know by heart?
Lose Yourself by Eminem
Cyndi Davis
Chief Operating Officer
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
Break the cycle - scholarships and mentorship for children of incarcerated mothers.
- If you were a brand, what would your tagline be?
- Get in...there is room in success for everyone.
- What are your hobbies / passions outside of work?
- rescue cast iron skillets, explore boutique wineries all over the world, find the perfect white t-shirt, perfect my karaoke set, read everything, stand-up comedy
Craig Connor
Chief Experience Officer
Don Scott
SOLOMON HERE, VP of Themed Environments
Wendy Richard
Director of People, Culture, and Training
- What topic could you give a presentation on without having anything prepared?
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Relationship Building The Immigrant's Story Soccer
- What's the best life or career advice you've ever received?
- My precious wife constantly reminds me to take it one day at a time. One day.
- What’s your favorite project of all time and what was your role?
- I'd pick the International African American Museum due to its significance in world history and its connection to the slave trade which has consequential implications for my Haitian ancestors.
James Hebert
Solomon NEXT, Director of Experiential Technology
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
https://www.peopleforpublicart...
I love that people will donate their talent to making the city more palatable.
- When did you first realize you were Made for This role at Solomon Group?
- I realized I was made for this as soon as I started. My first project was Sazerac House and I was so proud to be a part of that. With Planet Word, I was able to be on-site when the first guests came through, and it was so rewarding to see the sense of wonder and excitement that they shared.
- If you were a brand, what would your tagline be?
- More awesome than a zeppelin of melted cheese hurtling into a city of macaroni.
Erich Fox
Design Build Project Strategist
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
This Canadian fund aims to fill the gap in community development, to "build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
- What topic could you give a presentation on without having anything prepared?
- How to ride a bicycle for 150 miles and stay upright (and sane).
- What are your hobbies / passions outside of work?
- Family-time, architectural model-making, long-distance-cycling, loud-music, cold lager, black t-shirts.
Adan Murad
Director of Sales Operations
- What's the best life or career advice you've ever received?
- You get out of an experience what you put in.
- If you could create a museum, what would it be about?
- I could go on and on about why but...Palestinian culture and history. 🇵🇸
- What's one thing your coworkers don't know about you? (yet)
- That I'm actually compiling the data my coworkers give me for their website profiles into a comprehensive matchmaking tool to connect them with their best friend and/or soulmate at this company.
Dan Dilzell
General Counsel
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
I am on the board of a non-profit that promotes awareness of mental illness and initiatives supporting those suffering from mental illness, and families affected by suicide.
- If you were a brand, what would your tagline be?
- Licensed for this....
- What song do you know by heart?
- Virtually anything by Frank Sinatra
Kevin Lee
Controller
- What topic could you give a presentation on without having anything prepared?
- UFC Fighting
- What was the FIRST concert you've ever been to and what was the BEST concert you've ever been to?
- FIRST - Deftones FAVORITE - Foo Fighters
- What are your hobbies / passions outside of work?
- Darts, Disc Golf, & Dancin'
Steven Piglia
IT Manager
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
https://www.autismspeaks.org/
We are all equal in the fact that we are all different. We are all the same because we will never be the same.
- What topic could you give a presentation on without having anything prepared?
- Anything related to the New Orleans music scene or consumer electronics.
- What was the FIRST concert you've ever been to and what was the BEST concert you've ever been to?
- FIRST: Eminem, Snoop, Dr. Dre-Up In Smoke Tour; BEST- Mystikal (intimate setting)
Matthew Ramirez
Project Coordinator
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
https://asimn.org
It's a cultural museum that has been pushing the boundaries on a small budget for years with its programs, events, and exhibitions. I was a docent here once for a year. They have evolved over the years, and still have ongoing ties to Sweden, but they continue to explore the ideas around connecting people with their pasts to our shared future, to understand one's own heritage in relation to others, and to discover their role as neighbors and global citizens.
- If you were a brand, what would your tagline be?
- Ready for it all.
- What's the best life or career advice you've ever received?
- If you are stuck with an idea, go change your scenery.
Tina Kolk
Sales & Marketing Coordinator
- What's the best life or career advice you've ever received?
- Find your beach in every day. & Always lead with love and kindness.
- What are your hobbies / passions outside of work?
- Skiing, yoga, farmers markets, my dog, exploring, anything outside in nature!
- What song do you know by heart?
- Any song by Drake.
Alexandria Green
Human Resources Coordinator
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
I love this non-profit so much! As a member of SAG-AFTRA, it provides helpful resources and education to its members and gives back to the community. This foundation has helped me greatly and I want to share this foundation with others.
- What's the best life or career advice you've ever received?
- The best life advice I've received was to be present in the moment; yesterday is gone and tomorrow isn't here yet.
- If you could create a museum, what would it be about?
- Black art/culture and the impact it has made on the world.
Fred Heckman
Project Accountant
Ishicia Russell
Accounts Payable Specialist
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
I have two non-profits that I support. The first is St. Jude because I am aware of how they do aid the family with travel and hotel expenses to be with their children when they're going through one of the most difficult times in their lives. The second is SPCA just because I am an animal lover, and everything needs a helping hand.
- If you were a brand, what would your tagline be?
- "Getting it done with ease."
- What are your hobbies / passions outside of work?
- I have a few hobbies, but currently I enjoy gardening and ceramics.
John Kolesar
Business Development Manager, Museums
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
Because if our oceans die, humanity will die. And, Dr Sylvia Earle is a true hero that every American needs to know.
- If you were a brand, what would your tagline be?
- Just Live It!
- What are your hobbies / passions outside of work?
- Downhill skiing, roller coasters, theme parks, museums, scuba diving, hiking, mountain biking, etc. (See a common them here...?)
Dana Worthington
Business Development Manager, Themed Entertainment
If you were a brand, what would your tagline be?
#funmeteronmax
What's one achievement throughout your whole career that you're most proud of?
The lasting friendships I've made throughout my 30-year career are what I'm most proud of. Being good at what you do isn't enough in our industry, you also have to have a reputation for being honest and trustworthy...and fun!
What are your hobbies/passions outside of work?
I love to travel, whether for work or play, especially when I have the opportunity to interact with locals. Laying on a random beach is not my style.
I also enjoy golf, cooking/baking and entertaining friends and family.
Alex Fish
Director of Business Development
- When did you first realize you were Made for This role at Solomon Group?
- Negotiating and booking talent for Budweiser’s #BudClub at the 2018 World Cup in Moscow, such as Diplo, Nas, Ludacris, Craig David, Armin Van Buuren, Nicky Romero, Oliver Heldens.
- What's the best life or career advice you've ever received?
- “Chance Favors the Prepared Mind”
- Describe your career journey in just a few words?
- Hollywood, Ann Tayor Corporate, Live Streaming, Music Festivals, Entertainment, Impact and Advocacy, International Development, Concert Television, Web3/Metaverse, Solomon Group!
Victoria Sumrall
Senior Producer
- What topic could you give a presentation on without having anything prepared?
- Event Production.
- What are your hobbies / passions outside of work?
- Exploring new restaurants, attending concerts I didn't produce, and riding my motorcycle.
- What song do you know by heart?
- Anything by Brandi Carlile.
Asha Robinson
Senior Producer
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
Music Cares https://www.musicares.org/ I love this organization because the mission is EVERYTHING and very much reflects who I am in the world: MusiCares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world.
- What topic could you give a presentation on without having anything prepared?
- Voiceovers
- If you were a brand, what would your tagline be?
- On Purpose
Tiffany Phouangphrachanh
Associate Producer
- If you were a brand, what would your tagline be?
- Tiffany May, Espresso Martini Connoisseur.
- What are your hobbies / passions outside of work?
- I love the outdoors and being on the water. Big sports gal. Avid fisher-woman and proud dog mom.
- Describe your career journey in just a few words?
- Former College Football Playoff Puppy Wrangler and Current SG Associate Producer: Coffee. Spreadsheets. Live Events.
Jeffrey Cusimano
Fabrication Project Manager
- What topic could you give a presentation on without having anything prepared?
- The importance of black gaff tape.
- When did you first realize you were Made for This role at Solomon Group?
- When the hands were cut at 6pm and my project lead and I installed the rest of the set until 7am.
- What's the best life or career advice you've ever received?
- The words "Mistakes" and "Experience" are synonymous.
Barry Mendelson
A/V Programmer
Alexander Levy
Audio/Visual Technician
Ana Fowler
Senior Project Manager
- What's the best life or career advice you've ever received?
- Consider everything a learning opportunity to grow. Also, "keep it simple."
- What are your hobbies / passions outside of work?
- My family, architecture/design, travel, cultural, and learning experiences.
- Describe your career journey in just a few words?
- Architecture grad, former designer, and estimator, sucker for a challenge and figuring out the impossible.
Lance Johnston
Site Fabrication Supervisor
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
Habitat for Humanity, it helps people in ways that they could never be thankful enough for.
- What song do you know by heart?
- 8Teen by Khalid.
- Describe your career journey in just a few words?
- Dirt, wood, coordination.
Fernando Reyes
Director of Fabrication
Bear Garber
Estimator
- What are your hobbies / passions outside of work?
- Long-distance motorcycle riding / Sailing / Spending time with my kids / Swimming
- If you were a brand, what would your tagline be?
- I'm not a Dreamer, I'm a Dream Maker
- What was the FIRST concert you've ever been to and what was the BEST concert you've ever been to?
- Heart, Hollywood Sportatorium (15yrs old) / Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell II (a little older).
Melissa Provost
Estimator
- When did you first realize you were Made for This role at Solomon Group?
- Recreating myself. I’ve gone from professional, to motherhood, to ex-pat, to empty nester, to professional. It’s been full circle and I’m getting better and better. #madeforthis #littlebetter #ivegotthis
- What's the best life or career advice you've ever received?
- Give graciously and receive graciously. Always LISTEN.
- If you could create a museum, what would it be about?
- Chairs. Not original, but I AM OBSESSED! They are truly the most functional pieces of art. #whereitsat
Bryan Webb
Director of Technical Design
Link a non-profit and tell us why it's your favorite to support.
Cancer sucks, I've lost to many friends and family already.
- What are your hobbies / passions outside of work?
- Sports, boating, travel
- What song do you know by heart?
- Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossom (best song ever)
Joshua James
Technical Designer
Brian Ramsarup
Welding Manager
- What topic could you give a presentation on without having anything prepared?
- How to go Vegan.
- If you were a brand, what would your tagline be?
- Just Weld It.
- What's the best life or career advice you've ever received?
- Never forget that who you are is so much greater than what you do.
Christopher Wetherell
CNC Supervisor
- What topic could you give a presentation on without having anything prepared?
- CNC Programming, Machine configurations, and the capabilities of different machine styles. Oh and... Fishing, Hiking/ Camping, First Aid/ Wilderness survival... Paintballing, Shooting, especially Shotgun Trap and Skeet.
- What's the best life or career advice you've ever received?
- Find something you love to do, and never stop trying to be better.
- What’s your favorite project of all time and what was your role?
- The International African American Museum, where I created the Touch Maps.
Alan Moyer
Carpentry Manager
Pete Stevens
Scenic Manager
Robert Carhart
Scenic Artist