Headline Deck Regional Slants 2009 HOMETOWN HERO AWARDS MIDWEST REGION Theatrical Media Services president Tim Kohlmeyer, left, and co-founder Mark Huber. Theatrical Media Services Omaha, Neb. Theatrical Media Services (TMS) likes to tell clients that there is no limit to what they can do. Their extensive resume, which includes working in everything from theatres to rodeo halls, stadiums to fairgrounds, certainly makes the case. “We just do a little of everything,” says Tim Kohlmeyer, president. “Lots of fair and festivals, but also we’re touring with Bob Dylan and Dave Matthews. We also do a lot of theatrical events, including a lot of musical productions.” Since Omaha is home to several big <strong>com</strong>panies, they do plenty of corporate events. They recently handled Mutual of Omaha’s 100th Anniversary celebration, for example. Kohlmeyer and Mark Huber founded TMS in 1983. Like so many others, they started in a garage and the early work was primarily for local bands. An early breakthrough was getting Harry Connick Jr. when his star was rising. “Every show has lead to another show,” he says of the <strong>com</strong>pany’s growth. “You make a new contact and it leads to something else. We always strive to do the best we can. Our philosophy is to do 110 percent and no one can ask for more than that. In turn, that leads to more work.” TMS has around 50 people on its payroll and works out of a 30,000 square-foot facility. They have a rental department and a sales department, both of which have recently done well, Kohlmeyer says. “And we’re doing more installation work now. That’s really taken off for us as well.” Recent highlights include working all the tents and six of the smaller stages at the Bonnaroo Festival. This is a return to the winner circle for TMS, who has received previous Parnelli nominations for their work with Dave Matthews and John Mayer. “If we’re successful, it’s because of our employees,” Kohlmeyer says. “This honor is about what they’ve done, not what me or Mark has done. Otherwise, the key is simply doing what you say you’re going to do. Keep your word.” SOUTHWEST REGION J. Robert “Bob” Harmon, president/CEO, Eggshell Lighting Company. Eggshell Lighting Company, Inc. Honolulu, Hawaii You can’t get more southwest than Hawaii!” laughs J. Robert “Bob” Harmon, “ “ president/CEO of Eggshell Lighting Company. For 35 years, Eggshell has been providing high quality lighting on the Hawaiian Islands and Guam. Lighting directors have turned to them for gear, as have event planners needing their full range of services from landscape to I-Mag stage/studio lights. Eggshell also does television, sales and repair work. “We do just about everything, including conventions, exhibits, fashion shows, concerts and more,” Harmon says. “We have many local, national and international clients who turn to us again and again.” Eggshell began in 1974 when Harmon was only 16. He was a lighting designer who started bringing equipment from the mainland to the island and began renting to others. From the beginning he turned the state’s disadvantage to an advantage for him. “Because we’re so remote, people can’t bring trucks full of their own gear here, so we grew because we were able to offer a lot of equipment, which appealed to the top named artists and clients.” Their list of clients over the years include: Tina Turner, U2, the Who, Miss America Pageant, Ray Charles, IBM, Microsoft and Oracle. Most recently they’ve worked with Gloria Estefan and Sheryl Crow. Harmon has had to deal with designers who speak different languages, which he’s embraced. “There’s a language barrier sometimes, so you especially want to be able to provide the gear that makes them <strong>com</strong>fortable.” He’s learned to be culturally sensitive too, citing the Japanese tradition of the proper way to exchange business cards as just one example. “For them, what’s on the business card is who they are at that point in their life. It makes sense to present it right side up, study it and properly acknowledge it.” Consequently, he says that he’s been able to cultivate Asian and European influences and has broadened his creative palette accordingly. “Every major LD has <strong>com</strong>e through Hawaii at some point, and I’ve gotten to work with all of the great ones,” he says. “That’s been a huge learning experience.” Eggshell typically has around eight employees, calling in as many as an addition 30 for big jobs. “I am humbled to receive this honor,” he says. “It’s validation of the <strong>com</strong>pany and the good work we do. I’m deeply honored.” NORTHWEST REGION Hollywood Lighting Services LD Tony Bove helped light Microsoft’s big bang for Bing. Hollywood Lighting Services Portland, Ore. & Seattle, Wash. Hollywood Lighting Services is returning to the winner circle once again. “We really like the Hometown Hero award because it feels right to us,” says Gavin D’Avanther, creative director. “It’s the kind of reputation we work for. We want to be that <strong>com</strong>pany that if you go to the Northwest for an event, we’re the ones you call. We take pride in being part of the <strong>com</strong>munity.” Founded in 1948, the <strong>com</strong>pany has gone through several owners over the decades. Today the president is Dwayne Thomas and the <strong>com</strong>pany boasts a 9,200 square-foot showroom and warehouse. Thomas is a musician who transitioned to lighting and has been running the <strong>com</strong>pany since 2005. “It <strong>com</strong>es down to creative design,” he says. “We believe great lighting is not just about gear, but the people behind it. I like say we have a pretty darn ingenious design staff. Not to say we’re just about big. If you’re only required to hang two PARs, hang them right. We take it all seriously.” They have a long, healthy relationship with many of the region’s clients, including Boeing, Macy’s, Nordstrom and Adidas, to name a few. D’Avanther, who has been with Hollywood since 1995, says picking the biggest project in the Seattle office is easy — it’s the one that could practically be seen from space. Microsoft wanted to launch its Bing search engine in a big way, so they mapped out the Bing logo with some 390 individual LED fixtures. “Literally the big Bing logo pointed up a beam of light at a helicopter. It was cool because not only did it allow us to use the latest LED technology, but we worked with other technology as well, including technology from the world of surveying.” High on the Portland operation’s fun meter this year was the movie premiere for Tim Burton’s Coraline. “We handled the event at the theatre and also the party that was held at a different venue,” she says. “It involved a lot of custom designed gobos of the Coraline logo.” They continue to handle all the concerts at the Spirit Mountain Casino and the Rose City Roller Derby is one of their pet projects as well. This is in addition to the Portland Trailblazers and area ballet and operas. “We are thrilled to get recognized by a Parnelli nomination for a third time,” Thomas says. “We thank our fans and great clients for their support and votes.” Editor’s Note: <strong>PLSN</strong> learned shortly before presstime that Hollywood Lighting Services and Dwayne Thomas and Gavin D’Avanther have parted ways. Since the <strong>com</strong>pany’s efforts as a whole have been recognized by <strong>PLSN</strong> readers, it will remain on the ballot as the Northwest contender for the Parnelli Hometown Hero award. 26 <strong>PLSN</strong> OCTOBER 2009
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