Contact & History

Festivals Inc./New Growth Event Solutions
320 East Sunset Way, Ste. 100
Issaquah, WA  98027

425.295.3262 - Telephone
425.295.3269 - Fax
Jodym@festivals-inc.com

Our Staff

Ex. 110 - Ashley Barnes, Senior Event Manager
Email Ashley
Ex. 114 - Heather Schantz, Office Manager
Email Heather
Ex. 117 - Cindy Stohr, Media Director
Email Cindy
Ex. 118 - Brett Gorrell, Vice President of Sponsorship & Marketing
Email Brett
Ex. 119 - Jody May, President
Email Jody
Ex. 121 - Bjorn Estlund, Director of Operations/Business Development
Email Bjorn

Company History

Festivals Inc. has been a regional leader in the event industry for almost 30 years.  The company has created, consulted and produced events around the country since its inception in 1982, experiencing incredible growth since that time.  It all began when our CFO, Alan Silverman, created and produced the Bite of Seattle™ (still the company’s flagship event) in 1982.  An estimated 75,000 people attended the first Bite and sampled culinary creations from 25 restaurants.  The Bite now attracts over 450,000 people in three days and hosts over 60 restaurants, plus entertainment stages, cooking demonstrations and many other venues. 

What started with the Bite of Seattle has branched out to over 30 events that the staff of Festivals Inc. has created, consulted and managed.  With a permanent staff of seven and a network of experienced contractors that spans the region, Festivals Inc. has had a hand in many of the major events in the Seattle area (see list below) and has played a valuable role in shaping Washington State’s festival and event landscape. 

In 2008, we began to bring our combined expertise to other events with the launch of our new company, New Growth Event Solutions. If you need assistance on any event, from a private party to a city-wide festival, call on us for everything from operational support to sponsorship to promotion. Visit New Growth Event Solutions