Executive Team Home

Joel H Biggs
President/CEO

Bert D Johnson
Vice President - FAME Events

Chris Meeker
Vice President - American Musical Salute

Jeremy Biggs
CFO

Alec Nielson
Event Producer

Lori Marcum
Senior Festival Producer
 

Chad Alexander
Competition Director and
Senior Choreographer

Tom Biggs
Financial Counsel

Marcus Ellsworth
Competition Producer and
Stage Director

FAME Events
Executive Team

JOEL H. BIGGS – PRESIDENT / CEO
Joel Biggs is the President and CEO of FAME Events, The American Musical Salute, and Forte Festivals. Mr. Biggs has spent much of his life in support of music education. His companies have provided memorable performance opportunities to thousands of music students from all 50 states in locations throughout the world. He is a corporate member of MENC and has been instrumental in the success of the National Anthem Project’s Grand Finale and the formation of MENC Events. Mr. Biggs is a Lowell Mason Fellow, the Highest Honor presented by the National Association for Music Education. Joel is a graduate of Arizona State University receiving a Bachelor of Arts. After starting his business to provide performance opportunities to students in a real world setting, he returned to school to complete a Masters in Business Administration degree. His love of music and world history provides the inspiration for his business model. Joel maintains that the world’s rich history is best remembered when associated with the music that marked the time. Musical Salutes, festivals produced by Mr. Biggs’ companies continue to provide thousands of students each year the opportunity to travel and learn of other cultures, while commemorating the past and celebrating the future with music. His programs have been recognized and endorsed by numerous historic commissions, state and national governments, officials and event organizers as a principal component of their observance. His companies enjoy the reputation for providing the highest level competitive music festival and showcase experience, hosted in the world’s most distinguished venues.
He is a member of the International Festival and Events Association, the National Tour Association, The Student and Youth Travel Association, National Association for Music Education and currently sits on the board of directors for the Eastern Arizona College Foundation.

BERT D. JOHNSON – Vice President FAME Events
Prior to joining FAME Events Bert was employed in the Music Industry both as a teacher and manager of the largest music studio in Arizona. Now in his fifteenth year with FAME Events Bert has worked as Operations Manager as well as Vice President. In his current position as Senior Vice President of Festival Production he has managed the implementation and production of numerous Show Choir and Concert Choir Events including Competitions at Jazz at the Lincoln Center in New York City, The Hard Rock Live at Universal Studios Orlando, The Terrace Theater in Long Beach, the Polynesian Cultural Center in Honolulu, The Genesee Theater in Chicago land and The Show Choir Classic in Branson, Missouri. Bert is the Father of six children and serves the community as a volunteer with youth organizations. He has a Bachelors Degree in Business Information Systems and a minor in music.

CHRIS MEEKER – Vice President American Musical Salute
Christopher Meeker has been with FAME Events for thirteen years. During this time he has successfully produced the American Musical Salute to Hawaii, commemorating 50 years of Statehood, Remembering 9-11 tribute in New York City recognized by Mayor Bloomberg, The National Anthem Project in Washington DC, Salute to Ben Franklin 300 in Philadelphia, The officially endorsed music tribute commemorating the bicentennial of the life of Abraham Lincoln. He has also produced concert tours for hundreds of performing ensembles around the world. Chris is in his thirteenth year at FAME Events. He is a graduate of the University of Phoenix with a Bachelors degree in Marketing. He serves his church and community in various volunteer and leadership capacities.

JEREMY BIGGS – CFO
In his thirteenth year with FAME Events, Jeremy has held positions as a festival producer and concert tour planner. His current responsibilities include overseeing company fiscal policy with specific duties for financial planning, credit management and budgeting. He has extensive experience in maintaining professional Banking relationships and has been instrumental in ensuring that FAME Events has and will continue to remain on a solid financial footing. Additionally, Jeremy is responsible for procuring bonds and licenses necessary for compliance with state laws relating to company operations. Jeremy holds a Bachelors degree in Business.

ALEC NIELSON - Event Producer
Alec comes to FAME Events and the National Show Choir Championship Series with extensive experience in teaching music.  She is a graduate of the University of Arizona and has a degree in Journalism and she is fluent in Spanish.  Alec has been instrumental in the production of events for our qualifying Show Choir competitions in Hollywood, New York, Orlando, Chicago and in Branson.  She also recently produced the Field Show USA Event for the American Musical Salute at the White House in Washington, DC this fall.

LORI MARCUM – Senior Festival Producer
As our Senior Festival Producer, Lori is responsible for the management of festival and event logistics. She is our customer relations supervisor. Lori has a long history of festival event production and organizational management. She is the producer of FAME Branson and The National Show Choir Classic. She also produces one of FAME’s most popular events at the Hard Rock Live at Universal Orlando. Lori is responsible for the procurement of event sites, venues and participant accommodation. Lori has a love of music and is an accomplished pianist and music teacher.

CHAD ALEXANDER – Competition Director and Senior Choregropher
Chad has been with FAME for six years. He continues to work as our Festival Director. Chad directs our core events in Hollywood, Orlando, New York City, Chicago and Branson. Chad also is one of the most respected Show Choir Choreographers in the nation. He spends most of the summer and fall months on the road preparing Show Choirs for competition. Chad’s groups consistently place at the top in competitions. Chad is also in high demand and an adjudicator and clinician. Chad is a graduate of Millikin University with a degree in Theater Design and Performing Arts.

EARL HURREY - Director of Special Projects

TOM BIGGS - Financial Counsel
Tom has been working with FAME Events for 4 years and has extensive banking and financial experience.  He was in management with JP Morgan Chase for 40 years prior to joining FAME.  Tom has directed many of FAME's custom tours domestically and in Europe and has been influential in assisting in the production of many of our show choir competitions over his years of service.  As Fame's Financial Counsel, he manages the company's cash flow as well as maintains financial records to keep the company current with government and banking entities. He is fluent in Portuguese and has worked for several years in South America and in Europe.  He holds a Bachelors Degree in Business from Arizona State University and is a licensed broker.

Marcus Ellsworth – Competition Producer and Stage Director
Marcus has been with FAME events for the past nine years. He has been a recruiter, operations manager and production manager. He has had an extensive history in the performing arts including positions as Executive producer in a respected performing arts schools in the Phoenix area. He is currently the executive producer of Mesa Youth Theater. Marcus has a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts from Arizona State University.

FAME Events Memberships and Associations:
MENC: The National Association for Music Education ACDA: American Choral Directors Association NTA: The National Tour Association IFEA: International Festival and Events Association NBA: National Band Association
BBB: Accredited Business of the Better Business Association

Contact Information:
FAME Events LLC 7255 E. Hampton Ave. Ste. 127 Mesa, AZ 85209
480-654-0709

www.fameevents.com | www.showchoirs.org | www.americanmusicalsalute.com | www.remember2011.com www.fortefestivals.com | www.mencevents.org