Talking event finances with Portland Rose Festival USA

Written By Cristy Houghton

In this episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Jeff Curtis, the CEO of one of the largest festival organisations in the US - Portland Rose Festival, based in the City of Roses Portland Oregon USA.

With a festival budget‎ of over $3 million and attendance by over 1.2 million event attendees, I will be exploring with Jeff the topic of FINANCE and how such a large festival remains sustainable and rides out the tough patches.

In the early 2000's the committee, the volunteer non-profit Portland Rose Festival Association, created a strategic plan that challenged traditional thinking and gave the festival a new vision. The plan didn't cut the budget or program elements but raised revenue with new program elements and by investing in core elements, using the festival's strengths. It also included an aggressive strategy to increase the city government's support of the festival.

Cristy Houghton

Cristy's unique career has taken her from country NSW to the city lights of Clarendon Street South Melbourne and back again. With an early career in radio as a copywriter and creative strategist, she is now a Jill of all trades as a graphic designer, website builder, blog writer, video editor, social media manager, marketing strategist and more. 

In fact, give her any task and this chick will figure out how to do it! Go on, we dare you!

No, really, we DARE you!!

Cristy has won two Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) for Best Ad and Best Sales Promotion, and even has an 'Employee of the Year' certificate with her name on it.

Cristy and her husband James have traveled extensively through Russia, China and South East Asia, and have two fur-babies, Sooty (cat) and Panda (puppy). Cristy loves drinking coffee, meeting people to drink coffee, coffee tasting and coffee flavoured cocktails. She also enjoys road trips, TED Talks and watching cat videos on youtube.

http://www.embarketing.com.au
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