Episode 53: Event Maven Allison Gerlach

Episode 53 of the Mavens Do It Better Podcast features Allison Gerlach, Senior Event Producer and Experiential Marketing Production Manager, and Producer of Chicago’s Halloween event, Arts in the Dark. She is also a leader in the Burning Man Community, producing many Regional events in both Illinois and Michigan.  

Allison  and Heather caught up virtually from Chicago, IL and Marina del Rey, CA.  

Listen in as  they talk about:  

  • Allison’s years of experience working as an event producer for Microsoft, Columbia College, and The City of Chicago and how the industry has changed over the years.   

  • This year's theme of ‘Chicago Theatre’ for the Arts in the Dark Parade, one of a few evening parades in the world that is exclusively artists, highlighting all the wonderful organizations in the city of Chicago. Coming to you Saturday, October 19th.  

  • What it is like to produce an experiential event and a rundown of the numerous arts and cultural organizations that are part of and have been a part of the parade for years.  

  • Her volunteer work with the Burning Man HQ space on the playa called Everywhere Pavilion that provides information about Regional Communities and events, Burners Without Borders, Black Rock Solar and how people can be involved year-round with the organization as well as her volunteer work with her regional community.  

To connect with Allison:   Instagram |  LinkedIn   

For more information and to attend: Arts in the Dark, Chicago, Illinois 

Saturday October 19, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, produced by Luma8 

State Street and Lake Street to Van Buren. 

Allison Gerlach 

Allison is a senior event producer and connector that excels at creative collaboration and executing interactive and spectacle events for 100 to 100,000 attendees. She has international experience producing conferences, meetings, live events, and trade shows for Fortune 500 clients including Microsoft and Sony. Allison is an accomplished and nimble onsite event coordinator, project manager, event host, emcee, and on-camera interviewer. Her technical skills include recruitment of artistic organizations and volunteers, leading and integrating multiple teams, video production, and talent procurement. Allison is a Kentuckian turned Chicagoan. 

Cook

Heather Cook currently serves as Principal PM Manager and Lead for Microsoft 365 Customer Advocacy Group at Microsoft. She works on a team of community program managers whose charter is engagement, evangelism, and growth by building strategy, programs, and connections for our community members with Microsoft. Heather is a former Microsoft MVP for Microsoft 365 Apps and Services. Over the past twenty years, Heather has led marketing for Global Cloud Providers and run a software business. She owns a marketing/brand/wellness consultancy, Creative Maven, where she has produced thousands of events, campaigns, and experiences in the high-tech and entertainment industries. Heather is also the host of the Mavens Do It Better Podcast, which features interviews with extraordinary everyday experts who light a spark in our world. She lives in Marina del Rey, California. She has traveled the world extensively for pleasure and by speaking about Power Platform, Office 365, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Workplace Culture, Community and Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Heather is a published playwright and graduate of the University of Washington School of Drama, Seattle, WA. All links for Heather: https://linktr.ee/heddamaven

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