Curtis Ray, CVP

Experience

• 

  Translator/Interpreter

  Aug 2004 - Nov 2014

  Freelance Spanish Translator

  •Freelance Spanish translator for government, education, legal, healthcare and HR clients.

• 

  Cisneros Promotions LLC

  Apr 2005 - Oct 2009

  Co-Founder/Co-Owner

  •Started event business as a full-time college student•Events included: Concerts, Boxing Tournaments with USA Boxing, a Jaripeo (Mexican rodeo/concert), Professional Sumo Wrestling Tournament with national and world champions from the U.S. and Japan•Sold out first two boxing events with over 1,000 tickets sold at the first event and over 1,200 tickets sold at the second event•Managed event budgets ranging from $5,000 to $25,000•Negotiated contracts with talent managers, venues, sponsors, vendors, radio stations•Developed comprehensive marketing campaigns in both English and Spanish•Coordinated talent accommodations, travel, event schedules, setup, take down logistics•Directed event-day tasks including set-up, take-down, concessions, alcohol and ticket sales, and trained and supervised event staff Show less

• 

  Jim Band Music

  Jan 2010 - Oct 2010

  Promoter

  •Organized the 25th annual summer concert series, Showtime at Shute, for the City of Hillsboro•Achieved the largest attended concert night in the history of Showtime at Shute by booking a regional Mexican band for one night of the concert series – the City’s goal of increasing attendance in the Hispanic community had been unsuccessful the previous 6 years•Increased sponsorship sales by 8% over previous year•Negotiated contracts with seven bands and nine sponsors •Provided local media with concert press releases Show less

• 

  Pacific University

  Nov 2010 - Nov 2014

  Events Coordinator

  Event Management•Planned, organized and managed over 200 university events and ceremonies annually•Coordinated event needs with facilities, custodial, A/V, catering and vendors•Created event layouts and timelines for event set-up and take-down•Trained and supervised guest service staff of 10 student-workers•Designed and managed website content for performing arts series and commencement websites•ADA contact for all university eventsBox Office•University Box Office Manager at 400-seat Taylor Meade Performing Arts Center•Hired, trained and supervised 6 student ticket sellers•Season subscription sales and individual ticket sales were all done manually without a computer ticketing program•Wrote content and facilitated direct mailings to more than 1,700 performing arts series patrons•Managed all online event registrations for department/college events and conferencesOperations•Created new revenue stream and saved annual event budgets over 12% with new portable flooring•Reduced annual rental expenses 5% by purchasing new bistro tables for university events•Set university policies and procedures for students, staff and public planning events on campus Show less

• 

  VenuWorks | United Wireless Arena & Boot Hill Casino Conference Center

  Dec 2014 - Sept 2018

  Event Manager

  •Managed over 150 events annually at 5,000 seat arena and 7,000 sq. ft. conference center•Booked arena events – submit offers, negotiate deal points, and write contracts•Built relationships with promoters, agencies, tour managers, and local venue stakeholders•Researched shows, follow industry trends, and create pro-formas to evaluate shows•Successfully added 3 new genres to venue line-up: Boxing/MMA, Hispanic, Rock•Oversaw event builds in Ticketmaster to ensure accuracy for on-sale and settlement•Collaborated with F&B to develop, adjust, and update catering menu annually•Scaled events, drew layout maps, advanced shows, and assured event setups were correct•Served as liaison between clients, arena staff and vendors•Collaborated with CVB to search and submit proposals for conferences and events•Member of Dodge City Sports Commission – successfully became the host venue for the 2015 state high school basketball 1A championships – annual economic impact is over $650,000 and arena is permanent host of that championship tournament for the future•Hired, trained, scheduled, and supervised guest services staff of 40 part-time employees Show less

• 

  Mesa Amphitheatre

  Sept 2018 - Apr 2019

  Booking Manager

  •Booked more events in 8 months than the venue had done in previous 3 years combined•Had more events on sale at one time than the venue had hosted in the previous 2 years combined•Successfully booked Los Tigres del Norte for the first latin concert in the venue's 40-year history•Submit offers, negotiate deal points, write contracts, & oversee venue calendar•Handle all marketing efforts, tv/radio buys, social media, website, email blasts, sponsorship sales and partnerships•Coordinate event needs: production, stagehands, riggers, catering, runners,...etc.•Oversee ticket office•Research shows, draft financial estimates, follow industry trends, & evaluate potential shows Show less

• 

  Ralston Arena

  Apr 2019 - Apr 2021

  Director of Events

  •Manage all events at a venue complex hosting over 350 events annually - 3500-seat arena, 300-seat community ice rink, two banquet hall spaces•Venue has 2 tenants - USHL Omaha Lancers Hockey and CIF Omaha Beef Arena Football •Book concerts & events, negotiate deal points, advance shows and handle show settlements•Supervise over 45 event services staff and one event coordinator

• 

  Ford Idaho Center

  Apr 2021 - now

  •13,000 seat arena•10,500 seat amphitheater•60 acre horse park•100,000 sq ft equestrian arena•700 permanent horse stalls

  • Assistant General Manager

    Jan 2024 - now

  • Director of Events

    Apr 2021 - Jan 2024