Company Spotlight:Andy Acosta

Name:  Michael Andrew Acosta (aka-Andy)
Number of years with FILO?
Six years, seven months, and six days…but who’s counting?
First event with FILO?
The first event I ever worked was while I was still in college. The event was called Aim for the Cure which was a benefit geared toward families with children that have SMA. I can remember everything about the event including the weather, the time frame I arrived to the site (If you are on time you are late,
and if you are early you are on time, words of wisdom from my Dad) the shirt and shoes that I wore and random questions that I asked. I still receive grief from this event for asking if we ever eat lunch.  I now realize a Cliff Bar can always come in handy.
Most memorable event/moment with FILO?
The most memorable and rewarding event I have worked was the 2010 NBA Jam Fest in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The event brought fans and spectators from countries throughout the Middle East and Europe to compete in the first 3-on-3 basketball initiative in the United Arab Emirates. Hearing the appreciation
and praise that the locals had for all the preparation and planning it took to make the event a success was the ultimate reward that I took from the experience. Oh, and waking up every morning in a hotel with a Formula 1 race track around it wasn’t so bad either! 
Your favorite place to eat on the road?
When I am traveling to a new city, I have to splurge on one meal during my time there while disregarding price and calorie intake. The past three years have brought me to a place called Steuben’s in Denver, CO for a dish made famous by Guy Fieri in Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, the Lobster Roll.  Please experience and report back to me. 
One thing that you cannot go without on the road?
My beard trimmer. For anyone that knows me, they understand that this is my identity and keeping a tightly trimmed beard at all times is a must. I often feel fortunate that my job is not truly white collar. 
If you had to play a professional sport what would it be?
Hands down golf. You can play until you are a hundred, someone carries your clubs around for five hours, no matter what you do everyone claps for you after every shot, you can be any shape or size and still make it (yes I am vertically challenged), and you get the opportunity to play all over the world.
Number one thing you like to do in each city?
If I haven’t already seen the famous landmarks the city offers, I enjoy finding local eats, people watching, working out, and catching up on sleep.
What is your favorite thing to do in MN?
I am biased, but I think I live in the best area in MN.  Home for me is in “Uptown” which is a popular commercial district in southwestern Minneapolis. Everything I need is within walking distance including a lake, sushi, gym, grocery store, Thai food, shopping, and countless rooftop bars.

FILO Answers Their Most Important Call

Everyone has heard about it by now. The devastating east coast storm known as Superstorm Sandy swept through coastal New York and New Jersey during the final days of October, 2012. It was a horrific event that left hundreds of thousands of people without power and caused more than an estimated $20 billion in damages. The catastrophe was one of the worst natural disasters in recent history.

On Friday afternoon, November 2, FILO’s phone rang and Kevin Weinhandl, President of FILO Productions, received a call from a current client about an idea to help out the struggling people on the east coast. Before Kevin hung up the phone, FILO Directors Andy Acosta and Carrie Hagen began preparing for an experience they never expected to be a part of.  Kevin told Carrie and Andy to pack their bags, as they were headed out east later that day, for an unknown period of time to transport generators and other supplies to assist in the disaster.   
             
Within hours, Andy and Carrie had their bags packed and were driving the FILO truck and trailer out east. They didn’t know how long they would be there and what exactly they were going to do, but they, as well as Kevin, knew they had the responsibility to answer that clients call and were prepared to help out in any way they could.
             
Ten days later, Andy Acosta made his way back to Minnesota but not before spending countless hours, energy and assistance in the recovery process of the storm out east. In addition to the equipment and generators Andy and Carrie brought with them, they coordinated with FILO’s local transportation partner over the seven-plus days in New York, figuring out where and how they could use a generator on the clients 53’ semi-truck and trailer that had been standing idle at FILO’s warehouse in St. Paul, MN. Every day Carrie and Andy woke up, they had no idea where the day would take them, but were proud of the fact they were able to help, in some form or another.
             
FILO’s spontaneity and ability to handle any situation allowed for a quick, swift response. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people on the east coast, and the team at FILO, as well as Kevin, Andy and Carrie feel honored they could lend a hand, however so small, in the tragedy that affected millions of people. 

Let's go Bowling

On Saturday, November 17 the Highland Friendship Club hosted its sixth annual Lanes For Friendship with the Minnesota Twins Joe Mauer and other special guests at AMF Saxson Lanes in St. Paul, MN. FILO Productions, Inc. sent two managers to assist in the operations aspect of the event. The event takes place every year to help benefit a non-profit organization, the Highland Friendship Club, that was created in 2002 by two local St. Paul parents who wanted to give young adults with disabilities an opportunity to spend time with their friends and experience new, fun and entertaining activities. The organization has more than 200 young adults who actively participate in a plethora of activities like bowling. The MVP Sponsor of the event every year is granted the opportunity to bowl with at least one Highland Friendship member and MLB Superstar, Joe Mauer. The event also hosts a silent auction with sports memorabilia and other items. There are games, door prizes, refreshments and a VIP luncheon sponsored by DeGidio’s, a local Italian restaurant. FILO was responsible for setting up signage for the event, as well as coordinating and providing an audio system and speakers at the bowling alley. 2012 marks the third consecutive year FILO Productions, Inc. has worked on the event. The four hour event took place from 12pm-4pm and included other recognized names like Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, Minnesota Twins reliever Glenn Perkins, current Field Manager Rod Gardenhire, the Minnesota Golden Gophers Baseball Team and KFAN Sports Radio’s Meatsauce and H Lake. For more information on the Highland Friendship Club, please visithttp://www.highlandfriendshipclub.org.

Company Spotlight:Brian Buron

Name:  Brian Harvey Buron

Hometown:  St. Paul, MN

Years with FILO: My first event with FILO was in 2003 at the U.S. Open in New York.  It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago, but I have been working with FILO for more than ten years now!

Best event you’ve ever been a part of: My favorite event was the NBA Fan Zone in Barcelona, Spain and Milan, Italy.  We traveled to Europe for two weeks, working in front of the amazing Duomo di Milano and at the Plaza de Barcelona.  We worked with and met so many wonderful people during our time in Europe. 

Favorite place you’ve traveled to:  This last September I had the opportunity to travel south for an NBA 3X Tournament in Sao Paulo, Brazil. We worked for a week in Sao Paulo and fortunately, had the opportunity to catch a flight to Rio De Janeiro for four days after our event. We stayed at a hotel on the Copacabana Beach and spent our time between the beautiful beach and some amazing tourist attractions like Christ Redeemer and Sugar Loaf. The trip was amazing. I am very fortunate to have traveled the world like I have.

Favorite sports figure of all time: I can’t just choose one, so let’s go with Kirby Puckett and Michael Jordan.

Favorite restaurant around the world:  I am a sucker for a great surf and turf. My favorite steak and seafood restaurant is Nick and Sam’s in Dallas, Texas. Trust me, it was difficult not choosing the Nook or the Char House. 

Favorite hobby:  I love going to sporting events. While traveling the country I have been able to see games and matches in venues that I never would have imagined. I have also made it a point to buy a team hat with every new market and ballpark I travel to. My collection is getting a little crazy.

Favorite music:  I am a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen but as long as it isn’t country, techno or death metal I am probably into it.  

One thing in this world you cannot live without: My family and friends. I may be a little biased, but I have the best family in the world and the best friends anyone could ask for!

Steak or chicken:  New York Strip! Can’t beat it!

Snow or sun: Being from Minnesota, you’d think this is a no brainer but with all the time I spend working outside in the summer, it can be nice to throw some layers on and wrap up in a blanket… I don’t know. I keep going back and forth on this one, but I still have to go with the sun. The winter up here gets really cold and nothing beats a Minnesota summer.

Kings Rhythm & Rims Community Event a Success

The Sacramento Kings held the Kings Rhythm & Rims event on Sunday, October 28 as part of PROJECT ASSIST, the Kings community initiative to provide hope, inspiration and support for the Greater Sacramento region. 

FILO traveled west to manage the event operations of the event that included a full basketball court, slam dunk court, kids court, bungee run inflatables and basketball themed boardwalk games. For the second time in October, FILO was responsible for managing all operations, transportation and trucking of an NBA event.

The Sleep Train Arena hosted the event in a nearby parking lot. FILO completed the event setup in 8 hours on Saturday and managed the outdoor event for three hours before the Sacramento Kings and Sleep Train Arena hosted an open practice and a concert with country singer Phil Vassar. The Kings Rhythm & Rims event hosted close to 2,400 people.

FILO was also responsible for returning equipment to the NBA Warehouse and updating the warehouse inventory system in the process.

Sprint Center Event a Slam Dunk

FILO Productions sent staff to Kansas City, MO last month to execute a portion of the H&R Block Party, prior to an NBA Exhibition Game between the Miami HEAT and the Washington Wizards. The one day event took place Wednesday, October 24 from 4pm-7pm on Grand Blvd., in front of the Sprint Center. Thousands attended the block party sponsored by H&R Block, Sprint and Toyota.

FILO managed activations that included a basketball half-court with programming, an interactive NBA-themed truck, free photos in front of a mock Miami HEAT locker room and a quick-shot inflatable for young children. FILO also provided an emcee and music for the three-hour event. Other H&R Block Party initiatives that FILO helped promote included a Justin Bieber VIP Package, an H&R Block grand prize giveaway, local restaurant promotions and a United States Marines Corps pull-up challenge.
Other event logistics FILO handled included trucking, transportation, shipping, set-up & strike and janitorial duties for the event space.
The H&R Block Party also had special guest appearances by the Rock Chalk Dancers and Burnie, the Miami HEAT mascot.

 

FILO Helps Out a Hall of Famer

On Thursday, September 6, Paul Molitor presented the Minnesota Twins Alumni Golf Classic at the Brackett's Crossing Country Club in Lakeville, MN. FILO Productions sponsored the tenth hole on the golf course as participants were able to compete at Plinko, in an effort to win two free tickets to a future Minnesota Twins baseball game. Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, the Minnesota Twins, Friends of St. Paul Baseball and FILO worked together to create a successful golf outing that included former Twins greats Tony Oliva and Al Newman. FILO was also responsible for creating banner signage for the event and helped in the overall set up and tear down of equipment around the golf course. Unfortunately for FILO, it wasn't a great day on the links as one foursome shot +2 in the scramble tournament.

FILO Heads to Brazil

FILO traveled internationally for the second time this year as Brian Buron and Andy Acosta worked NBA 3X presented by Netshoes at Parque Villa-Lobos in San Paulo, Brazil this past month. The three day event took place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 14-16 and brought in over 36,000 people.  FILO was responsible for packing, shipping and unloading the NBA's elements for the event, as well as coordinating international shipping logistics. FILO also helped assist in the creation and management of the events programming guide throughout the three days. Tiago Splitter of the San Antonio Spurs and The Brooklyn Nets Dance Team participated in the event. Both Brian and Andy travel back from Brazil on Saturday, September 22 and will manage unloading the container and returning the equipment back into the NBA's warehouse inventory system. 

Kevin Weinhandl Becomes New Owner of FILO Productions

Kevin Weinhandl, the former Vice President of FILO Productions, Inc., became the new owner of FILO on September 1, 2012. Kevin has over twelve years of company experience – living and breathing event management since FILO’s inception in 2001. “I started as a roadie and worked hard to be where I am today. The day I officially took ownership was one of the most exciting days of my life. I could not be more thrilled with this opportunity,” said Kevin after finalizing the purchase agreement.

Kevin is looking forward to growing FILO and taking it to the next level. FILO’s level of professionalism and quality of road crews has consistently earned appreciation and respect from clients, sponsors and tour organizers. “Our clients are our number one priority. My goal is to exceed their expectations, while continuing to build wonderful relationships.”

Kevin was born and raised in the city of St. Paul. He began his FILO career working with former owner, Joe Gallagher, on the Cartoon Network’s Smash Tennis Tour, their first event together. He has since worked on tour and event management for clients including the ATP World Tour, USTA, Sprint, Pepsi Max and the NBA. “There isn’t anyone more qualified than Kevin to run FILO. He has the work ethic, loyalty, intelligence and leadership skills needed to succeed in this industry,” said Gallagher.

FILO is founded on the basis of ensuring successful execution. From big ideas to the smallest details, each event is thoroughly planned and organized. Kevin and his team aim to exceed that level of expectation. “We will continue to prove that FILO is a top-notch, flexible partner and willing to take on all challenges! FILO will always be, a company that can handle any project that comes its way.”

FILO Heads to the US Open...Again

2012 marks the tenth year in a row FILO Productions will have a representative working at the US Open Tennis Championships. Carrie Hagen will travel to Flushing Meadows, NY to assist the ATP World Tour in managing their Arthur Ashe Stadium Suite. The US Open begins on Monday, August 27 and concludes on Sunday, September 9. FILO is responsible for setting up the suite prior to the first day of the tournament, hosting the suite throughout the two week competition and organizing the tear down and shipping logistics of equipment back to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, where the ATP World Tour headquarters is located. Carrie has worked at the US Open Tennis Championships every year since 2003 and looks forward to it again this year: “We take pride in the fact that we have such a lasting relationship with a client like the ATP World Tour. It’s such a wonderful event (US Open) to be a part of, and I know personally, it is one of my favorite events of the year to work on. I couldn’t be more thrilled to get out to New York!”

RBI World Series Fan Fest 2012

FILO Productions managed the 2012 RBI World Series Fan Fest outside Target Field earlier this month.  For the second consecutive year, FILO managed the event that included interactive games, a photo opportunity, an emcee and music. Sunday, August 5 marked the twentieth anniversary of the RBI World Series program. The MLB community driven, youth initiative promotes baseball and softball in urban and underserved parts of the community. Between July 31 and August 12 eight teams in each division (Senior Boys, Junior Boys and Girls Softball) competed at local fields around the Twin Cities to earn a spot to play at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, in their perspective RBI World Series Championship(s). FILO coordinated all logistics of the Fan Fest setup and tear down, and staffed all the area activations. FILO emcee Andrew Westphal said the young Venezuelan team was the highlight of the Fan Fest: “For the second straight year, the Senior Boys Venezuelan team helped make the Fan Fest what it should be…Fun, exciting and energetic. It was a great time for everyone in attendance, and we (FILO) were thrilled to be a part of it.”   

FILO Earns 2nd Place in Twins & Pins Charity Bowling Classic

For the second time in three years FILO Productions participated in the Twins & Pins Charity Bowling Classic hosted by Denard Span of the Minnesota Twins. FILO has worked with and maintains a great relationship with Friends of St. Paul (Baseball & Hockey), two non-profit organizations dedicated to providing more baseball and hockey opportunities for the youth of St. Paul. On Thursday, July 26, FILO supported and sponsored the charity event, as well as participated. FILO bowling captain Kevin Weinhandl had the high score on the lane (223) and admitted it was an enjoyable evening: “You know…it’s all for a great cause and sometimes you forget about all the fun and exciting moments that come in the event world when you are normally behind the scenes planning them. We had a great time and will definitely work with and support Friends of St. Paul for years to come.”