Team – Colonnade

The Colonnade Team

We’re fans making events for fans.

We are a team of professionals who are committed first to listen and learn, so we can deliver creative solutions for every client. Get to know us. You’ll see.

Key Players

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The Colonnade Team

Robbie Robertson

President & CEO

“In striving for perfection, we can achieve excellence.”

As the founder of the Colonnade Group, Robbie is the driving force behind the growth and success of the company. He is known for his innovative ideas, his passion for relationships and intercollegiate athletics, and his ability to build effective management and production teams. Robbie holds a Bachelors of Science and a Bachelors of Arts from Samford University. In 2010, he was inducted to the University of Alabama School of Human Environmental Sciences Hospitality Management Hall of Fame.

rwr@colonnadegroup.com

Lori Robertson

Vip Director

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Lori Robertson

Vip Director

“Trust is where a relationship starts.”

“I do what needs to be done,” is Lori’s mantra she instinctively applies to everything she does. But, what really sets Lori apart as a veteran game day warrior and the Director of Colonnade’s VIP experiences, is her institutional knowledge of all aspects of Colonnade’s events and her effortless way of making sure even the smallest details are handled with style and grace. Her experience and success in game day hospitality boils down to one simple statement, “I like to have the answers and do the things the client needs, before they even ask!”

lori@colonnadegroup.com

Robyn Felton

Chief Operating Officer

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Robyn Felton

Chief Operating Officer

“Service means someone else is made to flourish.”

Robyn is the most organized and together person you will ever meet. After a post-graduate internship at the Sugar Bowl, the Samford University graduate hit the ground running as our Hospitality Director at Mississippi State. Since then, she has worked to grow the Elev8 business from 4 to 15 clients, and today serves as our Chief Operating Officer. Robyn sees service as much more than doing something nice for a guest — it’s allowing others to be honored, accommodated, and made to flourish. If you ever have the opportunity to accommodate her, treat Robyn to her favorite game day food: the chicken tenders at Sanford Stadium’s SkyClub.

robyn@colonnadegroup.com

Bethany Hawkins

Director, Elev8

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Bethany Hawkins

Director, Elev8

“Colonnade is a family that shares in one another’s victories.”

Bethany finds it hard to pin down her responsibilities under one job title. Sure, she’s the “Elev8 Director,” and with that comes travel across the country and interaction with each of our Elev8 schools. But, like every good teammate, Bethany does what needs to be done – from managing every aspect of game day hospitality to making sure suite holders have what they need to enjoy game day to its fullest. For all her travel, Bethany appreciates the stability of the Colonnade family: “The family we’ve created and see every day that shares in our victories on and off the field and picks us up after hard losses.”

bethany@colonnadegroup.com

Matt Reeves

Controller

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Matt Reeves

Controller

“We are all about relationships. Our success starts with our people.”

Although a man of logic and reason—managing our time and our budget like a fine-tuned clock—Matt sees people as Colonnade Group’s most important asset. “It’s the clients, vendors, and most importantly my coworkers that really make Colonnade Group special.” Matt may be too left-brained to be superstitious about game day, but you will most definitely find him pre-game tailgating before Ole Miss takes the field – and pacing, very annoyingly, for anyone who has to suffer through an intense game with him.

matt@colonnadegroup.com

Brett Shelton

Event Development & Operations

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Brett Shelton

Event Development & Operations

“To me, Colonnade means family.”

Brett started his career in event coordination in 1988 with the PGA Tour. It 1992, he worked alongside Robbie and The Colonnade Group at the original Bruno’s Memorial Classic. Since then, he’s been busy: Vice-President and General Manager of Talladega Superspeedway from 1997-2000, President of Michigan International Speedway from 2001-2006, the owner of his own trucking company starting in 2006, and now he’s right back here in Birmingham. When you meet Brett, however, you’d never guess the life he’s lived. He may be an FAA licensed pilot, but Brett’s as down to earth as they come. “My favorite game day food? Anything grilled, but especially hot dogs and hamburgers.”

brett@colonnadegroup.com

Jill Bender

Area Director, Elev8

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Jill Bender

Area Director, Elev8

“If someone asks you to go a mile, go two.”

With the Colonnade Group since 2001, Jill Bender turns the technically complex world of digital communication into a work of art. Not only does she manage the online presence of all Colonnade’s campus offices, but she also spearheads the innovative TES pilot program that provides “Technology Enhanced Service” for premium suites at Duke University. Jill’s work, however, isn’t limited to the computer; she also serves as an Area Director at the University of Alabama. Through all of this, Jill always adheres to the Second Mile Rule: If someone asks you to go a mile, you go two.

jill@colonnadegroup.com

Virginia Birdsong

Event Coordinator

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Virginia Birdsong

Event Coordinator

“Colonnade means teamwork. It’s a team I’m proud to be a part of.”

Virginia joined Colonnade Group in the fall of 2014 after graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in Hospitality Management. She is always up for a new experience and pitching in where work needs to be done. As she explains, “It has been a privilege to work with the best of the best, all able to teach me something new in their own unique way.” Virginia coordinates game day events at the University of Alabama and Samford University, and is Colonnade’s liaison for work at the SEC Baseball Tournament and the Birmingham Bowl. Many at Colonnade credit Virginia for Alabama football’s recent success since she has a lucky shaker she always brings to games at Bryant-Denny.

virginia@colonnadegroup.com

Lisa Donachie

Event Director

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Lisa Donachie

Event Director

“Colonnade means elevating every event into a one-of-a-kind fan experience.”

Lisa first joined Colonnade Group as an intern at Georgia Athletic Hospitality before moving to Birmingham in November 2014 to work in events. Since that time she has worked events with UGA, Big Ten, Big 12, Birmingham Bowl and more. Lisa knows the job is more than creating experiences, but also to share those experiences on the Colonnade Group’s social media channels. As a graduate of the University of Georgia, Lisa isn’t just a fan of the Bulldogs on the job, she’s a Bulldog through and through – just ask her English Bulldog, Sugar.

lisa@colonnadegroup.com

Gary Drummond

Assistant Warehouse Manager

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Gary Drummond

Assistant Warehouse Manager

“Dedication doesn’t have an off-season.”

By the time a Colonnade Group event is set and ready for fans, it’s easy to forget the heavy lifting that happens on the front end to make it all possible. That’s why it’s essential we have Gary on our team. With experience managing fast-paced warehouses and distribution centers for UPS, Amazon, Walmart, and Harley Davidson, Gary is perfectly suited for the detail-oriented work that comes with managing the high-volume, large-scale projects that come through Colonnade Group’s warehouse. When he’s not behind the scenes making sure our events run smoothly, you can find Gary enjoying the outdoors with his wife and two dogs, Otto and Mazzi.

gary@colonnadegroup.com

Meghan Frugé

Area Director, Elev8

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Meghan Frugé

Area Director, Elev8

“Treat everyone with the highest respect and success follows.”

Since 2006, Meghan has been helping Colonnade Group’s Elev8 team provide an unparalleled level of service to guests in premium seating. A Mississippi State Bulldog through and through, Meghan oversaw suite operations there for 9 years. In 2016 she moved to the home office and became Area Director of MSU as well as help facilitate fan events for Big Ten football and Big 12 men’s basketball. In addition to MSU, she now manages Florida, Jacksonville State and West Virginia. She holds a BA in Marketing and a Masters in Sports Administration. How has Meghan been successful? Coffee before every game day and living by the Colonnade code: “The answer is yes. Now, what’s the question?”

meghan@colonnadegroup.com

Larry Haueter

Warehouse Manager

The Colonnade Team

Larry Haueter

Warehouse Manager

“We do the work behind the event so people can enjoy the event.”

Hours and hours of hard work go on for months behind the scenes to pull off a Colonnade event. From logistics planning to permitting, from signage to storage, it takes a lot of knowhow to make our events look effortless, and that’s why warehouse management veteran Larry Haueter is our warehouse manager. For more than a decade, Larry has managed storage and warehouse inventory, most recently for a national moving company. Now, he’s joined the Colonnade team to make sure what happens behind the scenes goes according to plan. The Wisconsin native brings his passion for grilled game day bratwursts and the Green Bay Packers to our Birmingham office.

larry@colonnadegroup.com

Lizzie Hill

Area Director, Elev8

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Lizzie Hill

Area Director, Elev8

“No request is too great. We just need to determine a plan to fulfill it.”

First and foremost, Lizzie Hill is a problem solver. Since her first day at Colonnade in 2010, she has lived and breathed our core philosophy: “The answer is yes. What’s the question?” No request is too great; give Lizzie a minute to determine a plan, and she will fulfill it. Lizzie oversees multiple Elev8 client relationships in the Carolinas, and is the resident expert in opening newly constructed facilities. Her real passion, however, is quality control: if you need a dessert tested, Lizzie’s your gal.

lizzie@colonnadegroup.com

Ginny French

Area Director, Elev8

The Colonnade Team

Ginny French

Area Director, Elev8

“Colonnade equals family.”

In serving as Assistant Director of Athletic Hospitality at the University of Tennessee for 2 years and as the Director of UNC’s program for almost 6 years, Ginny learned that good service means doing more than expected. “Even if you mess up,” Ginny says, “go beyond the expectation to recover.” She brings that kind of dedication to her new position as Area Director working with several Elev8 universities. If you ask her the secret to her success, she’ll tell you it’s an ice cold Dr. Pepper before every game.

ginny@colonnadegroup.com

Josh Logan

Project Manager

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Josh Logan

Project Manager

“We are behind the scenes to give sports fans the best experience possible.”

As an Event Coordinator and Warehouse Assistant at Colonnade Group, Josh brings a valuable mix of brains and brawn to our team. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science and Wellness and close to an MBA from Jacksonville State University combined with his background as a photographer, videographer, personal trainer, and a Class B CDL driver; Josh has a rare mix of heavy lifting power and small-detail finesse that helps Colonnade craft exceptional events. As an interesting side note, ask him sometime about playing professional football in Turkey—he’s got some stories to tell for sure.

josh@colonnadegroup.com

Wes McCain

Goodwill Ambassador

The Colonnade Team

Wes McCain

Goodwill Ambassador

“A good attitude and a smile is my secret to success.”

No one at Colonnade can remember a time when Wes hasn’t been on the Colonnade team. He’s always busy moving from one job to the next and making sure everything is handled to his liking. Wes is often the first one in our office each morning helping the team get ready for the day and the last one home after making sure everything is under control at our warehouse. When a member of the Colonnade team needs some help, Wes is always there with a smile, a great attitude, and a hand to get the job done.

Jana Morrison

Area Director, Elev8

The Colonnade Team

Jana Morrison

Area Director, Elev8

“At Colonnade, you work and grow amongst friends.”

For Jana, service means making life better for others, putting a smile on their face, and doing more than is expected. She serves as Area Director at Oklahoma University and SMU. With 20 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics, she’s learned that it requires looking beyond herself, intentionally listening to needs, and adding a personal touch when she can. A former softball player and cross-country runner at Stetson University, you can bet Jana knows how to go the extra mile.

jana@colonnadegroup.com

Jane Mitchum

Event Director

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Jane Mitchum

Event Director

“Always go above and beyond to assist where you see help is needed.”

Jane stays busy. She develops and manages production budgets, she negotiates facility and vendor contracts, she designs and executes creative strategies, she is the point person for nearly every aspect of our fan events – and she makes sure members of Colonnade’s event staff are following through on their responsibilities. But Jane isn’t just about work. If you need her on game day, you’ll probably be able to find her rolling Toomer’s Corner after an Auburn victory.

jane@colonnadegroup.com

Andy Pappanastos

Business Development

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Andy Pappanastos

Business Development

“We’re in the business of serving others and surpassing expectations.”

Andy swapped his college football jersey for a sport coat to join the Colonnade team in the fall of 2018 as the Event Assistant and Business Development associate. A graduate of both the University of Alabama and the University of Mississippi, Andy’s devoted his career in sports management to pursuing excellence—same as he did on the field for both schools. As many accolades and awards as this guy’s won, he still says his favorite thing about gameday is watching friends and former teammates excel on the field. “I get a lot of joy watching them succeed,” Andy says. This team player attitude is what makes us excited to have him on ours.

andy@colonnadegroup.com

Burr Penfield

Warehouse

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Burr Penfield

Warehouse

“Service is a form of your worth.”

A member of the Colonnade team for more than a decade, Burr lives by our FiLo philosophy – he’s the first person in at install and the last one out once the project wraps. He’s our wizard behind the curtain and there’s no job too big, too complex, or too difficult for him. He’s game for anything, as long as it means he’s helping to make a fan’s day unforgettable. That’s what gives Burr the greatest satisfaction—well, that and a big hamburger hot off the grill on game day.

burr@colonnadegroup.com

Betsy Simmons

Executive Team Consultant

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Betsy Simmons

Executive Team Consultant

“Quality service means always looking for ways to improve a fan’s experience on game day.”

Betsy is a self-described “senior” staffer. That means she has the advantage of perspective—the view that, even though technology and methods change, the values and philosophies that have served Colonnade Group well are the same as they were 26 years ago. Even as her roles have changed from Event Director to Director of Production and from CEO to Consultant, she has always looked for ways to improve the fan’s experience before anyone asks.

betsy@colonnadegroup.com

Anna Slive

Marketing Consultant

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Anna Slive

Marketing Consultant

“Strive to fulfill your clients’ unexpressed wishes.”

When it comes to sports event management and game day operations, Anna has seen all sides of the business. From the nitty-gritty grind of working in Georgia Tech’s athletic department to the great big world of Arthur Andersen’s Global Marketing team, she understands the complex nuiances of sports marketing in today’s ever evolving world. Anna focuses on growing Colonnade and finding ways to engage fans in new ways, whether that’s developing new business or brainstorming unexpected ways to engage fans with the latest technology. But it’s the simple things she cherishes most – standing on the field before the game, soaking it all in, with her family by her side.

anna@colonnadegroup.com

JP Westfall

Chief Design & Fulfillment Engineer

The Colonnade Team

JP Westfall

Chief Design & Fulfillment Engineer

“Dedication and hard work is the means to achieve premium, turnkey service.”

JP provides the foundation upon which Colonnade Group’s work is built. Literally. As Project Engineer, he designs and builds the seating structures that ensure every seat is the best seat in the house. With a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University, JP is dedicated to providing premium turnkey service to every Colonnade client. On game day, he dons his lucky jersey and grabs a plate of chicken “wangs” to root on his Auburn Tigers.

jp@colonnadegroup.com

Pearce Westfall

Project Manager/Inventory Specialist

The Colonnade Team

Pearce Westfall

Project Manager/Inventory Specialist

“Always exceed expectations.”

There’s not much Pearce hasn’t done. A club manager, a stock broker, an insurance agent, and a hobby shop manager. It’s a good thing, too, because Colonnade relies on him for a diverse range of tasks: bleacher and tent construction, warehouse management, equipment maintenance, and safety training to name a few. On game day, Pearce is superstitious – his ritual begins with remembering what he did the last time his team lost so as not to repeat it.

pearce@colonnadegroup.com

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