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Awakening Events Announces Key Promotions and Strategic New Hires

GMA News Jun 4, 2025 8:11:13 AM

Awakening Events, a leading national promoter of Contemporary Christian music tours and events, is pleased to announce a series of strategic promotions and new hires as part of its continued growth and expansion within the live entertainment industry.

Shelby (Fife) Brawn and Anna Kay (Fife) Harp have been named Executive Managing Partners, further strengthening the company’s leadership team. Brawn promoted to Executive Managing Senior Partner has served in various roles across touring and finance, while Harp Executive Managing Partner brings entrepreneurial acumen and financial insight from her background as a successful business owner. These promotions galvanize the Awakening Events mission and legacy.

Chris Farnsworth has been promoted to Managing Director of Awakening Events. In this elevated role, Farnsworth will oversee day-to-day operations and provide executive leadership across the organization, supporting and extending the company’s vision in collaboration with the Founder & CEO. His strategic insight and proven leadership will continue to drive the growth and mission of Awakening Events forward.

Curtis Pinkerton, a founding team member of Awakening Events, has been elevated to Senior Director of Marketing, Routing, and Ticketing. Formerly the Director of Marketing, Pinkerton's expanded role reflects years of successful achievements as well as his longstanding commitment to the organization. This move will allow him to lead cross-functional initiatives across several key departments.

Weston Weeks, who joined the company in 2010, has been promoted to Senior Director of Finance. His steady leadership and deep institutional knowledge have been instrumental in Awakening Events’ financial stewardship and sustained success. Weeks will oversee strategic financial planning, budgeting, and long-term fiscal management as the organization continue to expand its national impact.

Natalie Ferwerda has been promoted to Director of Touring. Since joining in 2022 Natalie has played a key role in elevating our touring operations with her leadership, precision, and dedication to artist and audience experience. In her new role, she will lead the planning and execution of all tours, continuing to drive excellence across our live event experiences.

Internal Promotions Announced

As part of the company's continued growth and commitment to developing internal talent, the following team members have been promoted to new roles:

- Wendy Nelson joined in 2018 has been promoted to Ticketing Manager

- Cara Epps joined in 2019 has been promoted to Routing Manager

- Kallie Otto joined in 2025 has been promoted to Touring & Live Events Manager

- April Niemie joined in 2021 has been promoted to Marketing Manager

- Jacob Roper joined in 2021 has been promoted to Talent Buying Specialist

- Kaci Johnson joined in 2019 has been promoted to Digital Coordinator

These promotions reflect the outstanding contributions of each individual and our continued investment in leadership from within.

The company also welcomes several new team members:

- Mike Alley joins as Strategic Relationships & Expansion Manager, bringing with him a wealth of experience promoting successful Contemporary Christian events.

- Nicole Cintron joins as an Operations Specialist, bolstering the company’s day-to-day execution capabilities and data analysis.

- Josh Magnin returns to Awakening Events as Talent Buying Specialist after a tenure with key national touring organizations, where he played a key role in developing their faith-based entertainment division. Magnin originally began his promoter career with Awakening Events and we are delighted to have him back home.

- Corey Fisher comes aboard as Technology Specialist. Corey brings valuable expertise in systems management and digital infrastructure, supporting the company’s continued growth, integration and innovation.

“These promotions and new hires position us perfectly for the present and are foundational elements that will help to shape the future of Awakening Events,” said Dan Fife, Founder & CEO.

“Awakening Events is about far more than just live music and comedy. It’s about impacting the world in a positive way and producing faith-based events that provide the space for people to have their own 'awakening event.' I’m extremely proud of the team we have built at AE.”

Awakening Events has defied industry trends throughout its formation and pioneered new paths since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, achieving exponential growth while many others faced closures and layoffs. This wave of promotions and new hires demonstrates the company’s commitment to investing in top talent and advancing its mission within the Christian music and comedy industry.

For more information, visit www.AwakeningEvents.com

Awakening Events Announces Key Promotions and Strategic New Hires

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