Maker Fairesaround the world attract over a million visitors each year.

Now shes run 12 years of Maker Faires, managing a worldwide team while carrying on several side projects.

I graduated with a degree in business, specializing in marketing and international business.

After graduation I moved to the west coast and ended up in the San Francisco Bay Area.

My first job was with Addison Wesley/Benjamin-Cummings as a college textbook sales rep.

I fell in love with tech and followed a path of software publishing and then eventually electronic publishing.

I jumped at the opportunity to get involved with the event division of the company, ZD Events.

I finally could use all that I learned about communities, real time, in an event format.

It wasnt as easy to travel, and everything just got hard.

My next event, a bit outside the developer space, was Web 2.0.

I met Dale Dougherty through my work in the developer conference world.

(Interesting fact, Web 2.0 is themillionth word in the English languageand is credited to Dale Dougherty).

The rest is history.

Take us through a recent workday.

My role is to double-check that my team has the tools that they need to do their job.

We all stay connected, which happens a lot through Facebook and Facebook Messenger.

Facebook Messenger is used as a way to cut through all of the clutter of email and text messages.

Days consist of meeting with all of my team leads:

Marketing:Are we on track?

Do we have our messaging out there?

Are ticket sales tracking?

Do we have our partners identified and informed?

Is our messaging on point and resonating with the media?

How much space do we have?

How are the utility reviews coming?

What are the obstacles and who are we missing?

Generally, are we on track?

As soon as one item is off the list, another one gets added.

I thrive on the fast-paced environment and am always in problem solving mode.

Decisions need to be made, and teams need this information to do their job.

Managing all of this is a bit art, science, intuition and some luck.

All are needed to keep the engine going and well maintained.

And I make the care and feeding of my team a priority.

I want them to be supported and in turn, to deliver exceptional results.

Its hard work, but we have fun and feel satisfied when we deliver.

What are some of the logistical issues that you have to solve at the Maker Faire?

My team have become experts in how to treat each of these groups.

The biggest challenges have been in the areas of parking, transportation, and moving people.

One logistical area that we have taken on, and continue to go above and beyond, is sustainability.

We want to check that that we are as eco-conscious as possible.

That includes recycling, reusing, and alternative transportation to the event.

We use our Maker Faire Facebook page to actively recruit and showcase our efforts here.

My favorites at Maker Faire tend to be the makers themselves.

This has been one of the most rewarding programs for makers and my team.

That said, here are a few of my favorites.

The Pancake Bot is a LEGO Pancake CNC that lets you make pancakes in any shape youd like.

It is made out of 99% LEGO and 1% ketchup bottle.

Guaranteed to capture your attention and your palate!

Samson is an Arduino-driven percussion ensemble in a suitcase controlled via Bluetooth MIDI from an iPad.

An almost irrelevant pile of sand creates the magic of the word.

Humans and time are responsible for the disintegration of the word, sometimes quick and sometimes very slow.

What apps, gadgets, or tools cant you live without?

I love waking up to see posts from friends and makers all over the world.

Without Facebook I would be lost.

Whats your workspace setup like?

I like office supplies and it shows!

And I like objects, and I tend to collect stickers and other items that makers give me.

My favorite go to pens are theVarsity Pilot Disposable Fountain Penwith purple ink andStablio pointVisco pensin all colors.

And of course notebooks!

My go-to favorite is theMaker Notebook, with gridded paper, and a back pocket.

I go through so many of these notebooks.

They tend to be decorated with stickers from people that I meet during the life of each notebook.

Whats your best shortcut or life hack?

When I need a creative pick me up, I reach for myOblique Strategiescard deck and pull one.

It takes me out of where I am, makes me smile and gets me centered.

Its the little things!

Take us through an interesting or unusual process you have in place at work.

I conduct a weekly update meeting starting 12 weeks out from each Maker Faire.

(I am a big believer in agendas, and documented outcomes from meetings.

Without an agenda, there really shouldnt be a meeting.)

Now I have a process in place using Google Docs.

Its part of an overall production website.

My core team members are the folks that make it happen.

The three of us have worked together for 20 years and are up for any challenge.

Our first big gig was Oracle World Tour in 1999 and 2000.

After that we worked on Dwell on Design and Maker Faire.

The rest is history!

How do you recharge or take a break?

I recharge by being home and hosting dinner parties and other functions with my friends.

Cooking and food are important in my life, as is hanging out with my friends.

Many, many good ideas come from these culinary sessions.

Whats your favorite side project?

Right now I am helping my friend Gerard Nebesky ofGerards Paellaopen a flagship restaurant in Santa Rosa, CA.

We take him on the road with us, and he is very much a part of the team.

What are you currently reading, or what do you recommend?

Ive just picked upConspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker and the Anatomy of Intrigueby Ryan Holiday.

Its a page turner, a guilty pleasure, and a strategic insight if you are reading carefully.

Who else would you like to see answer these questions?

Two other strong and inspirational women with mid-western roots that Ive worked with.

They dont know it but they inspire me every day.

Whats the best advice youve ever received?

Take control of your mornings.

It is great advice, and I live by it!

Whats a problem youre still trying to solve?

What do I want to be when I grow up!

There are just so many great things to do and projects to tackle.

Right now I am trying to focus locally, using all of my Maker connections.

I guess that is why I am so passionate about whatever it is that I am doing.

If you are going to do something, do it well, with everything that you have!

Answers have been lightly edited and some links have been added.

Have someone you want to see featured, or questions you think we should ask?