Herb Melleney has a very unique connection with
the IFEA because for many years he was the IFEA! As one of the founding members of what was then
called the “International Festivals Association” (IFA), Herb provided
executive leadership for more than 26 years, then served as the association’s
first full-time Executive Director from 1984 to 1988. On top of that,
Herb has made a tremendous contribution to the event industry. In his 22-years as Executive Director
of the St. Petersburg Festival of States, Herb led the organization to national
fame through the Champions on Parade Field Show, featuring top out-of-state
bands in field competition. In 1969, he initiated the Festival’s
Illuminated Night Parade and in 1971 created the National Flag Pageant, a
history of the United States depicted through music and presentation of the
various American flag changes. For a number of years, the National Flag
Pageant was taken on the road to other festivals around the country.
Herb’s creativity resulted in several
other festival events that have been widely replicated throughout the nation.
The Clown Alley program, teaching youngsters the art of being a clown, was
started in 1978, along with a marathon race. The Second Time Arounders
Marching Band was begun in 1983 for people of all ages who previously played
and/or marched in a high school band. It has now grown to over 500 members,
and is known as the “Official Festival of States Marching Band.” Herb’s approach to the annual coronation
of the Festival of States Sungoddess was also unique and dramatic. In
a pageant not typically associated with royalty coronations, Herb marched
a full high school marching band through the coronation auditorium, creating
a spectacularly dramatic event climax. Herb’s legacy in the festival business
is probably most appropriately focused on his dedication to high school music
education programs. Through the field, marching, jazz and stage band
competitions he created, thousands of music students were able to enjoy recognition
of their excellence and achievements. To this day, Herb is remembered
by now grown-up band students who will never forget their participation in
the Festival of States competitions. “I have known Herb Melleney since 1969,”
said Ray Gove, retired band director of the Long Prairie Marching Ambassadors
from Long Prairie, Minnesota. “The Long Prairie High School Band,
which I directed at that time, was invited to the 1970 Festival of States
in St. Petersburg, Florida and Herb Melleney was the Executive Director.
That festival and the opportunity to meet Herb was the greatest boost to my
career as a band director that I can ever recall. Not only did we participate
in the 1970 festival, but we returned to the Festival of States five more
times in my 36 years as the Long Prairie High School band director.
Why? Because of Herb Melleney. Herb was a dedicated festival director,
but he was really special to the bands and the kids that participated in his
festival. He was not your usual festival director, where
once a band was invited you were on your own. Herb was in contact with
us before, during and after the festival. He is the only executive director
that I know who personally traveled to the towns after the festival to present
the winning band their awards. He came to our town in central Minnesota
at least four times to share our excitement with the school and community
who we represented at the Festival of States. To Herb, the bands and
the kids were the “stars of the show” in St. Petersburg.
I learned more from Herb and the band directors that Herb put me in contact
with, than any other source. Herb Melleney was a band director’s
friend, a band director’s mentor, and one heck of a festival director
at the same time. I could give you a list of band directors as long
as my arm that would agree with me.” During his career as a festival director, Herb
was often called upon to lead seminars and workshops on various areas of festival
management during the IFA conference. He was also kept busy with requests
for his expertise from other developing festivals and events. Herb was
very generous with his time and talents, and welcomed calls from IFA members
requesting advice and direction. He was instrumental in assisting many
small festivals in their start-up and growth periods. In 1984, following the sudden death of volunteer
IFA Executive Director, Ken Walstad, Herb was asked by the IFA board to take
over the reins of the Association. He agreed, and for a minimal salary
of $15,000 a year and a budget for two part-time staffers, he moved the headquarters
for IFA to St. Petersburg, Florida. While modestly admitting that he
“furnished the office out of his own pocket”, he made a great
personal contribution of his time and talents to take IFA to the next level
of growth. He was extremely successful in increasing membership to over
300 members, and dedicated a great deal of time and effort to supporting the
growth of small festivals throughout the nation. In addition to his IFA leadership, Herb served
on the boards of several Florida festivals associations during his career,
sharing his knowledge and expertise in the area of festival management. As a footnote to Herb’s induction to this
year’s IFEA Hall of Fame, 2008 marks the first time that the 550 member
Awesome, Original Greater St. Petersburg Second Time Arounders Marching Band
will appear in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you ask Herb to reflect back on his festival
and event career, it is the organization of musicians, young and old, into
“One More Time” marching bands, that live in his fondest memories!
Having been adopted by over a dozen top festivals worldwide, Herb’s
all volunteer marching band concept has created a lasting legacy for thousands
of performers and hundreds of thousands of festival-goers for years to come! Kay Wolf began her career, like most Hall of
Fame inductees, by getting involved where there was a need to make their little
corner of the world just a little better…to celebrate culture, to bring
together friends, family and neighbors and bond as a community through celebration.
Kay began her community involvement career in
the Aransas Pass Chamber of Commerce in 1979. As a staff director and
eventually Chamber CEO, she produced a very successful event, Shrimporee,
in that small coastal town in Texas. Her event was recognized throughout
the state as being one of the best. She, too, was recognized for her
success at that event along with her other duties for the Chamber of Commerce.
She understood the importance of her event not only for her hometown, but
for tourism in the State of Texas and throughout the country. As a volunteer, Kay really shined as she basically single-handedly
saved the TFEA organization through various transformations. “I
served on the TFEA Board with Kay” quotes Steve Rosenauer, Executive
Director of Fiesta Oyster Bake, “and I saw first hand how her dedication
and willingness to support the festival industry became the driving force
to maintain a need for a strong association.” Kay has contributed hundreds
of hours of her time to see that TFEA was there to support all of its members
in the State of Texas. She took that support to the next level with
her involvement in IFEA through lecturing, educational seminars, being a member
of the IFEA Foundation Board and getting involved in the CFEE certification
program…a program designed to bring outstanding professional recognition
to the festivals and events industry. She currently serves as the elected
representative from the TFEA Past President’s Committee to the TFEA
Board. Kay then joined the creative and management
staff at Dixie Flag to enhance their reputation as a leader in the festivals
and events industry. She saw this as an opportunity to bring her expertise
to many events both regional and national. “I worked with her
for several years; and she helped transform our festival with the inclusion
of a Dixie Flag decorations and signage program” said Steve Rosenauer.
“She was very professional and her overall knowledge of the festival
and event industry helped the Fiesta Oyster Bake develop long range plans
for the signage, decoration and sponsor programs for the event.”
Even during her tenure with Dixie Flag, Kay continued her work with the TFEA
and IFEA as a very supportive vendor and enthusiastic sponsor. Kay truly enjoys the festivals and events industry because
it is a way to bring together diverse people to share in support of the community.
Kay has been a proven leader for many years in the festivals and events industry,
not because she wants to win awards and be recognized for personal achievements,
but because it is a great opportunity for her to contribute to the organizations
that support the celebration of communities. Chuck Blische, Executive Director, Fiesta San
Antonio Commission state, “everyone knows Kay and how she reaches out
and touches fellow event planners daily. You mention her name and people
light up. I don’t think I have met any one at the TFEA or IFEA
conferences that did not know her or had not heard of her.” He continued,
“her reputation throughout the festivals and events industry is huge.
And she deserves it. Kay approaches every challenge with vigor and zest.
She just seems to enjoy whatever she is doing that very moment. She
certainly is not afraid of challenges. Actually I believe she seeks them out!” It’s not always what Kay says, it
is the passion and energy with which she delivers the message. Kay wants to
make a difference to our industry one person at a time…and she is succeeding!
She knows how to listen to people and is never too busy to stop and answer
that pressing question. And if she doesn’t have an answer, which
is very infrequent, she knows where to get the answer and will always get
back to you. She unselfishly gives back to others whenever an opportunity
arises. Kay has touched the lives of so many.
That was eloquently expressed at our 50th IFEA Conference in San
Antonio, when all three of the Hall of Fame recipients mentioned Kay in their
acceptance speeches. She has been an inspiration, a mentor, and a friend
to all who know her. Ron founded RCS Productions
in 1982 and to this day serves as its President. RCS Productions evolved
out of Ron’s hobby as a Disc Jockey. At the time, Ron owned and operated
Atlanta Rubber Company. By day he was marketing industrial rubber products
such as conveyor belting and specialty gaskets in the Atlanta metro area and
on weekends, spinning records for weddings, corporate and special events.
Ron was also instrumental
in shaping the entertainment portion of many events at Stone Mountain Park
including Taste of the South, Spring Fest, Stone Mountain’s Memorial
Day, July 4th Celebration and the Yellow Daisy Festival among others.
In the late 1990’s
when communities around Atlanta were in the midst of downtown redevelopment,
a number of them were interested in performing art spaces. Ron consulted
with these communities on their vision and goals for these spaces, and made
sure that they incorporated best practices and industry standards in the development
of these facilities. Today, Town Center Park in Suwanee Georgia, the
Duluth Festival Center complex and the Villages Amphitheater in Ron’s
hometown of Fayetteville, Georgia, all stand as testament to Ron’s guidance
and are enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people each year. Ron’s dedication
and big heart to the Special Events shows through with his support on the
event side with his professional participation in The Alzheimer’s Association’s
Memory Walk, United Cerebral Palsy’s Fund Raiser event and the annual
March of Dimes Achievement in Radio awards show among others. Stone Mountain Park was Ron’s introduction into the festival market,
and IFEA was introduced to him shortly after. RCS was involved in the
early planning of the Georgia Festivals & Events Association (GFEA) and
Ron served on the board in the 90’s and was recently invited back for
another board term with GFEA. Always a supporter of the Festivals and Events
Industry, Ron has attended the IFEA Convention & Expo since the late 1980’s,
obtained his CFEE certification in 1999 and has been a giving supporter to
the IFEA Foundation. Ron recently spoke to
the newly formed Music Business class at the University of Georgia. Ron said
“ teaching our young adults the in’s and out’s of the music
business is a way of giving back and assuring for a positive future.”
In the revolving door
of the event industry, Ron takes the time to council and consult with the
new point of contact for each event, explains what had been done in the past
and works with them on their vision and direction. With
his easy going mannerism, country boy charm and disarming personality, Ron
brings smiles to clients, staff and entertainers while on site producing events.
In an industry known for its backstage drama and tense situations, Ron goes
out of his way to make sure this tension is not part of his client’s
experience. Many events that are still in existence today are due to
Ron’s ability to dream the big dream, and get it done. disarming personality, Ron brings smiles to
clients, staff and entertainers while on site producing events.
In an industry known for its backstage drama and tense situations, Ron goes
out of his way to make sure this tension is not part of his client’s
experience. Many events that are still in existence today are due to
Ron’s ability to dream the big dream, and get it done! Questions?
Contact: Nia Forster, Director of Marketing, at 208-433-0950
ext: *814 or email: nia@ifea.com 
HERB
MELLENEY
KAY
WOLF
