There’s a specific kind of team I’ve been looking for. You probably already know who you are.
You put together events that are bigger than what any one person could build alone. You’ve got systems, infrastructure, colleagues with deep specialization, and the kind of logistical complexity that requires real coordination to pull off. You’ve been doing this long enough to have learned things the hard way, and you’re good enough at it now that you do it well. You’re not scrappy for the sake of it. You have resources, and you use them thoughtfully.
I’ve been producing events since 2003. Hundreds of them — retreats, conferences, destination weddings, multi-city tours, virtual summits, university programming, community gatherings. I’ve done the full stack: concept, logistics, vendor negotiation, budget management, marketing, participant experience design, day-of execution, and the long exhale after it’s over. I’ve built things from nothing and I’ve joined things mid-stream. I’ve led teams and I’ve been a team of one.
After twenty-plus years of doing this, I know I’m ready to go further than I can go alone.
Bigger events. More complex logistics. National or international reach. A team of people who each bring something I don’t have, so that together we can build something none of us could build separately. That’s what I’m looking for. Not a stepping stone. Not a side project. A place to actually land and do the best work of my career.
Here’s what I’ll bring to your team. I show up as a full contributor — I pick up tasks outside my lane when the situation calls for it, and I defer to people who know more than I do in their areas of expertise. I ask questions because I want to understand the whole picture, not just my piece of it, and I share context with others for the same reason. I’m not interested in being the smartest person in the room. I’m interested in the room producing something excellent.
I work best in environments with clear communication, real feedback, and the kind of leadership that explains the why behind decisions rather than just issuing directives. I thrive when I’m trusted to do my job and also given room to grow in it. I’m a hybrid worker — I don’t need to be in an office every day, but I’m absolutely present when presence matters.
What I’m not looking for: a sales quota, a commission structure, or a culture where relationships are primarily transactional. I love building connections and I’m genuinely good at it, but I do that best when I’m not under pressure to convert every conversation into a close.
I’m based in Seattle and rooted in the Puget Sound area. I’m interested in organizations of real substance — mid-sized or large, established enough to have resources, and values-driven enough to use them well. Industry is less important to me than culture. I’ve worked in nonprofits, universities, community organizations, and independent ventures. I’m curious about airlines, worker-owned cooperatives, and sectors I haven’t explored yet. What matters most is that the work is meaningful and the team is solid.
If you’re reading this and thinking yes, that’s us — I’d genuinely love to talk.
You can find my resume, portfolio, and contact information at zaedryn.com/hi. I’m also on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/zrook. Reach out. Let’s see if this is a fit.
photo of downtown Seattle and Mount Tahoma taken by Zed, 2022