STEERING COMMITTEE HOLDS FINAL MEETING AHEAD OF BALLOON FEST
The Steering Committee of the 35th Annual Centralia Balloon Fest held its final meeting of the year Tuesday evening in the conference room of the Centralia Chamber of Commerce.
Led by Balloon Fest chair, Rob Jackson, along with 1st chair, Galen Mahle, and 2nd vice chair, Kayla Lambert; the meeting featured the final reports from each sub-committee and discussions on park protocol from chamber director, Marcus Holland.
As of Tuesday’s meeting, a reported 22 food vendors, 110 craft vendors, and 40 balloon pilots were confirmed for Balloon Fest weekend.
Each committee member was gifted with a Balloon Fest swag bag, courtesy of the chamber of commerce, for their dedicated volunteer service.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done so far and everything you’re going to do,” Mahle told the committee near the meeting’s close. “It’s great to have meetings, but all of the hard work is really with you, and we know you are going to make [the event] great.”
$5 wristbands for weekend access to the Balloon Fest are currently available online at www.centraliachamber.com and can be purchased in-person at several chamber member banks and retails in the community.
The members of the 2024 Balloon Fest Steering Committee are:
Executive Committee
Rob Jackson, Chair
Galen Mahle, 1st Vice Chair
Kala Lambert, 2nd Vice Chair
Car Show – Sponsored by Weaver Tree Service
Jamie Arenz
Michele Kirchner
Chamber Store/Merchandise
Tim Davis
Children’s Games – Sponsored by Industrial Mechanical Contractors
Gretchen Douglas
Ellie McClelland
Children’s Cardboard Boat Races – Sponsored by Salem Travel
Ethan Hawkins
Gregory Jones
Craft Fair
Pam Logullo
David Knipping
Megan Chillson
Terri Dobbs
Entertainment – Sponsored by Bayer Crop Science and Tequila Mexican Restaurant
Neil Miller
Israel Fontanez
First Aid – Sponsored by SSM Health St. Mary’s
Susan Robbins
Tammy Donoho
Food/Ice
Ashley Campbell
Josh Day
Becca Deomes
Cary Day
Financial
Elizabeth Boozer
Misty Meyer
Grounds/Maintenance
Greg Schwartz
Brandon Beaver
Doug Lambert
Dana Lambert
Marketing
Jamie Resch
Nikki Holland
Park Announcers
Jason Cass
Kyle Blanchard
Parking
Lucas Parke
Scott McCoy
Pilot Liaisons
Brad Haege
Patty Williams
Pilot Registration
Stephanie Sachtleben
Leslie Beard
Pilot / Sponsor Breakfast and Lift Off Party
Jennifer Castellari
Karisa Neudecker
Security
Sharon Shwartz
Alan Betters
Signs / Banners
Anthony Harting
Justin Gyrkos
Shuttle Carts
Anna Lange
Mauricio Flores
Site Electrician – Sponsored by EFI Solutions
James Hill
Site Superintendent – Centralia Foundation Park
David Sachtleben
Tethered Balloon Rides – Sponsored by Tim Hudspeth Marion County State’s Attorney
Louie Kalert
Becky Castellari
Traffic and Transportation
JJ DeMattei
Volunteers
Tracy Francois
Laci Koester
Hannah Hotze
Lilly Francois
Chamber of Commerce
Marcus Holland, Executive Director
Matthew Packman, Assistant Director
Jamie Resch, Marketing Coordinator
Rylie Clegg, Intern
Cooper Dodson, Intern
Sasha Githens, Intern
Meredith May, Intern
Allison Trumbo, Intern
