Meet the Black & White Ball 2009 Steering Team
Ron Solomon, Dave Rosenthal, Sherry Gilbert, Paul Gilbert, Rosie Mietzel, Bruce Cosgrove
By the time the Saturday in August rolls around Auburn's Black & White Ball Steering Team will have met for 11 of the previous 12 months.
It takes a superhuman effort to make Auburn's Black & White Ball happen. Months of planning culminate with a one-night affair to remember. Meeting weekly, the Steering Team coordinates directly with the various event chairmen, discussing everything from decorations, marketing, security, entertainment, sponsors, banking, restaurants, bars, to logistics such as power requirements, temporary fencing, and restrooms! Here's a little background on each member of this powerful group, following by a listing of our incredible committee chairmen
Ron Solomon, 2009 Chair - Ron is the owner of Auburn Jewelry & Loan. Ron has chaired the Ball 3 previous times, and is a long-time member of the Steering Team and knows the event backwards & forwards, inside & out. Ron is also active in Auburn's Relay for Life for American Cancer Society, his children's sports, and can be seen daily around Auburn working hard at his store, helping install our 20' B Bunny Blackenwhite, or other interesting activities.
Dave Rosenthal, also known as That Guy at KAHI radio, has been in the Auburn community for over a decade now. He came to KAHI Radio in May of '97 and immediately jumped into the community as host of the morning drive show. Over the years he has hosted many events in the community and has always been a proponent of Auburn's Black and White Ball. Whether he has been a roving video reporter at the Ball or announcing the entrants to the VIP party, or as a member of the Black and White Golf Classic committee, the Ball has always been a source of great price and pleasure for Dave. This is his 2nd year on the Steering Committee and has served on the Marketing Committee for three years.
Paul and Sherry Gilbert are the owners of Black Forest European Auto Repair. They have been involved with Auburn's Black & White Ball since Year One, and have both served as past Event Chairs, are are perpetual members of the Steering Team. Long-time Chamber supporters, Paul and Sherry devote thousands of hours to the Auburn community through the year. Wearing multiple hats on the Ball, Paul is also in charge of Logistics and Sherry is in charge of the Sponsor VIP Party.
Rosie Mietzel is the owner of Call Me Entertainment, an event planning company and a Realtor with Lifestyle Real Estate Company. She has served for 8 years as Entertainment Chair of the Black & White Ball and has chaired the event 3 times. She brings extensive knowledge of the entertainment and event planning industry to the Team. She has worked with national headliner talent as well as regional and local groups, and brings 18 years of experience to the table. Her real estate career has flourished since 1985, and her hobbies include country music, antiquing, and hot rods with her husband Ted.
Bruce Cosgrove, Executive Director of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce - the man who makes it all happen! While letting the Steering Team bring their ideas and energy to the Ball each year, Bruce is always there to insure the Ball is a positive event for the Chamber of Commerce and the Community. During the final weeks leading up to the Ball, you will see the lights burning late into the night at the Chamber office, as he reviews timelines, confirming that everything is happening as needed for a successful Ball. And each year in August, you will see him delivering supplies, decorations, rabbits to the different venues. A great leader, we applaud Bruce and his dedication to the Black & White Ball!
The Black & White Ball Teams
It takes a lot of people to produce an event the size of Auburn's Black & White Ball. Besides the hundreds of volunteers, these great folks are the Team Leads, working hard to give everyone a wonderful evening:
Banking Monique Krafft and Linda Maeding
Bars Ron Solomon & Rob Huckins
City Support Bob Richardson
Clean-up Rodney Spangler
Decorations Samantha Chaidez
Electrical Steve Stefani
Entertainment Rosie Mietzel
General Services Jim Nordstron
Golf Tournament Ron Lichau/Dennis Arietta
Headquarters Dave Rose
Hospitality Tom Roemer
Logistics Paul Gilbert
Marketing The Steering Team
Restaurants Bill Wharton
Security Brett & Diane Sunken & National Event Services
Sponsors Michelle Strange
Stages/Production Bill Pursell
Stage Lighting Monroe DeJournette
Token Sales Jenelle Burtilson
Transportation Judy Holt
Volunteers Britney Milbury
Volunteer BBQ Casey Conway