BLUE RIDGE EVENT PRODUCTION
Our mission is to provide superior quality planning services, event lighting, advanced audio/visual support, creative fabric décor and technical production for all types of special events. We strive to achieve the highest standards of customer service and satisfaction. We aim to be to be a valuable asset to the special events industry with more than 20 years of knowledge and experience in design, production, management and on-site maintenance/operation.
Joseph Kalkstein
President / CEO
Joe is a graduate of Ohio State University and achieved his CPA designation while working in Public Accounting. As Blue Ridge's leader, he brings over 30 years of seasoned financial and management expertise to the firm. His vision and organizational, people and client skills have served to guide the growth of the company from a smaller, local entity to a reputable regional firm with offices in both Charlottesville and Richmond. Joe enjoys meeting new clients and exploring new work opportunities, and works within a company doctrine of providing the highest quality services possible with a team of creative and knowledgeable professionals who go the extra mile to satisfy our clients.
William Randall
Vice-President / General Manager
Bill assists with the management and technical needs of A/V events. Bill brings over 20 years of audio/visual technical and management experience at various companies, venue and levels. He was most recently hired as Blue Ridge’s A/V Director in early 2010 and tasked with developing and building Blue Ridge’s A/V department into a cutting-edge force in the industry. Bill's experience also includes an extensive knowledge and expertise in the conference arena, producing and managing a variety of event types and sizes around the country. His commitment to his work at Blue Ridge has earned him a partnership in the firm.
Working with Joe Kalkstein and his professional team was an absolute joy. The entire Blue Ridge Event Production team take their role in making sure big events look great, sound pleasing, and run smoothly, very seriously. Their attention to detail and follow up on questions from clients are praise worthy.
-Elizabeth, WEDDING WIRE REVIEW
Louis Arico
Operations Manager
Louis has been with Blue Ridge since shortly after its inception, working in various capacities in event production over the last 15 years, including extensive experience in lighting, décor and audio and video with all types of events, both small and large. His diversified theatre background gives Lou an “out of the box” perspective on creativity and problem solving and has been instrumental in his growth and promotion to Operations Manager.
Richard Lesko
Director of Audio/Video
Don’t think about Richard as an A/V guy. He’s a dogged problem-solver who does A/V. For Richard, event production is about forming connections. You need to communicate with your audience, and he’s the guy who takes away the worry about whether it’s going to get done right. Richard joined Blue Ridge Event Production in 2015 after a 15 year career as a television producer, reporter, and news executive in Virginia. During that career he won awards, expanded viewership, and taught young journalists in proper writing, video production, and ethical reporting. A graduate of Washington and Lee University, Richard lives in Scottsville with his very patient wife, their two children, too many horses, and his beloved tractor.
Donald Sutton
Director of Production
Don began his career with Blue Ridge on a part-time basis in 2005 immediately following graduation from the University of Virginia. A rapid learner, Don quickly grasped the event lighting concept and fell in love with the production aspect of the field, starting his sales career in 2008. With his ongoing thirst for technical knowledge and excellent multi-tasking skills, Don was promoted to Director of Production in 2013, managing all aspects of design and production for Blue Ridge events.
Erra Grant
Operations Manager and Lead CAD Drafter
Erra has been a part of Blue Ridge since 2011. Now, as the Operations Manager and Lead CAD Drafter, Erra is responsible for overall organization of event logistics from start to finish, along with creating 2D and 3D event draft layouts. Layouts help the client visualize elements and the design team achieve their set-up goals. Erra has a degree in Communication Design, along with prior experience in directing high school theater and working arena-based touring shows. Having been in the events industry for over nine years has given Erra an extensive knowledge of different types of events.
Charlie Emmons
Hotel 24 South AV Director
A native of Furnace Mountain, Virginia, Charlie began his career in professional audio in 1993, eventually working as A1 Front-of-House Audio Engineer for thousands of events in venues all across the U.S. He’s manned the audio board for U.S. Presidents, heads-of-state, international touring artists, live radio broadcasts, and dozens of high-profile events on the National Mall in D.C. In 2007, Charlie began a near 10-year stint as the Audio/Visual Manager at the National Conference Center, managing the daily AV operations for over 250 meeting rooms and 265,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Charlie is also an accomplished musician and multi-instrumentalist. In his spare time he enjoys recording original music with his sons and nephew, as well as helping local area bands with sound and recording when available.
Michael Rowe
Boars Head Resort A/V Director
We have the pleasure of producing events for the following organizations:
Altria
American Cancer Society
Arc of the Piedmont
Boys and Girls Club of Central Virginia
Capital One
Castle Hill Cider
Charlottesville SPCA
The College of William and Mary
CFA Institute
Colon Cancer Alliance
Early Mountain Vineyards
George Mason University
Graduate Hotels
Habitat for Humanity
Hampton University
Homesteaders of America
James Madison’s Montpelier
James Madison University
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens
Library of Virginia
King Family Vineyards
March of Dimes
Norfolk State University
Northrop Grumman
Pippin Hill Farm and Winery
Poe Museum
Prevent Cancer Foundation
Ronald McDonald House
Science Museum of Virginia
Sentara- Martha Jefferson Hospital
St. Anne's-Belfield School
Sweet Briar College
United States Navy
The University of Virginia
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
Tom Tom Founders Festival
Trump Winery
United Way
UVA Children's Hospital
UVA Continuing Medical Association
The V Foundation for Cancer Research
Veritas Vineyard and Winery
The Virginia Association of Broadcasters
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association
Virginia Institute of Autism
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Virginia State University
Virginia War Memorial
Washington & Lee University
Wintergreen Resort
Woodberry Forest School
YMCA
