OUR TEAM
JASON WINKLER
Jason Winkler is a serial entrepreneur who got his start in concert promotions at the very young age of 19. He’s worked with major recording artists including Snoop Dogg, Big Sean, DJ AM and Travis Barker, LMFAO, Wiz Khalifa, and many more. He leveraged his knowledge of the music business and experiential marketing to help brands like Uber and Honest Tea build regional recognition in Southern California. By the time he was 24, Jason helped drive the successful launch of the tech company Liquipel, which now has products distributed in over 7,000 locations nationwide including Walmart and Sam’s Club. In one year, the company won numerous honors such as Best of Show at CES and The Edison Award.
Jason has provided his expertise in creative brand marketing and innovative strategic development to the both the companies that he has created and for those who have sought him out. He has crafted and executed successful partnerships with Pharrell Williams, WME, CAA, Nyjah Houston, Bert McCracken, Steve Aoki, and Red Bull among others. He is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of the cannabis brand Five Star Extracts, in addition to being Co-Founder and CEO of the Immersia Labs and We360 digital platforms.
Jason resides in Orange County with his wife and young daughter. He’s actively involved with several charities, including being sworn in as an Honorary Sheriff Reserve with ICAC, Internet Crimes Against Children. His work with environmental causes includes the elephant Cooperation and the Waterboys Organization.
JOHN REESE
John Reese is the founder and former owner/CEO of Synergy Global Entertainment, Inc. (SGE), producer of some of the most successful boutique curated music, comedy and lifestyle touring festivals and at one time, was one of the largest independent event production companies in the United States. Reese’s varied experiences in a music industry career spanning more than 35 years give him a unique perspective on the needs of artists, fans and venues alike.
By the age of 27, John owned VIP Event Services, the third largest peer security management company in the U.S. Clients included New Kids On The Block, U2, and many others, and the company also handled security for Pope John Paul II’s visit to America.
This security expertise led to a role as tour manager for Guns N’ Roses, first for their 1989 Los Angeles Coliseum concerts with the Rolling Stones and then the massive Use Your Illusion tours – and ultimately to a role as a partner/manager for Big FD Entertainment, representing a number of diverse artists including Guns N’ Roses, Blind Melon, Danzig, Candlebox, The Used and The Stone Roses among many others. With music producer Ross Robinson, Reese founded I AM Recordings, signing artists Slipknot, Glassjaw, Amen and The Cure, among other chart-topping bands. In 1997, Reese founded Freeze Artist Management. His management roster included numerous multi-platinum acts. He also produced the Curiosa Festival with Robert Smith of The Cure through Freeze Artist Management. Bands that he has worked with have sold in excess of 250 million albums and have played to over 200 million fans.
John Reese is well-known as a prolific festival producer, creating, owning, and/or producing/coproducing 54 entertainment festival properties, including the 2004 launch of The Rockstar Energy Drink Taste of Chaos and the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem music festivals with partner Kevin Lyman. Other successful events he’s been responsible for creating include Knotfest (Slipknot) and Ohana (Eddie Vedder). SGE’s portfolio has included Lost Lands (EDM Best Festival of 2017 and Noiseporn 2017 Festival Of The Year), The Identity Festival, Rockstar Taste of Chaos, Surf City Blitz, Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, Rockstar Uproar Festival, MUSINK, 48 Hours Festival, Rock Vegas, Desert Uprising, Knotfest, Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival, Sabroso, Scallywag, Back to the Beach, Camp Anarchy and many more.
John resides in Orange County with his wife Elenie, their daughter and several dogs, including a recent rescue puppy from the streets of Mexico. He became a grandfather for the first time in 2019 and enjoys working alongside his talented daughters Kelsey and Kylie to bring new ideas to life.
ELENIE REESE
Elenie spent 20 years in the airline industry as a commercial and corporate flight attendant, and as a broker booking flights for some of the biggest names in the music business from Rod Stewart to Korn and the entire client roster of The Firm. While flying some of the biggest bands, athletes, political activists and world leaders, along with the white house press corps, Elenie was on the front lines of some unique experiences. She was able to travel to countries such as Sarajevo just after the Bosnian conflict with U2, the first band to perform after the war, and diplomatic flights of refugees to China. Those experiences and relationships helped her develop her knowledge and drive her compassionate view of politics and social issues around the globe.
After marrying John Reese and joining his family business, she was responsible for numerous on sight-activations at more than 50 music festivals to bring awareness and funding to important causes such as military veterans, family trauma, child exploitation and the environment.
2015 marked the beginning of her obsession with conservation. The Ohana Festival launched in partnership with Live Nation and Eddie Vedder had a significant goal to bring social activism into a music festival setting. Elenie helped create and curate the Storytellers stage at Ohana, helping to showcase the good work of artists and instigators, working together to save our planet.
TIM AVILA
Tim is a leading authority in the global nutrition industry, blending 30 years of experience in discovery, validation and marketing of bioactive ingredients and consumer packaged nutrition products. He is President of Systems Bioscience, Inc., a company specializing in providing Global Fortune 500 companies with business and product development knowledge regarding dietary supplements, natural and organic foods and consumer products and services.
He also co-founded Zero Worries Foods Inc. in 2005, manufacturer and distributor of ZSWEET® brand all natural and USDA Certified Organic zero calorie tabletop sweetener. ZSweet is the innovator preparation and pioneering formulation in the blending of all-natural ingredients to replace caloric sweeteners and artificial sugar substitutes and the first to use erythritol. Related to his pioneering efforts in natural zero calorie sweeteners, Mr. Avila has successfully worked with an early-stage manufacturer to develop low-cost sugar replacement ingredients for big food and beverage.
Mr. Avila has a 23-year tenure as Senior Executive Advisor to the Newhope Network, pertaining to content and business development. Most recently, Mr. Avila has collaborated with Newhope on development of their Venture, Entrepreneur and Investor/Acquirer platforms. Tim’s list of past clients includes Cargill, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, Mars Inc and many others. Mr. Avila is an original founding member of the screening committee at Nutrition Capital Network.
As an advisor to Sambazon Inc. beginning in early 2001, Tim contributed to the development and revenue growth of one of the industry’s most respected socially responsible and B Corp. companies and lifestyle/passion brands.
Tim passionately and creatively pushes the boundaries of what is possible in product development and maintains a global network of radical innovators. Over the last 5 years, early-stage ventures have been a focus with projects ranging from a raft of start-ups, incubator concepts and other industry-wide ‘farm system’ activities, leading to successful new brands and companies. These projects benefit from Tim’s ability to coach and guide entrepreneurs in all aspects of the venturing process.
IAN KELLET
Ian is an accomplished field producer, director, storyteller and performer. Working with National Geographic, BBC, WoodsHole Oceanographic Institution and Ocean X, he produced dozens of expeditions connecting science and imagination to innovative ocean solutions. He teaches Impact Media Activism at University California Santa Barbara and is the director of Science and Imagination at Ocean X.
Ian enthusiastically explores new media-landscapes. He lensed award winning films including National Geographic’s DEFENDER OF THE WILD and several globally distributed TV series including PACIFIC ABYSS and OCEANS. His lifelong passion is to create transformative experiences and stories that support thriving stewardship of aquatic systems. Ask him about building an editing studio inside a mobile shipping container and the challenges of making 8 K camera systems work 3000 feet underwater. An advocate for science and emotional storytelling, Ian has an abiding curiosity for innovative distribution and emergent media technologies. Lately he is most interested in using augmented reality to present and build coral regeneration dive parks. He is a passionate teacher, knowledgeable about the psychology of influence and how to attune audiences to learn from nature. He is a huge fan of everything sea kelp and plans to someday open an underwater ocean farm to restaurant.
BILL WHITE
Bill brings over fifteen years of business development & strategy experience gained in the Tech, Medical Device, and Cannabis/Wellness industries. His extensive network of C -Level executive contacts is the catalyst for a constantly expanding portfolio of strategic partnerships. Bill’s love of the ocean led him to beach living over 25 years ago; the relaxed, healthy lifestyle, mild climate, and the humbling vastness of the Pacific Ocean offer a serenity like no other. He is committed to promoting wellness products and working with socially & environmentally conscious companies who are doing their part to keep our world pristine for future generations.
When he’s not actively promoting wellness & sustainability, you’ll find Bill riding his bicycle on the strand in Hermosa Beach, listening to music at ear splitting volumes, chilling on the sand with his lovely wife, or teaching his dog Lemmy new tricks.
LAURIE BAKER
Laurie has spent more than a decade passionately committed to supporting nonprofit organizations and the military community. Her consulting clients include sponsor relations and development for Los Angeles Fleet Week 2021 and We360. She has previously worked with Global Genes, with a mission to connect, empower and inspire the rare disease community, NS2 Serves, training and employing Veterans in high tech careers, and Hopeful Hearts, to provide support to families with children suffering from congenital heart disease. In 2019, she assisted with the development and brand identity for the Discovery channel series, Undercover Billionaire.
At the helm of the Infinite Hero Foundation from 2013-2018, her role as executive director included identifying and supporting organizations that provide resources of technology, community integration, medical research, mental and brain health care to foster collaborative innovation and affect positive change for veterans and families in need. Prior to joining Infinite Hero, she was the executive producer for the Carry Forward Awards, founded by the Wounded Warrior Project while serving as a resource development and alumni relations consultant. Additionally, she generated millions of dollars for the Life Changing Lives Foundation developing and executing all aspects of three charity galas held annually for three years on 9/11. Laurie also served as executive director of corporate communications for Forbes Media, LLC for nearly 8 years. She was primarily responsible for internal and external communications for the leading business publication and alternate titles and managed publicity for domestic and international Forbes C-level management conferences, the Forbes properties and a world-renowned art and historical memorabilia collection. She also spent several years as vice president of corporate communications for Marc Ecko Enterprises, a global fashion and media company.
Laurie currently resides in Laguna Beach with her dog Liberty and is an active volunteer for Warrior Call, working to help curb the rise of suicides in the military community and American Mobility Project, which provides equipment, resources and adaptations to enhance independent living for people with disabilities.
CHRIS PAPAELO
Chris grew up in the Ventura County area making films with his childhood friends surfing all around the world, which quickly became a full-time career. Passionate about creating content of all sorts from behind the camera, he ventured into other lines of work aside from the ocean. Helping brands get the images they desire on a daily basis is a true passion of his along with traveling and constantly adding to his ever-growing collection of camera equipment. In his free time, Chris is likely to be learning new camera tricks or watching his favorite hockey team, the Los Angeles Kings.
DANTE PASQUINI
Dante is a Creative Marketer living in California. He uses tools like graphic design, photography, videography, web development, digital media, email marketing, and apparel design to create and communicate with people on a global scale. He doesn’t adhere to any one discipline. He is a student of art, creativity, and human connection. He is a craftsman who’ll take the time to find the right solution.
Brickworks is a mapping & software product development company based in Southern California. Its primary focus is on developing web-based & mobile application software products that implement virtual events and support music festival operations. It’s their vision to leverage their technology to reduce the carbon footprint of Live Events and transition the entertainment industry toward sustainable IOT enabled site infrastructure. Their primary customers are We360 Inc., Live Nation, Goldenvoice, Danny Wimmer Presents and several major independent promoters.
Awaken is redefining the way health and wellness is experienced. In collaboration with our community of conscious talent, we are committed to helping you cultivate the highest possible version of yourself. Awaken is the first talent agency that exclusively represents health and wellness experts for bookings with brands and individuals. We represent leaders in the health and wellness space who provide wellness-based services and can seamlessly be booked for events, corporate experiences, one-on-one sessions, brand partnerships, and more.