| John Hanks, Jr.
Owner
John founded Make It Happen Events in 2001 after more than a decade of experience in the events industry. Starting as an intern working on a statewide conference he helped co-found, he organized a wide variety of events.
After 2 years as an independent consultant, he was given great advice: go learn the other side of the industry as a service provider, so he began as a desk clerk at a downtown hotel. After 2 years and 3 promotions, he became a catering manager at the same hotel and worked with brides, CEOs, and Community Leaders.
He served as Director of Catering at the Penn Harris Convention Center, Rental Manager at the Zembo Shrine and operations manager at an off-premise catering company, learning many facets of the profession. His passion for events, creative problem solving, and organizational skills, have given him the tools to create amazing projects.
John is a Graduate of Mechanicsburg High School and the Grove College of Business at Shippensburg University. He is a regular volunteer for numerous community organizations, including the American Cancer Society. He is vice president of the Penbrook Historical Society, and on the Outreach Team for CrossPoint UMC in Colonial Park.
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Chris Lunden
Event Coordinator
Chris is our lead Event Coordinator, and is involved in the planning of most of our projects. He plans the details with our vendors and participants and then coordinates their activities onsite. He uses his theater background to bring professional production values to our work.
He is an Event Specialist at the American Cancer Society. He has planned and executed dozens of events since he joined ACS in 2010, working with a variety of leaders in communities across our area.
He graduated from Delaware Valley Regional High School and Lock Haven University with a degree in Recreation Management.
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| Brenda Pulaski
Administrative Coordinator
Brenda handles the back office details of the company and can usually be found at the registration table at our events. She handles data management and keeps us organized from planning through thank you's.
Brenda graduated from York Suburban High School and Lebanon Valley College with a degree in Music Business. She has worked at Cokesbury Book store, and currently at Stitch Art, Inc. She is the organist at CrossPoint UMC and is involved with the youth music program there.
She and her husband Joe live in Linglestown.
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| Kevin Markey
Onsite Event Operations
Kevin is a pro at handling many types of events. His experience in the Front office of the Hilton Hotel and as Manager of the International House - Harrisburg have been great training for any situation. He is often the first to arrive and the last to leave.
Kevin has traveled extensively around the world, often being gone for months at a time. He was raised in New Jersey, graduated from Messiah College, and chose to remain in the Harrisburg area.
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| Danielle Levetan
Event Coordinator
Dani works with our larger events, recently handling the parade of more than 60 units for the Heroes Grove Groundbreaking.
Dani graduated from Syracuse University, and Boston University with a Masters degree in Social Work.
She has worked for the last 5 years at the American Cancer Society, where she is in charge of Harrisburg's 6,000 person Making Strides for Brest Cancer walk (the largest in the state). She also supervises the coordinators of several other Making Strides walks in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
She volunteers for the Jewish Community Center of York as the Board Secretary, Chair of the Fund Development Committee and has helped with the silent auction at the annual cultural diversity event.
She and her dog Reyes live in York.
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Our Prefered Vendor Partners
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State Street Copy
& Press LLC
| State Street Copy and Press
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Copy and Print Services
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Partner since 1989
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| Event Central Rental & Sales
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Tents, tables, chairs and equipment rentals for events.
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Partner since 1995
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Taylor Made
Graphics
| Taylor Made Graphics
Lisa Tosheff
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Graphic Design Services
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Partner since 2012
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| Spirit Sound Production Services
Ryan Bell
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Sound and Lighting Production Equipment and Services
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Partner since 2011
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| Event Horizon Photography
Ryan Kudasik
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Event Photography Services
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Partner since 2013
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Team members may not be employees but rather sub contractors. Prefered Vendor Partners are separate non affiliated companies.
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