Team Member of the Month – Travis Rose

November 20, 2014/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

A Perfect Balance of Leadership and Entertainment

Travis Rose has been with the Rock The House team for only two and a half years. We exaggerate “only” because we wouldn’t have had our most successful years with out him. Travis has a skill set so vast there could be a book about it – MC skills, ability to DJ, knowledge of lighting, human resources, employee management, and sales are an example of just the first page.

Travis is a unique study, and we knew that from his interview years ago. When Travis was hired, we needed someone who could consult on events, and be an entertainer on the weekends. To prove he had the weekend skills, Travis showed us something that solidified the job for him.

“When I was interviewing, I was asked if I had any skills as an entertainer. I knew I had to do something to impress everyone in the room. I have always thought I was pretty good at free style rapping, so I took that to the next level. I grabbed the remote, pretending it was a microphone, and jumped up on the table. About mid jump I realized I couldn’t curse in the interview, so I had to think quickly and choose a safe song to rap. I ended up completing an Incubus song and the room burst out in cheers and laughter. I had a feeling at that point I nailed it and had the job!”

He was right. Travis has been entertaining on the weekends and keeping people in good spirits in the office during his time here. Recently Travis was given a promotion and now is the head of crew scheduling. He has risen to the top as an entertainer and become one of our greatest leaders. As a leader, Travis has the ability to motivate people and lead by example.

“Having fun is the most important aspect of the job. When the crew and guests at an event are enjoying themselves, it’s a win. I am always going to make sure other around me is having a great time. When it comes down to it, I am not afraid to be serious and business minded.”

COO & Creative and Talent Director Ryan Konikoff has worked very closely with Travis. They have grown together here at RTH and now share some of the same tasks. Ryan believes that Travis has a unique skill in working with clients from the very first introduction, to the completion of an event.

“Travis has a truly amazing rapport with his clients. It is common that when an evaluation comes back from an event not only will the client take the time to mention the amazing experience they had onsite working with our event staff, but also how special the planning and sales process was working with Travis. They mention he listened, he cared, and he was there for them every step of the way. This is something we hope all sales staff can learn from and try to mimic in their client interactions.”

Travis has become a great advocate for our employees. He makes sure that their voices are heard and their issues are understood. He works with management and staffs to make sure all views are embraced. He is one of the main people we count on to help in the continuing success of Rock The House.

Team Member of the Month – Chad Goldberg

October 28, 2014/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

A Youthful Inspiration Within the Warehouse

Rock The House has always been a company that looks at its own employees to grow and take on leadership roles. We embody the spirit of advancement from within the organization. With a constant growth, we make sure that when new employees join the team they are the right fit. In this special case, we were able to groom one from the beginning.

Chad Goldberg is one of the younger employees at RTH. So young in fact, we helped with his Bar Mitzvah only four short years ago. On his special day he got a taste of what it was like to party with RTH and couldn’t let it go. He has now been with the team for two and a half years. Chad believes in teamwork and knowing that events cannot come together single handedly.

“My favorite part of being part of this team is knowing that I can always rely on any other member of the team for help and to get our assigned job done efficiently.

Being part of the RTH team means, a lot since it is such a unique job. I get to come to work every weekend and see a tremendous amount of talent all come together and do what we love. Being part of the RTH team is like being part of a second family; we spend so much time together that we all get to know each other very well.”

Production Manager Ben Allison strongly believes in Chad’s abilities. So much so that he even lets him take the lead on some warehouse work.

“Chad is a motivated, self reliant, team player. He does what is needed to get the job done and supports his co-workers, all while soaking up anything and everything he can learn. He is important because seeing a young face striving for so much and achieving, inspires and motivates others. I hope that people can draw from his positive attitude and leadership mentality.”

Chad began at Rock The House as a shop assistant. Performing manual labor such as moving road cases, sweeping the shop, wrapping cables, and every other task you can image in a production warehouse. His perseverance has pushed him to where he is now. A lot can happen in two and a half years, and with his head held high, Chad will become even more valuable as years go bye. His passion for event production is unmatched when it comes to his age group.

“The thing I enjoy most about contributing to clients events is seeing their initial reaction when they walk into the venue and putting forth my best effort to make it an enjoyable, memorable event.”

We truly enjoy having Chad around the shop and office. He is always eager to help out and his thirst for learning will take him far.

Team Member of the Month – Sean Tyrrell

October 1, 2014/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

A Helping Hand When You Need It the Most

Rock The House is a living, and breathing machine. The people within the company are always going to keep the heart beating and the joints moving. Every so often we bring on an employee who takes us from a jogging state to a full on sprint. That is exactly the bolt of energy that Sean Tyrrell has given to keep up our pace.

Sean has been with RTH for a little bit over a year now. He considers this a team and rarely calls his tasks ‘work’ since someone is always willing to help out. Holding a mantra of being friendly to everyone you meet while working has led him to some memorable events. Being a dancer and a production technician gives him an unique edge as an entertainer.

We asked him his favorite memory from working at Rock The House:

“I was working photo magic at a Mitzvah but it didn’t stop me from dancing with some of the kids at my booth. The other dancers started a dance circle to show the kids what they’ve got. The looks on all the kids’ faces were priceless. I was called out to the floor and I did a slow motion head-slide that slowly sped up with the song. The atmosphere of that party was unreal!”

It wasn’t until the begging of this summer that Sean really proved he had what it takes to be in the spotlight on the dance floor and behind the scenes. He stepped up to take the lead on show load-in/outs, danced on high profile events, and operated photo systems for high profile clients. Many people may not see the depth in those tasks, but Sean understood how it was a direct reflection of Rock The House and how people see us.

Our Creative and Talent Coordinator, Ryan Konikoff, added his impression of Sean:

“Sean is the kind of guy you want working next to you, he’s fun and upbeat, but understands the company and clients’ goals and works towards those while keeping a positive demeanor. With a higher than average amount of bookings over the last summer, he has made himself available to help the team either as an onsite tech or staying late in the warehouse to make sure the shows are prepped and ready to go.”

A year ago we could not see how lucky we were to have Sean on our team, but now that he is here, we can’t thank him enough. We are always looking for the next rising star and a year can tell a lot about the people you have working for you. Sean proved he has what it takes to be a high profile member of the Rock The House team.

Team Member of the Month: Mike Vartorella

July 16, 2014/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

A Passion for Events and Other’s Happiness

Rock The House always provides a strong sense of professionalism and dedication with our events. When it comes to producing an event, we always like to make sure our technicians can make your event run smoothly without being seen or heard. Mike Vartorella is one of our top technicians and embodies the spirit that is Rock The House.

Mike is a dedicated team player who makes sure the client, company, and his coworkers are the top priority of business. He joined the team a little over a year and a half ago and has consistently raised the bar on video production and other warehouse projects.

With a great sense of humor, Mike makes working seem like hanging out with your friends. We asked what this type of camaraderie with other team members means to him:

The people I work with are great! They are highly intelligent and make me better every day. I believe full heartedly you are a combined medium of the people you associate yourself with.

Production Manager Ben Allison added to the praises of Mike’s work: Mike has a great work ethic and positive attitude. He’s a rockstar! He is a level-headed thinker who takes great control to not let his emotions get in the way of completing his work.

Mike has made a tremendous impact within a fairly short period of time. COO / Creative & Talent Director Ryan Konikoff added: Slow and steady wins the race, but fast and steady is even more awesome. He works at a great pace but never compromises quality, and always makes sure our clients are being taken care of to the very best of his ability. Mike is a great guy to be around. He knows a ton but is always pushing to learn more. He has embraced the Rock The House culture and makes sure that we all hold ourselves accountable.

Mike has a true passion for events. No matter the event, big or small, Mike gets great satisfaction when he sees a client’s vision come to life.

Team Member Of The Month: Lizzie Holton

May 22, 2014/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

The Backbone of the Business

Bouncing between getting papers signed, packages mailed, and keeping the details of our office in order, Lizzie makes sure nothing slips through the cracks of our very busy company. Our continued growth while maintaining our award-winning customer service owes a lot of to our Event Consultant, Lizzie Holton.

Every week Lizzie goes through the details of each event to make sure they are getting the attention they need. Collecting the specific materials from each department and organizing paper work to make sure everyone is on the same page is only the beginning of how much Lizzie does for the office.

Lizzie has been with Rock The House for ten months. Even in that short of time she has no problem putting her foot down when needed. She is not afraid to send as many emails as it needs to get something perfect. We asked her what the best part of working with Rock The House was and here was her response:

Working cohesively is a difficult thing to do with so many strong personalities. However, as a team our varying opinions and ideas make for some innovative meetings, events, and training.

Creative and Talent Director, Ryan Konikoff added: Lizzie makes order from chaos by organizing the binders and materials for all RTH events, making sure event staff is confirmed and everyone is equipped for success. She is able to juggle many types of events at once while working with different sales people each who have their style and systems.

Lizzie has a passion for taking care of other people and incredible skills for making sure last minute details don’t get overlooked. She is a good sport when it comes to pranks – such as covering her entire desk in post-it notes. Lizzie is a true team player and a very important part of the Rock The House team.

Team Member of the Month: Alyssa Watson

May 5, 2014/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

Alyssa’s True Passion: Loving What You Do

Every team needs a spark of energy once and awhile. For Rock The House, Alyssa is far more than a tiny spark. Climbing the ropes and being able to handle plenty of obstacles has made Alyssa an integral part of our team. Her infectious personality and winning smile can instantly brighten any room and motivate other employees and party guests.

Alyssa began her journey with us a little over three years ago as a party motivator. Her love of the job is what makes her Rock The House material. Rarely requesting off, dedication to her position, willingness to learn new tasks, and a passion for entertaining guests are just a few of the things that begin to describe Alyssa.

When asked what her favorite RTH memory was, Alyssa’s response was one of a true team player:

Every experience has been memorable. It’s almost impossible to choose one over another. It’s a great feeling to be at an event where all the guests are smiling and having a great time. Making their event one of the most memorable moments of their lives is what makes every moment memorable to me. Nothing is more important to me than the client’s happiness.

Our Creative and Talent Director, Ryan Konikoff stated a few notes as to why Alyssa was selected as employee of the month: Alyssa possess an attribute that we all value greatly: consistency. She is always bringing her all, and within the last year she has really stepped up her game, raising the quality of performance she brings to the dance floor and heightening our guest experience.

Loving what you do means not having to work a day in your life. With Alyssa, we see how much she loves it everyday, and we love having her on our team!

Team Member of the Month: Nate Williams

March 21, 2014/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

Nate Can Do It All!

Within the last several months Nate has become our go-to-guy for not just one department, but the company as a whole. All of the different jobs Nate is able to complete makes him very valuable to our managers. Until you have worked a 20 hour day in the production industry and know that you have another 10 to go, its hard to explain why Nate is important to the entire team. He is the guy that keeps your spirits up and keeps you motivated. He’s the one that doesn’t stop working but understands if you have hit your “brick wall” and won’t say a word.

kirkbrides cleveland weddings djs

Nate was a huge part of our success during this year’s bridal show season. Nate connected with couples and made the whole experience that much more fun for our sales staff. He made himself a real asset on some of the most important days for our company. Nate is easily one of the most unique members of our staff. Besides being a Certified Journeyman Electrician and a bar karaoke host, Nate spent his high school and college years as a competitive baseball pitcher.

rock the house weddings entertainment

Creative and Talent Director, Ryan Konikoff stated some of the reasons Nate is no invaluable to Rock The House: I will find myself in a meeting and someone will suggest Nate to MC a show, and then a production manager will mention that they really needed him in the office to assist in leading the shop team, while another manager will say that there is a challenging load in going on that day and they were hoping he could be on that team. Everyone wants Nate on their team.

Nate’s favorite Rock The House memory give you a real look into what makes him special:

My favorite memory would probably be the wedding we did for Kirkbrides at St. Josaphat’s Art Hall, a converted old church. They had a nightmare before christmas themed wedding and we had them dancing all night long. Our DJ, MC, Lighting Designer, and Photo Booth Technician were all stars. We all killed it that night and Valerie said it was one of the best weddings that year! I always want to see the client happy and that they got more than what they paid for.

We always get more than we pay for with Nate too!

Team Member of the Month: Steve Tanruther

November 15, 2013/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

VP, CFO & MVP

rock the house

Steve is the true renaissance man within the Rock The House team! Having daily job responsibilities that range from chief advisor to founder/owner Matt Radicelli, managing the full financial state of the company, as well as being the IT guru and Technology expert. Steve also chooses to expand his role away from his desk by spending time in the warehouse, on events, and side by side mentoring staff members. He is one of the few people on this earth that that has the ability to walk his dogs and read 3 or 4 newspapers before breakfast, finish a very completed Profit / Loss Statement by lunch and then spend his afternoon 40′ in the air rigging chain motors for a large event in order to give the rest of the team a break, before a quick trip the Aikido Studio for a work out, a bite to eat at a new upcoming restaurant and then to House of Blues to rock out to a great band, and despite what Steve says about his dancing skills, anyone who has joined him for a night a Mega-80’s knows that he can bust a move with the best of them. We can’t even fit all of that in a sentence without it being a high run-on but Steve makes it all seem effortless.

October is always one of the busiest months of the year at Rock The House, and this year was busier them most. Steve made sure to embrace his role as SR VP by setting an excellent example for all staff by working hard to complete his day to day tasks and also stepping in to help all other departments. By participating in sales meetings, stopping to pick up equipment on his way from and too work, and helping to project manage events on the weekend he shows everyone that a title doesn’t exclude you from doing things outside your responsibilities. Through all this month he wasn’t just “doing” but he was stopping to teach, advise, and mentor newer staff members in the process working to build a stronger more well rounded RTH team.

We hope that staff members see what it is like to truly love what you do and to always keep your skills well honed. Steve spends most of his time in the office because that is where he is needed. Its second nature to jump in a lift to hang a lighting truss, mix a few microphones from a mixing console he has never seen, and has no problem helping with event positions that may not be the most glamorous, like running feeder, or packing a truck.

They say an elephant doesn’t forget, well we would put any elephant up head to head against Steve in a contest of institutional memory. He has been around from day one, and had a long career in AV before Rock The House. He is the guy on the team who had been there and done and makes sure we learn from the mistakes of the past. RTH Founder/Owner Matt Radicelli met Steve when he was leading the electric slide at a Twinsburg High School Dance in the early 1990’s. After a short conversation, Matt realized that Steve was also a touring sound engineer. For a company like Rock The House that spends almost even time working on Production and Entertainment you must have a leadership team that has spend time within each department. We at RTH also pride ourselves as a technology based company, and Steve makes sure to always stay on the cutting edge of technology from custom building the RTH server to managing all of the soft and hardware for all staff members, laptops, mobile devices, and work stations.

One question we ask ourselves of those we are considering for the Team Member of the Month is: “How does this person go above and beyond for Rock The House?” COO/Creative & Talent Director, Ryan Konikoff attempts to answer this one when it comes to Steve:

“If you would ask Steve this, he would say there is no such thing as going above and beyond, when something needs to be done, someone does it. If he is there he’ll do it – that’s how we grow and get better….so maybe that answers the question.”

Congratulations, Steve! You are the team member of the month on the busiest month of our busiest year…so far!

Team Member of the Month: Kurt Wick

July 8, 2013/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

Behind The Scenes Support

You probably won’t see Kurt at your event but he is making an impact on your party! Kurt has been with Rock The House for over two years and he has made a big difference in how we operate as a team. His supporting role across multiple departments allow the rest of the team to stay focused on their core objectives. His main job duties are to assist in employee compensation and benefits administration. Making sure our team members are taken care of financially by assisting human resources and accounting is an amazingly important role that touches everyone at Rock The House.

Kurt contributes to every department at RTH as described by VP/CFO Steve Tanruther:

“Kurt has introduced a level of analytics to our sales team that will provide them greater clarity into the trends that affect our market. He has also spearhead all of our employee benefits administration.”

Steve went on to say this about Kurt and his impact on the team:

“He has years of comprehensive analytical experience working in production scheduling and employee compensation. He’s always asking when and how he can help when he sees others in distress. He even helped some employees with their personal taxes in his spare time.”

We asked Kurt one memory he had of his time at that Rock The House that stands out and he gave us this great response:

“My favorite memory is actually a recurring event. Every morning, no matter how good or bad of a mood I am in, the first people I see at RTH always puts me in a better mood.”

Kurt is a perfect example of a true team player and what it takes to succeed at Rock The House.

Team Member of the Month: Brent Motika

May 2, 2013/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

Passion For Audio

Brent has had a great month!

Brent has a passion for all things A/V but particularly audio. Brent has continued to better himself and to push us as a company to increase the quality of our audio production and equipment. He has really stepped it up by setting aggressive goals and to doing whatever it takes to see them through. His hard work and leadership has allowed production managers Ryan Durfee and Ben Allison a chance to focus on operations as we begin our busiest season. Brent also completed the technical site survey, gear speck, and management of this years Make A Wish Gala, with rave reviews from the client.

Creative and Talet Director, Ryan Konikoff explains just one reason why Brent is one of Rock The House’s best:

“The Cleveland Airport Marriott has requested him personally 3 times in the last few months to come in and mix audio for several of their largest clients. Mary Francis Ody, Director of Catering and Special Events recently told me at a social event that one of her clients wanted him back for an event in two weeks because of the stellar job he did the week before.Being singled out by a partner like this is a big deal to us. Brent is here to work, and he works hard, but he has huge heart and it shows. He fully understands and embraces the idea of The Rock The House Family and works to make sure that all are included and feel the same rewards he does from a job well done.”

Brent has been with Rock The House for over two and a half years and has worked as a technician in many different areas of the company. His passion for audio comes through in his love of music. Music and sound will always be at the core of Rock The House and Brent has brought us to another level. Brent knows that we’re in the business of fun and that means having fun at what you do is just as important.

Production Manager, Ryan Durfee had this to say about Brent:

“Brent has become a lead tech specifically for larger audio events. It is important for the RTH team to see someone who puts effort and can handle new as well as more responsibility while maintaining a high level of professionalism. The surge of responsibility and work load at the start of our busy season brings wears us all. Brent has been able to keep a positive attitude and keep on his responsibilities as they continue to grow.”

In addition, Production Manager Ben Allison says this about Brent as Team Member of the Month:

“Brent was chosen for team member of the month because of his dedication to the company as well as our clients. He is a team member that others can look to for help and encouragement. He is constantly looking for opportunities that he can have full ownership of and thereby spread the responsibilities across the team instead of on the two production managers, which is greatly appreciated.

When we asked Brent what he liked most about being part of the Rock The House team, here’s what he said:

“The happiness it brings. We throw parties, and we’re damn good at it! The smiles, the laughter, and happiness that comes as a result from all your hard work, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”

Thanks for all your hard work, Brent! You’re one of the reasons why Rock The House is great!