Meet the Team
Get to know the passionate people behind the Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival. Each member of our team brings unique experience, creativity, and dedication to making this event unforgettable. Read on to learn about their backgrounds, inspirations, and favorite crafting stories—and discover why we’re so excited to bring our shared love of making to you!
1. Role & Contribution I’m the President & Managing Director of Koelnmesse Inc. My role involves coordinating with our international teams, bringing together exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees, and shaping the vision for a vibrant, community-centered experience. 2. Crafting Journey I come from a background in business development and marketing, but I’ve always admired the creativity and passion that fuels the crafting world. Working with Koelnmesse opened the door for me to bring those elements together in an event setting. 3. Favorite Project Launching the Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival stands out as one of my proudest achievements. It’s exciting to see an idea transform into a bustling community event, brimming with innovation and inspiration. 4. Excitement Factor I’m most looking forward to seeing the community come alive on the show floor—witnessing new friendships spark, creative collaborations form, and everyone walking away inspired and eager to create. 5. Fun Fact I’m an avid foodie! When I’m not planning shows, you can often find me experimenting with new recipes and local cuisines.
1. Role & Contribution 2. Crafting Journey 3. Favorite Project 4. Excitement Factor 5. Fun Fact
As the Show Director for h+h americas, Fabric+Fiber Craft Festival and h+h cologne, I have the exciting opportunity to work with key accounts, exhibitors, and sponsors in North America. My passion lies in connecting businesses within the vibrant crafting community, helping them thrive, innovate, and build creative, collaborative partnerships that push the boundaries of what’s possible. Every day, I’m inspired by the incredible talent and energy that drives this industry forward.
While my background is in Interior Design, I have a passion for crafts and the arts. I grew up spending countless hours crafting with my grandmother and mother, who are both incredibly skilled in sewing, crocheting, and other creative projects. Personally, I developed a love for drawing and painting, experimenting with a variety of mediums and styles, from modern to traditional. This blend of creativity has shaped my journey and continues to inspire my work today.
I have a passion for home design, and one of my favorite projects was designing the kitchen in our Minnesota home on the lake. It was exciting to create a space that was both practical and inspiring, blending traditional and modern design elements. The result was a stylish, functional kitchen that perfectly harmonized with the natural beauty of the lake setting.
I’m thrilled to watch the show floor come to life, like a city being built from the ground up. It’s inspiring to see new connections form, creative collaborations unfold, and exhibitors/attendees leave energized with fresh ideas for their next crafting project. The dynamic buzz of creativity within the community is what excites me most—it’s truly amazing to witness!
Growing up in Minnesota, hockey has always been in my blood. My two boys both started playing at just 2.5 years old, and I’ve been hooked ever since! I’m a huge fan, eagerly cheering on my younger son at the AAA level, my older son in juniors, and catching college and NHL games whenever I can. So much so that I’ve proudly earned the nickname “hockey mom” at home. I absolutely love being part of their exciting hockey journey! 🏒
I am the Sales and Sponsorship Manager at Koelnmesse Inc. for h+h americas, managing the #s, A-L alpha split. In this role, I help exhibitors secure booth space and explore marketing and sponsorship opportunities to maximize their presence at the event. I work closely with companies to ensure a seamless exhibition experience, providing support every step of the way. I also manage the Cosplay Competition Fashion Show & Exhibition, providing an exciting and vibrant platform for the crafting community to celebrate the art of cosplay and its diverse talents. Drawing on my experience with both B2B and B2C events, I bring valuable insights and ideas that contribute to the success of the show. My goal is to is to cultivate meaningful connections, support the success of exhibitors and sponsors, and provide attendees with a rewarding and impactful experience.
While I don’t craft in the traditional fiber and fabric sense of our community, I would love to try my hand at crochet someday. My current creative outlet is decorating sugar cookies, and one of my favorite projects was for our grandbaby’s gender reveal. I designed cookies around the theme, “A little cutie is on its way!” And for the baby shower, I created cookies themed with honey pots, bees, and bottles. Everyone thought the cookies were professionally made, which made me feel incredibly proud. It’s rewarding to use creativity to make special moments even more memorable!
I am beyond excited for our show’s second annual Cosplay Competition Fashion Show and Exhibition! We already have 14 incredibly talented cosplay designers signed up to compete, and we’re thrilled to welcome five amazing professional judges. Plus, this year’s fantastic Master of Ceremonies will join us again! Next year, we’re adding an exciting new element—a cosplay parade to the stage! I can’t wait to see the creativity and passion that our new contestants will bring to the stage next year. It’s going to be an unforgettable celebration of artistry and imagination!
A fun fact about me is that I absolutely love Broadway theater and musicals—a passion I share with my daughter, who lives in New York City. Whenever I get the chance, I travel there so we can attend shows together. It’s such a special way for us to bond and experiencing the magic of Broadway with her makes it even more unforgettable!
My career has always been in craft publications and shows. The sense of creativity, community collaboration, and collaboration in the creative space is incredibly special. anding it – just a little bit. We have so much content we need to add a little more time so we can fit it all in! It was exciting to meet in-person so many creators I had been emailing with. And then hear how they were so glad they invested in themselves to attend the Content Creator Summit.
I am the Sales and Sponsorship Manager at Koelnmesse Inc. for h+h americas, where I manage the L-Z alpha split. I assist exhibitors in securing booth space and exploring various marketing and sponsorship opportunities to maximize their presence at the event. My primary focus is to ensure that exhibitors and sponsors have a positive experience from the initial planning stages to final execution. I work closely with companies to ensure they feel fully supported throughout the entire process. I also manage the Content Creator Summit. It’s always incredibly fulfilling to see all the moving parts come together, creating an event that truly resonates with everyone involved.
I don’t like chocolatel!
I serve as the International Exhibitor Contact and Visitor Manager for h+h americas, supporting global participants and fostering connections within our community.
My journey into the crafting world began when I joined Koelnmesse Inc., where I discovered the vibrant world of makers and creative professionals.
While I’m not a crafter myself, my “craft” is language! Having lived in different countries, I am fluent in English, German, Spanish, and French, which allows me to connect with a wide range of participants.
I’m most looking forward to welcoming international participation, exploring new pavilions, discovering the latest trends, and reconnecting with new and old friends at our upcoming event.
Even though I’m not a fan of winter, I spent a night in an Ice Hotel in Canada—it was an incredible experience!
I oversee operations for h+h americas, managing every aspect of planning and executing our trade shows and events. This includes coordinating exhibitor services, ensuring exhibitors have the necessary information and resources to prepare for the show, organize their booth setup, and maximize their sponsorship opportunities. I work closely with the convention center staff to guarantee a seamless experience for our exhibitors, from move-in and booth setup to ensuring a successful event overall.
h+h americas is my first role in the craft show industry, and it’s been incredibly exciting to immerse myself in this creative community. The environment is so welcoming and supportive, with everyone working collaboratively to ensure the success of the event. My previous experience was in organizing medical association trade shows, so transitioning into this creative space has been both refreshing and inspiring.
Growing up, I was involved in 4-H and competed in sewing for about eight years. My final project was creating a winter coat, which I worked on all summer with the guidance of a mentor. While I didn’t take home the champion title, I proudly earned a blue ribbon. That coat became a lasting memory, as I wore it for many years afterward.
I’m looking forward to see new faces and witness the continued growth of the diverse craft companies at the show. It’s inspiring to watch the community come together as we expand the range of what’s represented within the broad craft industry. The growth and expansion of the show is really exciting!
While I was busy sewing all those year in 4-H, I also was busy showing pigs at the fair each year.
As Conference Manager for h+h americas and the Fiber + Fabric Craft Festival, I’m responsible for curating our speaker lineup, coordinating educational sessions, and crafting an experience that resonates with our diverse community. I also work closely with the convention center team to ensure the education program runs smoothly throughout the event.
My background is rooted in hospitality and social media, with a strong focus on community engagement. I’ve always loved bringing people together, and the crafting world offers a rich, passionate community that makes those connections even more meaningful.
Remodeling our first home in America is one of the projects closest to my heart. Professionally, being part of the Fiber + Fabric Craft Festival from an educational programming standpoint has been incredibly exciting. It’s a new space for me, which is exactly what makes it so rewarding. I have the opportunity to shape and build the experience from the ground up.
What excites me most is seeing the crafting community come to life, when people discover new passions, collaborate with others, or simply feel seen and inspired. That energy is what makes this work so meaningful.
I love to bake and blog, it’s another way I connect with a creative community, this time through the language of food. Outside the kitchen, I try to keep up with the tennis world and am currently training as an amateur runner with a goal to complete a 10K!
