Get ready for fun as we take you on a remarkable journey with George Sharp, a pioneering figure in the PNW festivals and events industry. From his beginnings as a gorilla balloon-gram performer, to becoming the first mascot of the National Lentil Festival, and on to become a leader in rural economic development through special events, George's story is as intriguing as it is inspiring. His passion for promoting tourism and commerce is a highlight of our conversation, and his account of working with Washington State Tourism and the State Department of Commerce is something you can't afford to miss.Discover what motivates George. His mission of transforming lives through community events will inspire you. This episode takes an in-depth look at how he used the "We Love Rainier" campaign to breathe new life into the Rainier community, and his honest discussion on the challenges and triumphs in managing community events in Thurston County, including battling the impact of COVID-19 on event attendance, is a testament to his dedication and resilience.This isn't just a conversation about events; it's a masterclass in leadership, community engagement, and economic development. Drawing from his experiences managing multitudes of events and other businesses, George underscores the importance of strong leadership. He also offers invaluable advice to event planners and shares his personal formula for the success for communities and organizations. Don't miss out on this insightful, entertaining, and heartwarming episode.Extra: Just days before the release of this podcast, a local paper published an article on George revealing important contextual information that George chose to not discuss at the time we were recoding this podcast episode. Please read.https://www.chronline.com/stories/longtime-thurston-county-tourism-promoter-george-sharp-keeps-working-through-kidney-failure,330030George Sharp photo credit Shanna Paxton Photography.Follow OHTD on Facebook!Follow OHTD on IG!Jon Stone's consulting practice

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