The Event Production Network (EPN) welcomed Brad Poarch as its new president and announced its 2024 board members. Poarch is the CEO of Oklahoma City-based AV event production company Cory’s and formerly served as EPN’s vice president. In his new role, Poarch will focus on expanding awareness in the event planning community about EPN, growing education initiatives and finding innovative ways to enable collaboration opportunities between organizations in the network.
Prior to becoming CEO of Cory’s in 2012, Poarch led the live events side of the company for 10 years, focusing on team member development and engagement and during which time he said he helped the company’s revenue by 600%. Cory’s has also been honored as one of the “Best Places to Work” in the state of Oklahoma and Poarch has been named “Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEO” by Oklahoma City business and legal newspaper The Journal Record. Poarch also currently serves as the vice president of communications for the BSA Last Frontier Council’s Executive Board and the chair of the AV committee for Rotary Club 29.
Outgoing EPN president Eric Newkirk will join the following members on the 2024 EPN board: Kyle Brooks (Bespoke Audio Visual), Jack Devries (Showcore), Don Guzauckas (HB Live) and Bob Horner (Ironman Sound Productions, a Markey’s company).
“As I take on the role of EPN Board President, I ponder the large shoes to fill from the previous presidents, while admiring how they’ve led EPN through so much,” Poarch said. “I especially want to thank Eric Newkirk for his leadership over the past two years. When I reflect back on the state of the industry when Eric took over, it’s amazing to see how far EPN has come.”
