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Bandit Lites Host Big Anniversary Bash at Nashville Location
Bandit Lites recently hosted a large bash at their Nashville, TN location to close out a year of anniversary festivities. Guests at the December 6 event included a variety of Bandit's closest friends and colleagues as well as clients and employees that have supported the company across the last 40 years.
Bandit was lucky enough to have general manager of Philips Lighting Controls Steve
Carson, vice president of Vari-Lite Bob Schacherl, George Masek and Julie Smith of Vari-Lite, founder of ETC Fred Foster, Gary Mass and Noel Duncan of ICD, Bill Morris and Sean Hoey of High-End Systems, Bob Gordon and Brian Dowd of ACT Lighting and Jimmy Page of Syncrolite attend the event. Doug Fleenor of Fleenor Designs and wife, Cindy, Apollo owner, Joel Nichols and wife, Marnie Styles of Le Maitre Special Effects Inc., Michael Garl of James Thomas Engineering, Scott Scovill of Moo TV, Scott Almond of Tyler Truss and Blaine Engle of PixelRange also attended.
World-renowned lighting designers, Allen Branton and wife Gretel, Mike Swinford, Dave Butzler and wife Debi, Steve Owens, Jeff Lavallee, Carter Fulghum, production manager Glenn Felton, tour manager Steve Gudis and David "Hud" Haney of Branam Rigging were in attendance. Bandit was also fortunate to have Live Nation vice president Michael Enoch, manager Bob Doyle, Frances Thompson of ESTA, David Barbour, editor of Lighting and Sound America and Mike Bannon, Jamie L. Stamey, Sarah D. Cates, and David Graham of Belmont University as guests at the party.
In addition to the anniversary party, 2008 was full of activities and announcements. In January, Bandit rolled out a six-part series featuring key milestones during their first 40 years. The January release covered Bandit in the late 60s-early 70s, February covered the late 70s-early 80s, and so on. The August release briefly recapped the entire history from 1968-2008. Bandit also released ‘40 Bandits in 40 Years' - a series in which they revealed interesting facts about 40 employees that have helped mold Bandit into what it is today.
To better guide the company in the upcoming years, Bandit also saw some management restructuring in 2008. Long-time Bandit employee, Peter Heffernan was announced as the new president (he continues to serve as C.O.O as well, a position he has held for the last 15 years). In his new role, Heffernan works with the staff and management overseeing the day-to-day operations in order to grow Bandit even further in the years to come.
In 2008, Bandit founder and owner, Michael T. Strickland was inducted into the East Tennessee Business Hall of Fame. He is now serving as Bandit Lites' Chairman of the Board.
In addition to the celebrations, this year brought Bandit two additional ‘Lighting Company of the Year' awards from the PLSN Parnelli Awards and from the Pollstar Awards. These awards mark the 16th and 17th ‘Lighting Company of the Year' awards that Bandit has received over the years.
Bandit chairman Michael T. Strickland summed it up best as the party began. "We are not looking back at 40, but forward at the next 40. We have just begun!" he said.
In picture: the party guests and Bandit chairman Michael T. Strickland with Mike Golden.
18th December 2008
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