IAVM Member, Kentucky Global Arts Initiative What are your most significant professional accomplishments to date? The performing arts industry has held my heart since I was 20 years old, when I was a young stage manager working at Minihan Productions for the induction of the Christmas season. I have been blessed to work in a variety of positions throughout my career in this industry, from stage management, marketing, production and lighting, ticketing, and strategy to senior leadership at The Carson Center. Some of the most significant moments for me have always been the calm before the storm—that five to 10 minutes before the first curtain rises. There is something magical about watching an audience settle into their seats to experience a performance or show you have helped facilitate and feeling an overwhelming sense of pride at the final curtain call. One of my greatest professional accomplishments at The Carson Center has been the ability to grow our Patron Services program, generating higher subscription sales and membership retention and raising over $100,000 in Access Arts funding since 2019. This program provides tickets to underserved individuals and groups in our local community. Who inspires you, and how has that influenced your professional journey? I have always been inspired by my mother, Ramona Patton, an esteemed educator who retired from the McCracken County School District after 32 years of service. Growing up, watching her pour herself into her students and school while continuing her education and being an involved parent in all of my activities helped shape my work ethic. I have never worked a day in my life that did not reflect her dedication to her passion. I was taught that when you do something, do it well and to the best of your abilities. I have also had wonderful directors who have mentored and invested in me over the years: Bill Minihan, who taught me, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing,” and the current Executive Director of The Carson Center, Brian Wilson, who continuously challenges and encourages me to become a better leader and to remember my “why.” What kind of legacy do you hope to leave in your career or community? I wish to leave behind a legacy of solidarity and kindness. I want to be remembered as a constant, positive, grounding presence, both at work and in my personal life, that everyone can turn to for support, encouragement, and sound direction. Graves County High School Learning and Behavior Disabilities Teacher, Annual GCHS Prom Co- Coordinator, Cassidy’s Cause Volunteer, Community Life Church Member What are your most significant professional accomplishments to date? One of my proudest professional accomplishments is transforming Graves County High School’s prom into an unforgettable experience for our students. When I first took over planning the event, it was held in the school commons, and welcomed about 100 students. I saw an opportunity to create something much bigger. Today, prom is hosted at Commonwealth Event Center with valet parking, a catered dinner, and approximately 450 attendees. Watching students forget about life’s challenges, even if only for one evening, and simply enjoy being teenagers reminds me why I love planning events. That experience also inspired me to start my own event planning business, where I now create meaningful celebrations for clients throughout my community. I am also working on an event for Cassidy’s Cause—an open horse show for the public to attend and support a great cause. It is one of the larger events I have been involved with, and I cannot wait to see what we can do for both the community and Cassidy’s Cause. Describe a challenge in your career and how you overcame it. One of the biggest challenges in my career has been balancing multiple passions while avoiding burnout. I teach full time, volunteer regularly with Cassidy’s Cause, serve at my church, and own an event planning business. There have been times when I questioned whether I could continue doing it all. I’ve learned that success isn’t about doing everything; it’s about doing the right things well. I’ve become intentional with my time, built systems to stay organized, learned when to ask for help, and trusted God to open the right doors instead of forcing opportunities. Who inspires you, and how has that influenced your professional journey? I have been incredibly fortunate to have a mentor named Tonya, whom I met while I was in college. She took a chance on a broke college student and, over the years, became someone I could learn from both professionally and personally. As the founder and president of a large company based in Los Angeles, she showed me that successful businesses aren’t built overnight; they’re built through consistency, resilience, and servant leadership. She has always encouraged me, challenged me when necessary, and reminded me that my time and talents have value. Sara Crabtree Sponsored by Event Planner, Savanna’s Signature Events Director of Operations & Production, The Carson Center Savanna Smith 28 SEPTEMBER 2026
