Parnelli Awards Announce Presenters for 23rd Annual Show

LAS VEGAS – The Parnelli Awards has announced the live event professionals who will be handing out awards as presenters at the 23^rd Annual Parnelli Awards gala on January 24, 2025.

“We have assembled a good, eclectic group to be part of our 23^rd gala,” says Executive Producer and PLSN/FOH magazines founder Terry Lowe. “We are grateful to these nine professionals from across the live event field who will enhance what we expect to be our best Parnelli Awards yet.”

The gala coincides with the NAMM Show and will be held at Hilton Anaheim Hotel, Pacific Ballroom, Second Floor, next to the Convention Center. The Parnelli Awards pre-show festivities and cocktail party start at 6:00 p.m. with the dinner and awards ceremony happening at 7. For more information and to reserve your seat, click here. We have a block of rooms set aside near the convention at the Hyatt for a special Parnelli price that’s good until Jan. 5, 2024.

Meet the Presenters

Michael Bess

Michael Bess has been Vice President of Concert Production at Live Nation since 2022. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Production of Allegiant Stadium, and for 16 years, a promoter rep for Live Nations. As a musician, he studied study music performance at Musicians Institute and Music Theory and Composition at both the University of Colorado, Denver and Colorado State University, Pueblo. Michael will be presenting the Parnelli Visionary Award to Roy Bickel.

Emily Bornt

Emily Bornt is a L.A.-based Lighting Designer/Director and Programmer, specializing in concert touring. After earning her BFA in theatrical design on Long Island, she was a freelance technician with venues and production companies in the tri-state area. She would join IATSE and become a moving light technician in live event warehouses, including PRG. With a background in theater, fashion, and music, she enjoys narrating vividly through lighting. When she isn’t working, she enjoys cinema, museums, and volunteering in her community, as well as mentoring young designers and women in the entertainment industry, including through Women in Lighting.

Marshall Bissett

Marshall Bissett studied English at St Andrews University and Drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. After working in regional theatre and London’s West End, in the 1970s he moved over to concert touring.  He toured with the Rolling Stones, Neil Diamond, Chicago, and Bob Dylan among many others. In 1980 he moved to Los Angeles to run the lighting division of TFA Electrosound before founding TMB, a production supply company, in 1983. Fun fact: he coordinated the concert sequences for This is Spinal Tap. He is a founding member of the Parnelli Board of Advisors and is its current Chairman. Marshall is also a damn fine fly fisherman and writes about it for a fly fishing magazine. 

Amanda Davis

Amanda Davis is a Memphis-born audio engineer, educator, and musician using her skills to empower others globally. As a Roosevelt University and SAE Institute graduate, she became SAE’s first woman Lab Supervisor and Music Theory instructor. In 2013, Davis’ touring career began when she became Janelle Monáe’s FOH engineer. Davis has mixed for Prince, Stevie Wonder, Jon Batiste, Olivia Rodrigo, Tank and the Bangas, and Ella Mai at venues including the White House, Radio City Music Hall, Hollywood Bowl, the Grammys, Glastonbury Fest, Montreux Jazz Festival, and the Sydney Opera house. Davis created “Linecheck, Women in Live Production,” a mentoring program and currently teaches a Live Mixing course at Berklee Online.

Tom Hodder

Tom Hodder has been Owner/Vice President of El Segundo-based South Bay Sound & Light since 1972. He’s been a mentor and friend to Dave Rat since 1978 when they built speakers together. He’s an ETCP Certified Entertainment Electrician and FCC Licensed Radio Technician. Since 1986, he’s been lighting programmer/electrician/audio engineer for the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County. Tom is a retired member of the IATSE Local 33. Tom will be presenting the Parnelli Audio Innovator Award to Dave Rat.

Marty Hom

Marty Hom is a 40-year concert touring veteran and tour manager who has worked with Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Beyoncé, Stevie Nicks, Shakira, and most recently Olivia Rodrigo. He was just named a member of the Board of Directors for MusiCares. He won the Parnelli Award for Tour Manager of the Year in 2004, 2013 and again in 2018. Marty will be presenting the Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award to Malcolm Weldon.

Rob Koenig

Rob Koenig has moved from stagehand to programmer to lighting director/designer, and last year took home the Parnelli Nook Schoenfeld Lighting Designer of the Year award for his work with Metallica (he’s been with them for 16 years). Since 2016, he’s also been Lighting Director/Programmer for Guns ‘n Roses; since 2012, programmer for Eric Church; since 2005, lighting designer for Billy Idol. Other artists he’s worked with include Cardi B, Janet Jackson, and Carrie Underwood. Most recently he’s also been doing TV lighting as well.

John Mlynczak

John Mlynczak was named president and CEO of NAMM on May 1, 2023. Prior to serving at NAMM, John was Vice President of Music Education & Technology at Hal Leonard where he oversaw the worldwide education market strategy, managed all education software products, and collaborated on all music education technology initiatives for the global organization. Prior to Hal Leonard, Mlynczak served as Director of Education for PreSonus Audio. He has also served as president of the Technology Institute of Music Educators (TI:ME) and taught online graduate courses on music technology at VanderCook College and Boston University. 

Ed Wannebo

Ed Wannebo did a one-off with a band called Van Halen in 1980 and the next thing he knew he was on a nine-month world tour. Counting music videos, the list of artists he’s worked with as lighting designer/director/crew chief include ZZ Top, Tina Turner, and David Bowie. He was next offered the Production Manager role for Hall & Oates and went on to serve Stevie Nicks, Jimmy Buffett, Richard Marx, and Tim and Faith Hill. For more than two decades he’s been PM for Kenny Chesney. Wannebo received the Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.