I’m not sure? I always wanted to be an attorney, so I went to law school and shortly after I graduated, my dad purchased a building that had once been a Carmike twin. The other twin screen theater in town had closed and our county only had a seasonal drive-in left. Dad, who is in the medical field, had only seen one movie in his life and decided there was a need in the community for a theater. He purchased the building intending to do a quick and easy renovation, but it turned into a 5 screen new build essentially. I was helping from a distance with legal things but as more and more needed to be done, I quickly found myself completely tied to the project. 10 years later… here I am.

As much as I get overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the job, I am very aware of the fact that I am not qualified to do a lot of the things that I get to do. If I were in a corporate job, I’d most likely have to pick one “area” and be that: HR, legal, marketing, management, etc. I have a lot of freedom to do what I want. I also get to turn everything into an event or a party and help charities. It really is the perfect platform to accomplish so many things. Also, there’s an unlimited supply of popcorn.

In 2019, I received a scholarship from NATO to attend the Fall Summit. This event had felt so out of my league as a small town single location. I had never been to LA so something about landing in LAX and getting in the car to Beverly Hills…. I love Pretty Woman so the whole event was magical. Being where the movies are made, getting to visit the studios, making friends with so many people. I don’t really watch movies much (blasphemy, I know), but something about watching them on the studio lots is so exciting. It really does make you feel like Zac Efron or Glen Powell could be right beside you. (They weren’t… it was Tami from Spotlight theaters beside me, but don’t think I wouldn’t have made her scoot over a seat if one of them had been available). It adds a bit of glamour to a job that can sometimes feel very isolating.

Oh, this is easy. My best friend and I were visiting an army friend stationed in Monterrey, California. We had all been friends since elementary school, but were in our mid twenties by this point. We decided to go to a movie. I didn’t know anything about it but my friend wanted to see Horrible Bosses. The auditorium was packed and we ended up in the front row. There’s a little bit of a jump scare at one point and I reacted. My reaction scared my big military friend and he jumped up in front of the entire auditorium. I don’t know if he screamed or if that was just the sound of my laughing, but it was the best moment ever.

Movie going is an activity, an experience, and something that will always be special to people. For many, it is just their weekly routine. For others it’s a special occasion, but the thing is… there is always a chance the movie theater will be relevant to you. I think exhibition will continue to plug and play new and great things, but at the heart of it, providing a safe, comfortable, and friendly location to spend time with your friends, family, or self is what will prevail. I’m excited to see what new innovations come, but I am also excited to know that we are a place of comfort in times of unrest and turmoil. The size of our screen does not change the sense of community and stability we can bring to people.

Ask Questions. Learn as much as you can from every person you encounter. Be flexible. Look for the opportunity in setbacks.