Claire Hoffman

Los Angeles

Senior Contributing Writer at BizBash

Writer and Content Marketing Specialist at Freelance

Writer, editor, reader, eventgoer, dog mom, cool aunt, awkward person

Featured in: Favicon

bizbash.com Favicon

3blmedia.com Favicon

csrwire.com Favicon

justmeans.com Favicon

connectmeetings.com Favicon

realclearhistory.com Favicon

medium.com Favicon

meetingsnet.com Favicon

elle.com

Articles

Inside Pasadena Playhouse's 100th Anniversary Gala

6 days ago | bizbash.com | Claire Hoffman

PASADENA, CALIF.—Southern California's Pasadena Playhouse wasn’t about to let its 100th birthday pass without making history. With immersive projections that brought the past to life, a surprise escrow announcement, an ambitious fundraising goal, and a reimagined gala format, the iconic theater proved that honoring tradition doesn’t have to mean playing it safe.
Meta's Damien Baines Shares His Favorite Event Venues

1 week ago | bizbash.com | Claire Hoffman

Damien BainesPhoto: Courtesy of Damien BainesDamien Baines is the head of experiential marketing and creative for Meta, where he’s responsible for the look and feel of brand activations at tentpole events like Cannes Lions and Meta Connect, as well as its experiential retail. Based in San Francisco, he previously held roles at Levi Strauss & Co. and JPMorgan Chase before joining the Instagram team in 2015.
Event Tech Check: Cool New Solutions for Networking, Fan Engagement, Livestreaming, and More

1 week ago | bizbash.com | Claire Hoffman

This column is sponsored by BW Events Tech, award-winning event technologists who take the stress out of registration, mobile apps, integrations, and more. In Case You Missed ItLast week, we revealed the event tech leaders on our latest Industry Innovators list! From providing real-time translation and intuitive spatial planning to offering smarter entertainment booking and hands-on coding events for young girls, these event tech experts are redefining whatâ€™s possible.
How Canva Create 2025 Reimagined Tech Conferences

1 week ago | bizbash.com | Claire Hoffman

LOS ANGELESâ€”On April 10, more than 4,500 attendees descended on Hollywood Park for Canva Create 2025â€”a creative, community-driven celebration thatâ€™s fast becoming one of the most buzzed-about gatherings in tech. With 100 speakers, 60 sessions, and headline names like Cynthia Erivo and Jon Batiste, the event marked a big leap from last yearâ€™s inaugural U.S. edition in both scale and ambition.
Industry Innovators 2025: Event Technology Leaders

2 weeks ago | bizbash.com | Claire Hoffman

â€śTo me, innovation is an ongoing process of problem-solving,â€ť says Paul Fletcher, COO of AV and event technology at events giant Freeman, and one of the leaders on our latest Industry Innovators list. And isn't that what the best technology doesâ€”solve problems? In the event world, where expectations are high and timelines are tight, innovation isnâ€™t just a buzzword; itâ€™s a necessity.
Industry Innovators 2025: Makenzie Stokel and Channing Moreland

2 weeks ago | bizbash.com | Claire Hoffman

Makenzie Stokel and Channing Moreland are the co-founders of EVA, a technology-driven platform that helps companies book entertainment for their events. Stokel is based in Austin, Texas, while Moreland is based in Nashville, Tenn. How they got here: The duo studied music business at Belmont University, where they noticed a major gap: Talented entertainers didnâ€™t have enough access to paid performance opportunities.
Industry Innovators 2025: Rae Malcham

2 weeks ago | bizbash.com | Claire Hoffman

Rae Malcham is the chief operating officer of BW Events Tech, an all-in-one technology agency. She's based in Glasgow, Scotland, and is also a UK Global Talent Visa Holderâ€”which was awarded due to her expertise in event technology. How she got here: "Iâ€™ve been in the event tech industry for 10 years now. Although I studied event management in college, I struggled to land my first job, and eventually got hired as a technical project coordinator at a logistics company.
Industry Innovators 2025: Sophie Kornick

2 weeks ago | bizbash.com | Claire Hoffman

Sophie Kornick leads global events for blockchain company Monad Foundation. She's based in New York. How she got here: "I started in concert production and evolved into experiential marketing, working with brands like Nike, NCAA, and Walmart. I then founded Soko Productions, a full-service agency specializing in large-scale live events and Web3 clients. Soko executed activations for Chase, Solana, Lyrical Lemonade, Diageo, and more. I was introduced to the Web3/crypto industry in 2018.
Industry Innovators 2025: Dominic Audet

2 weeks ago | bizbash.com | Claire Hoffman

Photo: Courtesy of Dominic AudetDominic Audet is the co-founder and chief innovation officer of multimedia entertainment studio Moment Factory. He's based in MontrĂ©al. How he got here: "From a young age, I was drawn to technology and initially aimed to pursue a career in aerospace engineering. However, I also had a natural instinct for bringing people together, hosting events, and organizing parties even at a very young age.
Industry Innovators 2025: Carter Lilley

2 weeks ago | bizbash.com | Claire Hoffman

Photo: Courtesy of Carter LilleyCarter Lilley is a 3D artist for BCD Meetings & Events. He's based in Lakewood, Ohio. How he got here: "Artists in professional roles often walk unorthodox paths, and mine is no different. My mother worked as a tech coordinator for our local school system, and from an early age, my brother and I had all the access in the world to fall deeply in love with computers. We loved movies, so we began editing rudimentary videos with footage we filmed in our basement.