Get to know the Promoter Line team
The Promoter Line staff has over 70 years of combined experience in the entertainment and event planning industries, including production, promotion and management.
Jerry Thompson
President
jtpresents@promoterline.com
Jerry started his industry career in 1982, working as a manager in the nightclub business. From 1986-1991 he was VP of Dallas Alley, an entertainment complex located in Dallas’ Historic West End. For 10 years (1991-2001), he served as President of the Caravan of Dreams performing arts center in Fort Worth. Promoter Line, Inc. was created in 1993 as an event production arm of this world-renowned entertainment venue.
Jerry's other event accomplishments include the development and execution of a nationwide NASCAR Concert Series; producer of the Sundance Square Concert Series in downtown Fort Worth; producer of the annual Charles Goodnight Awards banquet since 1993; co-producer of the 1999 grand opening and ribbon cutting festivities of the Nancy Lee & Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth; and a former partner and producer of the National Smooth Jazz Awards that began in Fort Worth and then moved to Chicago. He was also Assistant Artist and Media Coordinator for Farm Aid in 1988 at Texas Stadium.
To read more about Jerry Thompson, click here to read an industry interview and article.
Chris “Ethel” Chaney
Sport Coordinator
ethel@promoterline.com
Ethel began her entertainment career as a General Manager and Talent Buyer for Fitzgerald’s in Houston from 1992-1995, bringing such acts to Texas like the Dave Matthews Band, Hootie and the Blowfish and the Gin Blossoms. Then from 1995-1999 she was a Booking Agent and General Manager for Alliance Entertainment Group in Dallas where she promoted local, regional and national bands and organized and executed special events such as the Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase. After a brief stint with Parallax Entertainment, where she was responsible for the development of artists on Parallax Records, she joined the staff of Jerry Thompson at Caravan of Dreams as Marketing Director and has been working with Jerry ever since. After the closing of Caravan in 1999, their working relationship continued when she joined Promoter Line and is approaching 10 years September 2008.
Ethel is a significant part of managing the company’s events and national and regional bike tours, including the Sam’s Club MS 150 and the Audi Best Buddies Challenge among others. She is also very good at cat juggling.
Bill Sykes
Sport Coordinator
bill@promoterline.com
Promoter Line is excited to announce the addition of Bill to the Bike/Walk/Run Department. His experience includes owning 2 bike retail stores from 1974 – 1994. Bill owned and operated International Cycling, which organized Professional cycling teams from 1988 – 1995 including the IME/Panasonic Professional Cycling team and the Saab Professional Cycling team, as well as organized the Cyclo Cross Championships in 1986 and 1988. He founded the Myles Standish Stage Forest Road Race in 1980 and still is a vital part of it to this day. Since 2003, Bill has been the Logistics Director of the Best Buddies Friendship Rides. His responsibilities included organizing Federal, Local and State municipalities, vendors, venues and support staff, as well as managing, storing and maintaining Best Buddies’ 150+ rental bike fleet.
Bailey Tims
Office Manager
bailey@promoterline.com
Office Manager Bailey Tims has worked various roles in the entertainment/hospitality industry since 1997. His relationship with Promoter Line started in high school when he worked for Jerry Thompson at Caravan of Dreams in downtown Fort Worth. Originally helping with building maintenance, Bailey soon added ticket sales, front desk, crowd control and more to the list of duties he handled for the live music venue. Bailey’s event management experience with Promoter Line has ranged from gates to ticket sales, cash control, backstage management, event setup and merchandise sales, all of which he handles in addition to his daily duties at the office. Besides Caravan of Dreams and Promoter Line, Bailey has also worked as a bartender for Red Lobster, a staff accountant for CTS Accounting, and once spent a baseball season working in the Texas Rangers visitor clubhouse. A native of Fort Worth, Bailey is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Economics. He is an avid golfer, loves to snow ski, and is a serious Maverick Basketball and UT Longhorn fan.
Christie Tims Steblein
Event Manager / Ticketing
Christie@promoterline.com
After earning her degree in Accounting, Christie has primarily worked in the entertainment/hospitality industry in the Fort Worth area. Previous employers include: Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Worth Club, Caravan of Dreams and Southwest Sports Group (owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team and Dallas Stars hockey team.) In 1996 Christie went to work with Jerry Thompson at the Caravan of Dreams as the Controller and Box Office Manager. Since the Caravan closed in 2001, Christie as worked for many Promoter Line events including: WolfDance, Evening of Jazz, Bone Bash, Grapefest, Southlake Oktoberfest, Main Street Days, Best Buddies bike rides, and many, many more events. Duties have ranged from supervising over 50 gate staff people for events with over 20,000 attendance; running merchandise for national acts such as .38 Special, Kevin Fowler, and Miranda Lambert; assisting with finish line setup and event day activities for bike rides held in Boston and Hearst Castle, along with many cash control duties at city festivals.
Becky Cortina
Office Manager
becky@promoterline.com
Office Manager Becky Cortina has worked for Promoter Line since 2005 as a part time employee and has now joined our team as the full time Office Manager. Becky brings extensive experience from her 10 year employment with Sprint as a Facility Coordinator for the Enterprise Real Estate Department, where she was responsible for vendor relations, event planning and acted as a liaison between the community and Sprint PCS. Her experience in this role will prove to be invaluable as joins the entertainment industry. Already a member of the Promoter Line family, Becky is an excellent fit and is looking forward to being a valuable member of the team.
Kenneth Davis
Crew Chief
kenneth@promoterline.com
Kenneth Davis’s experience with Promoter Line dates back to 1992 when he joined the company as a runner. Quickly rising up through the ranks, he became a quintessential member of the crew and has been expanding his knowledge of stage building and production for almost 20 years now. From loading and unloading gear to specialized work with sound and lights, Kenneth has done it all. Several years ago his efforts were rewarded through his promotion to Crew Chief. Kenneth brings to Promoter Line years of experience, hard work, dedication, and a wealth of technical knowledge with over 20+plus years in the railroading industry. He would like to state for all to know that he considers it a privileged to work for Promoter Line where everyone works seamlessly together as a team to provide exquisite entertainment.