Thomas J.

There’s something special about being trusted in a room where vision matters. Stepped in as Project Coordinator with @reign48events for @official__tink ’s album experience. This one stretched me in the best way. From pre-production planning and sourcing nearly every prop you see, to stepping into staging and decor design for the first time all the way through on-site execution… I got to be hands-on in shaping the full experience, not just managing it. That meant a lot. Huge thank you to @najeejalice for trusting me to build with her and be part of something this intentional. Opportunities like this don’t get taken lightly. From executing visions to helping shape them. ♥️ Go listen to ‘F*ck, Marry, Kill’ out now. 💿 📸: @mycameraready

They say never meet your favorite artists, because it can shatter the illusion. But I’ve been blessed that every time I have, the experience matched the music… and meeting @danieldvsn was no different. I don’t call myself a fan of many people—I’m intentional about who I respect. So when I do tap in, it’s real and rooted in the music, the artistry, and the impact. Daniel is quietly one of the best singers around—in any genre—and the beats that @nineteen85_ makes are absolutely insane. @dvsn has been a part of my rotation for years. Soundtrack to real moments, real feelings, real life. I’ve put so many people onto their music, and I finally got the chance to fully experience the album that made me a fan. This time, I got to just be present. No work—just the music. Even got to witness a proposal that genuinely made me feel hopeful about love again. Also, that “Sept 5th” x “Kiss It Better” mix was crazy. (See slide six.) 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Beyond the music, it’s always about the energy for me and this was solid all the way through. Amazing experience. Grateful for the moment. Even more grateful that it lived up to everything I hoped it would. LA Night 1 was different. Don’t be surprised if you see me back for the second show. Happy 10th Anniversary to one of my best albums of I’ve ever heard.

As we approach the end of Q1, I’m sharing that I’ve closed my chapter as Director of Events & Experiences at PRocon. I approached this role with intention and discipline. I gave my time, my creativity, my standards, and my heart; and if you were in any of those rooms, you felt that. As a result of the work my team and I led, we achieved: • Record ticket sales • A more diverse and representative speaker lineup • Elevated systems and operational infrastructure • Seamless on-site execution I’m proud of the work. The standard. The results. Not every environment is equipped to value, support, or sustain the level of excellence it expects. When that becomes clear, so does the next move. Immense gratitude to those who supported, trusted, and showed up for what we created. If you discovered PRocon through me, I appreciate you deeply. Continue to support if it still resonates. As for me—forward, always. 🏅💪🏽 📸: @carnegie__

02.26.2026. I moved in silence, because I’m not performing my life anymore. I’m building it. Protecting it. Living it. More clarity. More purpose. More me. This year is personal. Not public. 🎈

Somehow the universe aligned for me to cross paths with the one person whose voice has been the soundtrack to my life. My favorite artist of all time, @mariahcarey . To see her up close, to share a smile, and to feel the energy that only she can bring was surreal. I didn’t just randomly come to New York, I stepped into a dream I’ve had since I was a kid. Being there, in that moment, felt like life reminding me that faith, timing, and love for music will always bring me exactly where I’m supposed to be. When @welingtononair called and told me I could attend, the day before my flight back to LA, I knew that I had to (in the words of MC) make it happen. The impromptu drive to New York from Baltimore and back in 12 hours was insane, but it was worth it for Mariah. If you know, then YOU KNOW. From the streets outside the studio to the lights inside @bravowwhl , I’ll never forget this day. Thank you, Mariah, for being the constant reminder that artistry, resilience, and authenticity matter. You’ll always be my #1. 🤍🐑

Sunsets, stages, spreadsheets, and a sprinkle of soul-searching. This summer stretched and strengthened me. It was a movie with a lot of different scenes and I loved every frame. ☀️🎬

Man. I don’t think I’ll ever forget what it felt like to walk through @experienceprocon as the Director this year. I’m still processing, but every detail, every smile, every moment—it all hit different knowing I had a hand in making it happen. Overseeing the planning process for this conference the past 10 months, reminded me of why I fell in love with events in the first place. It’s not just about logistics, timelines, or production schedules—it’s about creating spaces where people feel seen, inspired, and connected. Standing in the middle of it all, I felt both the weight of responsibility and the joy of purpose. To lead something this meaningful was an honor I’ll carry with me long after closing out this installment. This role stretched me, tested me, and at times even humbled me, but it also showed me what’s possible when you lean into your gift. Forever grateful for this opportunity and the people who made #PRocon2025 feel like home. Thank you, @iamkeishabradley for trusting me to lead this year’s conference. Shout out to @kiergaines for the very necessary keynote conversation. Much love to our hosts, DJ, and every last breakout session and main stage speaker. To the board, @_fatoudrammeh , @financekeem , @madamecsarr , @jae.alexandra , @kourtneyyymarie , @hintofjazz , @elevenone_ , @twill_22 , and @brooklyn.simone —to see months of planning, late nights, and countless conversations come alive in one day is nothing short of surreal. Thank you all for being awesome professionals and awesome people. Big thank you and shout out to my on-site production squad. @iam.kyng , you never cease to amaze me. @mirrahmediamogul x @ktoobreezy , there is no way I could’ve done last week without you two. To the partners: @awsco.co , @muckrack , @hit360pa , @blackgirlvitamins , @edelman , @marriotthotels , @smartwater , @howard1867 , and anyone else I may have missed—THANK YOU. Lastly… dear PRos, You all embraced me and I couldn’t be more grateful. Your love, criticism, praise, feedback, suggestions, encouragement, and most importantly… your honesty is forever appreciated. Thank you for allowing me to spearhead this incredible effort in service of you—the community. —Thomas 🚀

From watching on TV as a kid, to floor seats in the audience—my first BET Awards weekend was amazing. I met so many talented people and got to see my favorite artist of all-time, @mariahcarey , perform live and accept the Ultimate Icon award. Shoutout to @coraliediora , @pricelessonemgmt , and @livenationurban for the opportunity. For me, it wasn’t just a celebration of culture—it was a celebration of the grind, the vision, and the journey that makes it all worth it. This past weekend was more than just an event, it was a moment of manifestation. 25 years of honoring Black excellence and I finally got to be a part of it. Thank you, @bet .

As a seasoned event professional, I’ve done everything from shoveling mulch and delivering meals to managing million-dollar budgets and supervising hundreds of on-site staff. I’ve coordinated concerts, conventions, festivals, and sporting events—but I’ve never led a conference until I took on this role with @experienceprocon . When @iamkeishabradley first approached me about joining her board, I was eager to contribute my expertise in live events to one of the few styles of programs I’ve yet to coordinate. With less than 90 days left until our flagship conference, I’m excited for the board to publicly share the work my department has been doing to ensure this is the community’s most impactful year yet. It was important to me, with my background, that we leverage entertainment and educational practices to bring new flair and flavor to the table. For this endeavor, I leaned on the breadth of my experience to deliver a product I hope the PRocon community will be pleased with. I’m grateful for Keisha’s and @_fatoudrammeh ’s leadership, as I’ve been learning and growing so much with this team. In the coming weeks, we’ll be rolling out lots of information pertaining to the event. I hope you’ll join us in August. 🚀🙏🏽

From Year 1 to Year 5, I’ve been part of @dreamvillefest in some working capacity, and it is, to date, the greatest honor of my life. Real ones know that September 15, 2018 was our original date, but God and North Carolina’s weather machine had other plans, pushing the festival to April 6, 2019. Seven years of planning, production, and precision brought five installments of what has become my favorite festival of all-time. My journey with @realcoleworld dates back to 2013, where I was in charge of booking talent for @morganstateu ’s annual homecoming concert as @morganstatecab ’s director. J. Cole helped us notch the second-highest grossing concert in university history. Fast-forward to 2018, I am a HS English/ESL teacher in Charlotte, NC looking for a career pivot. Cole decides to bring a music festival to Raleigh and I think to myself “this is it. You can’t stand in front of these kids every day saying follow your dreams and you’re not doing the same.” Before I got hired with the festival, I bought a ticket as a fan. Shortly after, I found details about the Street Team on the website. Shoutout to @phathephenom and @fckinpamela for tapping me to co-lead and develop the NC market in Charlotte. Big shoutout to @camillebwright for selecting me as an ambassador that inaugural year, reinvigorating my career, and helping me get back into live events. Understanding how important access to opportunity is, it fills me up with pride to give someone a chance. This year was special, because I was able to recommend my mentee @ktoobreezy and he killed it! Starting this when he was a student in my 10th grade homeroom class to onboarding him to our team is the craziest full circle moment yet and one of my favorites. Proud! Dreamville Festival has meant a lot to me and I am grateful for how it has shaped my career. Through cancellations, postponements, and a pandemic—this festival has defied the odds and redefined the event space forever. Shoutout to all the amazing souls I’ve met and worked with over the years. I will never forget this team. It has meant everything to be part of this legacy. Thank you, @wescoremore @livenation @saschastone @dreamville ☁️🌻🔥

Pisces season always makes me pause and reflect, but this one had me looking at life through a different lens. The last two years? A wild ride. Lessons I didn’t see coming. Growth I didn’t know I needed. But, I’m still here… moving with intention in ways that feel like alignment, not just motion. The universe has a funny way of showing you you’re on the right path. I had a solo dinner celebration at @somerville.slauson last month, a restaurant co-owned by Issa Rae—who, years ago, made space for @insecurehbo , that not only spoke to my experiences but also helped introduce more of the world to @acehenny , an artist I now manage. I also hired @iamkeishabrewer ’s team to help produce a festival with me last year and now I’m working with her on a project this summer. My life is a collection of full-circle moments like these, reminding me that nothing is random. Every twist, every shift, every unexpected turn is leading somewhere meaningful. I shed a lot this season and at this juncture, I’m choosing to trust that there is no getting back to the old me because the better me is who I was always meant to be[come]. I welcome the changes, the challenges, and the wins that are already on their way. Here’s to living in the now, embracing the new, and stepping boldly into what’s next.

I loved, I lost, I laughed, I languished, I learned, and I lived. It was lethal, but it was lit. 1% better every day next year. ✌🏽