Meet the 2020-21 Bren Events Center team!

• Daniel Lew - Technical Manager
• Kevin Foote - Maintenance Manager

 

Danny Spitzer

Director - Bren Events Center

21+ Years at UCI

Alma Mater: UC Davis

How did you get started in the profession and what brought you to UCI? 
If you want to trace some history, it goes back to 5^th & 6^th grade stage manager for elementary school Talent Show. My professional background consists of raw old school work ethic, scenic technical lighting work, and eventually event planning & management. What brought me to UCI …That was a combination of work ethic meets some divine intervention, then colliding with an opportunity to relocate back closer to an area where I grew up and was familiar in.

What is your favorite UCI moment or memory? 
My 1^st Day at UCI …. That's when this journey began.  (I remember it like it was yesterday).
 
Where is your favorite place on UCI campus? Also favorite place in the Irvine/Newport area?  The Bren Events Center ... Why? …. It's the single spot that I have spent the most time at and it is a place that creates experiences for UCI community AND it is a unique venue that has created experiences for many others who have attended events here over the past few decades!

Also favorite place in the Irvine/Newport area, why?  The coast …. The coast along CDM area offers spectacular views, a place to relax or spend time with family, an environment that offers the ability to clear your mind, and one of the best scenic spots for sunset photos! 

What is the best part about working at UCI? 
Having an opportunity to make an impact, and the ability to thrive in a professional working environment each and every day. 

What do you find to be the most challenging part of the job that people might not realize? 
Two answers come to mind:  One of which is that not much of what happens in the Special Events world is 'cookie cutter', each event brings challenges that you must address by relying on past experiences and collaborating with reliable resources. The second challenging part of the job or this industry would be finding a balance with staff personalities and capturing the output of staff contributions in order to maximize the collective output of the team!

What was your favorite event ever hosted in the Bren and why?  
After hosting literally thousands of events over the span of two decades, this is the most common question I get asked, and a challenging one to answer.  A few notable events are on the Top Ten list: Global Compassion Summit 2015 featuring His Holiness Dalai Lama. Due to the scope of this multi-day, multi-session event and consisting of numerous staff resources, months of planning, logistical challenges to work through, and limited sleep, but impeccable attention to detail was created in process.  Next would be the annual UCI Commencements …. Hosting numerous ceremonies for UCI graduates over a long weekend, thousands of graduates, tens of thousands of family & friends, millions of photos taken, priceless memories & reflections each year, plus having our student employees work and graduate in the facility is a neat situation.  Another notable event would be hosting NFL Football Training Camp for the Los Angeles Rams in the modern era.  Football has been part of my life since I was a child, and understanding that a collegiate football team at UCI would be a long shot …. Hosting football within our athletic complex has been a great venture for the university itself and a refreshing opportunity for myself to be involved in! 

What is your favorite holiday tradition?  
What holiday!? …. We often host activity on holidays, so spending time with family on a holiday is a simple holiday tradition in itself. 
 
Who is your favorite professional team? 
TEAM BREN of course.  Oh, and favorite professional sports team …. Got to venture to east coast for this one... NE Patriots!
 
What is something no one knows about you? 
That I'm not a magician, but I can make magic happen! 

 

Melissa Ramos

Associate Director - Bren Events Center

13 Years at UCI

Alma Mater: UC Irvine '07

How did you get started in the profession and what brought you to UCI? 
 I started as a ticket office student worker my sophomore year at UC Irvine and never left!  I was fortunate to be offered a position after graduation that allowed me to work ticketing and business operations for the baseball team.  As our Athletics Ticket Office merged with the Bren Events Center, I took an interest in arena operations, which paved the path to my dual positions overseeing the Bren's administrative and business operations in addition to ticket operations.

What is your favorite UCI moment or memory? 
The the 2014 College World Series run from selection day to #1 Oregon State to Oklahoma State to Omaha was an amazing experience!

And of course our first Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament berth in 2015!

Where is your favorite place on UCI campus? Also favorite place in the Irvine/Newport area? 
The views from Anteater Stadium and Anteater Ballpark.  They have some of the best skylines in all of Orange County.
 
What is the best part about working at UCI? 
The people! In this industry, you spend a lot of time at work but being around great supervisors and coworkers makes it the best second home.

What do you find to be the most challenging part of the job that people might not realize? 

Work-life balance is tricky with events during the week, weekends, and managing office hours, but when you love what you do it always works out!

What was your favorite event ever hosted in the Bren? 
I am a huge country music fan so Luke Combs in 2018 was great!  We typically book concerts for up and coming artists so getting to see him before his career really took off was fun. 

What is your favorite holiday tradition? 
Spending the holidays in Baja California with my family. 

Who is your favorite professional team? 
SAN DIEGO Chargers.
 
What is something no one knows about you? 
I grew up on avocado groves in Fallbrook, CA.  My job was to trim the stems before they were transferred to the bins picked up by the packing house.
 

 

Kristina Engel

Assistant Director - Bren Events Center

29 Years at UCI

Alma Mater: UC Irvine

How did you get started in the profession and what brought you to UCI? 
I was an Arts and Theatre major at UC Irvine back in the late 80's. My first on-campus job was working food concessions at the Bren; I then moved onto ushering and ticket taking during events. The year I graduated, a position for an Administrative Assistant became available in the Bren Administrative Office.  From there I transitioned to the Office Manager, then Business Manager, to finally my current position as Assistant Director.

What is your favorite UCI moment or memory? 
I love being a part of the UCI Commencement Ceremonies each year.  It's an event filled with happy, joyful families, graduates and students.  I love the energy of Commencement, and I still get a lump in my throat when hear Pomp and Circumstance.
 
Where is your favorite place on UCI campus? Also favorite place in the Irvine/Newport area? 
I love Aldrich Park. The park is a beautiful, meditative spot. The entire UC Irvine campus is one of the most beautiful college campuses in California. When I'm not taking a stroll around Aldrich park, you can find me rollerblading down at Newport Beach between the Newport and Balboa piers. 
 
What is the best part about working at UCI? 
The people and students. I've worked with a lot of amazing people and forged some lifelong friendships during my tenure.

What do you find to be the most challenging part of the job that people might not realize? 
As a Gen X'er I have experienced first-hand the technology explosion over the last 30 years. Our generation straddles the world before computers/internet existed and after.  When I first began my career at UCI, I had a typewriter on my desk, not a computer! During my time at UCI, I have had to learn a myriad of new and upgraded software systems for my job responsibilities.

What was your favorite event ever hosted in the Bren and why?
When the Dalai Lama visited the Bren in 2004 and 2011. I remember there was a tremendous level of security surrounding these events including background checks, metal detectors and bomb-sniffing dogs.  It was exciting to host one of the world's most famous and revered spiritual leaders in our facility.

What is your favorite holiday tradition? 
The highlight of my holiday season is the Festivus party my friends and I host each year.  Due to the pandemic, 2020 will mark the first time in 15 years that we will have to suspend our Festivus celebration.

Who is your favorite professional team? 
Ironically, I'm not much of a sports fan, but my sister lives in Seattle, and I'm from San Francisco, so I'll root for the Seahawks or 49er's when necessary
 
What is something no one knows about you? 
I sang opera professionally for 21 years in addition to my career at UCI.

 

Carla Gonzalez

Event and Production Manager

22 Years at UCI

Alma Mater: UC Irvine

How did you get started in the profession and what brought you to UCI? 
I begin working at the Bren as a student.  After graduation I was working part time while I figured out my choices.  I begin working as a production assistant and really enjoyed event production for large events such as concerts.   I was giving the opportunity and accepted a full time position as the production manager.   Over the years I was giving more duties as our events and athletic game volume grew.

What is your favorite UCI moment or memory? 
There are many great moments, but my favorite is UCI Commencement.  Is always great watching our student employees reach their graduation and having been part of their journey.
 
Where is your favorite place on UCI campus? Also favorite place in the Irvine/Newport area? 
 It will have to be taking a walk around Crawford Fields at sunset. 
 
What is the best part about working at UCI? 
Working with the student employees is always entertaining. They keep the Bren fun and lively.

What do you find to be the most challenging part of the job that people might not realize? 
Completing what we call "transitions" between events. Transitions are mostly completed over night and no matter how many times we do transitions, is always amazing having to complete full transitions from sold out concerts to men's basketball games in one night and when morning arrives having a completely different set-up without any traces of the previous one.

What is your favorite part of the job?
TNA Wrestling back in 2009.  Their production was awesome and that was the first time we had full pyrotechnics inside the Bren. 

What are you most looking forward to in returning to campus? 
Making tamales and buñuelos on Christmas Eve. Buñuelos are a fry flour tortilla cover in cinnamon sugar and syrup. 
 
Who is your favorite professional team? 
The Anaheim Ducks
 
What is something no one knows about you? 
I was born and raised in Mexico until I was 13 years old.

 

Derrick Young

Event Manager

2 Years at UCI

Alma Mater: Long Beach State (Undergrad) California Baptist University (Graduate

How did you get started in the profession and what brought you to UCI? 
I began working in the sports industry while I was an undergraduate at Long Beach State. I had the opportunity to intern for various organizations such as: Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Sparks, USA Water Polo, and CS Fullerton. Once I became a graduate student at California Baptist University, I was able to obtain paid positions for the Rose Bowl Game, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and Auto Club Speedway. During this period of my professional career, I became very interested in events and wanted to acquire more experience. I was fortunate to obtain an Event Manager position for the Tony's Pizza Event Center, which is located in Salina, KS. I spent a year in this position but, I wanted to return to Southern California to be near my mother. UCI was hiring for an Event Manager and I was blessed to have been hired.

What is your favorite UCI moment or memory? 
My favorite memory at UCI has to be the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. UCI MBB upset Kansas State to earn UCI's first win in the NCAA Tournament. I won't ever forget the buzz and excitement around campus and the Orange County community during this time. What made this moment even better was 'who' we beat. My previous job was in Kansas and many of my previous coworkers were Kansas State fans. So I was able to have some bragging rights.
 
Where is your favorite place on UCI campus? Also favorite place in the Irvine/Newport area? 
 My favorite place on the UCI campus is the Tennis Courts. I always enjoying walking through or taking my breaks on one of the benches.  My favorite place in the Irvine/Newport area is the beach.
 
What is the best part about working at UCI? 
The best part about working at UCI are the relationships I have formed with my colleagues and staff.

What do you find to be the most challenging part of the job that people might not realize? 
The most challenging part of my job is the event planning phase. There is a lot of preparation that goes in to planning a successful event people don't realize.

What was your favorite event ever hosted in the Bren and why?
It is hard to pick just one event but, I always enjoy the Long Beach State vs. UCI MBB games. The Black & Blue rivalry is always fun to watch. 
 
Who is your favorite professional team? 
Thee Miami Heat.
 
What is something no one knows about you? 
I have always thought about being a Firefighter but, I hate heights.

 

Jeff Grady

Scheduling Manager

20 Years at UCI

How did you get started in the profession and what brought you to UCI? 
I started out as a temp employee and then was hired on to the Bren.

What is your favorite UCI moment or memory? 
Probably Barack Obama giving his Commencement speech. Having a sitting president give the address was a huge event!
 
 What is the best part about working at UCI? 
All the paid holidays!

What do you find to be the most challenging part of the job that people might not realize? 
Getting information from the teams in a timely manner.

What was your favorite event ever hosted in the Bren and why? 
Probably the times we hosted the Dalai Lama because of the sheer scope of the event. After that would be any concert, since I love concerts.

.What are you most looking forward to in returning to campus? 
Getting to see faces in person again!  I miss seeing everyone in the hallways and friendly faces.  
 
What is something no one knows about you? 
I'm missing a small part of the tip of my right pinkie finger.

 

Randy Rigali

Box Office Manager

2 years and 5 months at UCI

Alma Mater: Cal State Monterey Bay

How did you get started in the profession and what brought you to UCI? 
 I got started in this profession by working in the Ticket Sales & Service department with the San Francisco Giants. I really enjoyed working on game days in a fast paced environment and helping fans with any ticket issues they had. My professional back ground would be in ticketing operations and event management. What brought me to UCI was the culture built of wanting to win and the team environment built around support and excellence at the Bren Events Center

What is your favorite UCI moment or memory? 
 My favorite UCI memory would be working men's and women's soccer games as well as baseball games seeing the sunset come down over the field!

Where is your favorite place on UCI campus? Also favorite place in the Irvine/Newport area? 
My favorite place on UCI campus would be any bench in Aldrich Park. I love to go there during my lunch breaks and read books and the park relaxes my mind. My favorite place in the Newport area would be SOL restaurant; because they have delicious traditional Baja cuisine!

What is the best part about working at UCI? 
The best part of working at UCI is the friendships made and the different events I have worked and the relationships built with our different clients.

What do you find to be the most challenging part of the job that people might not realize? 
Seat relocation on a game day or concert night with a disgruntled fan.

What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite event ever hosted at the Bren would have to be our Homecoming men's basketball game against University of Hawai'i during the 2018-2019 season. It was a sold out game, we won, and a lot of noise and electricity in the Bren that night!

What is your favorite holiday tradition? 
My favorite holiday tradition would be wearing an ugly sweater, watching the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and a glass of egg nog on ice.
 
Who is your favorite professional team? 
Manchester United.
 
What is something no one knows about you? 
I played in the Little League World Series back in the year 2000.

 

Rob Espero

Digital/Social Media Manager & MC/Host/Announcer

Around 30 Years at UCI

Alma Mater: UC Irvine

How did you get started in the profession and what brought you to UCI? 
Stacey King threw me in on the microphone as a Hail Mary replacement—and 30+ years later things are still as bad as they were when I first started. I've always done digital/social media marketing beginning in the late 80s. The tech-digital geek in me was hard to keep down.

What is your favorite UCI moment or memory? 
 UCI men's volleyball's first NCAA Championship. I had a lot of dear friends on that team whom I still stay in contact today who are doing well in their careers, playing abroad, Olympians and highly respected professionals in what they do.

Where is your favorite place on UCI campus? Also favorite place in the Irvine/Newport area? 
The Bren Events Center. I've worked a LOT of venues nationwide and the acoustics and atmosphere are unmatched and so different at the same time in comparison to the other places I've been on mic.  FAVORITE PLACE IN NEWPORT IS 61^ST ST. BECAUSE OF THE SURF!.

What is the best part about working at UCI? 
ALWAYS THE PEOPLE. 

What do you find to be the most challenging part of the job that people might not realize? 
Keeping up with all the social media platforms' features, enhancements and marketing strategies.

What was your favorite event ever hosted in the Bren and why? 
Anything with a ball.

What is your favorite holiday tradition? 
Surfing Christmas Eve morning (it use to be Christmas morning before I got married and had kids. My "boss" won't let me go for obvious reasons.)

Who is your favorite professional team? 
Any team that has Anteater connections—etc. Scotty Brooks (Washington Wizards), Keston Hiura (Milwaukee Brewers), Dan McDonnell '12, Brian Thornton '07, David Smith '07 (USA Men's Volleyball Team).

What is something no one knows about you? 
My wife and I went to a taping of "Lip Sync Battle" with Don Cheadle and Wanda Sykes and got significant camera time!