Forerunner Events is operated by a dynamic team of event management specialists. In 2010, Justin and Orlin founded Forerunner Events with a focus on event registration services. Throughout our experience and research, we had found that there were companies that produced registration and event management software, but not many that could actually execute the attendee registration function and all that goes with it – customer support, payment processing, on-site check-in, and detailed reporting. Designed to meet this need, Forerunner Events was launched. In our first year, we won a contract to cover 25 national healthcare conferences. Our mission is to be the forerunner company in event management. We would love to meet with you and discuss how we could help take your event to the next level. Contact us today for Registration, Project Management, Design, and Consulting services for your next event!
Justin Sorensen
Justin started his career as a project manager at Scimitar Ridge Ranch – a 5-star retreat center located in the Pacific Northwest. At Scimitar, Justin was the event coordinator for all the events. His role included the marketing for the center, coordinating the details of transportation, managing the onsite meeting logistics, facilitating team building sessions, and working with the staff during each event to ensure the greatest experience was had by all. After Scimitar, Justin worked in the Customer Experience department at United Airlines in San Francisco and Chicago. During his time at United, he managed the elite service line for 100K fliers, United’s Premium Service (p.s.), and the retrofit of United’s International First and Business class aircraft. In November 2009, he moved to Seattle and founded his own event business, Forerunner Events. Justin has a BA in Business Administration from Pepperdine University.
Orlin Sorensen
Orlin Sorensen began his career with a large, international accounting firm and later established his own accounting and consulting practice in 1977. Over the years, he has gained valuable experience in his positions acting as CEO, COO and CFO of numerous health care, technology and event companies. Mr. Sorensen has assisted in a variety of projects including mergers and acquisitions, financial modeling and corporate turnarounds. Today he is acting COO and CFO of Health Care Conference Administrators, a privately held company that develops, organizes and administers conferences, audioconferences, trade shows, courses, customized learning and education, and internet-based programming, alone, or in joint venture with or on behalf of sponsoring organizations.
Anne Sorensen
Anne started her career as a Public Company Liability Underwriter at Travelers Insurance in Boston. As part of the Bond & Financial Services unit, she managed a $9 million book of business consisting of Fortune 500 companies and public financial institutions. In 2007, Anne was transferred to Chicago and led a team of underwriters managing the second largest brokerage relationship in the region. As a member of two executive roundtable organizations, she helped coordinate several national meetings including venue procurement, speaker management, and design. Anne has a BS in Business Administration and Finance from Boston University. During her college years, she had the great privilege to intern at The White House.
Pat Huber
Moving to the Pacific Northwest from Ohio in 1984, Pat took a position at the Westin Hotels Corporate Office as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Food & Beverage. Upon leaving that position, she started her own business services company. Pat’s hard work and diverse skill set made the Bellevue-based company successful for over 20 years. Her client base consisted mainly of medical doctors, psychologists, attorneys, finance professionals, and small business owners. As a woman entrepreneur, she helped to coordinate several executive recruiting conferences as well as video-conferences. Pat was also a ‘Member in Good Standing” with the National Secretarial Association and was proud to receive the “Decade of Excellence in Customer Service” award from her clients.
Saam Phelps
Saam Phelps began her Sales and Marketing career in Utah at Nordstrom in 1990. She was then offered a sales position with Profit Pro, Inc. where she quickly advanced within the company to Director of Integrator Relations and then Director of Manufacturing Sales. Saam then moved to Seattle and accepted a position with CourtLink., Corp. (now owned by LexisNexis) as a Regional Account Manager of Inside Sales. Before joining Forerunner Events, Saam worked for Wishpot as a Community Manager and Sales Representative of online advertising.
Jeff Jani (Advisor)
Jeff is a veteran entrepreneur and producer who has created, developed, and marketed many complex projects in the areas of live entertainment, technology, and destination resorts. Jeff began his career with his father’s company as a principal contractor to Disney where he worked on their new theme park and entertainment projects. Jeff used experience he gained working with his father, Robert F. Jani (regarded as a Legend at Disney as well as the father of the special events industry) to start his own company directing many live events (the largest being the 25th Anniversary of Singapore, which operationally was on the scale of an Olympic Ceremony).
