Events downtown and throughout Gastonia will get help now from a new employee in the Gastonia Parks and Recreation Department.
Christine Carlson was hired in November as an event planner/resource manager, a recently reclassified position in Parks and Recreation. Her job duties include downtown event planning, working with the Rotary Club for the downtown summer concert series, and helping with Parks and Recreation’s social media presence and marketing.
Possible downtown events could include four events a year like in the winter, spring, fall and the 4th of July. The Rotary concert series will continue and there could be food truck days and jazz concerts in Center City Park.
“We’ll be looking for the lead from City Council of how many events they want and what our budget is going to be,” said Cam Carpenter, Parks and Recreation director.
Carlson will also serve as the contact person for event permits and In-Kind Services requests from throughout the city.
“She has revamped the In-Kind Services application process, working with IT and SeamlessDocs,” Carpenter said. “In a couple weeks you’ll be able to get it online. Instead of going to two or three places, this will be like a one-stop shop.”
Carlson holds a bachelor’s degree in Sport and Event Management from Johnson and Wales in Charlotte and served as the meeting and event planning intern for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Charlotte branch.
“Even from a young age, I always loved event planning,” Carlson said. “It focuses on bringing people together from all walks of life and circumstances to celebrate important events, whether it be a wedding, birthday party, or 4th of July Celebration. I love creating something from start to finish, and focusing on all the little details in between, and then seeing people come out and have a great time.”
