Meet Helaine Thompson | Director of Marketing & Communications

We had the good fortune of connecting with Helaine Thompson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Helaine, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I think that the most important factor behind the success of our brand is continually introducing new people to our Festival by evolving our entertainment and artisan offerings and keeping things relevant with customers.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started out at the bottom and worked my way up in the advertising industry and then that transformed into a career on “the other side of the table” to directing the marketing & public relations efforts for one of the largest events in Dallas/Fort Worth.

My first job in the industry was as a receptionist – answering phones and greeting customers for an outdoor advertising company. I was fortunate enough to have a group of people around me that taught me a lot about the business world and the advertising industry. They also gave me opportunities to grow and evolve, eventually into sales. From there I stepped into the crazy, fast paced world of radio. I expanded my roles and came to specialize in event clients and sales of the station’s major community events.

I worked with some of the best people in the industry and was fortunate to work with some amazing clients. I formed strong, long lasting personal & professional relationships with many of them. Some I work with to this day, more than 30 years later!

Over time I came to work for several of those clients when I transitioned to “the client side” and began my Marketing & Sponsorship journey. My career has taken me to racing entertainment parks, sports teams, non-profit organizations, major community events, and now to the world of Renaissance Festivals & Halloween Theme Parks.

I love doing what I do – creating excitement about events and telling stories about some of the most incredible entertainers and artisans in the world! But it has not been without its challenges. Long hours, weather events, and some difficult people and circumstances along the way. I’ve been through 3 company buy-outs along the way, multiple management changes, lay-offs, and more.

My family support, strong business relationships, and love for what I do has enabled me to take leaps of faith and jump into new adventures & industries along the way. Through persistence and an eagerness to learn, I have evolved as industries and circumstances have changed. There is always something new and I feel that you need to embrace that to succeed.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would of course start with Scarborough Renaissance Festival! Yes, that’s where I work, but I love the community that is Scarborough. So many amazing people, sites, and sounds to experience.

From there, I would say historic downtown Waxahachie. Even though, Waxahachie is one of the fastest growing communities in D/FW, it works hard to maintain is charm and quaint, historic roots. The history, the great local restaurants, and quaint local shops make for a wonderful day.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My team at TDI who believed in me long before I did and the ownership of Southwest Festivals who gave me the opportunity to spread my wings!

Website: https://www.srfestival.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesrfestival/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helaine-thompson-36b12313/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SRFestival

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@srfestival

Image Credits
Scott Fischer, Pongo, Frank Polgar