special events.
special events.
ltidwell@rentfurniture.com
972-400-4233
Meet Leigh Tidwell, National Sales Manager for AFR Furniture Rental. She is the mother of three children – two in college at Texas State, one grown and flown, and three fur babies. She is the National Sales Manager for AFR Furniture Rental Company with over twenty years’ experience in the Special Events industry. She is a former President for the Dallas Chapter of International Live Events Association (ILEA) and former President of the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE) Dallas Fort Worth Chapter. She is funny, energetic and outspoken and passionate about developing and maintaining sincere relationships. When she’s not working on events with her clients, you’ll find her practicing Yoga, hanging out with her girls or playing disc golf with her husband. She believes in giving back to her community for the betterment of those around her.
jlemere@rentfurniture.com
407-947-1024
Julia LeMere began her career with AFR in 2011, showing impeccable work ethic and strength as a team player while advancing to her current role of National Account Director for our Events and Trade Show segments. She works directly with international clients and specializes in large accounts across the US – with a concentration in developing custom partnership programs.
Julia is kind, loyal, and always happy to provide clients with solutions. She maintains a winning attitude on every project and, with her European background, brings a certain flair and knowledge to creative design. Julia enjoys global travel and visiting with her grandchildren in Nashville. When she’s not working or traveling, you may find her indulging in British TV programs or (last but not least) fine dining.
kantman@rentfurniture.com
630-988-5043
Organized, adaptable, and hardworking, Special Events Account Executive Kari Antman has always been naturally inspired by interior design. In her personal life, she is a lover of arts and crafts and DIY projects. Kari appreciates the challenge of finding the perfect creative solutions, so designing beautiful, higher-level spaces for her clients is an ideal creative mix that suits her personality very well.
Kari graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in hospitality tourism management and a minor in marketing and sales. Prior to joining the AFR team, she worked with American Hotel Register Company as part of their sales team for the education market, selling a wide array of products and planning dorm renovations, lounges, and university hotels with designers on campus. Kari was awarded the president’s top 10 trip during her last year with the company making her the youngest sales rep ever to receive the achievement.
To keep busy during the pandemic, Kari took an online ASL - American Sign Language course and 40+ LinkedIn courses. In her five-year plan, she would like to return to studying mixed martial arts and earn her black belt. She is a proud supporter of the Chicago White Sox and is part of their Volunteer Corps program. Her favorite shows to binge watch are The Good Place, Stranger Things, or anything on HGTV, and she has a Maine Coon cat named Dane, sometimes called Great Dane because he’s quite large. In her time away from work she can be found crafting something, working out, practicing yoga, baking a new recipe, trying a new restaurant with friends, exploring Chicago, and relaxing.
sbradley@rentfurniture.com
629-333-8664
If your company is based in Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Alabama or Mississippi, Sarah can help you furnish your event anywhere in the nation! Sarah has been an Account Executive with AFR for over six years and lives in Franklin, Tennessee with her husband and two children. She loves to see all the amazing nature Tennessee has to offer and is eager to bring her years of event design and experience to new clients across the Southeast. Sarah has previously owned a Charleston-based boutique event planning business, planned non-profit events for Charleston's only art museum, worked in Event Design at Sea Island, and worked in meetings & events for the largest hotel in New Orleans, the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. She started her professional career in Sales & Marketing for The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott at Grande Lakes Orlando. She currently serves on the board of ILEA Nashville, and in the past has served on the board of ILEA South Florida/Caribbean Chapter. Sarah is on the Marketing Committee for Heels & Handshakes, a Nashville-based event networking organization, and has also been a proud member of MPI and NACE during her years in the industry.
vbuckley@rentfurniture.com
609-315-2809
A detail-oriented team player, Victoria Buckley is devoted to collaborating with her clients to help them achieve their highest level of success. Victoria began her journey with AFR in 2019 as a Customer Service Representative for the Residential Team and quickly evolved to an Account Executive, providing her the opportunity to use her creative design skills in home staging and model apartment furnishings. As a Greater Philadelphia native, Victoria is no stranger to the hospitality and event industry and is eager to offer her experience and passion in bringing your event to life!
When she’s not working, you can find Victoria trying a new recipe in the kitchen, spending time with her family and friends, or on a long walk with her Boxer-Beagle named Barney.
rcampbell@rentfurniture.com
619-936-1587
Special Events Account Executive Ryan Campbell has been an important part of Team AFR for nearly a decade. In fact, way back in 2012, Ryan played an integral role in the challenging task of opening a brand-new location in the Chicago area.
Ryan currently lives in Palm Springs, where he passionately supports clients and partners in addition to those in the San Diego, Phoenix, and Colorado areas. His favorite part about his job is that it gives him the opportunity to help make his clients shine. Ryan carefully considers their insight and ideas and brings their vision to life alongside the best operations team in the business.
Originally from Virginia, Ryan graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg - go Dukes! Shortly after college, Ryan moved to Chicago where he started his career with AFR and met his now-husband, Brock.
When he isn’t working, Ryan loves traveling, college sports, and mid-century modern design. He is an active participant in the Palm Springs Gay Sports League where he competes in indoor volleyball, badminton, racquetball, table tennis, and his newest obsession, pickleball. Ryan and Brock also love exploring the Palm Springs region with their rescue dachshund, Picalo.
Fun Fact: “I ran the 2012 Chicago Marathon, but I am not a runner. More on that over coffee!”
mdiaz@rentfurniture.com
305-967-1374
Mandy Diaz is a passionate designer, doer, and dreamer with 20+ years of hands-on event industry experience spanning celebrities, corporate clients, sports marketing agencies, experiential agencies, and much more. Upon joining Team AFR in the role of Account Executive more than 10 years ago, Mandy quickly made a name for herself among clients and industry associates alike as a detail-focused creative with a knack for reaching clients organically and growing brands.
Based in Miami, Mandy is a lover of furniture, dogs, people, art, and life. She loves forming relationships and making connections, growing her professional network across much of the US and Puerto Rico. Mandy has spent years sharpening her skills and likes to channel her inspirations directly into her work to turn the visions of her clients into a vivid and beautiful reality.
ofagerman@rentfurniture.com
713-819-7679
Olivia Fagerman loves the design process — and loves even more to see the finished product of a fully realized event based on her design ideas. She first realized the event industry was the career path for her as a child when she was flower carrier in several weddings. Now, after several years of sharpening her skills as event producer for a luxury floral and décor company, Olivia is excited to apply her creative expertise to her new role as AFR’s special event account executive for Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.
Olivia forged priceless relationships through the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE) while attending Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at the University of Houston where she held positions on the student chapter as secretary and treasurer, and later student chapter president. She received the Vince DeFinis Scholarship in 2018 which offers added support to undergraduate students in the hospitality industry who display strong leadership abilities.
An active member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE), Olivia has served on the NACE National marketing committee and student task force committee. Olivia was previously on the marketing committee for the International Live Events Association (ILEA) and was a member of MD Anderson’s prom committee for Houston’s community service event in 2019.
Dependable, thoughtful, and always honest, Olivia’s detailed calendar is one of her most treasured possessions. She grew up attending Texas Rangers games as a kid, and even though she’s not a huge movie fan, she still always watches the movie Elf around the holiday season. In her time away from work, Olivia can be found working her way through a new cookbook, trying new restaurants with family and friends, traveling, and enjoying a gin and tonic after a long day.
afeliciano@rentfurniture.com
407-489-4986
Sometimes people stumble upon their dream jobs without knowing it at the time. While working in the recreation department at the Omni ChampionsGate, Amanda Feliciano ran into the departing Catering Coordinator and struck up a conversation to learn more about the role. She decided to interview and was offered the position, her passion blossoming as she was promoted to Catering Service Manager – and later Catering Sales Manager.
Amanda met her husband and, after eight great years at the Omni, knew it was time to expand her career experience. She decided to take on an Event Sales Consultant role at AFR Furniture Rental and was promoted to Account Executive after three short months. Unfortunately COVID-19 put things on hold and she temporarily shifted into the fintech industry. Now that she’s back on Team AFR, Amanda couldn’t be happier to offer her skills in the event industry where she feels most fulfilled.
When she’s not planning next-level events for her clients, Amanda can be found enjoying her newborn baby boy, whipping something up in the kitchen, checking out new local restaurants, or sipping on a glass of sauvignon blanc.
ahopkins@rentfurniture.com
980-201-6197
Aundrea has been a proud part of Team AFR for seven years and now works with clients in eight states. Making connections is something she has always been passionate about, so she finds working alongside event professionals on a daily basis to be very rewarding. She's spontaneous, cautious, curious, and a true shopping professional hailing from Vass, North Carolina – though she's actually lived in several different states. She graduated from East Carolina University (Go Pirates!) and when she's not helping clients put on the best events and trade shows in the business, she enjoys cooking, Peloton, and running. She also loves planning fun family trips with her husband and three children.
Fun Fact: “My Favorite color is green, but not pickle green. More like grass green - Pantone 354!”
jlevy@rentfurniture.com
702-612-0257
Julie Levy is no newbie to the events and furniture industries. She began her career in 1999 and joined the AFR team in August of 2012. After spending two years in Seattle, Julie has returned to Las Vegas to continue her career at AFR. A Vegas native and event industry veteran with over 22 years of experience in furniture rental and manufacturing industries for conventions, meetings, and events, Julie is excited to return home.
Julie plans to continue her presence in the event and trade show industries through her involvement with industry organizations including the International Live Events Association (ILEA), and Vegas-based Convention Services Association (CSA) and Las Vegas Hospitality Association (LVHA). While in Seattle, Julie became the Vice President of WIPA Seattle in its inaugural year.
Julie is fluent in American Sign Language and as a busy mother of four kids (from three years to college-age) she spends a lot of her life drinking coffee and at soccer fields. Though Julie has no significant amount of spare time on her hands, she still knows how to enjoy some Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia and support the causes dear to her heart like the Just One Project and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
qlewis@rentfurniture.com
470-590-6498
Qiyamah, better known as "Q" to her industry mates, began her events profession as a party promoter in her hometown of Los Angeles, California. It wasn't until 2011, when she moved to Atlanta, that her career as an event pro was solidified. After attending The International School of Hospitality, Q earned her certification in Conference Management and Event Planning. The education she received led to an opportunity at one of the nation's largest exhibit houses, Czarnowski Display Services - where she worked as an Account Coordinator for GlaxoSmithKline. The relationships cultivated within the tradeshow world helped pave the way for her success as an Event Sales Consultant at AFR Furniture Rental.
Starting in 2016, Q served Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee alongside her sales partner Sarah Bradley. In July of 2022, she was promoted to account executive for Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. On more than one occasion, she's been awarded for her performance. Clients and colleagues would describe her as cool, kind and calm under pressure. Q and her husband Mike have a big, beautiful, blended family and reside in Marietta, GA.
knewby@rentfurniture.com
415-961-0368
Event professional Kathy Newby began her career in 1986 managing and executing trade shows before quickly moving into the production and rental side of special events. Her expertise lies in venue transformation, logistics, and creating seamless full-service event experiences. Her naturally comfortable style and extensive event knowledge make her well suited for social and corporate clientele who require a high level of privacy and discretion.
With accomplishments ranging from celebrity weddings and professional sports events to cultural celebrations and gala benefits, Kathy has been honored with numerous prestigious awards and honors. She has been guest speaker at Eventworld, guest speaker and presenter at The Special Event, and has been quoted in several industry magazines in addition to her published work in Special Events Magazine. A current member of the International Live Events Association (ILEA), Kathy has served as President of the ILEA Northern California Chapter, Vice President of the ILEA Western Region, and International Chair for the ILEA Esprit Awards – all for two consecutive terms. She has also served on several ILEA International committees and task forces. Kathy is Inaugural Chapter President for the Wedding International Professionals Association (WIPA) San Francisco Bay Area chapter and has served on their national board of directors. She has also been a member of National Association of Catering and Events (NACE) and served on the Planning Committee for the Bay Area Wedding Network (BAWN).
Kathy received designation as a Certified Event Rental Professional (CERP) from the American Rental Association in 2015 and was recertified for her CERP designation in 2020.
rpanczenko@rentfurniture.com
213-563-9870
With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Rachel is excited to help you with your next event! Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband, child, pets, and a whole lot of plants. She is originally from Baltimore, Maryland and grew up with a passion for music and the arts. Pursuing her passions she attended the prestigious, University of Hartford the Hartt School of Music, where she received her B.A. in Performing Arts Management with a minor in Business Administration. After graduation, she worked in concert production for multiple venues in New England, then ultimately found herself back home in Baltimore where she transitioned into the world of Special Events. In 2018, after many hours of continuing education, Rachel earned her CPCE designation (Certified Professional in Catering and Events), through the National Association of Catering & Events. With Rachel’s husband working in the film industry and her passion for events, it just made sense to move to the heart of it all, LA! She loves calling Los Angeles her home and can’t wait to make your next event a huge success!
cweber@rentfurniture.com
201-618-1031
Since joining the AFR family in 2015, Christina Weber has focused primarily on special event rentals for the New York City market. A true team player, she has also played important roles assisting in other areas of the company including residential and home staging furniture rentals as needed. She has devoted her career to marketing and sales with past experience in marketing research and event marketing.
Fondly known as “The New York Minute” by her closest colleagues, Christina is always thinking about the bigger picture to ensure events are unforgettable, priding herself on stellar customer service and around-the-clock availability to her clients. She was nominated for Who’s Who in Executive and Professional Women in 2002 and was recipient of the Brand Ambassador Award and the Design and Imagination Award for her achievements with AFR. She is also a four-time recipient of the AFR’s Elite Circle award.
Christina is a married mom of a pandemic baby girl and has two step children. She is originally from New York and is now living in central New Jersey where she enjoys cooking, wine, and weekends with family and friends. She is well-versed in Italian, football, and is also a self-care enthusiast — her mom is her best friend!
ayurack@rentfurniture.com
860-508-4416
At age 22, Adam Yurack took a sleeveless summer job out of college working in the promotions and event marketing department for an iHeartRadio station in Hartford, CT. What he thought was going to be a quick and fun three-month minimum wage job turned in a lifelong passion for events and marketing. When the market collapsed in 2008, Adam followed many in the events industry and began searching for a new job in the ever-growing healthcare field. Though he successfully worked his way up to Regional Marketing Manager, he still felt a void in his life from not expressing himself through his love of events.
Adam would later find himself working weekends for an event marketing company based in Hartford for now-mentor Kristin Beth Ferris of the Ferris Events. Today, Adam focuses his drive and passion for his clients at AFR Furniture Rental. The thing that excites him most about his career is the opportunity to watch his clients bask in the success of their event – and knowing that he played a big part in bringing it to life.
National event and trade show sales consultant, Marisol Alejo, graduated from University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management in 2016. She began her career as a freelance event coordinator at TEK Productions while still in school, and worked through college internships, eventually staying on as senior event coordinator after she graduated.
Marisol’s mother is also an event industry veteran so creating engaging and inspiring event designs is something that comes very naturally to her. Easy-going, compassionate, and creative, she loves expanding on themes and ideas to bring them to life. She has three dogs, Lena, Bronn, and Sarge, and a snake, Lupin. A music lover through and through, Marisol says she might not be able to live without her record player. She’s also been training in mixed martial arts for over four years!
wbustamante@rentfurniture.com
201-376-8636
Supporting special events nationwide — especially those taking place near her hometown of Brooklyn, New York — Event Sales Consultant Wendy Bustamante is a creative and knowledgeable industry veteran who genuinely enjoys supporting her clients and AFR teammates. Currently living in Northern New Jersey, Wendy began working with AFR as a residential customer service representative soon after completing college. She was highly successful in her new role and, after mastering several other critical areas of the company, was soon promoted to inside sales representative for home staging and corporate apartments.
Beginning in 2007, Wendy focused her career solely on the world of special events and became a vital part of AFR’s very first special event sales team in the New York area. She worked tirelessly to grow her territory into a top market for seven consecutive years. Recently, Wendy has happily taken on the responsibility of applying her years of experience to help train new special event sales consultants.
Wendy has a strong passion for working with concerts and tours, and over the years she has had the opportunity to support many artists she thoroughly admires. A proud single parent of a Transgender teen, Wendy is a deeply involved ally to the LGBTQ+ community. Her favorite lyric — from one of her favorite songs by the Notorious B.I.G. — is also a motto by which she lives her life every day: “Stay far from timid, only make moves when your heart's in it. And live the phrase ‘Sky's the limit’.”
jclinton@rentfurniture.com
410-300-9095
Long before joining the AFR family in 2018, Jessica Clinton was paying dues and building up a wealth of experience within the hospitality industry. A skilled and highly-adaptable Special Event Sales Consultant, she has over a decade of experience in hospitality and more than five years of customer service and sales experience. Jessica is funny, outgoing, and always looking to build relationships while expanding her industry knowledge.
In her free time, she likes to watch Investigation Discovery, HLN, OXYGEN, or Discovery – and can always count on watching the Office when she’s feeling down as a sure-fire mood booster. A true animal lover, Jessica volunteers at the MDSPCA and has two dogs named Norman and Nigel and four cats named Piper, Pippa, Oreo, and Edgar. Fun fact: Edgar was actually found outside of an AFR!
rcosgriff@rentfurniture.com
215-436-5782
We’re happy to introduce Special Event Sales Consultant Rachel Cosgriff as one of our latest additions to the AFR team. From the AFR corporate office in Pennsauken, New Jersey, Rachel enjoys collaborating with clients and is always inspired when using the Allseated 3D space planning platform to design vivid custom floor plans.
A recent graduate of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Rachel majored in entertainment marketing and minored in photography. During her time there, she became the first female general manager of the campus station. She also coordinated several on-campus events which gave her an inside look at the world of special events. Rachel knew right away that this career path had the potential to be something magical for her.
She has achieved many proud accomplishments in the world of photography including having pieces hung in a Philadelphia exhibit. Her senior year she was one of the select few students chosen to take part in an annual semester-long gallery and thesis project. She was even named Artist of the Month in March of 2022 at an international art gallery in Arizona.
Rachel is determined, energetic, and active. She couldn’t live without music and if she could learn to do one thing in the future it would be surfing. She has volunteered her time tutoring children after school in Kensington, PA and Camden, NJ. When she’s not working, she might be exercising, reading, cleaning, cooking, or watching an Eagles game with her dogs, Milo and Eddie.
acouitt@rentfurniture.com
856-220-7702
Alyson Couitt has been an important part of AFR’s National Accounts team for over six years and has recently made a switch over to the exciting world of special events. Alyson is eager to utilize her love for design and customer service expertise to create amazing experiences for her clients. Years ago, she came across a quote that continues to motivate her professionally and personally: “Every expert was once a beginner.”
In her spare time, Alyson loves to binge-watch the latest Netflix shows and spend time with her husband, 3-year-old son, family dog, and friends. During the summer months, you can find her at the beach or by the pool – really anywhere there’s water!
sdoherty@Rentfurniture.com
781-430-9279
Event Sales Consultant Sean Doherty first joined Team AFR in 2018 as an inside sales coordinator after being referred to the Company by a friend who previously worked with AFR’s own Sherri Gibbs. He was promoted to customer service manager before a brief hiatus due to the pandemic, quickly returning as national account coordinator on a small team handling a very high-volume of client accounts. Most recently, Sean has transitioned into an event sales consultant role as of March of 2022.
Prior to his work at AFR, Sean received a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 2013, minoring in international trade and political economy in developing nations. He began his career in food service before moving into retail management, focusing on merchandising and planning for several diverse retail operations.
Sean loves working with furniture and excels at suggesting colors and vignettes that best compliment a particular audience or space. Thoughtful, sociable, and direct, Sean would like to learn multiple languages so he can talk to anyone. His favorite team is the Boston Bruins and his favorite show to binge watch is Friends. His most prized possession is his laptop, and when he isn’t working, you can find him at home with his two Old English Sheepdogs, his Hahn's Macaw, and an axolotl.
eguapo@rentfurniture.com
619-517-3890
San Diego/Palm Springs senior event sales consultant and AFR veteran Eileen Guapo is no stranger to the event industry. Before teaming up with AFR in 2011, she gained key industry insight and experience as front manager for On Broadway Event Center, VIP manager at 4th & B concert hall and nightclub, and event coordinator at Sapphire Event Marketing, Anthology, and Rush Street Culver City, respectively.
Eileen loves to help create unique experiences that bring happiness, laughter, and memories for years to come. A positive and caring mother of two children (plus a dog and four birds), she finds the event industry to be her creative outlet and a unique community that is exciting to watch evolve with the times.
tmoore@rentfurniture.com
919-291-0658
Trish Moore is an AFR veteran of more than 15 years, focusing specifically on event rentals since 2008 as Special Event Sales Consultant. Detail-oriented and creative by nature, Trish is passionate about design and always strives to create events that are one of a kind. She was also a member of the Triangle ILEA chapter for 13 years, developing professional and personal relationships that have been influential to her career in the event industry.
Trish is dedicated to achieving success for her clients and is inspired every day by her dedicated teammates and the support of her family. In her free time she enjoys long-distance running and traveling. In fact, visiting new places and experiencing new things has been crucial to her personal and professional growth.
cmurphy@rentfurniture.com
405-269-2328
After 10+ years of experience as an event and trade show planner for a major car audio company in Oklahoma, Casey Murphy moved to Las Vegas with her husband and daughter in search of a new challenge. She began working with kool. Party Rentals in 2014 before the company was acquired by AFR in 2017 - at which time she became very well-versed in AFR’s product and even product development. Years of working as a planner have given her a unique perspective on the needs and expectations of her clients. As an Inside Sales Consultant at AFR, Casey focuses closely on consistent client relationships and is expert level in the art of making things happen.
When she isn’t working her superhero magic at AFR, Casey can be found spending time working on crafts in her she-shed, going on road trips with her husband Sean, and trying new and exciting recipes. She also plays an important role in her local landowners association board.
Lindsey Schumacher has always had a natural passion for planning things, so a career centered around organizing and planning events is a perfect fit for her. She attended Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago, majoring in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. While originally planning to be a chef, she fell in love with event planning in the hospitality industry during a college internship with a special event company. Once she realized her passion, she switched majors and the rest was history.
Prior to joining the AFR team in March of 2015, Lindsey worked at the Illinois Restaurant Association in the Special Events Department for eight years, producing large wine and food festivals including Chicago Gourmet and Taste of Chicago. She is a four-time recipient of the AFR Elite Circle Award and received the AFR Core Award for Customer Service Experience Star in 2019. Her favorite thing about her job is the opportunity to watch planning and hard work come to life as a seamless event.
Lindsey is friendly, fun, loyal, and dedicated to the success of her clients. When she’s not at work, she loves spending time with her 2-year-old daughter, Penelope. Her favorite shows to binge watch are Yellowstone and Gossip Girl and one of her favorite meals is tacos – because they’re delicious! Fun fact: Lindsey used to compete competitively as an equestrian in show jumping across the country and even once won the national championship.
ascott@rentfurniture.com
214-929-4943
Ashley Scott is an Inside sales Consultant with AFR.
With over 15 years of sales experience, she prides herself in creating exceptional customer experiences by building relationships, working as a team player and exceeding the needs of her clients. Her first year with AFR, she achieved Elite Status and assisted in making YTD sales for her assigned territory. In the past, Ashley has worked as a Sales Manager for various retail and e-commerce companies. Ashley graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Psychology. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her dog George, traveling and online shopping!
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
Born and raised in Central Florida, Megan Shutts graduated from UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. She began her career in the hospitality industry working for Disney and then found herself working as the event manager for two unique event venues in the area: the Central Florida Zoo and Orlando Science Center. She is excited to bring her experience with different venues and her creative soul to her latest role as event sales consultant with AFR.
Talking about Pantone colors, design, and furniture brings Megan to life! In her spare time, she enjoys running, traveling, crafting, and spending time with her dog, Odin.
