[Salt Lake City, UT]— Flex Rental Solutions, the rental and inventory management platform built by live event professionals for live event professionals, has announced the winners of the inaugural Flex Awards. The program was created to recognize the behind-the-scenes leaders who keep productions running smoothly, often without public recognition.
The Flex Awards celebrate excellence across four critical roles in live event production:
- Sales Superhero of the Year – For turning building relationships, closing deals, and keeping the gear (and the shows) moving.
- Operations Overlord of the Year – For keeping chaos at bay, bringing order to the madness and making complex productions look effortless.
- Warehouse Wizard of the Year – For transforming prep & return into fine art, where every case finds its place and every show starts ready to roll.
- Scheduling Star of the Year – For making sure the right people are in the right place at the right time, and somehow doing it all with a smile.
This year’s winners were selected through a combination of peer nominations and community participation.
2026 Flex Award Winners
Sales Superhero of the Year: Ashley Portier, Sound Ideas Production Group
As Vice President and Account Executive at Sound Ideas Production Group, Ashley Portier is recognized for her kindness, deep industry knowledge, and client-first approach. Known for leading with grace and representing her company with professionalism and care, Ashley plays a key role in building strong relationships and delivering exceptional client experiences. Her leadership and passion for live events make her a standout Sales Superhero.
Operations Overlord of the Year: Sean Anderson, AVmedia
Sean Anderson, Director of Asset Management at AVmedia, is known for his calm, steady leadership in high-pressure environments. A longtime Flex user, Sean leads by example and is often described by his colleagues as the operational backbone of the organization. His ability to stay grounded, support his team, and keep complex productions moving forward earned him recognition as Operations Overlord of the Year.
Warehouse Wizard of the Year: Chris Bauman, Felix Lighting
Chris Bauman, Spec Ops at Felix Lighting, was recognized for his hands-on approach to warehouse operations and his leadership in advancing inventory accuracy and tracking. With deep Flex expertise and a strong focus on continuous improvement, Chris helps ensure every show leaves the warehouse prepared and ready. His work behind the scenes strengthens systems teams rely on every day.
Scheduling Star of the Year: Jesse Andler, Allied Productions
As People Operations Coordinator at Allied Productions, Jesse Andler manages schedules, crews, and logistics with precision and care. Known for his exceptional organization and proactive communication, Jesse quietly makes countless scheduling saves that most people never see. His ability to balance complexity while keeping teams supported earned him the title of Scheduling Star of the Year.
Celebrating the Legends Behind the Legends
“The Flex Awards were created to spotlight the people who make the show happen before the show happens,” said Flex Rental Solutions CEO, Chris Stein. “These winners represent the dedication, problem-solving, and teamwork that power live events every day. We’re proud to recognize their impact and celebrate the work they do behind the scenes.”
To learn more about the Flex Awards and view finalist and winner spotlights, visit FlexRentalSolutions.com/Flex-Awards.
About Flex Rental Solutions
Flex Rental Solutions is the operating system of choice for ambitious event operators. Adopted by the best of the best organizations responsible for the world’s biggest events, Flex is the leading cloud-based software built by live event pros for live event pros. Trusted by production, AV, and rental companies worldwide, Flex provides the tools to manage gear, quotes, crews, and payments all in one platform. Learn more at www.flexrentalsolutions.com.
Press Contact:
Lindsay Schwartz
CEO, LSCC on behalf of Flex Rental Solutions
[email protected]