Penny Ronning

Current

Advisory Board Member at The Vital Ground Foundation
Owner/Producer at Two Chocolates Productions
Event and Programming Consultant at Missoula Performing Arts Center

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Past

Owner at The House of FINE ART
President at Livingston Downtown Association
Director at Bring Back the Night Campaign

Co-Founder/CEO/Chair at HatcH/Hatchfest Audio Visual Arts Festival
Executive Director at Gallatin Performing Arts Center
President/Creator/Producer at MTA Network
Volunteer Human Rights Advocate/Minister at Liberty Prison Ministry
Production Crew at Stephen Yake Productions
Flight Attendant at United Airlines
Flight Attendant/Inflight Manager at Air America

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7 more...

Education

University of Mary
Montana State University-Bozeman

Recommended

1 person has recommended Penny

Connections

164 connections

Industry

Motion Pictures and Film

Websites

Penny Ronning’s Summary

Along with her proven ability, a Bachelor's Degree in Film Production and an MBA, Penny carries within her the wisdom and strategic knowledge needed to successfully achieve large goals. She has been instrumental in the creation, operation, publicity, celebrity involvement, and sponsorship acquisition of more than 200 film screenings, festival events, art openings, and fund-raiser galas. Penny's extensive experience in producing events served as the intelligence for the creation of HatcH, and the HatcH Audiovisual Arts Festival known as HatcHfest (2004). In the festival’s first year, as Co-Founder and CEO/Chair, Penny achieved the following:

♦ Initiated and acquired over $1 million in combined monetary and other sponsorships.

♦ Attached high-profile celebrities such as Jeff Bridges, Peter Fonda, Bill Pullman, Michael Keaton, Joseph Fiennes, and others.

♦ Created and developed the Gary Cooper Spirit of Montana Award, the only award worldwide honoring Gary Cooper who was a native of Montana.

♦ Directed the awards ceremony, paying tribute to Peter Fonda, the first-year’s recipient.

♦ Programmed screenings of 20+ films, including 6 sold-out premieres including securing and coordinating standing-room only World Premiere of Miramax’s $70 million motion picture, The Great Raid.

♦ Arranged and coordinated live musical performances of 10+ bands including Nellie McKay and The Supreme Beings of Leisure.

♦ Garnered extensive coverage from 20 major national and international media including: Variety, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, People Magazine, CNN, ABC, NBC, and other outlets.

♦ Developed format for the Student Film Competition, featuring awards and $25,000 cash prize.

♦ Created and organized the successful celebratory event at 2005 Sundance Film Festival with 700+ guests.

Penny Ronning’s Specialties:

Leadership, creative producer, public speaking, creative event planning, celebrity attachment and coordination, public relations, marketing, press relations, thinking big and acting without fear

Penny Ronning’s Experience

Advisory Board Member

The Vital Ground Foundation

(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Environmental Services industry)

May 2007 — Present (1 year 3 months)

Member of the Advisory Board that includes Richard Barker (Stunt Coordinator & Director), Dr. Jack Horner (Paleontologist), Thomas D. Mangelsen (Nature Photographer), Mark and Virginia Spragg (Screenwriters, An Unfinished Life) and Beau Turner (Philanthropist). Served on Video Task Force with founders Doug and Lynne Seus (Bart the Bear trainers) and John E. Swallow (Vice President of Visual Effects, Universal Pictures), Walk on Vital Ground Committee and other fund development committees.

♦ Honorary board members include: Jennifer Aniston, Jeff and Susan Bridges, Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt and Edward Zwick.
Owner/Producer

Two Chocolates Productions

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Motion Pictures and Film industry)

August 2003 — Present (5 years)

Producing quality feature films and documentaries for theatrical release. Currently in development:

"The Field on the Corner" written by Sharat Raju

"Christian Entertainers: Prophets or Profits" written by
Penny Ronning
Event and Programming Consultant

Missoula Performing Arts Center

(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Civic & Social Organization industry)

June 2002 — Present (6 years 2 months)

As initial consultant on $60 million new performing arts center construction project, advise committee and leaders on business planning, facility structure/operations, programming, recruitment of an Executive Director and other key personnel, marketing for lead donors and community involvement initiatives.
Owner

The House of FINE ART

(Fine Art industry)

June 2004 — July 2007 (3 years 2 months)

Established and directed an interactive art gallery showcasing fine art, film, photography and music. Represented 25 established, as well as new and up and coming artists that include Al Feldstein (retired editor of MAD Magazine), Tom Murphy, Ed Totten, Lisa Adams, Harry Koyama, and Danni Greenwalt. Managed all media relations and coordinated local, national and international publicity efforts for art walks, new and featured artist showings, The Vital Ground Fine Art Show
and THFA Film Society Screenings.

♦ Selected as the gallery to represent Montana for The Nomadic Project, one-of-a-kind fine art show touring all 50 states.

♦ Increased gallery sales by more than 75% each year.
President

Livingston Downtown Association

(Non-Profit; Civic & Social Organization industry)

June 2006 — June 2007 (1 year 1 month)

Recruited by City Commissioner to turn around dying organization. Created and chaired 3-Day Holiday Stroll involving 21 events, 91 business sponsors, 100 volunteers, and a live sold-out concert by award-winning, Nashville recording artist Darrell Scott. Highest reported holiday earnings on record for downtown businesses during the 3-day event.

♦ Quadrupled revenue for the association and more than doubled membership in less than one year.

♦ Coordinated with the City of Livingston, Urban Renewal Agency and Chamber of Commerce to complete a 100+ page application for which Livingston was awarded the Montana Main Street Program through the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Director

Bring Back the Night Campaign

(Non-Profit; Myself Only; Environmental Services industry)

August 2005 — September 2006 (1 year 2 months)

Tapped to serve as the first Section Leader of the International Dark Sky Association in Montana. Recruited by a millionaire couple to coordinate a campaign to create and pass a Night Sky Friendly Lighting Ordinance for the city of Livingston.

♦ Assisted in the writing of the successfully passed City ordinance.

♦ Generated print and radio coverage in the state, region, nationally and internationally, including feature articles in publications such as Big Sky Journal (with international subscribers).
Co-Founder/CEO/Chair

HatcH/Hatchfest Audio Visual Arts Festival

(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Motion Pictures and Film industry)

March 2004 — March 2005 (1 year 1 month)

Conceptualized, created, spearheaded and launched a mentorship-based film and arts festival, with 200 students and 2,500+ participants in the inaugural 4-day event. Directed all areas of the start-up, project management, program development and operations of HatcH and the arts festival (HatcHfest): strategic planning, celebrity and sponsorship attachment, marketing, promotion, identity materials, media/public relations, financial management, volunteer recruitment and website development/maintenance. Hired and worked closely with B|W|R, the world’s third largest PR firm. Subsequently recruited an Executive Director to work full-time for the organization.

♦ Within 90 days, recruited and led a team of 225 volunteers, created the entire structure and developed programs for the first year’s festival, the second year’s event and HatcH labs.
Executive Director

Gallatin Performing Arts Center

(Non-Profit; Performing Arts industry)

September 2001 — July 2003 (1 year 11 months)

Recruited to direct a $57 million performing arts center building project that had been struggling for 12 years to attract media attention and potential donors. Oversaw all interns and volunteers. Planned and executed all facets of a major Annual Meeting event including member relations, publicity, press releases, media relations, catering, venue operations, ticket design, advertising, entertainment, invitations, guest speakers and PowerPoint presentation. Within 2 years of hire, turned around the project by crafting and executing an effective business plan and PR campaign that changed the “face” of the Center and raised its visibility in the media/community.

♦ Developed a statewide educational outreach program through the performing arts.

♦ Increased the Center’s membership over 50% to 6,000+.

♦ Recruited John Frohnmayer, former chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, to join the Board of Directors and developed 3 multimillion-dollar donors.
President/Creator/Producer

MTA Network

(Educational Institution; Motion Pictures and Film industry)

September 1997 — May 2000 (2 years 9 months)

Created and produced multiple events including annual Academy Award Style event and Short Film Competition called The Tracy Awards at Montana State University. Program opened the doors for graduating seniors to network in Los Angeles with alumni working professionally in the entertainment industry. Directed all aspects of events from celebrity attachment, marketing, publicity, programming, venue operations, award designs, and media relations to catering for event and private VIP dinners.

♦ Raised more than $40,000 to cover all event expenses

♦ Attached Viacom and PepsiCo as major underwriters

♦ Attached A-list celebrities, novelists, screenwriters, and film production crewmembers

♦ Programmed and coordinated over 100 film screenings including the premiere of Six String Samuari

♦ Sold-out every event created and produced under my direction

♦ Recruited and managed over 150 volunteers
Volunteer Human Rights Advocate/Minister

Liberty Prison Ministry

(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Religious Institutions industry)

January 1993 — August 1996 (3 years 8 months)

Tulsa, OK based based ministry. Human rights advocate for male and female prison inmates.
Production Crew

Stephen Yake Productions

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Broadcast Media industry)

May 1994 — September 1995 (1 year 5 months)

Production crew on music videos; Carman, Point of Grace and Ray Boltz among others.
Flight Attendant

United Airlines

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; UAUA; Airlines/Aviation industry)

January 1990 — December 1994 (5 years)

Domestic Flight Attendant based in San Francisco, CA.
Flight Attendant/Inflight Manager

Air America

(Public Company; 201-500 employees; Airlines/Aviation industry)

December 1984 — December 1989 (5 years 1 month)

Inflight Manager on International and Domestic flights; 12 - 14 member cabin crews; jumbo jets seating 344 passengers. Based in Los Angeles, CA; Detroit, MI; and Catania, Sicily.

Penny Ronning’s Education

University of Mary

MBA, Emphasis: Marketing, 2002 — 2004
Montana State University-Bozeman

Bachelor of Arts, Media and Theatre Arts; Film, 1996 — 2000

Additional Information

Penny Ronning’s Websites:

Penny Ronning’s Groups:

Livingston MT Downtown Association (President)
The Vital Ground Foundation (Board of Advisors)
Sundance Intstitute (member) Sundance Film Festival
Up With People (Alumnus) UWP UWPIAA
Amnesty International USA (member)
Kiva.org
International Dark Sky Association (Montana Section Leader) IDA
Livingston MT Gallery Association
Montana State University - Bozeman MSU
Panavision New Filmmaker Program
1 Second Film (Executive Producer)
Livingston Montana
HatcH HatcHfest
Bozeman Montana
Billings West High School
Arizona State University
Young Life
Walk to Emmaus
Gen Art (member)
sixdegrees.org
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Montana Women For
Facebook
BlogCatalog.com
Political Voices of Women