Special Event Producers • Wizard of Ahs

Mark Cheplowitz is Founder and President of New York City based Wizard of Ahs. The firm was originally established in Cleveland, OH in the early 1980’s as a booking agency when Cheplowitz recognized a need in the entertainment industry for a consumer-oriented business. He turned his idea into an international multi-million dollar event planning, logistics, management, production, and entertainment booking company, all the while maintaining a personal touch.

Internationally recognized for his creative and unique presentations, Cheplowitz accepted invitations to work as Creative Consultant for the Super Bowl, Orange Bowl, Gator Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, and Monday Night Football Pregame, Halftime, and Post-game shows. He has also been local Logistics Coordinator for White House Presidential and Vice Presidential visits, and an S1 (Site Lead) for presidential campaigns.

Cheplowitz was one of seven judges selected to review New York and Chicago EMMY submissions for “Event Coverage” and “Entertainment Specials” categories. In addition, Cheplowitz’s work has received numerous EMMY awards and nominations. In addition, Cheplowitz was awarded the prestigious Governor’s Award (a next-level EMMY,) presented by the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences in recognition of his work coordinating international and national media during the grand opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Other awards include twice receiving the prestigious “Weatherhead 100” award, recognizing his company as one of the fastest growing companies; nominated as Producer of the Year by Events Solutions Magazine; interestingly, both the Welcome Home LeBron James Stadium Show and Dazzle the District: The Lighting of the World’s Largest Outdoor Chandelier were nominated for the regional CCA Awards in the same category, and ultimately winning for Dazzle The District.

Cheplowitz is also a published author and internationally recognized speaker. His articles appeared on Entrepreneur.com, and CareerBuilder.com websites as a feature in their “Employer Advice” column, and has written numerous articles for trade publications, such as Exhibitor Magazine. He was also a regular contributing writer for PR Week, and quoted in Inc. Magazine’s article “How to Plan a Product Launch Event.” He has given numerous television, radio, newspaper, and industry publication interviews over the years on the science behind making events and shows successful, but his passion is speaking to high school and college students about the industry, most notably at the prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University.

For nearly 40 years, Cheplowitz has produced, given technical and creative support to hundreds of events in cities around the world. Highlights include being named Grand Opening Producer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, National Inventor’s Hall of Fame, Spirit of Ford, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Great Lakes Science Center; State (Olympics) Games Opening Ceremonies Producer for Ohio, Connecticut, Mississippi, Virginia, North Carolina, Montana, and Missouri; Producer of the ITU World Triathlon featuring participants from 86 countries, Junior Olympics and Continental Cup International Soccer Tournament Opening Ceremonies, International Children’s Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies featuring athletes from 58 countries, Junior World Championships, and the Triathlon Amateur Championships in Mission Viejo, California; Entertainment Coordinator and Producer for the NBA All-Star Game and championship festivities and MLB All-Star and World Series events. Cheplowitz has also produced numerous musical stadium concerts, featuring entertainers such as Aerosmith, Ringo Starr and Aretha Franklin, as well as keynote shows as diverse as Richard Simmons and the late Christopher Reeve.

Internationally, Cheplowitz produced: The first Cuban-American Aviation Summit in Havana, Cuba; was Creative Consultant at the IAA Motorcar Show in Frankfurt, Germany, the Grand Opening of Opel’s World Headquarters in Russelsheim, Germany; Producer of numerous corporate events in Milan, Italy and Frankfurt, Germany; and Sea Trek, a tall-ship festival and pilgrimage in Copenhagen, Denmark, Gothenburg, Sweden, Oslo, Norway, Glasgow, Scotland, and Liverpool and Kingston Upon Hull, England; worked on The St. Maarten Regatta and the International Jazz Festival in St. Lucia; producer of the Maserati “One of 100” event; Islamic Development Bank meetings; events for the country of Abu Dhabi; and directed live video coverage for corporate PR Events in Sydney, Australia, Taipei, Taiwan, and Tokyo, Japan.

Domestically, Cheplowitz produced: Events for multiple divisions of eBay; groundbreaking of The Sherwin Williams Company World Headquarters; the American Red Cross and United Way National Conventions; Producer for new product roll-outs, annual meetings, and national sales conventions for (this is a sample): eBay, Progressive Insurance, Rockwell International, Henkel, Time Warner, Cover Girl, Coppertone, Kohl’s, Vitamix, and Glad (plastic bags.)

Interesting highlights include producing the Christening of all three of Goodyear’s newest airship fleet - Wingfoot One, Wingfoot Two, and Wingfoot Three; Cosmopolitan Magazine’s Record Breaking Bikini Bash World Record attempt on South Beach in Miami and viral video stunt in Las Vegas (4M hits in 10 days: #1 on Advertising Age’s Viral Video Chart); National Football League’s Executive Office Summer Picnic in Giant’s Stadium, various events for LeBron James and his Foundation, Coppertone’s Summer Launch with Pat Benetar, Cover Girl launch with Queen Latifa, the first ever national touring outdoor golf festival for Cox Communications, and the 25th Anniversary of Ronald McDonald House, which won “Top 10 Events” by a regional publication. Cheplowitz was also a paid consultant to First Flight Centennial Foundation, designing numerous events commemorating the first powered airplane flight by the Wright Brothers. Cheplowitz also produced the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony and Hall of Fame Game Halftime Show (NBC Sunday Night Football, formerly ABC Monday Night Football.) Finally, Cheplowitz produced an emotional and moving ceremony in New York City for government and business leaders of Akron, Ohio when they presented keys to a donated aerial ladder fire truck, two ambulances, and three police cars to the City of New York in the wake of the September 11 tragedy.

An Ohio native and on a civic level, he is the former Chairman of the Portage County, Ohio Bicentennial, Honorary Chairman of Blossom Time in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Co-Chairman of the Aurora, Ohio Bicentennial, and member of Cleveland’s Millennium Steering Committee. As an elected official, Cheplowitz was a Ward Councilman for the City of Aurora, and former Trustee and Past President of the Portage County Regional Airport Authority Board of Trustees.

As an accomplished helicopter, airplane, and seaplane pilot, and former member of AirLifeLine/AngelFlight, he donated his time and aircraft costs to fly patients in need of medical treatment to various treatment centers throughout the United States.

Wizard of Ahs maintains sales, marketing, and/or technical services in New York City, Cleveland, OH, Salt Lake City, UT, and Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The main phone number is 212.986.5406 in New York, 216.561.5700 in Cleveland, and 754.999.0094 in Ft. Lauderdale.

Website: www.wizardofahs.com
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Blog: http://thewizardwrites.blogspot.com