08/20/2026
Visionary behind Five Acre Co. from Day 1, dedicated team supporter, and champion for live music in Port Alberni—get to know Lance, our Executive Director and CEO!
Q: What does your day-to-day actually look like?
Daily, I wear both hats as the CEO and Executive Director, which means I am responsible for both setting the long-term strategic vision and steering the daily ex*****on. I spend a lot of my time meeting directly with my department leads to ensure everyone is communicating, happy, and working toward our ultimate goals. My main priority is keeping the team organized and fostering a positive workspace culture where people feel supported to do their best work.
Because I hold the final operational and financial responsibility, my days are a constant balancing act between creative ambition and business reality. I collaborate with my coordinators to shape our future event line-ups, decide on talent bookings, and build out growth strategies for our venue and equipment rentals. At the same time, I manage our high-level budgeting and cash flow with the bookkeeper, sign off on major capital expenditures, and secure the grants and sponsorships needed to fund our operations. When a major contract needs approval or a department faces a high-risk roadblock, I am the ultimate decision-maker.
Q: What does your role look like during a Five Acre Co event?
When an event actually comes to life, I step back from the back-end logistics and act as the captain of the ship. My coordinators handle frontline tasks like scanning tickets, managing vendors, and running sound, which allows me to focus entirely on macro ex*****on. I spend my time walking the grounds, monitoring crowd dynamics, and ensuring the festival or show meets the high-quality, safety, and community standards that define our brand. My on-site presence is about providing high-level leadership and support where needed. If a critical emergency or logistical crisis arises, I am on the ground making the final, high-risk executive calls.
Q: How long have you been a part of the Five Acre Co. Family?
Since Day 1! The first Five Acre Shaker was hosted on my property. As we know, Shaker began as a memorial for the late Zakk Coss and has continued to grow, develop, and expand into Five Acre Co Events, Rentals, and Staging.
Q: What's the one thing that keeps you coming back to event planning season after season?
Watching Five Acre Co grow over the years is what keeps me coming back. Being able to invest in myself and the community to support the culture of live events in Port Alberni is a dream come true.
Q: What is a "secret" about your job that the crowd never sees?
The biggest secret is the sheer volume of invisible teamwork required to pull off a flawless event. When the crowd looks at the main stage, they see a flawless performance, beautiful lighting, and an effortless vibe. What they don't see are the months of intense collaboration, endless meetings, and precise coordination that happen behind the scenes, long before the gates ever open.
An event is a massive jigsaw puzzle of human relationships. My days are consumed by the constant balancing act of bringing together our internal staff, sponsors, and artists' management teams. It takes countless production huddles and meticulous planning to align it all.
If my team and I do our jobs right, the crowd never feels any of that weight. They get to experience the magic of the night, completely unaware of the massive, invisible effort that built it from scratch, which I will call a win.
Q: What is your all-time favourite moment from a Five Acre Co Event?
For myself, the moment that comes to mind is Cameron Whitcomb's Mile High Tour in July 2025. That show was an experience where I stood back, looked around, and truly felt the "we did it." The goal and dream of supporting live music in Port Alberni came true.
Q: Describe the Five Acre Co vibe in just three words.
Purpose leads us, people sustain us, and excellence defines us!
