Temecula Valley
Balloon & Wine Festival
May 30, 31, & June 1, 2014
PRESS RELEASE
AGENCY CONTACT: Melody Brunsting, Melody’s Ad Works, Inc.
(951) 252-5649; melsads@aol.com
EVENT CONTACT: Carol Popejoy (951) 676-6713
PHOTO ATTACHED
Carol Popejoy
February 18, 2014
Balloon & Wine Festival Director Carol Popejoy Appointed to International Board
Temecula, CA - Carol Popejoy, Executive Director of the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine
Festival (TVBWF) was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Festivals and
Events Association (IFEA) Educational Foundation. She serves with board members representing
events and festivals around the world including the National Cherry Festival, Sunfest, Kentucky Derby
Festival, and the Indianapolis 500 Festival.
The IFEA Educational Foundation's mission is to ensure that the IFEA has resources to fulfill its
own mission of raising the level of professionalism in the event industry, while increasing industry
recognition and awareness globally. The IFEA does this through scholarships and a professional
certification education and training program that has produced hundreds of professionals with the
Certified Festival and Event Executive (CFEE) designation. The Foundation also provides an IFEA
Bookstore and Resource Center, funds top quality speakers for seminars and conferences, technology
and electronic training services, translation services for events, and assistance in economic impact
studies for events.
"The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival is one of the premier events in Riverside
County. Its long standing success has primarily been due to the efforts of Carol Popejoy. Carol is a
consummate professional and has always been a delight to work with," stated Riverside County Third
District Supervisor, Jeff Stone.
Popejoy has been a member of IFEA for 14 years and served as the Temecula Valley Balloon &
Wine Festival Executive Director for 16. During her tenure the Festival has won 25 IFEA awards and
numerous CalFest Awards. Popejoy also serves on the California/Nevada Festivals and Events
Association Board (CalFest) a professional organization of event producers from California and
Nevada.
“Carol’s appointment speaks to the outstanding quality of the Temecula Valley Balloon and
Wine Festival," stated City of Temecula Mayor Maryann Edwards.
"Under Carol's leadership and that of a very dedicated local Board of Directors, the festival has
become an international attraction that brings visibility and economic development exposure to
Temecula and our beautiful wine country. Congratulations and our sincerest thanks to Carol on this
outstanding appointment,” Mayor Edwards added.
Prior to joining the TVBWF, Carol was the Executive Director for the American Heart
Association and spent eight years in television where she produced the local portion of the MDA
Telethon, directed live newscasts, and worked as videographer, production manager and program
41755 Rider Way * Temecula, California 92590 * (951) 676-6713 * (951) 676-5921 Fax
Temecula Valley
Balloon & Wine Festival
May 30, 31, & June 1, 2014
PRESS RELEASE
director. In 2007 Popejoy was named Woman of the Year for California’s 66th Assembly District.
"For over 30 years, the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival has branded the Temecula
Valley. Having the Temecula Valley's signature event represented on an international board of events
is indicative of the impact and professionalism Carol Popejoy exhibits," stated Kimberly Adams,
president/CEO of the Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival became an IRC 501(c)(4) organization in 1991
with the mission of promoting the Temecula Valley's assets and area business while enhancing the
economic viability for the entire valley. It currently hosts 40,000 high income guests annually to the
three-day event, works under a $1 million budget, and continuously produces economic benefits to
the community through hotel occupancy, increased restaurant and tourism dollar generation during
the event, and contributions to a variety of local charities.
Additionally the event brought visibility to the Temecula Valley and Southern California Wine
Country in 2013 with over 42 million media impressions, two live television news broadcasts, national
television and news coverage which included USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. Annually the
event promotes the valley through millions of impressions and online marketing campaigns that
extend over a nine-month promotional campaign.
The 2014 Festival is May 30-June 1, in the heart of Southern California Wine Country at Lake
Skinner. Check www.tvbwf.com for scheduled times and activities or call (951) 676-6713.
-30
41755 Rider Way * Temecula, California 92590 * (951) 676-6713 * (951) 676-5921 Fax