(And a REALLY great network.)
Talent. Passion.
Hard work.
We believe the best kind of work brings you to life and comes from the heart.
Our work engages mind, body and heart, while bringing out genuine human connection.
Our undisputed commitment to Crushing It is grounded in a culture that is genuine, playful and infused with passion.
From The Heart
Make it shine
You can sit with us
Always be prepared
Dirty hands & Determination
From the heart
We’re not afraid of putting in a little elbow grease or a little hustle to make dreams come true.
We are poised to tackle challenges as they come and know that when we work together we can make magic happen.
We love pooling our collective creativity, experience, energy and resources for our clients, colleagues and crushes.
We are in this for the LTR. And LTRs are about putting in the hard work
Dirty Hands & Determination
Make it shine
You can sit with us
Always be prepared
Dirty hands & Determination
From the heart
Our team owns every part of the project we possibly can! We are here to make our clients' lives easier, and make them look good.
From our digital docs to our tangible tool kits, we prioritize organization across every level of our work.
We know that in the events industry, a wild card is in the works around every corner.
By committing relentlessly to our processes - we gain efficiency, allow space for creativity and strategic problem-solving.
And packing a mean toolkit - never hurts.
Always Be Prepared
Make it shine
You can sit with us
Always be prepared
Dirty hands & Determination
From the heart
We create an inclusive environment where everyone’s got a seat at the table.
Crushers lead with humility and celebrate vulnerability - we’re the team you can eat lunch in front of when you have a meeting-packed day.
Our love extends from the Crush crew - to our clients, vendors, partners, neighbors, community and planet.
You Can Sit With Us
Make it shine
You can sit with us
Always be prepared
Dirty hands & Determination
From the heart
While happiness does come from steamed curtains, trimmed zip ties, perfectly managed cables and quickly bussed tables - we know that true joy comes from infusing our projects with clever details, meaningful moments and a little surprise and delight.
Make It Shine
Make it shine
You can sit with us
Always be prepared
Dirty hands & Determination
From the heart
Our Values
Fabrication Specialist
(He/Him)
Carlos Navarro
Art Director
(she/her)
Gabi King-Lydy
Project Manager
(she/her)
Alie Bergen
Creative Director
& Founder
(she/her)
Lacey Hoff
Lacey fell in love with the idea of transporting guests into other worlds during her first job as a production assistant in museum and theme park design - and she's tried to avoid creating anything normal ever since.
After gaining international marketing and branding experience through stints with both Universal Studios’ Creative and Warner Bros., this boss-lady soon found a way to combine her skillsets in Experiential Design. She spent five years as the Design Director for an event agency in LA and NYC, executing events for brands such as Harry Potter, Zappos, DC Comics, New Balance and Chapstick. With a passion to be back in the studio, she started Crush Studio in 2016 so that she could build a team focused on the design & production process.
When she isn’t rearranging the office, you can find her working on a home renovation project, camping in the wilderness or practicing Spanish, south of the border.
Fabrication Specialist
(He/Him)
Carlos Navarro
Senior Producer
(she/her)
Felicia Carmany
Director of Partnerships & Growth
(SHE/HER)
Alie Bergen
Creative Director
& Founder
(she/her)
Lacey Hoff
With more than 18 years of experience across creative fields, Alie has built a career rooted in strategy, storytelling, and relationship-building.. After graduating with a Fine Arts degree during the height of the 2008 recession, she built an eclectic background spanning commercial photography, graphic and typography design, client retention, people operations, and freelance creative work. Along the way, she developed a reputation for connecting dots quickly, solving problems creatively, and building strong relationships rooted in trust and communication.
Known for her thoughtful communication, sharp instincts, and love of a well-built budget, she thrives at the intersection of creative vision, strategic planning, and client partnership. She also possesses an almost alarming talent for internet sleuthing- the kind where a first name somehow becomes a full biography within the hour.
Outside of work, Alie spends most of her time caring for her two young boys, hiking, trying new restaurants with her husband, and enthusiastically giving life-changing recommendations to friends who didn’t technically ask for them.
Fabrication Specialist
(He/Him)
Carlos Navarro
Director | Operations
(she/her)
Erin Kent
Director | Strategy
& Partnerships
(SHE/HER)
Alie Bergen
Creative Director
& Founder
(she/her)
Lacey Hoff
Erin is a Colorado native whose path to Crush started somewhere unexpected — an art history degree and a genuine love for creative work, followed by a decade-plus leading global events and building operations infrastructure for large-scale programs. She's a CMP-certified ops leader through and through, but she's always been drawn to spaces where craft actually matters.
At Crush, Erin keeps the engine running — building the systems, processes, and infrastructure that let the creative work thrive. She leads with empathy and a healthy dose of fun, because she believes the best work happens when people actually enjoy showing up.
When she's not untangling the chaos behind the scenes, she's on a Colorado trail with her rescue GSP mix, chasing a powder day, or at a live show convincing herself she'll be home by midnight.
Fabrication Specialist
(He/Him)
Carlos Navarro
Director | Operations
(she/her)
Erin Kent
Director | Strategy
& Partnerships
(SHE/HER)
Alie Bergen
Creative Director
& Founder
(she/her)
Lacey Hoff
Carlos has been on-the-go since his first job painting in high school. Despite pursuing business administration and aviation degrees, he has always been happier with his tools in his hands rather than sitting behind a computer.
After college, Carlos worked his way up to a project management role supervising both residential and commercial construction projects, before starting his own construction business, which he still runs. In 2021, he discovered how his process-driven approach, engineering mindset, and love of finishes and creative details transferred seamlessly to set construction — where he (mostly) enjoys the challenge and thrill of building scenic elements that have to be installed in a matter of hours. Not to mention it gives him plenty of excuses to buy more tools.
When he isn't busy teaching the Crush crew Mexican slang, he's at the shop working on one of his vintage trucks or motorcycles, enjoying his mom's freshest batch of carne asada, or cuddling with his favorite perrita, Miley.
Our Crushers
Production Coordinator
(She/Her)
Elise Holman
POSITION
(She/Her)
First Last
Studio Manager
(She/Her)
Taylor Traub
Art Director
(She/Her)
Gabi King-Lydy
Gabi has always had a deep connection to making and creating, even breaking the record for eliciting the most tears from family members with her handmade gifts. She was delighted to learn that she could turn her crafting talent into a career.
A detour from her Journalism degree led her to the visual world of design. Her experience in branding and the dynamic field of experiential marketing allowed her to see how impactful design could be in the real world. As Art Director, Gabi loves developing programs from the initial concept phase and thinking through the full guest experience and finding clever ways to infuse thoughtful details.
When she isn't doodling in her notes, you can find Gabi swimming in Lake Michigan or exploring the great outdoors with her family and dog. She appreciates good bourbon, crafting and campfires – essentially embodying a very wholesome lumberjack.
POSITION
(she/her)
Audra Zaba
Project Coordinator
(she/her)
Maia Hanlon
Senior Designer, Graphics & Styling
(She/Her)
Kathleen Ostrom
Art Director
(She/Her)
Gabi King-Lydy
Kathleen Ostrom is a Colorado-based creative with 15+ years of experience in design, branding and visual storytelling. After earning her degree in Visual Communication Arts, she honed her design skills at a Virginia ad agency and before running her own studio- designing custom wedding designs and calligraphy, where she blended her digital skills with her love of more traditional, tactile art mediums.
Her desire to find a creative place to build meaningful experiences and be a part of a team again led her to Crush. When she's not bringing bold creative visions to life, you'll find her with her two kids, chasing mountain trails, or setting PRs in the weight room- proving she brings the same intensity to the gym as she does to every project.
Events Manager
Elise Holman
SENIOR Producer
Lara Thomas
Senior Designer | Graphics & Styling
(She/Her)
Kathleen Ostrom
Art Director
(She/Her)
Gabi King-Lydy
With a diverse background spanning Los Angeles, New York, Kansas City, and now Denver, Lara has worn many hats — from film producer and commercial AD to creative copywriter, project researcher, website builder and even a dog walker.
A pro at managing teams of all sizes, all while holding a SAG card, Lara is a master of lists, ensuring every detail is checked off with precision. When Crush faces complex projects, she’s our go-to for wrangling the details.
Beyond her inbox organization skills, Lara is a sports enthusiast (Rock Chalk Jayhawk!), a documentary buff, a fan of quirky humor, a hands-on creator, and an outdoor adventurer alongside her significant other and their adorable baby daughter.
Events Manager
(She/Her)
Elise Holman
Producer
(She/Her)
Lara Thomas
Senior Designer | Graphics & Styling
(She/Her)
Kathleen Ostrom
Art Director
(She/Her)
Gabi King-Lydy
Elise moved to NYC from Milwaukee 25 years ago, pursuing her love of the spotlight, which eventually led her into hospitality and event management. What started with small private gatherings and curated experiential moments grew into a career built on keeping big productions running smoothly. At Crush, she's the one making sure team travel, project budgets, vendor logistics, and even the snacks are all dialed in onsite so the team can focus on the work. Assertive and results-driven, she brings an infectious energy to every project, keeping morale high while turning operational chaos into seamless execution.
Outside of work, Elise loves traveling the world, hunting down unique dining and cocktail experiences, and spending time on the water with her fluffy pup, Marvin.
Shop Hand
(He/Him)
John Van Horn
Production Manager
(She/Her)
Audra Zaba
Title
(She/Her)
Name
Operations Manager
(She/Her)
Maia Hanlon
Raised by a single mom, Maia developed a can-do, "anything is possible" attitude early on, and she applies these lessons to everything thrown her way.
After spending a few years immersed in data as a mathematician, Maia was eager to strike a balance between logic and creativity. She found Crush, where she could explore both, drawing from her analytics background and passion for collaboration and visual storytelling.
When she isn't playing with spreadsheets, you can find her wandering the backcountry, sleeping under the stars, or chasing the golden hour, all with her pups by her side.
Shop Hand
(He/Him)
John Van Horn
Production Manager
(She/Her)
Audra Zaba
(She/Her)
Natalia Garduno
Takenaga
Operations Manager
(She/Her)
Maia Hanlon
Natalia has always had a passion for the arts, leading her to the world of technical theater where she found a love for bringing immersive storytelling-forward spaces to life. She then went on to get her bachelor’s degree in Interior Design with a focus on experiential spaces, finding Crush along the way.
She loves the detail-oriented work of designing and planning custom builds, solving the puzzle of an intricate floor plan, and the previsualization process of digital renderings. To Natalia, there’s nothing more satisfying than bringing bold, creative spaces to life. When she isn’t deep in a 3D model, you can find her tinkering away in her ceramics studio, strumming a guitar, or watching all the newest horror movies at the theater.
Associate Designer
Shop Hand
(He/Him)
John Van Horn
Production Manager
(She/Her)
Audra Zaba
Associate Designer
(She/Her)
Natalia Garduno
Takenaga
Operations Manager
(She/Her)
Maia Hanlon
Always knowing she wanted to pursue food photography, Audra attended RIT’s Advertising Photography program and spent several years working her way up to studio manager and right-hand gal (or left hand in Audra’s case) on photography sets in Chicago.
Through her on-set work, she fell in love with set building and production and found a knack for rigging any kind of obscure item. Audra now puts her handiwork to use for Crush, and is on most of our installs or is back in our workshop creating paint and materials samples or chasing down fire codes.
If she isn’t buried in a photo project at home, she can be found practicing Krav Maga, catching up on Bravo or out with her new pup, Winnie.
Shop Hand
(He/Him)
John Van Horn
Production Manager
(She/Her)
Audra Zaba
Associate Designer
(She/Her)
Natalia Garduno
Takenaga
Operations Manager
(She/Her)
Maia Hanlon
John Van Horn is an illustrator and muralist who was born and raised in the mountains of Colorado. With a lifelong passion for creating, building, and problem-solving, he has developed a broad range of practical and creative skills through hands-on experience.
John is a versatile member of the Crush team bringing a thoughtful, hands-on approach to every project. Whether he's assembling furniture, painting signage , driving big trucks, or installing custom event builds on site, he's always ready to jump in wherever he's needed. When he's not at Crush, John spends his time making art, tinkering on mechanical projects, or bowling.
Curbing Travel
Material Girls
Transparency
We choose clients and projects that are aligned with our values. We love service-based companies and sustainably produced packaging and products.
Choose Carefully
Water Bottle Free
Curbing Travel
Material Girls
We actively engage clients in conversations about the impacts of events and regularly share sustainability suggestions in order to improve footprints.
Projects include a sustainability page so clients are aware of what items are being reused and recycled, as well as minimize how many items end up in the landfill. Whenever items are not re-used we love donating to Habitat for Humanity's Restore!
Transparency
Choose Carefully
Water Bottle Free
Curbing Travel
Crush works with fabricators and vendors to implement more sustainable practices and choose renewable resources for our builds. We reuse or reskin set walls whenever possible and love scouring the consignment stores and repurposing furniture whenever possible. Thankfully, our favorite decor styling element is green, all natural and just needs a little water and TLC.
Material Girls
Transparency
Choose Carefully
Water Bottle Free
We work with local fabricators to avoid shipping sets across the country as well working with trusted local stylist in partners to help minimize our team’s travel.
Curbing Travel
Material Girls
Transparency
Choose Carefully
Water Bottle Free
Crush provides our team with reusable water bottles and encourages our clients and partners to ditch the plastic whenever possible.
Water Bottle Free
Curbing Travel
Material Girls
Transparency
Choose Carefully
We acknowledge that special events result in a lot of single-use items. Instead of changing industries, we’d rather help bring change to our industry. This will be a work in progress, but this is where we are starting.
Let’s create
a circular economy
Part of the reason we love this business is the surprises, the hands-on moments, the nitty-gritty, the improvisations, the inside jokes, and well, sometimes a few pivots (which are sometimes our best work). A few pics from the road, so that we don’t keep all the fun to ourselves.
