2022 is shaping up to be Overland Expo’s biggest year ever. As Lodestone Events, owner of Overland Expo, gears up for this exciting and jam-packed year, company leadership has brought on some new members to its team of incredible event professionals. These folks will help grow and evolve the company while at the same time help activate the first-ever Overland Expo Pacific Northwest this July.
Before we go full steam into the new year and new events, we wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the newest Overland Expo team members. As you’ll see, they bring diverse skill sets and talents to the organization, ones that will help Lodestone Events and Overland Expo achieve its greatest year of events to date. We couldn’t be more excited and prouder to welcome them to the team.
In no particular order, here are the newest Lodestone Events team members.
Emily Boden, Executive Director of Events
Emily grew up on a horse farm in California, KY, where she developed a passion for her first true love, riding horses. But Emily’s passion for the live event industry comes in as a close second.
Her live events career spans from national touring shows at indoor arenas to some of the world’s largest expos and trade shows in the automotive enthusiast and auto aftermarket industry. Emily is a multi-channel event marketing professional with a lengthy resume of general event management, logistics, and operations experience.
Emily is a Jeep owner who lives in central Indiana with her 1-year-old Australian Labradoodle, Bristol. She is a runner, hiker, and an equestrian. Emily likes to say that “People with great passion can make the impossible happen.”
Jeff Thresher, Director of Operations + Customer Experience
Before joining the Overland Expo team, Jeff spent the last 13 years planning and leading adventure drives, new-vehicle launches, and consumer events for the automotive industry. This work has taken him all over the country and the world. Most notably, Jeff has activated events in the Russian Far East, South Africa, Cambodia, and South America.
While Jeff is more than happy behind the wheel, his passion lies in two-wheeled overland travel. He’s guided numerous off-road motorcycle tours, traveled to Mongolia with Rally for Rangers to deliver motorcycles to Park Rangers in need, and is an avid enduro racer. Extensive volunteer work with the U.S. Forest Service helped Jeff develop a clear understanding of the importance of responsible recreation on public lands.
After living in Colorado for college (skiing, actually) and Arizona for work, Jeff currently lives near his hometown in Northeast Ohio with his wife Margaret and their yellow lab, Curtis.
Chelsea Estep, Operations and Volunteer Coordinator
Chelsea joined the Expo team for the 2021 event season, but we’re just now getting the chance to announce her joining the team.
After working in a traditional office setting for eight years, Chelsea realized she didn’t want to be caged anymore and found her way to the outdoors. Engaging with people and nature is where Chelsea finds happiness.
When she isn’t at her home in Texas, she is hiking trails and exploring with her husband Aaron and their son Dom. She also enjoys watching her husband and son compete on motorcycles. In fact, it was in the motorcycle events that Chelsea got her start in the events business. She is looking forward to bringing those skills to the Overland Expo team as the new Operations and Volunteer Coordinator.
Chelsea is proud to say that she has never met a “stranger.” Not surprisingly, she enjoys meeting new people and making new friendships. If you’d like to get to know Chelsea better, she encourages you to (please) sign up to be a volunteer at any Overland Expo.
Heather Scheiffele, Customer Service Manager
Forever a SoCal girl, Heather Scheiffele has been involved in the event industry for over 15 years. Heather grew up traveling off road, but has leaned towards overlanding in recent years. While overlanding, Heather has found her experiences have been fuller and more peaceful, and beautiful.
Heather has a love for others and a joy for making new friends. Heather is a team player with a can-do attitude who loves helping people to have the most memorable and enjoyable event experience possible. Expressing positivity and encouragement at all times is key to her model of success.
When Heather isn’t working for Overland Expo, she is busy at home in Orange County (aka “the OC”) raising her three children, two Italian Mastiffs, a Poodle/Pomeranian, three cats, foster kittens, and a rescue bunny — not to mention growing a few successful businesses.
Heather and her fiancé have plans for a cross-country trek in the near future. Eventually, the two plan to head down to South America, where Heather can put her fluent Spanish to good use.
When you see Heather at an event, make sure to swing by and say, “Hola!”
