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Believing that one should be involved in their community, Ron Miller has contributed to area organizations both professionally and personally throughout his life. This includes:

Ann Arbor Summer Festival: In 2008 Ron Miller is co-chairing with his good friend Deanna Dorner, the 25th anniversary celebration of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. Under their guidance, over 200 volunteers will work to create a celebration unseen in recent years. The year long event starts with a “stop the press” party in the press room of the Ann Arbor News – the first use of the space since Ron’s original event for Winter Fest in the 1980’s. A gala for five thousand guests will take place in June 2008. Details to follow!

Detroit Institute of Arts Special Projects: While at the DIA – Ron oversaw the revitalization of Fash Bash – re-creating an event that drew thousands of people to Detroit. Working primarily with Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus, Ron directed a change in the event – moving from a 5,000 person event with minimal profit to a 2,000 person event that made major dollars. The event: Art Scene was reinvented under Ron’s direction to attract 500- 600 people quarterly to electronic music events at the museum. The staid Under the Stars, the museum’s annual fundraiser got a serious boost – for two years being labeled as “under construction” allowing the opportunity to try different food, music and entertainment. And the plans for the re-opening of the museum following their massive reconstruction and reinstallation followed the guidelines that Ron had provided almost to a ”t”. Other projects including Bal Africaan at the DIA were adapted to make profits, and while “friend raisers” were a good idea, “fund raisers” became the rule of thumb.

Ann Arbor Street Art Fair: Ron has had an ongoing involvement with the Art Fair since the mid 1980's. The Fair, one of three that operate simultaniously the third week in July, attracts over 500,000 people to the City of Ann Arbor over four days, and brings an economic impact of nearly $7 million to Washtenaw County. Ron was the first organizer of the not-for-profit segment of the fair, responding to a request by the Mayor for professional coordination. Ron, as Director of the Washteaw Council for the Arts, wrote the first major successful sponsorship grant received by the three fairs, to support live entertainment on six performance stages. Currently a Board Member, Ron serves on marketing and fundraising committees. Ron was directly responsible for securing the new fair site surrounding the University of Michigan Burton Tower, a site that will serve the fair well for decades to come. Ron is also spearheading the purchase of Public Art in celebration of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair 50th anniversary in 2009. His committee has begun the process of funding this gift.

Eastern Michigan University Special Projects: As Assistant to the President of Eastern Michigan University Ron was responsible for the coordination of all major university events. During his tenure at EMU, five new buildings were dedicated with major gala and concert presentations. A human chain stretching across campus passing books EMU's former library to it's new facility caught the imagination of the press statewide. Ongoing campus events including Homecoming, football gatherings, special basketball receptions, and athletic conference events were coordinated through Ron's office. The reopening of Pease Auditorium, a 1400 seat performing arts facility, brought about the booking, marketing, production and sponsor funding for a President's Series, consisting of five different concert performances. Involving both national and local performing arts groups, this series started the resurgence of live concerts at EMU. Ron was asked to reestablish alumni gatherings in Florida, Arizona, Illinois, and maintained involvement with alumni events in Michigan. Ron continued his long standing involvement with major event production and planning, presenting major concerts featuring national artists such as Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin. Ron produced a summer jazz series for several years, a children's performing arts series and other similar events, under the guise of community involvement for EMU.

Ypsilanti Heritage Festival: Believing that you should give back to your community, Ron was involved with the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival since it's inception. He served as General Chairperson for 1989 and 1990, during which time television and regional radio ads were added to the Marketing plan. Ron found unique events such as the Viet Nam Replica Wall to bring to the Festival, insuring an ever changing event. In 1997 and 1998 Ron served as Executive Director, and brought his good friend Sioux Shelton back as Associate Director/Operations. Charged with revitalizing the event, Ron did a thorough overhaul of ongoing events such as food booths, casino and arts and crafts. Each were upgraded (for example fat free foods, entertainment at the casino, regulations for the arts and crafts area) and a new festival layout was put into place. In addition Ron found unique special events designed to attract sponsors and festival attendees. Included in the mix were wine tastings, lumberjack show and presentation, six ongoing entertainment stages, a children's petting zoo, the Kelly Miller Circus, an enhanced Living History Area, interactive games, Big Band Dance and a Sunday Polo Match. Ron and Sioux also added national entainment to the mix, bringing in a live concert by Patti LaBelle - a risk that proved financially successful. Attendance for the festival returned to previous highs, welcoming over 300,000 people to Ypsilanti.

Gus Macker Three on Three Basketball: In an effort to round out his experiece with special event production, Ron agreed to coordinate the 1990 and 1991 Gus Macker Three on Three Basketball Tournament in Ypsilanti. Held on the downtown streets the first year, Ron implemented a volunteer group to produce, market and fundraise for the event. Over $35,000 was raised for charity and 1600 plus teams participated in the tournament. The second year found a significant increase in interest, so Ron moved the event to the Eastern Michigan University campus. The 1991 tournament raised over $68,000 for chairity with 2400 teams competing. Event production included the mailings, team registration and schedule, creation of the courts, trucking and setup of the hoops, along with national sponsorship and fundraising, marketing and event operations.

Ron Miller can be available as a Special Event Consultant. Ever mindful that most events are self-supportive, Ron makes a special effort to secure funding and sponsorship for any new programs, while enhancing existing presentations. Often working with his friend and partner, Sioux Shelton, the two have produced national performing artists stage concerts, simple events such as conferences, fireworks, parades, and major sporting events, and festivals. For a resume, references and more information, please contact Ron at 734 717 6646.