Michael Lounello · Creative Operations & Experience Leader

Designing the systems, teams, and moments behind meaningful experiences.

Michael Lounello brings creative operations leadership to complex work that does not fit neatly on an org chart, connecting production, technology, culture, and institutional life with calm command.

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Featured Moment

Rooted in Franciscan Values, Rising as a University

Siena University's University status celebration.

Production Manager & Designer
September 18, 2025
Estimated 3,000-4,000 attendees

Positioning Snapshot

Order, imagination, and forward motion for complex environments.

Michael works across creative operations, live experience, production systems, technical infrastructure, institutional culture, and team leadership. His work connects the practical and the human: the plans, tools, rooms, and relationships that help meaningful experiences hold together.

Work at a Glance

A broad practice with a clear throughline.

The work spans creative, technical, institutional, and human systems without losing sight of the people inside them.

Creative Operations

Bringing structure, rhythm, and clarity to work that crosses teams, disciplines, and expectations.

Live Experience & Events

Shaping gatherings and institutional moments with attention to flow, tone, logistics, and care.

Production Systems

Connecting technical planning, backstage realities, vendor coordination, and calm execution.

Technology & Workflow Tools

Building practical tools and workflows that help people move through complex operational work.

Institutional Culture

Designing experiences that respect place, people, mission, and the subtle signals that shape belonging.

Teaching, Mentorship & Service

Supporting learning, professional contribution, and mentorship through grounded creative leadership.

Featured Proof Points

Proof that spans experience, systems, service, and stewardship.

These examples connect Michael's broader leadership thesis to verified work, public-safe details, and carefully framed case-study pathways.

Flagship institutional experience

Rooted in Franciscan Values, Rising as a University

Siena University's September 18, 2025 University status celebration, serving an estimated 3,000-4,000 attendees across students, alumni, faculty, staff, administration, prospective students, and community members.

Michael served as Production Manager & Designer, shaping the ceremony, academic showcase layout, evening celebration, drone show experience, production team, vendor coordination, and technical systems. Full case-study media and supporting documentation are still being gathered.

Brand and community stewardship

Shaker Ridge Rebrand

An in-progress modernization effort connecting website redesign, property-wide brand direction, furniture, architecture, materials, golf carts, signage, colors, fonts, history, and member-facing language.

Michael's verified service includes Board Member (2022-2026) and 2nd Vice President & Executive Board Member (2026-Current). Logos remain private while public-safe assets and timeline details are confirmed ahead of the 2029 centennial.

Practical technology

App Library / Workflow Tools

Engineer-minded creative leadership through tools such as GoboPad, Playbill Builder, Siena Maps, Lighting Color Match, Siena Question Wheel, and other workflow systems.

Live public tools and screenshot-only internal systems are separated carefully so public links, private workflows, and sensitive data stay in the right lanes.

Mentorship and contribution

Teaching, Speaking & Professional Service

Adjunct teaching, mentorship, ACTF Region 1 service, ATHE presentation work, Siena service, board leadership, and selected awards and recognition.

Verified details include ACTF Region 1 leadership, the 2019 ATHE presentation "Transitions: Redefining the Theatre Paradigm for the Future," and Siena's James Knust Excellence in Administration Award.

Featured Portfolio

Selected pathways into the work.

The current portfolio structure highlights the strongest case-study directions while deeper project pages and supporting media are developed carefully.

Rooted in Franciscan Values, Rising as a University

A flagship institutional experience bringing ceremony design, academic showcase planning, production leadership, custom scenic moments, and a drone show into one campus-wide celebration.

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Shaker Ridge Rebrand

An in-progress brand stewardship effort connecting modernization, heritage, member experience, property-wide visual decisions, and long-range centennial planning.

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Technology and Workflow Tools

A working library of public tools, prototypes, and internal systems that translate operational friction into usable interfaces.

Explore App Library

Leadership Philosophy

Calm systems for ambitious work.

Michael's leadership centers on calm command: the ability to make complex work feel legible, humane, and possible. He is drawn to systems that support people, not systems that make people disappear into process.

His work translates creative ideas into practical execution while holding space for care, judgment, and steady collaboration in high-pressure environments.

Ways to Collaborate

Aligned conversations for complex creative and operational work.

These areas are starting points for thoughtful conversations, not a fixed menu of services.

Event and experience strategy

Venue and production operations assessment

Technical systems planning

Workflow and app/tool development

Campus culture and engagement experiences

Club operations and technology consulting

Theatre production systems and mentoring

Speaking and workshops

Next Steps

A clear path into the work.

Explore the portfolio structure, review the resume and bio area, or start a conversation when the fit is right.

View Portfolio Contact Resume / Bio