Meet the Team
With over 100 years of combined experience, please meet our Leadership Team.
Jeff Ickes
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
An experienced CEO with more than 25 years in the live events industry, Jeff guides Salem with passion, integrity, and resilience. He places utmost importance on providing outstanding client experiences and fostering a team-oriented culture that flourishes amidst challenges and embraces development and growth. Jeff embodies servant leadership, recognizing the team as the driving force behind every successful outcome.
James Auerbach, CERP
CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER
With over 25 years of experience in the live events and hospitality industry, James is passionate about exceeding expectations, profitable growth across an organization, and delivering memorable customer service. He is a strong advocate for leading with positive intent, mentorship, and the paramount importance of employee training and development.
Anthony Bele, PE
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Through both commercial and operational roles within a Fortune 500 design-builder, Anthony brings over a decade of experience playing a pivotal role in the management of industrial, commercial, and infrastructure projects at Salem. He is driven by a passion for innovation that enhances safety protocols, quality standards, and productivity measures.
Ben Weisensel
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Through executive finance and operations leadership roles across manufacturing and private equity-backed organizations, Ben brings over a decade of experience driving growth, improving EBITDA, and scaling operations. As CFO at Salem, he focuses on disciplined strategy, operational excellence, and long-term value creation.
Don Smith
VP OF PLANNING & IMPROVEMENT
Following a distinguished 34-year tenure at GE and Baker Hughes where he held various operational positions in production and field services, Don brought his commitment to continuous improvement and customer service to Salem. As an expert of LEAN principles, Don excels in leveraging these initiatives and best practices to drive profitability and capacity amidst rapid expansion.
Mike Cameron
VP OF MANUFACTURING
With over three decades of experience leading complex manufacturing operations, Mike is passionate about driving efficiency, innovation, and continuous improvement across every aspect of production. He believes in empowering teams through Lean principles, technology, and collaboration, building a culture where precision, craftsmanship, and people come first.
Erik McMurray
DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL OPS
& DESIGN
A dedicated and proud member of our exceptionally talented team for the past 14 years. Throughout this time, Erik has thrived on being part of the intricate process of transforming preliminary thoughts and abstract concepts into tangible realities and creative solutions that shape meaningful experiences.
Sam Adams
DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION
As the former Owner and Operator of a custom commercial millwork business, Sam brings great insight and leadership into our Commercial Construction Department. He is committed to assisting clients in transforming their ideas into reality and guiding them through the process required to achieve their project completion goals.
Ben Lehrke
DIRECTOR OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
With over a decade of experience at Salem working on some of the company’s largest events, Ben exemplifies leadership through action, prioritizing mentorship and aiding others in achieving their goals. Sporting events have been integral to his life, with extensive experience in the golf and baseball industries. Early in his career, Ben was involved with the National Sports Forum and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, where he developed a passion for orchestrating large-scale live events. Today, Ben plays a crucial role at Salem, overseeing Commercial Operations and the Estimating process for all projects, ensuring excellence and precision in every undertaking. His dedication and expertise continue to drive the company's success and growth.
Dan Fernandez
DIRECTOR OF FIELD OPERATIONS
With over 13 years at Salem Sports Events, Dan Fernandez has led field operations on some of the company’s largest and most complex builds, including The PLAYERS Championship, PGA Championship, FedEx Cup, Presidents Cup, and Ryder Cup. As Director of Field Operations, he drives execution through structure, Lean principles, safety, and a relentless focus on On Time, Every Time delivery.