Thought Partner

Jodi, a Co-Founder of Thought Partner, is a seasoned theater manager with over two decades of experience in the industry.  Her unique blend of leadership, hands-on knowledge, and a thorough understanding of theater give her a wealth of insight from which to draw on.  After earning her BFA in Theater at Emerson College she moved to the Bay Area, finding work in a variety of venues as a Lighting Designer, Performer, Educator and Production Manager.  At Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Jodi has held the roles of Director of Production and Chief of Operations and was the General Manager of The Shalleck Collaborative where she contributed to the operational, communications and management side of the business. 

Rob Bean, a Co-Founder of Thought Partner, brings over 25 years of experience in venue and events management, notably at the University of California, Berkeley. He led major events and managed key venues including the Hearst Greek Theatre, Zellerbach Auditorium, and California Memorial Stadium for a combined 15 years. Previously, Rob oversaw operations at venues in the Pacific Northwest including The Seattle Repertory Theatre, Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival, and Eugene's Cuthbert Amphitheater and McDonald Theatre. He holds certifications in mass assemblage safety from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA, and has consulted for industry leaders such as Live Nation, AEG, Another Planet Entertainment, NFL, NBA, and Cirque du Soleil. Rob earned a BFA in Theatre from Cornish College of the Arts and an MA in Arts Management from the University of Oregon.

Jill Schinberg, a Co-Founder of Thought Partner has worked for music promoters, agents, international festivals, and performing arts centers in various capacities both on the road and in venues large and small. She started her career at Hancher Auditorium at the University of Iowa and subsequently held positions with San Francisco Bay Area music promoter Another Planet Entertainment, Festival Internacional de Videodanza in Buenos Aires, Rena Shagan Associates in New York, and Cal Performances in Berkeley. 

An ‘expat’ from a 20+ year career in arts and entertainment venue management, Jill is currently an Associate Professor of Arts Administration at the University of Kentucky. She researches arts management consulting, programming as an artistic practice, and workplace equity issues and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Leadership and Management, Arts Programming, and Arts Entrepreneurship. She is also the founder of Demographic Trends (www.demographic-trends.com), a startup dedicated to collecting and analyzing demographic data for organizations in the arts, culture, and entertainment industries.