Dara Quinn and Alicia Callison met this summer while helping out at a local music festival, and their friendship quickly blossomed.
There were other business ideas as well.
The two worked well together and realized that with Quinn’s music industry knowledge and connections and Callison’s organizational and planning talents, they could create a dynamic event production team.
So they founded Emerald Spark Events.
The company, which is dedicated to bringing live music and entertainment to the Tri-Cities, has already completed its first major undertaking. It will take over the Thunder on the Island and Clover Island concert series in Kennewick. The series was developed over the years by Mark Brotz, longtime manager and partner at the Clover Island Inn. He is now retired and the hotel is under new ownership.
It will be converted into a Spark by Hilton facility.
Quinn and Callison said they are excited to add their own touch to the Clover Island concert series while building on what has long made it special.
In 2025, we will celebrate our 20th anniversary.
“We’re going to have pretty much the same format as previous years, but we’re going to inject some new excitement,” Quinn said. “We are trying to diversify the series while honoring the tradition of past favorites.”
Quinn’s restaurant, Emerald of Siam in Richland, will provide food and drinks for the series. Quinn and Callison are currently booking acts.
They said they aim to increase community participation and involvement in the concert series and bring more people to the island.
“Maybe people who have never thought of Clover Island before will find a reason to go there next year,” Callison said.
Emerald Spark will also manage Clover Island’s new Apex stage, in addition to booking acts, food and beverage handling, and other aspects of the series. Available for private parties and events.
Starring Emerald Spark’s Dara Quinn and Alicia Callison It will take over the Thunder on the Island and Clover Island concert series in Kennewick.
| Provided by: Clover Island InnWhile Emerald Spark has particular expertise in live music and entertainment, Callison and Quinn are open to working on all types of events and projects, from weddings to booking acts at a variety of venues. spoke.
They bring different backgrounds to the business.
Callison has a master’s degree in social work and runs the Spark Innovative Learning Project, which is described as a hub for self-directed, non-coercive, neurodivergent-affirming learning opportunities. She has also worked with many nonprofit organizations as a volunteer and board member.
Meanwhile, Quinn is well known in the Tri-Cities music scene, as a former touring musician and co-owner of the area’s popular Thai restaurant, Emerald of Siam.‘The most famous live music venue.
When the two met at this summer’s Tri-Town Get Down, they immediately made an impression on each other.
“Even from the outside, I could see that there were a lot of people who wanted Dara to do a lot of things…I wanted to be someone who could lighten the burden behind Dara. ,” Callison said.
For Quinn, the “sealing deal” was when Callison, who served as volunteer coordinator, left for the final time on her final night, she said.
“She was there cleaning and making sure everything was OK. She never gave up and was everywhere,” Quinn said.
The business partners say they balance each other out and bring out the best in each other. They are focused on the Clover Island series and looking for other opportunities while keeping their eyes on their mission of creating memorable events and experiences that bring people together.
“We want to be a catalyst for the community to come together and have a good time,” Quinn said. “We want to evoke a sense of community when people hear or see Emerald Spark.”
Visit emeraldsparkevents.com.
