Shawn McAlister

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Shawn McAlister is from Austin and his wife is also from this area; they have a school-aged son and daughter. Shawn is the Vice President of Operations at PHP Hospitality. He currently lives in Onalaska, but is in Austin frequently as his family is here and the Austin Holiday Inn is one of the properties that he oversees. Fun fact: Shawn has a long history with the Festival as he worked at it when it was still being held at the Mill Pond. Shawn and Mark knew each other in high school, so it has been fun to get to work together again on this shared interest.

Mark Bliese

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Mark is the owner of Imagery Sound, a sound production company, which is his tie to the Freedom Festival - he has provided the sound for 15 years for Freedomfest. Fun fact: Mark started his sound production career as a ‘roadie’ touring the nation in the early 90’s with big names.

Mary Anne Duren

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Mary Anne is from Austin, and has a long history of involvement in Austin activities. Fun fact – she has goats! Besides all of the work she’s doing in our community, she has her own goat farm and handmade soap business, and volunteers as a leader at church – you might even catch Mary Anne and Taylor singing together sometime! Mary Anne is incredibly busy and is a familiar face in many of our community’s events, so we are grateful that she’s also jumped on board with AEG.

Taylor Bliese

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Taylor is the Practice Manager at Overby Orthodontics in Austin, Rochester, and Stewartville, but you might recognize her as a singer around town. Fun fact: Taylor has been a soloist at Orchestra Hall and the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis. Mark and Taylor are married with two school-age daughters, and have lived in Austin nearly all their lives. Taylor is also the treasurer of the AHS Clay Target Team Booster Club and volunteers her time as the parent coordinator for the AHS Archery Team, as well as doing website work for the Cedar Valley Conservation Club.

Freedom Festival Contacts:

Food Vendors Chair:   John Mueller

Grounds and Traffic:  Brad Johnson

Children's Entertainment/Activities:  Natalie Bunnell

Fishing Contest:   Ben Bunnell

Veteran's Chair:  Scott Wiechmann

Stage Entertainment: Mark Bliese

Media, Sponsorship: Taylor Bliese

Little Miss Sparkler Pageant: Come and join our committee! 

Craft Vendors:  Come and join our committee! 

Patriotic Porch: Come and join our committee! 

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