Chris Stewart: The Man Behind the Magic

The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Tina Turner. The Pope. The Olathe Fourth of July Fireworks show. All of these productions have one common thread stringing them together, and his name is Chris Stewart. One might even say he's the man behind the magic.

For nearly 3 decades, Chris has poured himself into putting on productions that keep people coming back for more, a talent that the City of Olathe has been able to harness for the last 7 years. With Program Coordinator Chris at the helm, our City has become known for our first-rate events.

If you live in Olathe, you have likely enjoyed his work. This could mean that you've bought fresh produce at the Farmer's Market, been spooked at the Trick-or-Treat Trail, had a finger-licking good time at the Qlathe barbeque competition, or exclaimed with wonderment while watching the annual Fourth of July Fireworks. In fact, you might have attended many of the 40 events that Chris plans and executes each year.

With so many events that garner the attention of thousands of residents and non-residents alike, Chris most certainly couldn't do it alone.

"All of my events are huge collective efforts within different City departments. For example, the concerts. Infrastructure puts up the staging and fencing, Parks makes sure Stagecoach Park's grass is freshly cut and the venue is looking sharp, and Police and Fire are there to help take care of any emergencies," he shares. "It takes a lot of help. There isn’t a department that I don't work with in some way. It’s kind of fun because you get to know everyone within the city, making it stay fresh and fun."

As much as Chris has a soft spot for concerts, his personal favorite event is the Qlathe BBQ Championship. Though this project was his brainchild, it proves to be his most challenging event of the year. More than 70 teams from across the region fill Lone Elm Park with award-winning barbeque, leading to many hoops to jump through and learning experiences every step of the way. This year, Chef Michael D. Symon explored Qlathe on the series premiere of his Food Network show, BBQ USA. The national spotlight is a testament to Chris' impact within Olathe.

For many people, it takes a while to find your calling; for Chris, it happened at the age of 16 when he began working on concerts for Worlds of Fun. This sparked his love for the behind-the-scenes work of putting on productions with the goal of creating lasting memories. As his career progressed, Chris' specialized skillset and attention to detail was getting noticed. He was presented with an opportunity to be the Production Manager for Contemporary Productions/Sandstone Amphitheater. In this role, he oversaw between 130 and 140 shows each year throughout the Midwest. Chris became highly sought after within the event industry, leading him to eventually sell production services across the country. One of his clients happened to be the City of Olathe.

One standout moment in his career came during this time when Pope John Paul II visited St. Louis. Chris on the production team in charge of the outdoor festival portion of the event. Because the appearance was rare, preparations began over two years in advance.

"The Pope's visit was scheduled for January, which is not exactly known for having the best weather," Chris recalled. "I'll never forget that there was a group of nuns known as the ‘Pink Sisters’ that started praying that there wouldn’t be any snow on the day of the event. Every day for two years, they prayed for the same thing. And, sure enough, it was 70 degrees when the Pope arrived!"

In looking back over his expansive and riveting career, Chris credits much of his success to being a connector.

"It's really important to build relationships. I mean, Olathe was a client at one point, and look where I am now," Chris said. "A key to having a great career is to never burn bridges. I have lifelong friends from every single place that I've worked."

While in his presence, one can't help but feel the radiation of positive energy and pride for the work he does for the residents of Olathe. Chris continually strives to improve events so that they are inclusive of all demographics. He has a long list of new, creative ideas that he hopes to put into action.

"The City allows me to do first class events and do them right. Here I am, seven years into it and I feel like we've only scratched the surface," Chris said. "There are so many cool things on the horizon. The skies the limit and the future of Olathe is awesome!"