A Day in the Life with Director of Operations Sarith Nhem
In October 2024, Sarith Nhem reached a milestone that no one besides the founder has achieved at Stagedge: celebrated his 30th anniversary with the company. As director of operations, Sarith leaves no detail uncovered and no questions unanswered to ensure clients’ satisfaction. We sat down with him to hear his reflections on three decades in the events industry, the advice he wishes he had received at the start of his career, and his opinion on what sets Stagedge apart.
Q: Sarith, congratulations on 30 years at Stagedge! How does it feel?
SN: I’m thrilled! Our president, Patricia Basteri, told me I’m the first in the company to hit the 30-year mark. That means a lot to me.
Q: Can you tell us about what you do? 
SN: As director of operations, I’m responsible for ensuring that all the pieces of the puzzle that we deliver for the client come together at the right time and place. That includes overseeing equipment flow, assigning jobs, scheduling staff, renting, and maintaining trucks—and sometimes even driving a truck to deliver the equipment needed for a job.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you?
SN: I usually come in early—at 6:00 or 6:30—to have some quiet time to review the paperwork for upcoming jobs. I want to have the answers that the team needs, so later on there’s usually some back-and-forth with the account executives and the production department.
Then, I go talk to my staff to hear what they’re working on. I want to make sure the team has the latest information and what they need to do their job. For example, a client’s last-minute request can change the size of the truck needed to accommodate the gear. My philosophy is that we’re all in the same boat—so if there’s a storm coming in, we need to be there for each other.
Q: What excites you the most about your role?
SN: It’s getting to work with amazing staff in an environment of trust and mutual support. We find solutions together. There’s no attitude of “It's not your job, it’s my job.” It’s more, “I help you and you help me to make this happen.”
Q: How has the events industry evolved over your 30-year career?
SN: The technology has changed dramatically, of course. Back in the day, events required an overhead projector or a slide projector, a whiteboard, and a podium with a microphone—and not much else. All of that could be transported in a 16-foot truck or a couple of Chevy vans. Today, with all the devices, screens, A/V equipment, lighting, and cables involved, we have to maintain a fleet of trucks to transport everything. Then we also need all of the right people onsite to engineer the equipment and manage the technology. And, since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have evolved from producing only live events to facilitating livestreams; virtual and recorded videos; broadcasts; and many different types of events to meet our clients’ needs.
When I get onsite and the client sees me and my team, they instantly relax and say, ‘Oh, we don’t have to worry about anything!’ That makes me proud.
Q: Can you recall an event or customer success story that you’re particularly proud to have been part of?
SN: I’ve been very proud to work with The Nantucket Project, a nonprofit that gets 600 people together every year for a week under a big tent. Because the event is on an island, the transportation of equipment is more complicated, and because it’s outdoors, technology can be unreliable. But when I get onsite and the client sees me and my team, they instantly relax and say, “Oh, we don’t have to worry about anything!” That makes me proud.
I also get involved with some of our bigger clients, such as Bain Capital, Fidelity, and Boston Consulting Group. I'm proud to be part of the team that delivers a high-quality show for them and ensures their satisfaction.
We do everything we can to ensure our clients are satisfied. As the industry continues to evolve, Stagedge is committed to providing whatever type of event clients want.
Q: What advice do you wish you had received 30 years ago?
SN: First, it’s essential to keep up with changing technology and all the components that go into hosting a successful event in today’s environment—from equipment to staffing to facility management. Second, if you see something out of the ordinary, speak up and let somebody know. There’s always room for improvement or an opportunity to fix a potential problem before it’s too late.
Q: Have you achieved any personal milestones during your career that you’re particularly proud of?
SN: On a personal note, when I started at the company, I wasn’t a US citizen. I had a green card. Ten years later, Stagedge started taking on jobs with federal contractors, which required proof of citizenship to enter their buildings. So, I applied to become a citizen and I passed; I got my citizenship. I’m really proud to have achieved my goals and to have had the support of the company along the way.
I’m really proud to have achieved my goals and to have had the support of the company along the way.
Q: What do you think sets Stagedge apart in the events industry?
SN: First, it’s the technology that we deliver. Second, it’s the talented staff who provide top-notch service. We do everything we can to ensure our clients are satisfied. As the industry continues to evolve, Stagedge is committed to providing whatever type of event that clients want.
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Come Work With Industry Leaders at Stagedge
While Sarith is the longest-serving employee at Stagedge, his feeling that Stagedge is a supportive and fulfilling place to work is not unique. Stagedge prides itself on fostering a team of the best professionals in the business—smart, down-to-earth, and fiercely dedicated to each other and their clients’ success—a trait that other team members like Assistant Director Jon-Paul Royer, Senior Producer Joey Toppan, and Senior Director of Production Rich “Mank” Mankiewicz have also commented on.
Looking for a place to combine your creativity and ability to organize, problem-solve, and collaborate with the best colleagues in the events industry? Check out the Stagedge careers page and take your creative career to the next level.
Get the inside scoop about working at Stagedge in these other Q&As:
Q&A With Richard Ferrara, Director of Sales Operations
Q&A With Corey Yacco, Project Manager
Q&A With Jon-Paul Royer, Assistant Director
Q&A With Joey Toppan, Senior Producer
Q&A With Rich “Mank” Mankiewicz
Stagedge: Creating Immersive Experiences for nearly 50 years is proud to be one of Boston's premier full-service event production companies dedicated to conceiving, creating, and executing immersive brand experiences through live, virtual & hybrid events, domestically, and worldwide.