FirstHand Productions Welcomes Brian Zambotti as Chief Strategy Officer to Lead Strategic Growth and Innovation in Event Production
October 16, 2025 – Washington, DC — FirstHand Productions, a leading provider of live and digital event production services, proudly welcomes Brian Zambotti, DES as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). With more than 24 years of experience producing large-scale events for associations and organizations nationwide, Zambotti brings a proven record of combining strategic vision with hands-on production expertise to deliver experiences that engage.
Zambotti has dedicated his career to helping associations transform their events into powerful platforms for education, connection, and growth. He has led hundreds of successful productions – overseeing event production, engagement strategy, content delivery, and sponsorship integration—always with a focus on creating meaningful experiences that deliver measurable results. Zambotti is also a recipient of the 2025 PCMA Digital Strategist of the Year Award, honoring his innovative approach to digital event strategy and audience engagement.
“Brian’s expertise and leadership in this industry are second to none,” said Patrick Hand, Founder and CEO of FirstHand Productions. “I watched him receive one of the industry’s highest digital event honors and knew immediately that he brought a rare combination of strategic insight and dedication to client excellence. His experience and vision will help elevate our clients’ events and guide FirstHand’s continued growth.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Brian to the leadership team,” added Dede Walsh, CMP, DES, Chief Management Officer. “His deep background in large-scale event production, his passion for innovation, and his commitment to client success make him an incredible addition to our company.”
As Chief Strategy Officer, Zambotti will lead the company’s strategic growth initiatives across live, digital, and hybrid event production. He will work closely with executive leadership to define business objectives, strengthen market positioning, and shape long-term revenue strategy. His focus includes developing innovative service models that merge creative production, content delivery, and education-driven events, ensuring each event delivers purposeful engagement and measurable impact. Zambotti will also help identify emerging trends in experience design, deepen partnerships with major associations and corporate clients, and foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence within the FirstHand team.
Working alongside Hand and Walsh, he will help position FirstHand Productions as the go-to production partner for associations, corporations, and institutions
seeking seamless, high-impact event experiences.
“I’m honored to join FirstHand Productions at such an exciting time,” said Zambotti. “Patrick and Dede have built a team known for its quality, creativity, and commitment to clients. I’ve spent my career helping organizations deliver events that educate, inspire, and engage and I’m excited to bring that same passion to FirstHand as we build the next generation of event experiences together.”
Outside of work, Zambotti is a devoted husband and father of four boys. He enjoys spending time outdoors, playing sports with his sons, and coaching youth hockey. “Hockey reminds me every day that an assist is worth just as much as a goal,” says Zambotti. “It’s a game built on teamwork, effort, and creativity, values that I try to bring into every part of my life and leadership.”
About FirstHand Productions
Founded by Patrick Hand in 2020, FirstHand Productions is a full service audiovisual production company providing live and virtual audiovisual support to any event, big or small. Led by a seasoned leadership team including Dede Walsh, CMP, DES, and Brian Zambotti, DES, FirstHand partners with associations, corporations, and government organizations to produce seamless, high-impact events that drive connection and results.
For more information, visit www.firsthandav.com
