2025 September QEO Dinner Brian Offutt

Description

We invite our Young Professional Members & Friends to join us for an evening of great conversation over dinner with an LGBTQ+ executive. This QEO Dinner we'll be heading to Taza, where we'll hear about the life and career of a long-time leader in the entertainment and communications industries and the current President of Vincent Lighting Systems (VLS), Brian Offutt!
After our dinner concludes, we'll take a short walk (0.3 miles/7 minutes) to Public Square, where we’ll get a tour of Destination Cleveland’s beautiful lighting project, Illuminate CLE, downtown Cleveland’s nighty lighting exhibition!

QEO Dinners are opportunities to listen to and learn from LGBTQ+ Senior Executive leaders in Northeast Ohio while sharing a meal as they discuss their life and experiences that led them to where they are today. Each dinner is a unique and special experience that's not to be missed!
This event has a capped attendance of 30 attendees to help foster better communication and discussion.

About our host, Brian Offutt:
Brian Offutt is the President of Vincent Lighting Systems (“VLS”), a subsidiary of Canterbury Capital, LLC. VLS is an award-winning provider of entertainment and architectural lighting design and integration based in Cleveland, Ohio. Since 1978, the award-winning professionals at VLS have served national and local clients and customers with the broadest range of equipment, products and services. In addition, Brian serves as a Senior Advisor at Synova Talent Solutions, a leading boutique executive recruitment firm, also based in Cleveland.
Before returning home to Cleveland in 2024, Brian spent his career in New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA. Most recently, he served as the Chief Workforce Innovation & Operations Officer at Weber Shandwick, a leading global communications network that delivers next-generation solutions to brands, businesses and organizations in major markets around the world. Brian has also served as Chief Operating Officer of Combs Enterprises, where he oversaw its investments and portfolio companies, including Bad Boy Records, Revolt Media & TV, Sean John (apparel), Ciroc Vodka, Deleon Tequila and the Blue Flame Agency. Prior to that, Brian was SVP of Operations for Viacom’s Nickelodeon Group. Prior to joining Viacom, Brian served as Chief Operating Officer of Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video Entertainment, where he was directly responsible for the company’s post-production business, with clients including MTV Networks, CBS Sports and Showtime, and helped spearhead growth in the international program sales and merchandising of the company’s intellectual property, including Saturday Night Live.
Brian received a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in history from Harvard University. He served as the founding Board Chair (and remains a Board Member) of Project Healthy Minds, a leading national not-for-profit focused on mental health, and as a member of the Board of Directors at University School in Hunting Valley, Ohio.