Meet Patty Park: From LA to Seoul, Leading High-Stakes Events Around the World

"What works in the U.S. won’t always work abroad, and that’s okay. Leading globally means listening first, adapting second, and doing the homework to get it right."

For Markham Partner Patty Park, that mindset has shaped a career spent leading productions around the world. Whether she’s coordinating international vendors, managing high-stakes logistics, or navigating unfamiliar cultural terrain, Patty brings a steady, people-first approach to global production. With nearly two decades of experience behind her (and a signature calm under pressure), she’s helped shape some of Markham’s most ambitious events — with precision, diplomacy, and quiet authority.

From the Mayor’s Office to Markham

Patty’s career in events didn’t start in a ballroom — it started at a press podium. After graduating from USC, she landed her first job in the LA mayor’s office. There, she worked in the communications department, helping staff press conferences and political events. “It was my first exposure to event production,” she says. “High-stakes, fast-paced, and a crash course in learning by doing.”

By 2015, she’d started contracting with Markham — and by 2018, she was officially in-house. From senior manager to partner, her trajectory is rooted in two things: a hunger to learn and an ability to adapt.

The Thrill of It All

Patty describes her love of events as "stacking up skills in real time." Each production is a test — and a chance to level up. “Every event and production is unique and you don’t always know what you’re walking into at first. But you learn to trust what you do know, and adapt it to where you are.”

Briefing California Governor Gavin Newsom on the set up of his Second Inauguration Ceremony in Sacramento, CA (2023).

Producing Across Cultures — and Holding Her Ground

From Brussels to Mexico City, Patty has managed complex productions in wildly different environments. A standout memory? A military-led event in South Korea, where she was one of the only women in the room. "You expect to be the underdog — you are the underdog. But if you strip it down, people want to work together. You just have to meet them where they are."

With U.S. and Korean military personnel stationed at Observation Post Ouellette along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in South Korea (2012).

She’s also not one to back down from a challenge. During a large-scale concert in Mexico City, an unverified inspector attempted to extort the team. Patty didn’t budge. Instead, she walked him through each tent and setup, proving with calm expertise that every detail was up to code. "He eventually gave up and left. I wasn’t going to let him win."

Making a safety announcement in Spanish to the crowd trying to enter the venue in Mexico City, Mexico (2016).

On Being a Woman in Production

Though production is still male-dominated, Patty sees her difference as a strength. "Sometimes, being the only woman in the room is an advantage. People listen differently. But you have to back up your presence with real knowledge. You can’t charm your way through — you have to put in the work.  And it’s been great to see women rise up in the industry, seeing more women bossing event sites, in all aspects of the show including in production and logistics."

Her advice to women entering the field? "Your intuition is a gift — but don’t rely on charm alone. Study. Learn. Ask questions. And be ready to prove you know your stuff."

What She Brings to Markham

When asked about one of her favorite Markham events, Patty points to the Iowa Liberty & Justice Dinner in 2019. With over 20,000 attendees and 16 Democratic candidates, the stakes were high. “We needed to manage candidate flow, ticketing logistics, crowd control, and sponsorship revenue — and we built it all from scratch.”

From hand-built ticketing systems to coordinating union print deadlines, the event drew on every facet of her background. "It was production, strategy, diplomacy — everything I love about this work."

The Golden Rule of Production

For Patty, it all comes down to two things: people and preparedness.

"Events are made by people, for people. That’s the best — and sometimes hardest — part of the job. But if you remember that, and do your homework, you’ll be ready for anything."

And in Patty’s case, that includes rogue inspectors, presidential entourages, and navigating unexpected moments with steady leadership.