Frank Pappas

Executive Director, Volunteer Leadership Virginia; Fairfax County Fire and Rescue; VA-TF1/USA-1

E-mail: frank@FoundationEventsECC.org

Brief info

Frank Pappas is a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician with the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department and the Greater Springfield Volunteer Fire Department (Fairfax County Station 422). He serves as a BLS officer, driver, and member-at-large on the GSVFD Board of Directors. Frank has also recently joined the Urban Search and Rescue Section of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (VA-TF1/USA-1) and supports regional, national, and international emergency response operations in the face of catastrophic human, technological, and natural disasters.

During the earliest months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Frank was selected by Fairfax County leadership to design and lead a monumental logistics effort to alleviate the terrible effects of COVID-related food insecurity on county residents. Working in partnership with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Department of Fire and Rescue, Community Emergency Response Team, Animal Shelter, and many other government agencies and community organizations, Frank and his team envisioned, built, and led more than 65 food distribution events in 52 weeks, distributing more than four million pounds of fresh dairy, meat, and produce, to families in need, along with more than 35 tons of pet food. For his efforts, Frank was chosen as the 2022 “Hunger Hero” by Volunteer Fairfax.

Frank is the co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of Foundation Events ECC, a national nonprofit event design, production, and management consultancy. His team envisions, produces, and operates events from luxury galas to themed, destination events that make a meaningful difference in local communities through economic development, tourism, and workforce expansion. Recent events include food and drink festivals, holiday celebrations, and long-duration immersive experiences fueled by the intellectual property of global powerhouse brands like Warner Bros. and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Frank is a recognized leader in the special events industry with unique expertise and insight in experiential event design, logistics, risk assessment and mitigation, crowd management, venue evacuation and protective actions, public safety, emergency response, and public information and emergency notification.

Frank works with global clients and specialty providers to bring to life thrilling events that operate safely and effectively, maximize guest experience and satisfaction, and deliver incredible brand and revenue outcomes. From initial conceptualization through site build, operations, and strike, Frank collaborates with world-class teams supporting power generation and distribution, set design, life safety and security, lighting and projection, complex wired and wireless network infrastructure, construction and landscaping, and food and beverage operations. Frank and the team at Foundation Events ECC specialize in activating bespoke, luxury events for 500 as well as complex, long-duration events serving more than 350,000+ guests.

Connect with Frank on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankpappas/