Former co-owner of Tri-California Events Inc., Colleen Bousman continues the legacy of Wildflower Experience under her company, See & Be Productions.  Designed as an event production business that focuses on allowing people to SEE things that bring them joy and excitement and BE the person they desire in life.  (may also be a play on letters, initials CB) We value community and allowing people to connect in positive ways, knowing we are all better together accomplishing our goals and having the grit to overcome all things that challenge us in life. Pretty much Endurance defined.

 

MY STORY

As a race director for over 25 years, including world-renowned events such as the Nike Women’s Marathon, Nike Human Race, The Giant Race, Escape from Alcatraz, Triathlon at Pacific Grove, Alcatraz Challenge, Scott Tinley Adventures, Malibu Triathlon and of course Wildflower, I know what it takes to provide top quality event experiences for athletes, spectators and sponsors alike. I have come a long way since my dad, Terry Davis, dropped me off as a course monitor in the rain year one at 10 years old.  To this day we are both surprised the event made a year 2 considering the athletes finished in opposite directions after the course markers were washed away by the rain. Those first few years of Wildflower I saw my dad manage the event with integrity, personability, and lots of hard work. You will have to read the History of Wildflower – it’s a great story.

When I started Race Directing in 1997 alongside my dad after graduating from Cal Poly, I found my true passion in developing event plans and leading teams towards a common over-the-top goal. I loved empowering people to be creative and always push toward refining the race.  I managed the race like a television show to the minute, always keeping the athlete experience at the center of every decision because I knew many of these athletes personally and considered them family. Bonus was working with my dad, whom I respected and enjoyed spending each day alongside.  Although he has since ‘officially’ retired, he will of course be involved this year in many ways. Those who know him well know there is no way he would part from being on the swim dock starting each wave. And yes, my uncle Chris (his brother) will be right there since he’s never missed an event in 35 years.

 

A FAMILY AFFAIR – STILL

As a family-owned business, my husband Matt and I focus on creating community and connecting people.  He has supported me for decades on the timing team and assisting with operations.  He is no stranger to what hard work it is to manage events as he literally mowed and used a weed eater on every single campsite in 2018 to prepare the park for the athletes when the park was not even open to the public.  Working alongside my son Owen, we picked up hundreds of rocks off the lynch and beach hill, broomed the transition area, broomed the course, set out course marking, managed the gate, cleaned cabins, and too many items to list for months leading up to Wildflower.  My daughter, Emaly, proudly took on the role of RD3 being my shadow doing anything I asked to assist that weekend … from Race Command communications to meeting a bee expert at the finish line when a swarm had come and he needed a helper.  2018 was the hardest I have worked in my life, but I have never been prouder of pulling off the vision I had for several years to make Wildflower a complete festival experience that everyone in the family would want to come and enjoy. I spent the weekend surrounded by the people I love, giving people the amazing Wildflower experience they have remembered and couldn’t wait for another year.

The years between 2019 and 2023 were beyond challenging, and that is a story for another time, as I am sure all experienced in COVID-19. (Good thing my husband owned a construction company that needed a contract administrator.) However, I couldn’t be more excited and ready for 2025.

 

THE STAFF THAT MAKE IT HAPPEN

Joining me in the office is my right-hand Chris Hieber lead of Operations and anything tech-related, who has been with my team for over 20 years.  Cal Poly computer geek gone event planner with a witty sarcastic sense of humor makes for some good laughs in the office.  From aid stations to hotel booking to contractor management, he has done it all. I am also honored to have back over 50 members of my staff from the last 20 years joining me to make this event possible. Many of my team started as Cal Poly students and stayed in our TriCal family to help us produce some of the most well-known endurance events in the world all over California in the last couple of decades.

 

We are excited to announce our new partnerships coming soon to expand our Endurance Weekend adding … oh I can’t tell you that now 😀  With our newly launched Ambassador Program, we are looking forward to bringing a new level of athlete engagement and excitement to the event and the sport. The story of the race, and the people who join, are unparalleled.  We are looking forward to sharing every bit of the journey.

 

  Thank you,