Drew Cawood,  Owner

A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Mr. Cawood believes dedicated, informed and enthusiastic team members contribute to the success of every event.  Mr. Cawood found his passion for the sports and entertainment industry at the Carolina Coliseum and served as a manager on the men’s basketball team under the direction of Coach Eddie Fogler.  Upon graduation, Mr. Cawood was hired by SMG to manage all “front-of-house” staff (ushers and ticket takers) for the Richmond Coliseum (VA).  Subsequently, he spent an additional year as the Operations Manager at the Siegel Center on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University before founding Event Partners Inc.

Over the last eighteen years, Mr. Cawood has lead EPI in assisting with the production of 1,000+ events each year in the state of South Carolina.  Mr. Cawood currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his wife, Clarice, and two children, Sloane and Coleman, where he enjoys following college athletics and golf.

Joe Reinhardt,  Vice President of Operations

Joe is a graduate of Liberty University and has a wide array of experience working in the sports and entertainment industry.  Joe began his career in Field and Clubhouse Operations with the Lynchburg Hillcats in Lynchburg, VA.  Joe then relocated to Charlotte, NC where he began working in numerous roles and positions in the sports and entertainment industry.  Joe served as a Box Office Assistant for the Carolina Panthers, an Usher Supervisor for Charlotte Motor Speedway, Event Security Staff for several Live Nation Venues across the area and worked as part-time event security for the Charlotte Hornets.  Joe was promoted within the Hornets to become the Manager of Arena and Event Security.  In this role, Joe managed all aspects of the public safety and security for the Charlotte Hornets and all events held inside Spectrum Center.  Joe managed a security staff of over 200 part-time employees and managed the relationships with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, Fire and Novant Health Teams.  Joe also oversaw all emergency preparedness and life safety operations for HSE and Spectrum Center and was responsible for developing and updating all emergency operating policies, plans and procedures.  Joe’s responsibilities also included the security and life safety training of all full and part-time employees working inside of the facility.  Joe believes that EPI’s greatest assets are the staff members who provide a level of service that is unmatched across the industry.

Joe is originally from Bradford, PA and currently resides in Columbia, SC with his wife Sara and two sons Alex and Zack and their three cats Sophie, Lilly and Minnie.  In his free time, Joe enjoys golfing, spending time with his family and cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Candice Cawood,  Business Operations Manager

Candice graduated from Lander University, in Greenwood, SC, with a BA in Visual Arts and an emphasis in Photography and Painting.  During her time at Lander, she managed a local Casual Fine Dining restaurant whereby customer service, staff management, and daily business operations were of the utmost importance.  After graduation, Candice pursued a career in Banking for a span of 16 years that included roles in Customer Service, Operations, Electronic Banking Management, and was appointed Assistant Vice President by the bank’s Board of Directors.  All roles sharpened her leadership, communication, financial and business operations skills.  Prior to assuming the Business Operations Manager position in February 2020, she began working as a member of EPI’s Part-Time Event Staff in 2014 for various events in South Carolina.  

Candice has always been a fan of sports and entertainment.  As a child, she remembers watching Purdue basketball with her grandmother and grew to love college basketball almost as much as her grandmother did.  Candice enjoys spending time with family and friends watching and attending college athletic events and seeing all the concerts possible. 

She currently resides in Greenwood, South Carolina with her husband, Matt, and all their furbabies.  

Blake Meredith,   Director of Training and Operations – Savannah/Statesboro, GA Region

With over a decade of industry experience, Blake brings his expertise in event and venue operations, training, and development to the EPI team.  Throughout the course of his career, he has had the opportunity to develop, implement, and operate complex security and staffing solutions for some of the largest and most high-profile events in the industry including Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Stagecoach Country Music Festival, the Academy Awards, Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, The NAMM Show, and many more.  Blake’s passion for safe, secure, and efficient crowd management measures has afforded him the opportunity to develop industry-standard training curriculum, modules, and programs with an emphasis on safety and guest services first and foremost.  Previously, Blake was served as the Director of Training and Development for a National event services provider, where he was responsible for directing all field operations training programs for over 2000 staff across the US.  A graduate of Baylor University, Blake brings this knowledge and expertise with him to the EPI team to ensure EPI team members provide unparalleled customer service to clients and guests.

Originally from Southern California, Blake has made his way to Savannah, GA.  In his spare time, he cherishes spending time with his wife and four children.  He also has a strong passion for classical literature, philosophy, theology, reading, and writing.

Jason Hicks,   Director of Operations – Upstate, SC and Kennesaw, GA Region

As a 20 plus year veteran in the event industry, Jason joined EPI in 2016 as a Part-Time Manager over Spartanburg and Greenville areas in South Carolina.  In October 2022, he took a step into the full time role of Director of Operations for the Upstate of South Carolina and Kennesaw, GA operations.  Jason came to us after 30 years in manufacturing where he specialized in Training and Safety to include OSHA training certification.  He brings a wealth of knowledge to our team as a leader, trainer and safety coordinator.

Jason is a lifelong resident in the Upstate of South Carolina.  In his free time, he enjoys working out with high school friends and spending time with his wife of 30 years and his family.

Tobin McDonald,   Director of Special Events & Operations – Charlotte, NC 

A Charleston, SC native and sports enthusiast with a bachelor’s degree in Sports & Entertainment management from the University of South Carolina, Tobin’s passion is creating successful partnerships. Previously a Sponsorship Sales Associate for a global premium experiences company, he handled multiple accounts including AVP Beach Volleyball, International Axe Throwing Federation, and Cogeo Sports & Entertainment. His strategic approach and customized sponsorship proposals helped identify new business opportunities for clients. Interning with EPI while in College, Tobin managed staffing and operations across the EPI footprint including several large Music Festivals.

Recognized for his work ethic, teamwork and proactive communication, Tobin is a self-starter dedicated to contributing to EPI’s success while fostering lasting partnerships.

Brett Higgins,   Senior Director of Operations – Coastal Region 

Brett joins EPI as a graduate of the University of Akron, with a Sports Management Degree. Brett has pursued his passions of the sports and entertainment industry throughout his career. He began as a Promotions Intern with the AA Minor League Team, The Akron Rubber Ducks. From there he joined the NFL with the Cleveland Browns as a Security, Guest Services and Operations Intern. Brett then began working in the Event Staffing and Security industry by Launching Auburn University as a new client with staffing calls exceeding 550 individuals. Brett would continue launching new clients in the Southeast before moving to Minneapolis, MN to run the Minnesota United FC as a client in the Minneapolis market. He would grow to become the head recruiting and staffing chair for his company as well as the Minnesota trainer for new managers. Brett received a promotion to General Manager and moved to Indianapolis to launch the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium as brand new Event Staffing and Security Clients.

Brett currently is excited to be a member of EPI, residing in Charleston, SC. He enjoys spending time with family, all sporting events, and golfing. He has a passion for people and giving back. He predicates the success of the team on culture, hard work, and a willingness to invest in the people around you.

Cameron Jefferson,   Director of Operations – Durham, NC Region 

Cameron graduated from Coastal Carolina University, in Conway, SC, with a BS in Recreation and Sport Management. Before joining EPI Cameron spent 5 years in Minor League Baseball. Working for the Ashville Tourists, Arkansas Travelers, and Daytona Tortugas in various roles from Account Executive to Ticket and Group Sales Manager. During this time Cameron developed a passion for live events and managing all aspects of the event. Cameron joined EPI in June of 2023 and brings experience in the production, operation, and leadership of live events.

Cameron is from Apex, NC in his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, and cheering on his CCU Chanticleers.