About CLE

For More Than a Decade,

CLE makes events more memorable. CLE makes events more memorable. It starts with listening to your needs and ideas and ends with awe-inspiring event production that leaves a lasting impression.

Our results are unforgettable, but our process is simple; It all begins with trust, respect, and confidence. We learn about your organization and your people. We work to become a trusted member of the team. We respect budgets and timelines. And, in the end, we help make your event the best it can be.

We are very good at what we do — delivering creative event production solutions using a total project approach to meet your event goals.

Why Red?

CLE started in 2002, in a single car garage with 8 lights, a pick-up truck, and a desire to bring world-class event production to central Iowa. From that very first event, CLE’s hallmark has been, and always will be, a reputation for excellence.

Our founder, Arren Wetzel, grew up in the live event industry; he spent his childhood touring the country doing concerts, learning the technology, the business, and the art of event production from a great mentor, his dad. For Arren, CLE is a family business. The CLE family now includes a full staff of engineers, salespeople, and event producers. We’ve grown beyond the 8 lights and a pick-up truck to having a warehouse full of industry-leading equipment and a fleet of trucks.

Even though we have grown, we still work by the same principles that inspired Arren all those years ago. We work hard, we’re creative, we listen more than we talk, and we always do what’s best for the show. Whether we’re working on a local show in our hometown of Des Moines, Iowa or a large event in the United States, we always have one primary principle guiding us…be the best at what we do.

So when you see a CLE Red truck or a CLE Red roadcase backstage at an event, you know you’re getting a professional, polished, creative and memorable event that will leave a lasting impression for you and your attendees.

Expertise + Collaboration

Planning and attention to detail is the key to a successful corporate meeting or special event.

Before the lights go down and the program starts, CLE has planned for every possibility. Our goal is to be invisible and to make you the hero to your audience.

It all begins with trust and confidence. We work hard to learn about your organization and your people. We work hard to become a trusted member of the team. We respect budgets and timelines. And we’re very good at what we do – delivering creative solutions with our total project approach.

From our professional technicians and creative services staff to our detailed room layout CAD drawings, our warehouse stocked with high-tech equipment and our fleet of trucks, CLE applies all the necessary tools that enable us to exceed your expectations. Wherever your meeting or event may be located, we will work with partners to make sure we have backup crew and equipment on standby if need be. We leave nothing to chance at CLE.

No matter the venue, large or small, indoors or outdoors… CLE will deliver a memorable event that leaves a lasting impression.

We partnered with CLE for our annual national conference this past year, and it was the best decision we made. CLE’s professionalism, attention to detail, and industry-savvy staff made our conference a huge success! CLE was able to handle not only our mainstage with keynote speakers, but also all of our breakout sessions, and other A/V needs. CLE became a working extension of our team, they were responsive and efficient, yet flexible when necessary. We look forward to partnering with them again.Kim Welch Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
We really appreciated having your crew work with us this year, they are true pros!Jolene Davis Iowa Communications Alliance

CLE Crew

  • Arren Wetzel

    President

    Arren Wetzel

    Arren Wetzel founded CLE in 2002 and remains an active part of the company today. He has over 30 years of audio and lighting experience, having started at an early age with his father’s production company in Michigan. When Arren isn’t in the CLE warehouse; on a show site; or driving his big red semi, he enjoys being outdoors. Arren is an avid hunter and fisher, and enjoys doing projects around his home in rural Winterset, especially if they involve power tools. Arren and his wife, Rachel, have two sons and two basset hounds.

  • Kris Churchill

    Operations Director

    Kris Churchill

    Kris has over 30 years in the live event industry. He has been with the CLE team since 2006. As the Operations Director, Kris oversees the team that handles equipment, labor, and transportation logistics for every event that CLE does. He still likes to get out and help the team on show sites. When he’s not at work, Kris is probably outside camping, hunting, fishing, or enjoying the open road on his Harley-Davidson. He lives in Indianola with his wife and 2 dogs.

  • Cassie Chance

    Bookkeeper

    Cassie Chance

    Cassie has been CLE’s bookkeeper since 2014. Prior to joining the CLE team, she worked at Principal Financial Group in Des Moines. She is a native of Carlisle, Iowa but now lives in Des Moines with her daughter, Aspyn. Cassie loves shopping and also enjoys decorating, reading, and spending time with her family.

  • Nick Myers

    Logistics Coordinator - Operations

    Nick Myers

    Nick is a Des Moines native and came to CLE in August 2015. Prior to working at CLE, Nick began his career in the event industry in 2013 working for Conference Technologies in Des Moines. When he is not in the office, you can find Nick playing Volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee or watching Game of Thrones. He lives in Des Moines with his wife, and their Himalayan Persian Warrior cat.

  • Greg Patterson

    Video Engineer

    Greg Patterson

    Greg came to CLE via AVI Systems in 2006. He has been working in the video production industry since the 1990’s. Greg grew up in Des Moines and enjoys traveling to his favorite vacation spots in the Bahamas and Caribbean. Greg is an avid angler; he notes that he has more money in angling gear than he spent on his first house. He lives in Des Moines with his wife.

  • Kameron Powell

    Audio Engineer

    Kameron Powell

    Kameron joined CLE in 2015 after doing freelance audio work for a few years. He is a native Iowan but attended the Institute of Production and Recording in Minneapolis, where he received a degree in audio engineering. Kameron is passionate about music and spends some of his free time recording and producing his own music. He is currently learning to play guitar and ukulele. Kameron also enjoys outdoor activities such as extreme mountain biking.

  • Shane McNamara

    Lighting Technician/Audio Engineer

    Shane McNamara

    Shane has been with CLE since September 2015. He attended Western Iowa Tech and earned in AS in Audio Engineering. While at WIT, Shane interned with KES Productions in Sioux City, Iowa. He is a native of Carroll, Iowa and now lives in Des Moines. In addition to being a great audio engineer, Shane is a great cook with a specialty in salsa.

  • Peter Jackel

    Project Coordinator - Operations

    Peter Jackel

    Peter is CLE’s longest-serving employee; he is celebrating his 10th year as a CLE employee. Peter started as a general technician and in 2016 became the Warehouse Manager. His background is in technical theater production, which he studied at Graceland University and Iowa State University. Over his career, Peter has worked on over 50 stage productions and hundreds of live events. Peter lives in Lamoni with his wife, Terrilee, and two kids, Lorelei and Owen.

  • Bud Caylor

    Warehouse Assistant

    Bud Caylor

  • Jake Henry

    Warehouse Manager

    Jake Henry

  • Jared McDonald

    Warehouse Assistant

    Jared McDonald

Thank you so much to you both and your crew! You’ve elevated our annual celebration to another level. Everything went so well and ran so smoothly! I’m so excited to partner for future events. Goizane Mullin, Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau