About CLE

For More Than a Decade,

CLE has made events more memorable. CLE has made events more memorable. It starts with listening to your needs and ideas and ends with an awe-inspiring event 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 tobecome 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 solutions with our 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 multiple 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 has all the tools necessary to enable us to exceed your expectations. Wherever your meeting or event may be located, we will work with partners to make sure we have back-up crew and equipment on stand-by if need be. We leave nothing to chance at CLE.

No matter the venue, large or small, indoors or outdoors… CLE will make your event memorable with 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.

  • Kevin McDonald

    General Manager

    Kevin McDonald

    Kevin joined the CLE team as General Manager in September 2018. Kevin is no stranger to the live event production world. Prior to being with us, he worked in corporate trade and consumer events, produced live music, and developed sports entertainment. Kevin has produced successful events in the top domestic and international media markets for spectators and live television! An outdoor enthusiast, Kevin enjoys hiking, cycling, mountaineering, and skiing. A Des Moines native, he currently lives in Altoona with his wife, Leilani, and their two cats.

  • Kris Churchill

    Director of Operations

    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.

  • Matt Kiernan

    Director of Strategic Development

    Matt Kiernan

    Matt joined the team in December of 2018. Before joining us for the past 32 years Matt has been in forward facing industries working for worldwide brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Eddie Bauer and Renaissance Hotels.

    He expertise includes event creation, planning and execution. His background also includes sales, relationship building and partnership growth.

    Matt’s interests include music, movies and classic sports cars. He is married and with his wife Beth they have two children Olivia and Ella and their dog Yahtzee and cat Tiggs. They currently reside in West Des Moines and are active members of their parish.

  • 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.

  • Nicholas Prenger

    Account Executive

    Nicholas Prenger

    Nick joined the CLE team as an Account Executive in March of 2019. Prior to working at CLE, he worked in the music and tech department at a local church and as a music teacher. In his free time, he enjoys reading, writing, listening to records, going to the latest Marvel movie, attending live concerts and spending time with family and friends. He lives in West Des Moines with his wife Nicole.

  • Nick Myers

    Logistics Coordinator

    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.

  • 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.

  • Jake Henry

    Warehouse Manager

    Jake Henry

    Jake has been a staple in CLE’s warehouse since November 2017. After receiving a degree in digital media production from UNI, Jake toured with his band and worked for First Fleet Concerts and Woolys. When Jake’s not keeping the warehouse in order, he’s learning new songs to play on guitar, cooking vegan-ised Mexican food, playing disc golf, or spending time with his girlfriend Jessica and their cat Umbreon.

  • Jared McDonald

    AV Tech/Warehouse Assistant

    Jared McDonald

    Jared has been a part of the CLE Crew as a Warehouse Assistant since September 2016. He was born in the Des Moines area, but has lived in Connecticut, Colorado, Illinois, and Missouri! Now that Jared’s back to his Midwest roots, he is taking classes at DMACC towards a degree in telecommunications. When he’s not helping things run smoothly in the warehouse, Jared enjoys hiking and playing the bass in DMACC’s jazz band and on his own.

  • Bud Caylor

    Warehouse Assistant

    Bud Caylor

    A Des Moines native, Bud’s tenure with CLE began in August of 2017. Utilizing his 10 years of experience as a professional stagehand, he ensures our gear is pulled, prepped, and ready to create memorable events. His extracurricular passion is auto mechanics, and when Bud isn’t working on cars you can find him enjoying activities in the great outdoors.

  • Thaddeus Lee

    Event A/V Tech

    Thaddeus Lee

    Thaddeus joined the CLE team as an Event A/V Tech in March of 2019. Prior to working at CLE, he worked as musician and audio tech at a church in Rockford, IL. In his free time, he enjoys reading, creating and viewing art, spending time with his girlfriend and her family. Ever the musician, he still plays guitar and drums at churches in the Des Moines area. An Arizona native, he now lives in Polk City.

  • Shantelle Pitcher

    Administrative Assistant

    Shantelle Pitcher

    Shantelle joined the CLE crew in May of 2019 as our Administrative Assistant. Shantelle relocated to Bondurant from SW Florida with an extensive background in Business Ownership, Management, and Administration. When not working, you can find Shantelle spending time traveling with her husband and four boys. Shantelle also enjoys reading, gardening, interior design and visiting different wineries.

  • Josh Darnell

    Warehouse Manager

    Josh Darnell

    Josh joined the team CLE in May 2019 as our Warehouse Manager. He brings with him 17 years of experience in the warehouse and distribution industry. A guitarist, Josh has performed in all-original punk and rock bands for over 20 years, and has experienced live performance stage set-ups accross the country. Gibson guitars, Marshall amplifiers and Orange speaker cabinets are his preferred weapons of musical destruction. When he has free time, he also enjoys motorcycles, KTM dirt bikes and Harley Davidsons.

  • Peter Vester

    Logistics Coordinator

    Peter Vester

    When CLE created the position of Logistics Coordinator May of 2019, Peter was the person for the job. Originally from Southern California, and after serving in the Navy he relocated to Iowa 2013 to care for his retired father. When Peter is not working or studying for his degree, he enjoys spending time with his wife, kids, friends, and family.

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