Meet Joel Hoover
Before becoming one of the founding partners of The Labor Connection, Joel spent 18 years working at
various levels of live-event production. He started out as an audio engineer before moving up the ranks
into project management, and eventually spending several years working as an account manager
supporting clients from around the world and managing events across the US and Europe. We asked
Joel to tell us a little about himself:
What were your formative years like?
Growing up in central Iowa, in a rural town not far from Des Moines, I always had an interest in
electronics and gadgets. My dad worked for a small radio station part-time to supplement his income,
and I always enjoyed going in with him and seeing all of the gear that kept the station operating. In high
school I volunteered for the tech team running sound for various productions, and before long I was
hooked. I also took the lead role on the audio team at our church, and built a collection of gear to start
recording local bands. In college, I tried my hand at a psychology and philosophy before eventually
pivoting into studio recording. That experience brought me to Chicago, where I worked in a few local
studios before finally making my way into live event production where I’ve been for almost 20 years.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I enjoy spending time with my family, working on projects around the house or on the cars with my kids.
Traveling and experiencing different cultures has always been important to our family as well. Otherwise,
when not working on a job site around the city I can usually be found somewhere out on a trail putting
some miles on my mountain bike.
What’s on your bucket list?
I guess the usual things, really; travelling and seeing the world. I would love to set foot on Antarctica
someday, just to be able to experience such a unique and barren landscape. I’d also really like to be able
to take the time for a hike on the Appalachian Trail someday, taking a few months to traverse the entire
stretch from Georgia to Maine.
What advice would you give to your younger self, or to someone just starting out in this
business?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! So much of my youth was spent trying to figure out what the “right
way” was for everything. It took me far too long in life to realize that we’re all just making it up as we go
along. Be confident and move forward with integrity in all that you do, and don’t be afraid to make some
mistakes along the way (making sure to learn something from those mistakes as you go).
Last question. What are your go-to experiences for visitors to Chicago?
Given the vast array of experiences this city has to offer, that’s a really tough question to answer. My
family has always been big fans of the architectural river tours; you can’t go wrong with those. The
museums here are absolutely first rate as well, from the Field Museum to the Surgical Science Museum,
every one of them is a must see if you can swing the time. Finally, depending on the time of year, I’d
definitely recommend checking out one of the many great neighborhood street festivals that pop up
around the city. Amazing food, excellent live music, great times all around!