The Organization

Meet the Team

The Tattoo Show Invitational is powered by over 80 staff members, volunteers, and specialists dedicated to running the most professional competitive tattoo event in the world.

80+
Staff & Volunteers
8
Departments
4
Seasons Running
3
Founding Members

Hosts & Announcers

Hoon Kim

Hoon Kim

Guest Announcer & Event Host

Hoon Kim is a celebrated figure in the tattoo world — artist, educator, and now the voice of the Tattoo Show Invitational. His deep knowledge of the craft brings unmatched commentary to every competition round.

Mia Delacroix

Stage Announcer

Mia keeps the energy high on the competition floor, announcing round results, artist introductions, and live updates throughout each competition day.

Jordan Vance

Interview Host

Jordan conducts all on-site artist and judge interviews, bringing personality and depth to the human stories behind the competition.

Veronica Castillo

Veronica Castillo

Founder & Executive Director

Veronica founded the Tattoo Show Invitational in 2022 with a vision to elevate competitive tattooing to a professional sport. With 15 years in the industry, she built the event from a 12-artist showcase into the premier competitive tattoo league in North America.

Damon Reyes

Damon Reyes

Web Designer & Digital Systems Lead

Damon architects the digital infrastructure behind the Invitational — from the live leaderboard and judge scoring system to the public-facing platform. He has been with the event since Season 2.

Priya Nair

Priya Nair

Event Coordinator

Priya manages the end-to-end logistics of the three-day event, coordinating over 80 staff members, vendor placements, artist check-in, and the competition schedule.

Marcus Webb

Operations Manager

Marcus oversees venue operations, load-in/load-out, and day-of logistics. His background in large-scale event production ensures the competition floor runs without interruption.

Tasha Okonkwo

Volunteer Coordinator

Tasha recruits, trains, and manages the 40+ volunteer team that keeps the event running smoothly across all three days.

Hector Fuentes

Artist Relations Director

Hector is the primary liaison between the Invitational and competing artists. He manages applications, communications, and ensures every artist has what they need to compete at their best.

Jade Kim

Artist Check-In Manager

Jade runs the artist check-in process, verifying credentials, licenses, and equipment compliance before each competition day.

Ravi Patel

Artist Support Team Lead

Ravi leads the on-floor support crew, handling artist requests, supply runs, and station issues during live competition.

Simone Dubois

Station Setup Crew Lead

Simone oversees the setup and breakdown of all 24 competition stations, ensuring each meets the Invitational's strict equipment and layout standards.

Dr. Elias Thornton

Dr. Elias Thornton

Health & Safety Director

Dr. Thornton developed the Invitational's industry-leading safety scoring framework. A licensed physician and tattoo safety consultant, he oversees all health protocols and inspector training.

Camille Osei

Cross-Contamination Inspector

Camille conducts real-time cross-contamination audits during competition, scoring artists on barrier technique, needle disposal, and surface sanitation.

Tomás Guerrero

Sanitation Supervisor

Tomás manages the sanitation team responsible for maintaining the competition floor, restrooms, and common areas to medical-grade standards throughout the event.

Nurse Aisha Brennan

Medical / First Aid Lead

Aisha leads the on-site medical team, providing first aid coverage for artists, clients, and attendees across all three competition days.

Leila Vasquez

Leila Vasquez

Media Director

Leila leads all media operations for the Invitational — from pre-event content strategy to live coverage and post-event distribution. She has grown the event's media presence to over 2M annual impressions.

Finn O'Brien

Photography Lead

Finn directs the photography team, capturing competition moments, artist portraits, and behind-the-scenes content across all three days.

Zara Mensah

Videography Lead

Zara oversees video production including highlight reels, artist profiles, and the official competition recap series.

DJ Nakamura

Livestream Producer

DJ produces the live broadcast, managing multi-camera switching, graphics, and the real-time commentary feed during competition rounds.

Bianca Torres

Social Media Manager

Bianca manages all social channels during the event, driving real-time engagement and growing the Invitational's community year-round.

Content Editors

Post-Production Team

Our editing team handles all post-event content — from interview cuts and highlight packages to the official season recap documentary.

Kenji Watanabe

Vendor Coordinator

Kenji manages all vendor applications, placements, and on-site support for the 30+ vendors at each Invitational event.

Natasha Bloom

Sponsor Relations Manager

Natasha builds and maintains sponsor partnerships, managing deliverables, activations, and long-term sponsor relationships.

Carlos Mendez

Courtyard Vendor Supervisor

Carlos oversees all outdoor courtyard vendor operations, ensuring smooth setup, compliance, and customer experience.

Ingrid Svensson

Indoor Vendor Supervisor

Ingrid manages the indoor vendor hall, coordinating with exhibitors and ensuring the space meets fire code and event standards.

Raymond Cho

Finance Director

Raymond oversees all financial operations for the Invitational, including budgeting, vendor payments, and prize pool management.

Alicia Fontaine

Prize Pot Manager

Alicia manages the prize pool fund — tracking sponsor contributions, ticket revenue allocations, and prize distribution.

Omar Hassan

Artist Payout Coordinator

Omar handles all artist prize disbursements, ensuring winners receive their awards accurately and on time.

Yuki Tanaka

Platform Administrator

Yuki manages the Invitational's digital platform, including the judge scoring system, leaderboard, and registration infrastructure.

Petra Voss

Leaderboard Manager

Petra monitors the live leaderboard during competition, verifying score entries and coordinating with judges on data accuracy.

Eli Grant

Client/Artist Support Tech

Eli provides on-site technical support for artists and clients using the registration and scoring platforms.

Victor Reyes

Security Director

Victor leads the security operation for the Invitational, coordinating with venue security and local law enforcement to ensure a safe event for all attendees.

Security Team

12-Person Security Crew

Our professional security team covers all entry points, competition floor perimeter, and VIP areas throughout the event.

Diane Okafor

Logistics Manager

Diane coordinates all equipment transport, storage, and on-site logistics from load-in through final breakdown.

Load-In / Load-Out Crew

Setup & Breakdown Team

Our dedicated crew handles all equipment movement, station assembly, and venue restoration before and after each event.

Special Recognition

Gil Montie

Founding Member — In Memoriam

Gil was one of the original three artists who believed a competitive tattoo league could change the industry. His vision for safety-first competition lives in every rule of the Invitational.

Dennis Dwyer

Founding Member — In Memoriam

Dennis brought decades of traditional tattooing wisdom to the founding of the Invitational. His standards for craftsmanship remain the benchmark judges use today.

Lyle Tuttle

Special Contributor — In Memoriam

A legend of American tattooing, Lyle's endorsement in the early days gave the Invitational the credibility it needed to grow into what it is today.

Join the Team

Volunteer for 2028

Applications for the 2028 volunteer team open September 1, 2027. We welcome people with backgrounds in event production, healthcare, media, and security.

Express Interest