Paul Britten (with daughters)

CEO

Born and raised in Traverse City, MI, Paul, an artist at heart, eventually studied architecture at the University of Detroit Mercy and worked in Washington, D.C. as an architect for a time. While still a student at UDM, a friend suggested they enter a banner contest to win World Series tickets. They worked tirelessly, entered their hand-painted banner, and won the contest (and the tickets)—as well as an audience with General Motors’ Chairman Roger Smith, who commissioned a 40- by 100-foot banner from Britten that would hang at GM’s world headquarters! It would evolve into a lifelong relationship, and eventually, a life altering career move. Today, Paul Britten is the President/CEO of Britten, Inc., the nation’s leading provider of creative production services and large-format digital printing. One facet of the successful event solutions company is his tent division, MasterTent USA. In 2006, Paul decided that with the right leadership, MT could grow to be very strong. Upon meeting the savvy entrepreneurs-in-training, Bobby Petersen & Matt Bulloch, he was confident of his decision, and the rest is history.

Matt Bulloch

Co-President

Originally from Baltimore and one of five children, Matt’s family now resides in Orange County, California. Matt took the scenic route through college, finally graduating in 2005 from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia with a double major in Finance and Sociology. When he wasn’t in class, Matt spent time as a ski bum in Snowbird, Utah, wildland firefighter on the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho, European traveler and soldier in the Virginia Army National Guard (where he was called to Active Duty service in 2002.) After graduation, Matt headed north to New York City and Wall Street, where he served as an analyst in Credit Suisse’s Private Fund Group. Although he had always harbored dreams of pursuing some sort of entrepreneurial venture, it was a phone call from Bobby Petersen, Matt’s neighbor and friend from UVA, which really got the ball rolling. Matt and Bobby vetted tens if not hundreds of business ideas, eventually settling on MasterTent after being introduced to Paul Britten through a close friend and classmate at Virginia.

Jeff Turner

Director of Operations

Jeff is West Michigan born and raised, having lived almost all of his life in Traverse City, Michigan. Jeff has worked in the printing industry for over 12 years at Britten Banners.  Jeff joined the MasterTent team from Britten as Director of Operations in 2006 and with his extensive printing and finishing experience, has helped MasterTent achieve its goals to be the highest quality tent brand available today. Multitasking has been taken to a new level with Jeff, as on a daily basis he can be found managing all MasterTent daily operations and getting those same day rush orders out the door all the while making sure all things run smoothly. When Jeff isn’t at the MasterTent operational helm, he’s probably with his skateboarding prodigy son, Anders. You also might be able to find him at a local triathlon, riding his bike, sitting around a campfire or sleeping on the ground in the woods somewhere with a local microbrew in his pack. 

TJ Shimek
 
New Business Development 

TJ grew up in Northern Michigan on a dairy farm with his older and younger sister. He graduated from AquinasCollege in 2004, where he was a 5-time All-American in track and field, with a double major in Business Administration and Accounting. After graduating, TJ headed out west to travel for a year and landed in Hollywood to pursue his dream of acting. He did a lot of work in movies (40 Year Old Virgin, War of the Worlds, Thank You for Smoking), TV (Las Vegas, CSI NY, Entourage), and commercials, but the family farm called him back and he took a job with AT&T Yellowpages for four years. While coaching middle school boys’ basketball, TJ was introduced to MasterTent through one of his player’s parents, and he decided to pursue the opportunity and get out of the stuffy corporate world. In March of 2009, Bobby and Matt added TJ on as the next piece to the MasterTent USA sales team. 

Kurt Neller

New Business Development

Born in San Diego, Kurt is the oldest son of a career Marine Corps officer. He spent most of his life globetrotting with stops on both coasts of the US as well as spending several years living in Central America and Europe. An alumnus of Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kurt decided to make West Michigan his home. For several years after school he worked in hospitality management until the opportunity for an international outside sales position at a large plastics distributor was presented to him. This provided amazing opportunities for Kurt as it saw him traveling all over North America, Asia and the Middle East to develop new business. Kurt joined the MasterTent team in 2010 after Matt met him at a bar and challenged him to a bare knuckles boxing match. Needless to say, Matt lost. When not selling tents like a mad man, you’ll either find Kurt on a bicycle, discovering good food in NW Michigan or on a boat in Glen Lake. He has also been known to frequent the local watering holes of Grand Rapids, MI. 

Amy Lewis

Account Executive

Amy is a sixth generation Traverse City. Born and raised there, she spent most of her childhood in the water or on the beach. She graduated from GrandValleyStateUniversity in 2004 with a BBA in Marketing and a Management minor. Amy started with Britten right out of college as a press operator running the Fresco machine, which is now the dedicated MasterTent printer. This experience along with a large interest in Marketing and Photography made it easy for Amy to climb within the company to become an International Account Executive. In 2006 she was asked to join the MasterTent team…and the rest is history.  In her free time she enjoys taking photos, riding bikes with her husband, remodeling her house, playing in the local bagpipe band and assisting on repairs to her husband’s 1969 Austin Healey Sprite.

Liz Tiffany

Account Executive

Liz spent the illustrious years of her youth in Scottville, MI, a small town near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. While attending high school (thanks to an unmentionable ex-boyfriend) she fell in love with the art of photography. She pursued a degree from Central Michigan University majoring in photography and minoring in art history, and graduated in 2004. After college she moved to Traverse City and found an appreciation for the local fare (mostly the wine) and laid-back attitude of northern lower Michigan. While working at Blue Photo, in an independently owned mom-n-pop style photo store, she met Amy Lewis and that was the beginning of her connection with MasterTent. She joined the Britten crew in 2007 and is part of the Sports & Events sales team. When not at work, you’ll be able to find her loitering in the woods, laying on the forest floors and hanging out of trees on the weekends with a camera around her neck.

Jared Prusick

Production Technician 

Jared has been with the MasterTent USA team since the summer of 2008.  Initially with no print or fabrication background, Jared has quickly and quietly taken it upon himself to become one of MasterTent’s most important assets on the production team. As Jeff’s right hand man, Jared’s responsibilities are crucial in maintaining the ebb and flow of daily operations at MasterTent.  Born and raised in Traverse City, Michigan, Jared is somewhat of a local celebrity. He is the first ever Team MasterTent USA sponsored semi-professional mixed martial artist.  When not working or fighting (in a cage, of course), you’ll see him lying around the beach on West Bay.  Jared is currently attending Northwestern Michigan College with his eyes set on becoming a State Trooper in America’s High Five, the great state of Michigan.

Terry Barton

Production Seamstress 

Terry has been with MasterTent since 2009, when we first opened up our own sew shop. Terry has 25 years of extensive experience with sewing and upholstery, having worked in the industry and having owned and sold her own upholstery and canvas shop. Born and raised in Millington, Michigan, Terry moved up North 10 years ago.  When she’s not sewing your custom tent, she loves riding horses, camping and canoeing all over Northern Michigan.

Robin Stone

Production Seamstress 

Robin has been with MasterTent since 2009, bringing with her a lifetime wealth of sewing experience. From home sewing and quilting at an early age, she parlayed her expertise into a full time sewing position making uniforms for the Armed Forces. Along with Terry, Robin is responsible for all of those beautiful, hand-sewn, custom tents that you all love so much. Born in North Carolina, she was raised in the Great Lakes region and takes full advantage of all it has to offer. She enjoys tending to her own garden, quilting and spending time with her family outdoors.  She “loves being part of the MasterTent family,” and she often bakes pies and other treats and only gives them to Jared.