Artists always seem to find each other, Shannon Nellis believes, citing her journey from an LA acting class to co-owning Offbeat Productions merchandising in Park City with her husband, Bob. "Bob and I did a scene in class together; that is how we met!" she recalls. "He was mostly a rock drummer then. We had a fun life, but finding steady work was impossible. By 1998, we segued into merchandising, which Bob was doing on the side."
Small business ownership was built into Shannon's Kentucky background. "My Dad had a pizza place across from the original Papa John's," she recalls. "Dad relocated here, and John Schnatter bought a condo at Saint Regis. What a coincidence!" Visiting PC with their two children eventually lured the Nellis' here for good in 2010, along with their burgeoning LA business. "We have many entertainment industry clients, like touring artists, who have merchandise needs," she says.
Today, their two boys are at Park City High, one ready to graduate while the other competes on the school hockey team plus a travel team. “That is where all my spare energy goes,” she smiles. “We're getting ready for a tournament in Aspen now.”
“We’ve all loved it here from the start,” she recalls. “That everyone is here by choice, not by default, makes the energy so positive." That spirit helped charge Shannon's desire to help others. "Supporting artists is part of my life," she states. "I also offer internships through the high school PCCAPS program and support women-owned businesses.”
“Chamber programs mean so much in helping us meet and get to know each other," she says of the benefits of Chamber partnership. "Meeting people at the Annual Meeting last month who have worked for years paving the path to today's Park City was very inspiring. That kind of community backbone does not exist everywhere."
"We're all so fortunate to be here," she concludes. “Our family is happy and thankful every day."