Business Development-Event Producer - Community Builder
Blade Handler is a development strategist, event producer, and community architect based in Pensacola, Florida, with a career built on turning ambitious ideas into fully realized, large-scale projects.
He currently serves as Development Director and Event Production Director for Vinlandferth, a Viking longship museum and cultural initiative designed to bring a full-scale transatlantic expedition and 50-acre heritage site to the Gulf Coast. In this role, Blade leads capital fundraising, corporate partnerships, and international logistics—securing early-stage funding within weeks and coordinating operations across more than ten countries and port cities.
Blade’s background spans high-pressure industries where execution and adaptability are critical. As a former Executive Chef and Event Director, he produced over 200 weddings and corporate events, managing complex logistics, vendor networks, and large-scale budgets. In the financial sector, he worked with institutions including Navy Federal Credit Union and New York Life, specializing in crisis management, high-value client relationships, and navigating complex regulatory environments.
He is also the founder and manager of a 15,000-member gaming community, where he has led large-scale tournaments, secured sponsorships, and maintained engagement through major industry transitions. An accomplished artist operating under Deepforge Blade, his work spans miniature painting, metalworking, and historical fabrication, earning recognition from leading figures in the tabletop gaming industry.
Deeply rooted in Pensacola through a founding family lineage, he brings both local insight and global perspective. After overcoming significant personal adversity, he approaches every project with resilience, discipline, and a results-driven mindset.
Blade's strengths include:
- Fundraising and donor development strategy
- Corporate partnerships and sponsorship execution
- Large-scale event production and logistics
- Community building and audience engagement
- Crisis management and operational problem-solving
- Consultative sales and relationship development
- Creative production and craftsmanship