Pay Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain
This Wizard {of Ah's} Can Grant Almost Any Wish

Last spring, Mark Cheplowitz and his Wizard of Ah's event-planning team received a request from Cosmopolitan Magazine: Arrange nearly 2,000 bikini-clad women into the shape of the "Cosmo" logo. For someone known for creating and producing halftime shows, Christmas spectaculars and opening ceremonies that use pyrotechnics, human animation, theatrical lighting and jaw-dropping props, creating a human logo on Miami's South Beach wasn’t a near-impossible feat. But it was unique, and it added to the diversity for which Wizard of Ah's is known.

"We're always looking for distinctive projects," Cheplowitz says. "I love the challenges."

When he started his event-planning business in 1982, Cheplowitz prided himself on being able to put together almost any type of event—from private party to brand launch to corporate meeting. He still does all of those, although Wizard of Ah's is recognized more for its large-scale productions, including Super Bowl and "Monday Night Football" halftime shows, the launch of Drive Insurance from Progressive at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and festivals and celebrations in the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and Scandinavia.

Cheplowitz's creative talent has graced many an event in Northeast Ohio. If you witnessed the grand opening ceremonies for the Rock Hall and the Great Lakes Science Center or the official "welcome home" celebration for the return of the Cleveland Browns, then you’ve seen the mastery of Cheplowitz and Wizard of Ah's.

Cheplowitz got his start in Cleveland, and he remains faithful to the area. "I never speak negatively of Cleveland," he says. "I feel like I'm a spokesperson for this region."

Nevertheless, he realized years ago that if his event-planning business was to thrive, he needed to broaden his marketing horizons. "The big capital projects in this region -- the groundbreakings of the Science Center, the stadiums, the library -- had run their course. We had to rethink this whole business at the turn of the century," Cheplowitz says.

Opening a Manhattan office of Wizard of Ah’s was part of the plan for the 21st century. And while many national and international gigs have emerged from that office, Wizard headquarters is, for all intents and purposes, in Northeast Ohio. Cheplowitz still coordinates local celebrations, including the grand opening last fall of The VegeTerranean, Chrissie Hynde's vegetarian restaurant in Akron.

He also offers his expertise on a volunteer basis. Each year, Wizard of Ah's selects one or two worthy causes for which Cheplowitz provides pro bono services. Locally, Cheplowitz worked on the 25th anniversary gala for Cleveland's Ronald McDonald House, and is currently involved with planning Portage County's bicentennial celebration.

His philanthropic work extends beyond Northeast Ohio. Cheplowitz was involved with Thunder Road, a chemical dependency treatment center in San Francisco, and has for several years been a pilot for Angel Flight, a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation for people with urgent medical needs. When it comes to offering event-planning support, Cheplowitz follows certain criteria to select a worthy organization. "There has to be a compelling need. Maybe they don’t have an internal events department, and they would have to outsource for that," he explains. "The event has to have a uniqueness to it, and it has to be a true nonprofit."

Whether he's doing it for profit or for altruistic reasons, Cheplowitz believes in giving his all to a project. "We don’t sell events, we sell the comfort of knowing that everything will be delivered to a client's expectations," he says. "I don't know that I'm passionate about any one aspect of event planning, except providing that comfort."

Not that he's diminishing what his company does. "There's a lot to creating comfort," Cheplowitz explains. "You make sure you follow the budget; you make sure you've got the right vendors, and you must exceed expectations. Then there's the sound, the lights, the stage. Producers have to be incredibly good problem-solvers."

He's not planning to retire anytime soon, but Cheplowitz has a good idea of the type of person who could fill his and other producers' shoes. "I always felt retired police officers would make great event-planning producers," he says. "They have a natural curiosity and know how to ask questions and get answers. They don't take an answer to be just an answer. And they're able to see down the timeline."

Want to find out more about Wizard of Ahs? Visit http://www.wizardofahs.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Diane DiPiero ohiodianeATnetzero.com

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