Stephen M. King, CFEE, is the executive director of the Des Moines Arts Festival® in Des Moines, Iowa and currently serves as Chairman of the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) World Board of Directors. Projects throughout his career in events have garnered more than 250 industry awards from the likes of the International Festivals and Events Association and the International Downtown Association. Before turning his full attention in July of 2011 to the Des Moines Arts Festival, King led the Downtown Events Group from 2006-2011 producing the U.S. Cellular® World Food Festival, Holiday Lights Des Moines, Skywalk Golf, and GuideOne ImaginEve! Before arriving in Des Moines, King served as president/CEO of Celebrate Fairfax, Inc. in northern Virginia. Prior to that he was the director of the festivals and events division of Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas, where he produced the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival, the nation’s third largest arts festival. King is an active member within the festivals and events industry. In addition to serving as chairman of IFEA, he serves on the IFEA Foundation Board of Directors, IFEA World President’s Council, Bravo Greater Des Moines Board of Directors and is a past director of the National Association of Independent Artists, and a founding member of ZAPPlication™. King is a regular speaker and contributor to the annual IFEA Convention and faculty member of the IFEA/NRPA Event Management School.