With just one year under his belt, Byron Utley is already making waves in the scenic department at Mills James. He quite literally brings ideas to life. As the Senior Scenic Specialist, he can turn empty ballrooms into any brand's world. The scenic team can dream it, build it, and make it Instagram-worthy in the blink of an eye. For this month, we connected with Byron to understand what makes him click and what motivates him to keep pushing the team further.
I just hit my 1 year anniversary in March!
What did your life look like before MJ?
I’ve worked and lived in many places, from Las Vegas to West Virginia. I’ve done exhibits for popular movie franchises like Marvel and The Hunger Games. I also built scenic for traditional theater plays and musicals.
What led you to a career in this industry?
I quickly discovered my Freshman year of college that Engineering would not be the right career path for me. I switched majors to the WVU theatre program with only some high school experience, and it stuck! I like bringing artistic visions to life, and Mills James fits my ideal environment of large creative projects, on fast timelines. The problem solving is really appealing to me since it brings together so many variables.
What is a project that you have worked on that sticks out to you?
The Greater Cleveland Partnership was a large build for the scenic team recently. It was also our largest steel and LED tape project to date. The amount of coordination it took with other departments to get such a large show installed in just 17 hours was awe inspiring. The scale of this project was something that the Scenic team is excited to see more of.
What is your favorite part of being on the Scenic team?
The team itself! I think it is exciting to be part of something that is growing and where everyone wants “more.” The dedication and unique problem solving skills each member brings to the table is very inspiring.
Tell us about a professional success story that you’re proud of.
The MLS All Star Game week long project made me very proud of myself and the team. 14 Events, several locations, multiple scenic builds, and a small scenic team. It showed me what kind of company Mills James is, and how the MJx team can really rally to support each other and get the job done.
Do you have any interesting hobbies?
You can catch me spending my paycheck on vinyl records almost every weekend, and working on various projects for my grandma, my cats, and my truck.
What are you looking forward to in your future?
I look forward to growing the scenic team and our capabilities. I’m excited to connect with all of the Mills James offices on a project at some point or another as we grow.