2026 Impact NextGen Honoree: Madison Owens

MADISON OWENS
Director of Booking | AGE: 31
Columbus Arena Sports & Entertainment

FASCINATING FIRSTS
First show on the job: Peter Gabriel. First solo settlement: WWE.

Madison Owens oversees artist booking and event scheduling for Columbus Arena Sports and Entertainment’s two 20,000-capacity arenas: Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets, and The Schottenstein Center on the campus of The Ohio State University.

When she joined CASE in 2023, she started as the Assistant Director of Booking for the 2,600-seat Mershon Auditorium. The first day on the job was a Peter Gabriel show and the first show she settled solo was a WWE event. She was promoted to director of booking of the arenas in February.

“That promotion was especially meaningful to me because I had learned an entirely new industry [and] earned recognition for my work enough to be given the opportunity to grow into a leadership role in such a short period of time. [That’s] something I’m incredibly proud of,” she says.

She credits Aaron Thomas, Chief Entertainment Officer at CASE, with being an early mentor.

“He took a chance on hiring me, having not previously been in the industry, and he’s the one who taught me how to cut deals, buy talent and be a better booker,” says Owens. “You know it’s sincere because I will undoubtedly be ridiculed by him for admitting this, but if you ask me in person, I’ll deny everything.”

For Owens, being a leader means asking questions and being ready to answer.

“Every time I interview for a job, I make sure to ask my potential supervisor how they feel about being asked a lot of questions,” she says. “I learn best by working through things myself and asking what sometimes feels like a thousand follow-up questions along the way. Because of that, the most important quality I look for in a supervisor is approachability and whether I feel comfortable asking even my simplest questions in an effort to learn something new.”

Owens thinks it’s important for supervisors to be flexible and open to new ideas. She sees hiring new staff as an opportunity to bring in fresh perspectives and challenge existing processes.

“For as long as I can remember, I knew I never wanted to work a traditional 9-to-5 job,” says Owens. “It may sound corny, but I am a firm believer in the saying that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. Of course, every job comes with its challenges, but I always knew I wanted to build a career in an industry I was genuinely passionate about.”