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The Pillsbury A-Mill was once the largest working mill in the world, and our building was an integral part of its success. State of the art, modern equipment was produced and repaired within these walls. Reopened in 2016, this historic machinery shop has been carefully restored with the specific needs of a high-end private event space in mind, keeping the original 1916 architectural details intact, while introducing modern luxury in this industrial space for all types of events. Just as the Pillsbury machine shop was an important player in establishing Minneapolis, Historic Machine Shop is a cornerstone for the city of Minneapolis, as a host of extraordinary and glamorous events.

Our Staff

Sarah Johnson
Executive Director

champagne enthusiast // social butterfly // charcuterie devotee

Sarah should have known the event industry was in her future when she insisted on seating guests and passing out programs at her uncle’s wedding at the ripe old age of 3. She has been involved in some area of hospitality since high school and is excited every day to be able to lead everyone that comes to make magic at Machine Shop. Sarah is also passionate about being connected with others in the industry. As a former president of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Chapter of the International Live Events Association and a steering committee member of the Minnesota Events Coalition – the relationships she has built within events are some of the greatest takeaways of her career so far.

Sheridan Wagner
Sales & Assistant Marketing Manager

passionate about burritos // bubbly // baths

Sheridan has been on Machine Shop’s team since our opening in 2016 and over the years has booked, planned and executed all types of events in the space. She is passionate about Machine Shop being exceptional in every way and is a perfectionist when it comes to all the little details that go into planning and executing any event. As our Sales Manager, she loves to connect with potential clients when touring them through the space and if you are interested, she will even have our Machine Shop Mascot, Ginny, join your tour as pets are welcome. Please contact Sheridan to learn more about Machine Shop, the surrounding area and how she can help make your event unique and memorable!

David Anderson
Senior Event Manager & Director of Operations

guitar wizard // live music lover // fantasy football champion

A native of Albert Lea, Minnesota, David started his hospitality career in high school as a server at the local Perkins. After many pancakes and smiles served, he joined the US Navy shortly after graduation where he worked with the base police and aviation ordinance. Following four years of active duty, David relocated to Minneapolis where he attended and graduated school for law enforcement. During that time he worked in private security where he coordinated and managed security for numerous events and concerts. He joined the team at Machine shop from May 2017 until January 2020 when he began working for Live Nation. However, his love of weddings and the local event industry called him back to his favorite venue starting in January 2022. In his free time, David enjoys all things live music, dogs and food trucks.

Lauren Bohm
Senior Event Manager

dog lover // dance mover // donut connoisseur

With a love for production, community, and design Lauren found her place in the event industry. Lauren’s past roles in operations and experiential design brought her to the historic Machine Shop. Bringing client visions (big and small) to life and fostering an environment for life long memories is what she loves most about working with every Machine Shop client.

Support Team

Bennie
Pack Manager

social butterfly // running enthusiast // stair master

Bennie is the social connector of the Machine Shop pack. She makes sure everyone feels included and keeps an eye on all details happening in the venue. She loves sharing her toys and bringing in new snacks for the team to try.

Ginny
Waste Management

sniff master // hydration enthusiast // recycling queen

Ginny is an essential part of what keeps the Machine Shop in top shape. She takes her job of finding any extra fuzz, glitter or crumbs left behind from an event very seriously. When not hard at work, you can find her enjoying the lap of luxury (human lap or her custom kennel in the office) and “borrowing” toys from the rest of the pack.

Leo
Lead Greeter

eternal optimist // cuddle fanatic // vertical jump champ

Leo is always ready for a party. He loves being in a crowded room where attention and pets are plentiful. Everyone is greeted with a smile and a high five – which helps set the welcoming tone Machine Shop strives for.

Jasmine
Remote Support

world traveler // squirrel huntress // self-care guru

Jasmine supports the pack 100% remote but her commitment to Machine Shop is steadfast. She is part of the planning committee for the team holiday party every year. Jasmine is also always ready to lend an ear and be a sounding board for the team.

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