"We're all going to be busy for the rest of our lives.

The question is, busy doing what?" 

-Doc Klein 

Who Am I?

I'm driven by a desire to leave the world in a better place than I found it. I love to connect people as much as I love connecting with people. I was born and raised in Detroit, MI but have called Asheville, NC home for the last 18 years.  Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, starting with my fascination of music in movies from a very early age.  I started writing short stories and keeping a journal in the 5th grade. I crave creativity and I use many different avenues to feed that part of my brain, including writing, container gardening, and now even stand up comedy. I'm left handed which means I'm always in my right mind, even when I'm not. Being in the woods is therapy for me. I mean, have you ever seen someone come out of the woods angry?  Exercise keeps me sane.  I think everyone should wait tables at some point in their life. I've been a storyteller at the same preschool for 15 years which is my favorite thing ever. I'm definitely a dog person.   

Professional Bio

Jessica Tomasin is a driving force in Asheville’s creative and music economy, known for her leadership, community vision, and deep commitment to equity and transformation through the arts. As longtime manager of Echo Mountain Recording Studios, she helped shape the studio into a nationally respected destination, drawing artists from around the world with its high-end analog and digital capabilities, unparalleled gear collection, and storied creative environment.

Jessica’s roots in music stretch back to her teenage years in Detroit, where she got her start singing backup on a hip-hop track and fell in love with the industry. She immersed herself in every aspect of music production — from sweeping floors to hauling crates for rave DJs — learning the business from the inside out. After relocating to Asheville, she worked in venue operations and hospitality before becoming the studio manager of Echo Mountain in 2006 — a role that launched a dynamic, purpose-driven career in music, entrepreneurship, and event production.

Beyond the studio, Jessica has served as a mentor, organizer, and movement-builder. She co-founded Asheville Music Professionals, a nonprofit supporting education, advocacy, and connection across the music community, and founded Inside Out, a creative development program focused on teaching BIPOC artists music production, performance, and business skills. The program has since expanded to include youth programming.

Jessica is deeply committed to creating opportunities for young people, working year-round to provide meaningful work experience, skill-building, and mentorship for youth — particularly those from underrepresented communities — through music, event production, and entrepreneurial programs.

She also teaches festival production, studio management, and music entrepreneurship at Montreat College, helping shape the next generation of creative professionals.

In 2014, Jessica launched Jet Up Productions, a full-service event production company that has produced festivals and events across the country, including The Breeders' Cup, Asheville Goombay Festival, Brewgrass, Beer City Festival, and high-profile fundraisers such as the RHS Community Foundation Benefit featuring Gladys Knight and Little Big Town. In all her projects, she prioritizes sustainability, inclusivity, and leaving communities stronger than she found them.

In 2013, Jessica was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Asheville Chamber of Commerce for her contributions to the region’s cultural and economic landscape.

Her latest endeavor, Connect Beyond Festival, is a groundbreaking, multi-genre arts and ideas festival that brings together musicians, filmmakers, authors, educators, and activists for a weekend of creativity, dialogue, and social change. Through performances, panels, screenings, and intimate conversations, the festival invites participants to connect across disciplines and backgrounds — and take meaningful action toward a more just and inspired world.