Hall of Fame 2005

Mitchell Kelldorf - President, Sculptware

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Mitch KeldorfMitchell Kelldorf, president of Sculptware and designer of the original stretch-to-fit chair cover, is an event industry Renaissance man. His right-brain creative flair and left-brain business sense have had a major impact on the look of events worldwide.

Growing up in Hurst, Texas, Kelldorf would play “commandos” with his friends to the sound of choppers flying overhead from the nearby Bell Helicopter plant. The thumping drone of the constant test flights set young Kelldorf’s mind in motion.

Upon graduating from high school, Kelldorf headed for United States Marine Corps boot camp. During his tenure with the Marine Reserves, he continued his schooling at the University of Texas, Arlington and the Marine Corps officer training program.
After two years with the Corps Reserves and an honorable discharge, Kelldorf headed to the Lee Strasbourg Institute in New York City, where he began training as an actor. Kelldorf believes this was destiny, for it was there that he met his wife-to-be, Cleo, and formed a production company partnership with Bruce Sutka.
Working with high-end clients and producing events nationwide, Kelldorf became increasingly frustrated with the unattractive chairs that had to be included in otherwise spectacular settings, so he set his mind to designing a stretch-to-fit chair cover that transformed the utilitarian chair into a functional piece of art. Although the covers were initially only used for Sutka-Kelldorf productions, interest grew as more people were exposed to the look. Kelldorf eventually set up operations near the production company’s Palm Beach, Fla., office and launched the organization now known as Sculptware.

When the business outgrew its office space, the Kelldorfs pursued a joint dream of moving their home and office to Scottsdale, Ariz., where Sculptware has continued to develop new and exciting stretch-to-fit linens that transform event environments.

“It takes great people to build a great company,” says Kelldorf. “This really is a team effort of wonderful people. … I feel truly blessed.”

Eventually becoming both a fixed wing and helicopter pilot, Kelldorf now uses his skills to give back to the community, having provided helicopter flights as fundraisers for hospitals and non-profit organizations.

First year in the industry:

1982 (just after the invention of the wheel). I started out in event design and production. Then in 1986, after designing the original stretch-to-fit chair cover, I launched what is now Sculptware.

What I thought I would be when I grew up:

Older. That, and possibly an actor, rock star or Marine Corps aviator.

I got into the industry because:

I was initially attracted by the energy and creativity that went into producing events. I had previously attended acting school in New York, so I felt right at home with the production and entertainment aspects of large projects.

Biggest event success:

Our biggest event success is when our customers look like heroes. It’s fun to see our products at huge events like the Olympics. But I enjoy seeing events of any size where someone is pushing the envelope creatively.

Biggest event save:

A client of ours was responsible for a big event in San Francisco on a weekend. The client called on Saturday with the news that the product had not arrived. Sculptware had shipped the product on time. The breakdown was with the delivery company, but our client still needed covers — and they needed them now. We called in staff, scrambled to duplicate the order, booked an immediate flight out of Phoenix and personally delivered and installed the replacement covers before the event started.

Most valuable lesson learned:

You can grow a business quite well by treating people the way you would want to be treated.

The best piece of advice I ever received:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. If there is better advice than that, I do not know what it is.