Marla Watson-Werst, CSEP is the President & creative force behind PeaPod Productions & Smashing Success Events. After graduating from University of North Texas with film production and event planning in her blood, she immediately started her career as a helicopter traffic reporter, reporting for some of the best stations in Dallas Fort Worth. As she grew with the company, she made the transition to behind the scenes, as a producer.

After several years in Radio, she made the move to television working for KXAS Channel 5, the Dallas Fort Worth NBC affiliate, and then went on to become a reporter/producer for AOL/Time Warner. In 2001, when most companies were downsizing after September 11th, she left to pursue her dream - Peapod Productions, a full service Event and Production Company. Her knowledge of cinematography and special events, have helped create one of the top production companies in the DFW Metroplex.

As a filmmaker, she has had many great projects come her way, including the opportunity to produce the high definition short “The Accident”, with good friend, and actress/producer Marie Del Marco. This fun short won the best high definition short film at the 2001 Deep Ellum Film Festival (known now as AFI Dallas).

Marla has won many awards in the Film & Television field, as well as multiple awards in the Special Event Industry including both the Gamma and Executive Excellence award from TxACOM, Nine Texas Star Awards from The Texas Event Industry Professionals and most recently she was nominated for a prestigious ESPRIT Award and received the Spirit of Excellence Award for both Chapter Communications and Chapter of the Year for ISES Dallas.

She currently serves on the board of ISES Dallas, and is immediate Past President of TxACOM. She was on the board of Women in Film Dallas from 1998 - 2003, 2006- 2008, and is a member of WIF Dallas, AFI Dallas, Women in Film International. She is also the founding President of the Association of Event and Convention Professionals.

A Few Of PeaPod's Clients Include:

Yum! International
Six Flags Over Texas
Shuz Society
Air Luquide
Cadbury Schweppes
Smirnoff
Billy Bob's Texas
Air Liquide
KatchArt
Coldwell Banker Apex
Unity Church
Dollar General
American Institute of Architects
T J Lambrecht Construction
City of Grapevine
City of Hurst
Budweiser
Choice ATM

Celebrities & Dignitaries PeaPod has worked with Include:

President George W. Bush
Governor Rick Perry
Mark Cuban
Marcia Gay Harden
Morgan Fairchild
Dr. Phil McGraw
Irma P. Hall
Peri Gilpin
Garry Brown
Janine Turner
Chef Jacque Peppin
Chef Jacque Torres
Chef Dean Fearing
Alton Brown
Hootie & The Blowfish
The Budweiser Guys
Martin Mull
Penny Marshall

PeaPod Sponsored Events:

Special Event 2006 Opening General Session – Dallas (Special Event Magazine)
Autism Speaks
Walk for the Whisper
Team In Training
American Amputee Society
Lewisville Motorcycle Toy Run
PartyFest