Podcasts about bizbash

Tamara Francious is CEO and co‑founder of The XP Agency, an award‑winning experiential and multicultural marketing firm based in New York. Since launching the company in 2016, she has led the agency's growth, championing immersive, culturally resonant activations for clients like Netflix, Coca‑Cola, Procter & Gamble, Ghirardelli, and Aflac Under her leadership, The XP Agency earned a spot on Inc.'s 2023 Northeast Regionals list (#79) for its innovative brand experiences inc.com.Tamara draws on over 20 years of experience in entertainment and marketing to bridge real-world events with virtual and digital storytelling, crafting campaigns that deeply engage multicultural audiences blackenterprise.com. A respected voice in the industry, she's been recognized among BizBash's 2025 “Industry Innovators” alongside co-founder Adolfo Vasquez

In this episode of Trade Show Talk, host Danica Tormohlen interviews Chris Skeith, CEO and Managing Director of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, who started in this role in January 2025I. Skeith shares insights about his career path, including his tenure at the Association of Event Organizers UK, and discusses his new role at UFI, aiming for evolution and not revolution. The conversation highlights his top priorities in his first 100 days, focusing on member needs and improving the organization's functionality. They delve into global trends affecting the events industry, such as talent acquisition, sustainability, and the growing role of AI. The episode also covers UFI's 100th-anniversary celebrations and their significant events scheduled for 2025. Skeith shares his optimism about the future of face-to-face events and provides a glimpse into his personal experiences, including receiving an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the industry during COVID-19.  Our guest Chris Skeith, who has served in the exhibition industry for more than 30 years, is Managing Director & CEO of UFI, The Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, which represents more than 900 organizations in more than 90 countries who build, maintain, and support the world's market places: trade show organisers, venue owners and operators, service providers, and national, as well as international associations, of our industry.  Skeith has built a career in the not-for-profit sector, starting his exhibition career in media auditing at the Audit Bureau of Circulations, where he later led on the development of their auditing products for the event sector.  In 2006, Skeith started working in the associations sector in the UK, merging two event associations in the service supplier sector to form ESSA (Event Supplier & Services Association). In 2010, he also became Director of ESSA's sister association, AEV (Association of Event Venues). In 2014, he took the role of CEO of their sister association, AEO (Association of Event Organisers), which represents UK-based organisers who operate worldwide.  During this time, AEO created groups and events which connected the community which grew to over 100 members via special interest groups, and class leading events. He also held several voluntary positions to help raise the profile of the sector to Government and regulators, including Chair of the UK Government's Events Industry Board for the Department of Culture Media and Sport, member of the Department for Business and Trades Professional Business Services Committee, and Chair of UKEVENTS a partnership of all leading associations in the UK event industry. He has previously served as an UFI Board Member and chair of their associations committee.  In the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2021, he was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen, for services to the Events Industry.  Podcast Host: Danica Tormohlen An award-winning journalist who has covered the trade show industry since 1994, Danica Tormohlen is VP of Group Content, Meetings, Sports, Travel for Informa Connect. In her role, she oversees content for Trade Show News Network, Corporate Event News, BizBash and Connect's portfolio of in-person events. These leading media brands publish websites, newsletters, social media channels, video, podcasts and online and in-person programming for the trade show, corporate event, association meeting, experiential marketing and exhibition industries.  Tormohlen currently serves as president of the Women in Exhibitions Network North America chapter. She has been a speaker and moderator at major industry events, including the TSNN Awards, IMEX, IAEE, SISO, UFI, ESCA, DI and Large Show Roundtable — to name a few. 

Born to make headlines, Taiisha Bradley, MA is a publicity and marketing strategist that helps entrepreneurs, experts, and creatives share their stories with the world and earn publicity and profits from their expertise.  For 20+ years, she has secured millions of dollars in earned media for corporations, nonprofits, small businesses, and public figures. Taiisha has helped clients and students get featured in places like Forbes, HuffPost, and Sports Illustrated, and land interviews on industry podcasts and national TV outlets like The View, HBO, and CBS Evening News.  ​She has earned media in Forbes, Good Housekeeping, BizBash, and Business Insider.  She's a professional podcast guest expert on Mediagenic Marketing and also hosts her own podcast "The Media Circus Podcast" where she interviews members of the media about their careers and best pitching practices for entrepreneurs.  Taiisha is available as a media source or expert speaker to comment on topics about media monetization, audience attraction, and publicizing stories.  ​Taiisha Bradley was named one of the Top 100 African Americans in Nashville and has been a nominee for many local business awards for her entrepreneurial leadership. Taiisha's Website: Welcome | Media Circus From James: Free Online Training: How to Earn $2,000/mo. From Digital Products

The Business of Meetings – Episode 245 – Inside the Mind of a Corporate Event Production Manager: Insights for Event Business Owners with Evan Babins We are delighted to have Evan Babins joining us on the show today. Evan is the newly appointed Manager of Event Production at Scotiabank. In this episode, Evan discusses his career path and shares practical insights for business owners on the best practices for leveraging vendor networks, securing sponsorships, and optimizing trade show opportunities. Bio: Evan Babins has 10 years of experience in corporate event production. Throughout his career, he has had the chance to manage event logistics and technical event production for many world-class clients like Nissan Canada, Equitable Bank, Kia Canada, Novartis, and TD Bank, to name a few. Evan has worked in the live, virtual, and hybrid event spaces, honing his craft as a top-tier event industry trendsetter. Evan has been included in BizBash's Top 250 Event Professionals, Eventex's Top 50 Most Influential Event Technology Professionals, Bizzabo's Top 55 Event Experience Leaders & Special Event Magazine's Top 20 Young Event Pros to Watch lists.  Evan is currently the Manager of Event Production at Scotiabank, one of the top 6 banks in Canada. He works on internal and external-facing events and experiences. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Evan Babins On LinkedIn Instagram  

Event marketers today face growing challenges—proving ROI, keeping attendees engaged after the event, and getting the most out of smaller booth spaces. In this  episode of Event Marketing: Redefined, Matt Kleinrock, CEO of Rockway Exhibits + Events is joined by Coty Adams, they talked about these challenges head-on and uncovers practical strategies that can help you overcome them and achieve real results.They discuss:✅ Why measuring ROI has become more complex—and how leading companies are simplifying it with hybrid events, content repurposing, and smart data use.✅ The true value of trade shows: It's not just about scanning badges or giving out swag, but building meaningful relationships that drive pipeline growth.✅ Real-world case studies showing how Rockway clients are making small booths deliver big results and stronger connections.✅ Key insights from BizBash's must-read list for event pros—perfect for anyone looking to elevate their skills, master hospitality, and create unforgettable, high-impact experiences.✅ Practical tips for designing impactful small booths: Learn how to create memorable interactions in limited spaces and make every square foot count.If you're looking for new ways to measure ROI, boost engagement, or maximize the potential of your event space, this episode is packed with valuable insights you can put into action.Connect with Matt:On his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/On his Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/

Trade Show Talk Podcast Host Danica Tormohlen interviews Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group, at the IMEX America 2024 event in Las Vegas. They cover Bauer's career journey from her first IMEX Frankfurt show in 2003 to overcoming challenges like digital transformation and sustainability. They discuss empowering teams to stay ahead of trends by attending various events, experimenting with new technologies, and enhancing customer experiences with innovations like Blue Dot technology for Google Maps-style navigation on the show floor. Strategic conversations around attendee engagement were highlighted, noting the increase in pre-scheduled meetings and attendance despite impacts from Hurricane Milton. Plans for future events at Mandalay Bay through 2027 are confirmed, and Bauer's upcoming engagements include attending a Brand USA event in London and preparing for next year's goals.  Plus, we are introducing a new segment to Trade Show Talk where we discuss the latest public policy issues impacting our industry with Tommy Goodwin, VP of the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance. Our goal to inform event professionals about ECA's work on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, and in state houses and city halls nationwide, to advocate for public policies that will allow the exhibitions and conferences industry—which employs 2.6 million Americans and drives $399 billion in spending annually—to continue to serve as growth engines for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and communities nationwide. In this episode, we talk all about the November 5th election in the U.S. Goodwin shared insight on the recent launch of ECA Votes, a one-stop resource for everything the business events industry needs to know about the November 2024 election. Our guest: Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX Group  Bauer is passionate about the business events sector and its impact on the world, taking a particular interest in issues around sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and mentoring the leaders of tomorrow. She also takes a keen interest in leadership development, and organizational best practice and culture.   Throughout her career, Bauer has been an active member of the meetings industry. She's past chair of the AEO Council (2021-2023) and the EIA (2021-2022), as well as past president of the SITE Foundation (2020). She previously served on the Board of the MPI UK Chapter and on global committees for MPI and PCMA.   Bauer is the proud recipient of a number of industry awards including the SITE Richard Ross Past Presidents' Award (2022), PCMA Wayfinder Award (2021) and ICCA Inspirational Women Awards (2018). In 2023, she was inducted into the Events Industry Council Hall of Leaders. Earlier this year, she received AEO's Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award.  Appointed CEO of IMEX Group in 2009 following the expansion of IMEX into America, Bauer has been part of the IMEX team since the very beginning, joining in 2002 as marketing and operations director with the original launch team.   She enjoys spending time with her family (she's a mother to two boys) and traveling for work and pleasure. She is an adventure sports enthusiast with a particular love for climbing and skiing. In her spare time, Bauer works with a variety of local charities and is chair of the Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation—using the power of football to help people get active, learn and stay well throughout Sussex.   Connect with her on LinkedIn here or email at carina.bauer@imexevents.com Our guest: Tommy Goodwin, VP of Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA)  Thomas F. (Tommy) Goodwin is the Vice President of the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), an umbrella association of leading professional, industry, and labor organizations that represent the unified advocacy voice of the business events industry. In this role, he leads ECA's efforts on behalf of the interconnected ecosystem of exhibitors, show and event organizers, suppliers, venues, and destinations that comprise the business events sector.  Prior to joining ECA, he spent more than 20 years leading a wide range of government relations and public affairs efforts for several globally recognized organizations, including Oracle, AARP, and the Project Management Institute (PMI). He was also a research fellow at Harvard Business School focused on the international political and legal environment in which businesses operate.  Recognized by The Hill as one of Washington, DC's “Top Lobbyists” each year since 2020, he was also named a Leading Association Lobbyist by CEO Update in 2023, an Association Innovation Leader by DCA Live in 2022, and and one of the Top 21 in 2021 advocacy leaders by The Advocacy Association. Within the business events industry, he received the 2022 Industry Support award from TSNN and was named a 2022 Changemaker by MeetingsNet.  He has a B.B.A. from The George Washington University, an M.B.A. from Auburn University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in European Union Law from King's College London. He also holds a Certified Association Executive designation from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), where he is an ASAE Fellow, a Project Management Professional certification from PMI, and a Certified Meeting Professional certification from the Events Industry Council.  He is a past president of the National Institute of Lobbying & Ethics and a past chair of ASAE's Advocacy Council.  Connect with him on LinkedIn here. Podcast Host: Danica Tormohlen  An award-winning journalist who has covered the trade show industry since 1994, Danica Tormohlen is VP of Group Content, Meetings, Sports, Travel for Informa Connect. In her role, she oversees content for Trade Show News Network, Corporate Event News, MeetingsNet, BizBash and Connect's portfolio of in-person events. These leading media brands publish websites, newsletters, social media channels, video, podcasts and online and in-person programming for the trade show, corporate event, association meeting, experiential marketing and exhibition industries.  Tormohlen currently serves as president of the Women in Exhibitions Network North America chapter. She has been a speaker and moderator at major industry events, including the TSNN Awards, IMEX, IAEE, SISO, UFI, ESCA, DI and Large Show Roundtable — to name a few. 

In this episode of Trade Show Talk, host Danica welcomed Chris Griffin, President and CEO of CREW XP, a company that has been providing trade show labor and event services since 1994. He shared his career journey—starting from his first job at Putnam Investments in college to becoming a sales executive at Skyline in Dallas and eventually a business owner. He talked about his company's specialization in turnkey exhibit solutions for other exhibit houses and experiential agencies, highlighting their operations in Orlando, Fla., and Las Vegas. Discussion topics included the industry's response to the pandemic, challenges with labor and cost, visa delays affecting international participation, and the importance of choosing the right business focus. Finally, he offered advice for first-time entrepreneurs, based on his 20+ years of experience as a business owner.   Join Griffin at the Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic on Sept. 26 at Chateau Elan in Braselton, GA. The golf tournament is a fundraiser to help families in the exhibition industry who have suffered severe tragedies or face insurmountable medical expenses. Since its inception in 1995, the Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classics have provided more than $2 million in assistance to more than 170 trade show families. Donate here or apply for assistance here.  Our guest: Chris Griffin, President and CEO, CREW XP  Chris Griffin is the President and CEO of CREW XP, a provider of turnkey exhibit solutions and logistical support. With more than 25 years in the trade show and experiential marketing industry, Griffin is a distinguished leader and advocate. He has authored numerous online and instructor-led courses, training thousands of industry professionals. He has served for a decade on the board of the Exhibitor Appointed Contractors Association (EACA), including two years as President, and currently holds positions on the Board of Directors for the Experiential Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) and as Secretary/Treasurer of the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA).  A respected industry advocate on Capitol Hill, Griffin is also an active trainer and lecturer, teaching trade show courses at the University of Central Florida and advising the Orange County Convention Center's Intern Training Program. Under his leadership, CREW XP continues to excel in providing innovative solutions across major event cities in the U.S., with fabrication facilities in Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla.  Griffin is also the host the Experience Builders Podcast, featuring interviews on business fundamentals that help experiential agencies and exhibitors.  Connect with him on LinkedIn here.  Podcast Host: Danica Tormohlen  An award-winning journalist who has covered the trade show industry since 1994, Danica Tormohlen is VP of Group Content, Meetings, Sports, Travel for Informa Connect. In her role, she oversees content for Trade Show News Network, Corporate Event News, MeetingsNet, BizBash and Connect's portfolio of in-person events. These leading media brands publish websites, newsletters, social media channels, video, podcasts and online and in-person programming for the trade show, corporate event, association meeting, experiential marketing and exhibition industries.  Tormohlen currently serves as president of the Women in Exhibitions Network North America chapter. She has been a speaker and moderator at major industry events, including the TSNN Awards, IMEX, IAEE, SISO, UFI, ESCA, DI and Large Show Roundtable — to name a few.  Thanks to our sponsor Connect Marketplace: Where Events Business Get Done. Connect Marketplace is hosting five regional events this fall and winter in Seattle, Los Angeles, Greenville, SC, Frisco, TX and Washington DC. Don't miss your opportunity to join passionate event experts for unparalleled networking, one-on-one business meetings, and inspiring education sessions. Find out more at Connectmeetings.com 

Christine Renaud always felt destined to be a teacher, but after training in education, she came to a disturbing realization – traditional schools were not created to develop students effectively. Determined to better support students' learning, growth, and happiness, Christine founded Braindate, a pioneering technology company that has created transformative conversations and experiences for over a million participants in 100 countries.Christine is a distinguished keynote speaker, Startup Canada's “Entrepreneur of the Year,” and the CEO and founder of Braindate. Using a background in education and a Master's education from Harvard, she aims to create innovative technologies, spaces, and books that facilitate meaningful learning. In this episode, Dart and Christine discuss:- Unschooling, home-schooling, and alternative education- The philosophy and origins of Braindate- The relationship between Anarchism and education- Benefits of peer-to-peer learning - Using deep networking in different social contexts- Creating a business that reflects your ideals - Hurdles to collaborative learning- And other topics…Christine Renaud is the CEO and founder of Braindate, a pioneering technology company that has created transformative conversations and experiences for over a million participants in 100 countries. Using her background in education and Master's education at Harvard, she has dedicated her career to creating innovative technologies, spaces, and books that facilitate meaningful learning. A passionate advocate for women in leadership and technology, Christine has been recognized as one of the "Most Innovative People in the Events Industry" by Bizbash, "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Startup Canada, and among the "Canadian Inspiring Fifty." She is also a sought-after keynote speaker, presenting at international events such as IBTM World (Barcelona, Spain), the World Innovation Summit in Education (Doha, Qatar), Morgan Stanley Women's Leadership Summit (Chicago, USA), and Tech Open Air (Berlin, Germany).Connect with Christine:www.Braindate.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinerenaud 

Bob Priest-Heck joined Trade Show Talk to share his experience as CEO of Freeman, a privately owned global events company that employs more than 4,500. As he prepares to step down from his role on June 28 after 15 years at Freeman and six years at the helm, Priest-Heck reflected on the risks and rewards of his career that spans more than 35 years in the events industry. We talked about the early days when he was on the show management side and had a front-row seat to launching and producing massive tech events during the Internet boom. Under his leadership at Freeman, the company was recognized by Forbes as #4 in the Best Employers for Women and also as a Best Large Employer, and Chief Marketer named Sparks, a Freeman Company, to its Top Marketing Agencies of 2022. He shared insight on succession planning, design thinking and the transformation of live events post-pandemic. Find out the scoop on what's next for his gap year.    Our guest: Bob Priest-Heck, CEO & Board Member, Freeman   Priest-Heck is known as a visionary leader of people and events. His extensive experience across industries, technologies, and geographies brings a forward-thinking view to people development, business strategy, and the industry at large.   Under his leadership, Forbes recognized Freeman as #4 in the Best Employers for Women and also as a Best Large Employer, AdAge listed Freeman as the world's largest global event marketing company in their World's 50 Largest Agency Companies list, and Chief Marketer named Freeman to its Top Marketing Agencies of 2022.   An advocate of design thinking, Priest-Heck inspires by demonstrating innovation, made possible in a diverse and risk-tolerant environment. He encourages and motivates employees to integrate and optimize new technologies, championing Freeman's vision to transform the world of live engagements.   Priest-Heck has always worked at the forefront of innovation in the events industry.  In the emergence of digital technology, he managed and created specialized trade events for early internet developers. He was a contributor when the first user-friendly web browser, Mosaic, was relaunched as Netscape Navigator. He moved to Japan to unveil the first major tech event produced outside of the U.S., NetWorld+Interop, and built a market for disruptive technology events. He helped host the first JavaOne conference for developers while working with Sun Microsystems, acted as an executive coach to Google leadership, consulted UBM (now Informa) on key acquisitions, and helped Dwell magazine expand its media platform into the new world of brand experiences.   Priest-Heck continues in the spirit of transformation and is respected for his progressive efforts in technology, advocacy, sustainability, and safety. He is optimistic about the future of the events industry and its evolution as the world's markets change. At the forefront of the pandemic, Bob brought together over 80 industry leaders to form Go LIVE Together, facilitating legislative action to support the industry. This effort lives on as the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), for which Bob serves as a board member. He also collaborated with John Cordier, CEO of Epistemix, on the creation of EnVision, a conference that brings together top health officials, scientific experts, and industry executives.   Most recently, Priest-Heck was part of the CEO advisory group that launched the Net Zero Carbon Events pledge at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26. Additionally, he has been honored among BizBash's 2021 Most Influential Event Management & Consulting Professionals, received the 2021 Catalyst Award from Smart Meetings as an agent of change in the meetings industry, and was named by Meetings Today as one of the top twenty 2020 Meetings Trendsetters, recognizing those who stepped up when the industry needed them most.   Through Priest-Heck's leadership, Freeman continues to transform live events, working as a team to reshape experiences — virtual, in-person, or integrated — that unite people for the moments that matter, no matter the format or timeframe.   Related: FREEMAN NAMES JANET DELL AS CEO WHEN BOB PRIEST-HECK RETIRES IN JULY  

Andy Lopata welcomes Melva Lajoy Legrand to this episode of the Connected Leadership podcast. Melva and Andy explore the concept of authentic connection. Melva is one of the leading event planners in the United States. Recognised nationally for her thought leadership, she is a six-time award-winning CEO who has used her social impact on the stages of IMEX Frankfurt (2024) and IMEX America (2023), the One Women's Summit (2022), IBTM Americas (2022), four cities for BizBash's Connect Conference (2022), and the Tide Risers Summit (2021). She has been featured in Forbes, Authority Magazine, The Washingtonian, The Black Wall Street Times, HQ The Association and more. Speaking on issues including the gender pay gap, redefining what success looks like for mature women, navigating career changes and being an ally for black women in the workplace. Based in Washington, DC, Melva produces events for audiences ranging from ten to 60,000 people, with the theme of connection being central to her work. Together, Andy and Melva explore the creation of authentic connections, not just for themselves but for others as well. Melva shares her approach to organising events, emphasising the importance of designing experiences that cater to the unique needs of everyone involved, including speakers, sponsors, general attendees, and volunteers. She believes that making people feel seen, valued, and heard is crucial for fostering genuine connections. This philosophy applies not only to event attendees but also to her team. Andy and Melva discuss the importance of understanding the 'why' behind people's involvement, whether they are team members or clients. Melva values character and authenticity over a perfect resume, seeking individuals who are comfortable with their true selves and can see the bigger picture. This resonates with Andy's emphasis on vulnerability and sharing personal challenges to build deeper connections. Melva highlights the importance of community building in event design, noting that people want genuine, unstructured networking opportunities. She believes that successful leaders share knowledge freely and mentor others, fostering an environment of mutual growth and authentic connection. Andy emphasises the value of pre- and post-event engagement to create lasting connections. Melva agrees, pointing out that modern events should continuously evolve to meet attendees' needs for connection and professional development. In this episode, Andy asks Melva to share a podcast episode in which she shares her personal journey. Melva recommends listening to her podcast interview with Elizabeth Smart Foundation. Melva asked her to stress, "This post contains sensitive information which is meant to heal not harm. Read with care. Consider with compassion. Protect your peace." This episode offers an examination of the art of creating authentic connections, whether through events, leadership, or everyday interactions, and provides valuable insights for anyone looking to foster genuine relationships in their personal or professional life. Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | Youtube Connect with Melva Lajoy Legrand: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

JB Miller is the visionary leader and CEO of Empire Entertainment and Emmy Awards-winning executive producer. He is a legend in the events industry for creating completely immersive experiences on a global scale.    In this interview, JB talks about what signifies the “experiential events industry”, seen as a merger between the events and meeting industry and the entertainment industry, that opens wide opportunities for a producer to create cutting edge events for clients to fulfill thoughtful, creative, and strategic goals What are the key resources necessary to create events that will attract people's attention, change the mindset and behavior of a key audiences, help launch new products, create new markets, and move the needle on an objective, in a major way?     He tells us about various projects where the producer is likened to an alchemist at work. The producer, or perhaps rather the “experiencer”, is a person who is “genre agnostic”, and can move swiftly between various types of gatherings, clients, and locales. One project, in particular, illustrates how producing a multimillion-dollar project in front of a global audience, can become a scary high-wire act.   JB Miller was recognized as “Producer of the Year” by BizBash's Reader's Choice Awards and has been regularly identified as one of the “Top People in the U.S. Event Industry”. In 2023 Miller was awarded the “Collaborate America” award for outstanding achievement as a collaborator, convener, and connector. Photo credit: Caroline Dorn.  

Founder of Moxie Bright Events and host of Talk with Renée Dalo, Renée is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who infuses energy and purpose into everything she does. Driven to inspire and educate, she helps ambitious event professionals boost their self-confidence and increase visibility to attract luxury clients and grow their businesses as bold, empowered entrepreneurs. Recognized across the industry, Renée has also earned coveted spots on Honeybook's 20 On The Rise list and BizBash's Most Influential Event Pros List. She was also nominated for Speaker of the Year by the National Association of Catering & Events (NACE) and was ranked as the top-rated Speaker at the Wedding MBA Conference in Las Vegas. Learn more about Better with Renée Dalo here: https://renee-dalo.mykajabi.com/better-with-renee-dalo-2024 Learn more about Renée and all her resources and programs here: https://reneedalo.com/ Over the Edge Podcast is a collective survival guide for creatives who want to thrive in an unpredictable industry. OTE publishes new episodes weekly about pushing creative boundaries, making big moves without knowing all the answers and jumping off a cliff to our dreams while figuring out how to build a plane on the way down. Creative work is wild, but we can figure it out. Let's go over the edge together, friends. Free posing guide when you sign up for our weekly email series Creative's Edge: https://paigeray.com/creatives-edge Learn more about Paige on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/paigeraycreative/ Visit the Paige Ray Creative website here: https://paigeray.com/

In this week's episode of The Venue Rx Podcast, our host Jonathan Aymin sits down with David Adler, the visionary behind BizBash. Adler shares the story behind BizBash's inception, highlighting the importance of transparency in event planning and the industry's resilience amid various economic and societal hurdles. He stresses the significance of genuine connections, purpose-driven events, and the art of scaling intimacy for impactful experiences. Additionally, Adler delves into the transformative influence of AI and technology on events, shedding light on his pioneering initiatives as well as his engagements in the film sector. About Our Guest:  David Adler is a seasoned entrepreneur with a rich history of success in the world of media and events. As the Chairman and Founder of BizBash, he takes pride in being part of a company and brand that's approaching its remarkable 25th Anniversary. BizBash has been at the forefront of the event industry, serving as a dynamic platform for commerce, community, and content creation. BizBash continues to thrive as a trusted resource and innovation hub. Additionally, David is the Founder and Owner of Washington Dossier Magazine, an iconic "society magazine" focusing on "soft power" before it was recognized, which is nearing its remarkable 50th year since its founding and was sold in 1989. He currently manages a collection of 100,000 photos from that era. As the author of "Harnessing Serendipity," a book on what it means to be a collaboration artist, he shines a light on the importance of high-impact gatherings that propel ideas and connections forward. Find Him Here:  Email: dadler@bizbash.com Website: https://www.bizbash.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bizbash Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BizBash/ Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/company/bizbash/

Have you been thinking, “How am I going to move forward this year, especially in a leadership role?” In this episode, our guest, Heather Odendaal, talks about how we can lift as we climb.Listen as she shares about:How you can move forward in your leadership journey Who Heather is and how she ended up in WhistlerHow she got into event managementWhat WNORTH is, how it started, and its missionWhat proximity bias is and how it could affect youHer future desires for women in leadershipThe Lift as We Climb Conference and the benefits to attendingAnd a lot more! Join the Lift as We Climb Conference! Use this link if you're showing up in person to get $400 OFF your conference ticket: https://wnorthconnect.com/2024conference/?promo=WNORTH-dynamicIf you choose to join virtually, you can join through this link to get 50% OFF your ticket: https://wnorthconnect.com/2024conference/?promo=WNORTH-dynamicVHeather's Bio: Heather Odendaal is an accomplished Canadian entrepreneur, brand builder, and event producer whose experience in corporate environments inspired her to create and co-found WNORTH, a global organization dedicated to the development of women mid-career on a trajectory towards senior executive leadership.Prior to launching her organization, Heather was employed as a sales executive for a Fortune 500 company. There, she noticed the lack of women in senior executive positions, and she and her husband decided to take matters into their own hands and launch WNORTH.What originally started as an annual conference in 2015, WNORTH now connects top female business leaders in corporate, public, and entrepreneurial sectors through The Members' Club, which provides women with development opportunities, including workshops, leadership masterminds, events, and courses, as well as a 100% virtual forum of online content and more. WNORTH also holds Chapter Cities throughout North America and the U.K., where members can network and uplift each other through meet-ups, group exercises, and activities.When the pandemic hit in 2020, Heather and her team quickly pivoted to create virtual experiences for their members and conference attendees. They are hard at work highlighting and solving the problem of the insufficient support structures in North America for women in the workforce, which was even more pronounced over the last year and a half.WNORTH was named Innovative Business of the Year 2021 at the Whistler Excellence Awards, and the WNORTH Virtual Conference was recognized by BizBash as one of the top 10 Most Innovative Meetings 2021.Heather's Social Media links: Website: https://wnorthconnect.com/about/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherodendaal/

Does this sound familiar? You've been told to focus on posting content on every social media platform to boost your business, only to end up feeling overwhelmed and spread too thin, right? You're not alone. It's frustrating to put in all that effort and not see the results you want. Let's change that. My special guest this episode is Emily Rochotte, Wedding Industry Expert and fellow social media manager. Emily Rochotte is a seasoned content writer, social media manager, and speaker, with over ten years of experience collaborating with wedding professionals and contributing to renowned publications such as The Knot, Brides, and BizBash. Her expertise lies in enhancing brand awareness and driving business growth through compelling content creation. With a strong focus on supporting entrepreneurs, Emily's in-depth knowledge and insights are invaluable for wedding professionals seeking to elevate their social media presence and establish meaningful connections with their audience. In this episode, you will be able to: Master short form video content creation to captivate and connect with modern couples. Maximize Snapchat's potential to reach and engage with Gen Z couples in the wedding industry. Engage and entertain viewers with captivating YouTube shorts to grow your wedding business. Diversify your social media platforms to expand your reach and connect with a broader audience. Enhance engagement and impact with effective social media video editing techniques for wedding professionals. Mastering the art of creating attention-grabbing short-form video content is invaluable for wedding professionals looking to strengthen their online presence. This captivating medium allows for authentic storytelling, heightening emotional engagement with prospective clients. With its brevity, it delivers a punchy impact, making it an appealing marketing tool for wedding businesses on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Connect with Emily: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrochotte/ https://emilyrochotte.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@emilyrochotte --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nina-addeo/message

This special edition of GatherGeeks was recorded live at Connect NYC, which took place in late February. In this episode, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with Michael Cirino, chief experience officer at House of Attention; Chelsey Lavere, senior sales manager of meetings and conventions at Turning Stone Resort Casino; and Mary Giuliani, founder and CEO of Mary Giuliani Catering & Events. The panel discusses why and how the catering experience is the final frontier in event marketing—and the ultimate touchpoint where brands can make a lasting impression. They also delve into cutting-edge culinary innovation and event experiences, from drone cocktail bars to deconstructed chicken dinners, and even an avant-garde 100-course dining experience. In addition, the group explores how technology intertwines with the dining experience and, even more importantly, how event profs can engage their catering partners to be as much a marketing partner as their internal teams and agency partners. Listen in on a discussion that's sure to tantalize your taste buds and inspire your event planning endeavors.

This special edition of GatherGeeks was recorded live at Connect NYC, which took place in late February. In this episode, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with Jennifer Savica, head of corporate events at New York Life Insurance Company, and Michael Weiss, co-founder of Ai4, to discuss the future of events. Adler calls them two of the brightest minds shaping our industry, and their conversation touches on not only event trends for 2024 but what's on the "trash heap" of event planning, the evolving format of keynotes, the role of AI in events, the shift from virtual to hybrid and back, and the importance of belonging and community. Get ready for a deep dive into the new frontier of events.

“My proudest moments aren't only about design. They are about how my clients feel when they see and experience the design.” Listen as Andy and his guest Lisa Vorce discuss Lisa's love of celebrations, what inspired her to leave corporate America to launch her own business and much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz. Lisa is a world-renowned celebrity event planner, receiving accolades from Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Brides, BizBash, and Martha Stewart, to name a few. She planned several events for Kobe Bryant and produced some of the most iconic celebrations, including the weddings of John Legend and Chrissy Teigen and Kate Upton and Justin Verlander. Lisa is a speaker and headliner at conferences worldwide, including WPPI, Engage, and DWP. Lisa shares that the first event she worked at was a birthday party for George Clooney's mom, how the referrals from the first wedding she planned led her down the destination wedding path, and the process she follows for each client. Lisa also shares the roles each of her treasured team members play in the events they produce. Listen as Lisa describes an event she did recently, how she helps her clients choose a venue for their wedding and why each client is set up with a website and email address so they can communicate not only with Lisa's team but so that the team can communicate with the guests that are attending the wedding.   If you enjoy listening to this revisit with Lisa, then Andy asks you to please not keep it to yourself! Share the episode with some good friends who might also get something out of it, and be sure to also leave a top review wherever you listen to the show, as that really helps the show out! Lastly, don't forget to follow The Wedding Biz on Instagram and subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss a new episode when it drops!   Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.   SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!   Time Stamps [00:18] - Today's episode is a revisit of Andy's original conversation with Lisa Vorce! [01:45] - Lisa shares what she means by wanting to design something that resonates with someone's soul. [04:03] - Lisa speaks about her family and the mixed heritage she grew up around. [05:35] - Was there any place outside Lisa's family experience where she was exposed to celebrations like she does today? [07:30] - Lisa speaks about meeting her husband during a blizzard in Colorado. [08:52] - Lisa shares that one of the first events she worked was for Nina Clooney, George Clooney's mom. [09:54] - When Lisa transitioned from the corporate world to open her own company, was it something she thought about or was it impulsive? [12:00] - Lisa discusses the first wedding she planned and how that was the catalyst for specializing in destination weddings. [15:28] - Lisa speaks about her process from initial contact with a potential client through the event. [17:31] - Lisa explains what she focuses on for each event and what role each member of her team plays. [19:27] - What are some of the most significant stressors Lisa finds that her clients face? [21:49] - Lisa discusses how she helps her clients decide what venue will work best for them for the destination they choose. [24:30] - Lisa gives us an example of a wedding she did recently and how they picked the venue, resorts, excursions, and flights. [28:37] - Why is lighting the first thing that Lisa look at before designing an event? [31:29] - Lisa speaks about being involved in a couple's website for their wedding and communicating the necessary information. [33:27] - Lisa shares that each client has a specific email address linked directly to their company and the communication plan they do with the guests. [36:06] - Lisa discusses how hard it is to break into designing at a top-level in the event industry. [38:33]  - How does Lisa suggest that photographers and other creative partners who want to work with her approach her? [41:18] - Lisa shares about her product line called Lisa Vorce and Zola, a registry for brides. [42:17] - Lisa speaks about where she sees herself in the next few years. [43:49] - Andy reveals where Lisa can be found online.   LINKS AND RESOURCES Find Lisa: Lisa's WebsiteLisa's Instagram PageLisa's Facebook PageWedding Pro - “On a Bed With Lisa Vorce!” Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz Network The Music Makers   Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here. Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment.

Are you Creating Community at your trade shows and events? Building communities for your business is one of the hottest trends for good reason - it works! In this episode we discuss how and why you should incorporate this powerful tool into your strategy!** Watch the video of this interview - https://youtu.be/be07vkLCfMsJoining host Jim Cermak for the second time is Evan Babins, Event Manager for Intuit.Evan has close to 10 years' experience in corporate event production. Throughout his career, he has managed event logistics and production for world class clients like: Nissan Canada, Equitable Bank, Kia Canada, Novartis, and TD Bank, and now Quickbooks. Evan has worked in live, virtual and hybrid event spaces, becoming a top tier event industry trendsetter. Evan has been named one of BizBash's Top 250 Event Professionals, Eventex's Top 50 Most Influential Event Technology Professionals, Bizzabo's Top 55 Event Experience Leaders and Special Event Magazine's Top 20 Young Event Pro's to Watch lists. We discuss:What does creating community at events look like?What are the benefits?Can exhibitors build communities?How the benefits last far after the event has endedAnd more!Listen to Evan's first interview on Trade Show University:Innovative Best Practices for Exhibitors: https://tradeshowu.biz/episodes/ep-138-innovative-best-practices-for-exhibitors-with-evan-babins/Connect with Evan Babins:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanbabins/Instagram: @evanbabinsTwitter/X: @evanbabinsSUBSCRIBE! Trade Show Tips, tricks and strategies at https://www.youtube.com/@tradeshowuniversity*** Listen to 100's of episodes of the Trade Show University podcast at your favorite Podcast Platform!Mentioned in this episode:Add Greater Value to Exhibitors & Sponsors with EVA Event Tech Hub Visit www.evareg.com/TSU to get started on adding greater value to your Exhibitors and Sponsors at your next Trade Show or Event!Exhibitor Expert Review - exclusively from Trade Show UniversityReady to exhibit at your next Show? Don't make the mistake of waiting until you get to the show to learn lessons on what you can do better and tweaks you can make for next time. You can do that BEFORE this next show and accelerate your results! I can help you get locked in for Success with an Expert Review! • Having a professional set of outside "eyes" is important because You Don't Know what You Don't Know! • 30+ year Trade Show expert will review: o Design o Messaging o Goals & Metrics o Engagement Questions o Attendee journey • Identify the Gaps and Opportunities you don't even know exist! • And get you capturing more Qualified Leads than ever before • Visit Tradeshowu.biz/services

Anthony and Alex are in the pod with Producer (with an emphasis on Environmental and Brand Experiences and Pubic Space Consulting and Activations, Design and Hospitality Management) Brooksie Hughes from BAH Productions. The Bollotta-philes start with a TIPSY with a checklist for adding SOUND to your event and a YaiYai-ism about how her yaiyai would yell at sound guys. Now the main course, Brooksie Hughes is not only a producer but she also is a public space strategist ie. she does festivals and multi-day programs. They get into the basics like what is a Line Producer or PSM and how the vernacular of positions names change per region and industry. They also get deeper with her experiences with surprises onsite (both good and bad). They get into planning in 4 months vs 4 years, how infrastructure can cost the client more, managing public spaces and even how she got her chops touring with legends. There is a reason why today's guest has charted multiple times on a few of BizBash's "Best of" lists. Listen now, there is a lot of good stuff in here.Connect with Brooksie Hughes: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brooksiehughes or http://www.bahproductionsinc.com/ for faster response give her a ring at 917.647.7621Follow @bollottaentertainment on InstagramSubmit ASK ANTHONY questions on the form at www.bollotta.com/podcast

On today's episode of the Green Hour, we explore the dynamic world of events with a focus on sustainability with Anthony Dittmann, Founder of Kilowatt Events. Kilowatt Events is an industry leader, orchestrating high-profile events from televised sporting spectacles to red carpets. Acting as general contractors, they have an extensive client list that includes some of the most recognizable names in the entertainment and corporate worlds, such as the NFL and ESPN.About the guestAnthony Dittmann founded Kilowatt Events after a 15-year career leading event operations for ESPN. He has been recognized on BizBash's top 1000 people in the US event industry, specifically in the Sustainability and Social Responsibility category. Beyond Kilowatt Events, Anthony is a co-founder of Cerobins and the creator of a new sport called OmegaBall.

In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with David Allison, author of The Death of Demographics and a globally recognized researcher known for coining the term "valuegraphics." This data-informed strategy seeks to unpack human behavior by spotlighting shared human values over outward demographic characteristics. Major companies like Lulu Lemon, PayPal, Google, and the United Nations Foundation have embraced this concept, and here Allison breaks down how it can be used to better understand audiences, sell products, motivate teams, and design user experiences. He also discusses why it's time to apply this concept to the world of event planning to create programs that truly resonate. This is an episode definitely worth a listen for anyone seeking to take their events to the next level.

After 11 years with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), Marsha Flanagan was promoted to president and CEO in November, and she officially took the helm on Dec. 1, during the move-in of the association's largest event of the year.  In this episode of Trade Show Talk, Flanagan shared her experience as a 25+ year association professional. She and Podcast Host Danica Tormohlen talked about the recent IAEE Expo! Expo! Annual Meeting & Exhibition, dubbed The Show for Shows. Held Dec. 5-7 at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center Dallas, Expo!Expo! 2023 grew year over year, attracting 1,900+ industry professionals (pending verified audit), compared with 1,476 in 2022, and 241 exhibitors in 35,500 net square feet, compared with 233 exhibitors in nearly 31,000 net square feet in 2022.  In her first podcast as IAEE president and CEO, Flanagan told us the IAEE team beat all the event's goals set by its board of directors. While the numbers are still being crunched, Expo!Expo! 2023 might be one of the association's largest trade shows in terms of revenue on record, she revealed. We also talked about: Her decision to apply for the position and the support from her family How she ended up in the event industry after deciding law school wasn't the right career path for her What it means to her to be the first woman to lead the 95-year-old association whose members are 65%+ female How and why the association deployed new event tech, like Zenus, to improve the attendee experience with data-driven metrics What's first on her agenda as she begins her new role: Filling her previous position, succession planning and restructuring Reflections on achievements in 2023 and challenges as the industry gets set to begin 2024 What she learned from her predecessor, David DuBois, and how she plans to create a culture of belonging, passion and purpose Our guest As IAEE's president, Flanagan is responsible for the management of IAEE's full-time professional staff, producing the annual business operating plan and budget, overseeing the support of all meetings of governance units, leading business development, directing fundraising efforts, advocating for the industry and the organization's members, providing organizational leadership and strategic counsel to the board. Also, she serves as the association's representative with industry coalitions, partner organizations and strategic alliances. Prior to joining IAEE, Flanagan was the Director of Content Strategy and Development at the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), where she was responsible for steering strategy and the development and delivery of all PPAI professional development and editorial offerings. Flanagan spent 6 years in the medical industry serving in various roles overseeing operations, purchasing, revenue cycle management, marketing and business development. Flanagan began her career with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and spent 12 years in various roles including Executive Vice President of Professional Development where she oversaw operations, including all strategic partnerships, the design and delivery of all professional development offerings and meetings management. She was named one of the 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry by Successful Meetings in 2017 and named to BizBash's Inaugural Top 500 in the Events Industry in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, she was listed in Meetings Today as a 2021 Trendsetter. In 2021, she obtained her GBAC Trained Technician Certificate of Completion from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA. Flanagan received her bachelor's degree from Texas Christian University and her master's in education from the University of Arkansas specializing in Meeting, Tourism and Recreation Management. She obtained her Certified in Exhibition Management designation in 2021. Flanagan is a 5th generation Texan, loves sports and the outdoors and spending time with family.  

In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with two of the best in the event lighting biz: Billy Butchkavitz of Billy Butchkavitz Design and Curt Stahl of Images by Lighting. Based in Los Angeles, this duo is at the forefront of transforming event spaces into mesmerizing experiences. Here, they discuss various facets of event lighting, how lighting has evolved, its pivotal role in setting the stage, and considerations for different event scenarios. This episode also touches on the impact of social media on lighting design, plus Butchkavitz's and Stahl's dream projects (hint: One of them hopes to light the Olympics one day). Take a listen.

An emotion-provoking image that speaks to the planner, not a wasteful unsolicited gift.    Steady, quiet persistence, not annoying pushiness. Understanding the cues that say ultra-luxury, and nothing less.   That's how you get on the radar of an elite ultra-luxury planner, and get hired again and again. In the high stakes, high-touch and high detail world of elite wedding planning, photographers are the most important vendors on game day.    Planners want collaborators who understand their role and how to bring the ultra-luxury experience from start to finish, with minimal hand-holding.    What sets ultra-luxury weddings apart in the level of service vendors have to bring? How do you get your first ultra-luxury job and keep getting called back for more weddings?    In this episode, elite planner Lynn Easton shares the layers of luxury that make up the best of the best in weddings. She also shares how to make a connection with an elite planner, and the pet peeves photographers and videographers must avoid if they want to impress.  Want a clear and comprehensive roadmap on how to succeed in the luxury wedding market? Check out the Business of Luxury Weddings course. You'll learn the entire business model and thought process - so you can sign consistent 5-figure contracts, build a powerful network of the right people, and travel to iconic destinations. Learn more and join the waitlist at SageJourney.co.   Guest Bio Lynn Easton is a leader in the world of event planning, sought-after speaker, and founder of Easton Events. Easton is a full-service wedding and event design and planning company founded in 1998. With offices in Charleston, South Carolina, and Charlottesville, Virginia, Easton is dedicated to guiding their clients with a steady balance of head and heart through their weddings and milestone events. Easton has received national acclaim from top industry publications, including VOGUE, Harper's BAZAAR, Martha Stewart Weddings, Town & Country Weddings, The Knot, BizBash, among others. For more information, head to eastonevents.com or go to eastoneducation.com to find out about her courses.   

Welcome to another episode of the Events Demystified Podcast with your host, Anca Platon Trifan! In today's episode, we're excited to welcome John D'Adamo, currently a consultant for BizBash and a veteran in the event industry, as our esteemed guest. Join us as we delve into the dynamic world of AI and its influential role in reshaping event management.

While technology may make it seem like we are constantly connected, the truth is that in many ways we have never been more disconnected from one another. The same devices that can bring the world to our fingertips can at the same time drive a barrier in between real moments of authentic connection. In many ways, this divorces us from ourselves regarding our true human nature. As human beings, we not only crave connection but also need connection. While Maslow put love and belonging in the middle of his pyramid, we could easily argue it should be at the top. Or at least, without feelings of belonging and connection, can we ever truly be our selves. For experience designers, we should be wondering how we can create experiences that provide for connection and belonging. As social scientists, none of this is new for we have long recognized the fundamental need for connection. However, in a society like the US that seems to prioritize the individual, we can forget that we can't have an individual without a social. The trick then is how might we turn spaces into conduits for connection and belonging. Or, in order words, how do we reverse the ongoing atomization of our lives.Today in the Experience by Design Studio, we have the honor of delving into the world of event planning and harnessing serendipity with our special guest, David Adler, CEO of Bizbash.Throughout our conversation, we'll be diving into the details of soft power, collaboration, and emotional contagion. We'll explore how David's insights can help us create new opportunities and possibilities that might not otherwise exist. David is a pioneer in understanding the power of collaboration artists and how they can generate unique ideas and solutions while mobilizing diverse networks towards common goals. We'll also explore his thoughts on fostering collaboration and innovation, intergenerational interaction, and the impact of technology on our social connections. Oh and how to have a good Jeffersonian dinner party.It's a great convo we can't wait to share, so sit back, relax, put your tray tables in an upright position and get ready to explore the art of experience by design with our guest David Adler.

Welcome to part two of our podcast with Head Table Talks. (Missed part one? Listen here.) In this special episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits in on a special event planners' luncheon—co-hosted by Melva LaJoy Legrand of LaJoy Plans and Margo Fischer of Bright Occasions—in Washington, D.C. These luncheons, known as Head Table Talks, aim to build community within the event industry and provide a safe space for event profs to network and collaborate. In part two, the focus shifts to the latest happenings in the event business and provides valuable insights into the industry's latest trends and challenges.  The group touches on topics that are shaping the fate of the industry and candidly discusses everything from the pros and cons of new technology advancements, the legacy impacts of COVID-19 on the events sector, to rising security concerns. These event profs also share their own experiences of juggling personal and professional lives. Take a listen, and keep scrolling to read more about our distinguished guests. Melva LaJoy LegrandAs a self-made entrepreneur recognized for her work in the live event industry, as well as causes rooted in social equality as it pertains to women, health, and race and identity, Melva LaJoy Legrand is a public speaker, event producer/director, community leader, and storyteller. As the founder and CEO of LaJoy Plans, an event planning firm she relaunched in 2019, Legrand has been recognized as a trailblazer in the event industry, receiving the BizBash Top Event Industry Innovator Award and the Events Industry Council Global Social Impact Award in 2022. As of 2023, Legrand has spearheaded two new initiatives: Mondays With Melva, exclusive monthly content for her subscribers, offering career guidance as well as event planning tips, and Head Table Talks, an annual luncheon she co-created as a safe space for event planners. Margo FischerMargo Fischer is the owner of Bright Occasions, a full-service event planning company specializing in bespoke weddings and milestone occasions. Fischer brings a wealth of industry knowledge and hands-on experience to her clients, from previous roles in corporate event planning and private event catering. She has a passion for curating unforgettable events. With a strong foundation in event planning and an impressive career in some of Washington, D.C.'s most prestigious venues, Fischer boasts over 14 years of expertise in the event industry. In addition to helping couples and families, Fischer has worked on community events such as the annual Art in Bloom museum experience and gala reception at Anderson House. She also co-produced the Beyond the Blackout series to highlight diversity and inclusivity within the event industry and is currently co-producing Head Table Talks networking luncheons to create a space for event planners to gather, mingle, and learn from one another. Kawania WootenKawania Wooten, CMP, brings a unique mix of experience and skills to her businesses, Howerton+Wooten Events and The Enlightened Creative. Her vast experience in the hospitality world includes hotel management, casino and gaming, the culinary industry, and 30 years as a professional meeting and event planner for Washington, D.C.'s elite. Wooten strives for professionalism, creativity, and impeccable organization within every function planned by the Howerton+Wooten Events team. She is an adjunct instructor in the hospitality, tourism, and culinary arts department at Prince George's Community College.  Aisha Malik RodriguezAisha Malik Rodriguez is the founder and owner of Aim Aro Logistics LLC, a dynamic company specializing in production and event management on a global scale. With a career spanning over 25 years in the event and hospitality industry, Malik Rodriguez has become a true expert in her field. Born and raised in Fairfax County, Va., and hailing from a rich Pakistani cultural background, Malik Rodriquez brings a unique blend of experiences and perspectives to her work. Her family, which is large and spread around the world, has instilled in her a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and traditions. Malik Rodriguez's company, Aim Aro Logistics LLC, excels in a wide range of services, including vendor management, event permitting, and emergency response management. With a passion for creating unforgettable experiences, she and her team are dedicated to helping clients navigate the entire event process from start to finish. Whether it's a festival, a government or military event, a corporate gathering, a nonprofit initiative, or a private celebration, Malik Rodriguez's expertise shines through. Jennifer CharlesJennifer Charles is a co-founder and the chief creative officer at Something Fabulous. Charles' specialty is in designing experience and storytelling marketing. She has a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Charles began her career in radio, television, and film. From interning at theToday show and Good Morning America to working in production with The Food Network and New Line Cinema, she has experienced storytelling from many different angles and industries. Becca MaiBecca Mai is a West Virginia native who transplanted to the D.C. area shortly after launching a career in hospitality. She has been in the wedding industry for over 10 years specializing in planning for LGBTQ+, multicultural, and fusion weddings and events. While the majority of her career has been geared toward wedding operations, she has spent a lengthy portion of it building out platforms, training programs, and more. She is now a business strategist for wedding professionals and an inclusive wedding planner, assisting wedding business owners on the back of the business to streamline, automate, and organize with hospitality 100% in mind. 

In this special episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits in on a special event planners' luncheon—co-hosted by Melva LaJoy Legrend of LaJoy Plans and Margo Fischer of Bright Occasions—in Washington, D.C. These luncheons, known as Head Table Talks, aim to build community within the events industry and provide a safe space for event profs to network and collaborate. At this particular Head Table Talk, held in late October at Dauphine's, Adler brings his Jeffersonian-style of discussion to the six planners gathered and asks each of them: What was your first job? And what did you learn from it? This is just part one of this thought-provoking discussion. Part two, to be released next week, will shift its focus to the latest happenings in the event business and provide valuable insights into the industry's latest trends and challenges. These are two episodes you don't want to miss.  In this special episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits in on a special event planners' luncheon—co-hosted by Melva LaJoy Legrend of LaJoy Plans and Margo Fischer of Bright Occasions—in Washington, D.C. These luncheons, known as Head Table Talks, aim to build community within the events industry and provide a safe space for event profs to network and collaborate. At this particular Head Table Talk, held in late October at Dauphine's, Adler brings his Jeffersonian-style of discussion to the six planners gathered and asks each of them: What was your first job? And what did you learn from it? This is just part one of this thought-provoking discussion. Part two, to be released next week, will shift its focus to the latest happenings in the event business and provide valuable insights into the industry's latest trends and challenges. These are two episodes you don't want to miss. Keep scrolling to learn more about our distinguished guests. Melva LaJoy Legrand As a self-made entrepreneur recognized for her work in the live events industry, as well as causes rooted in social equality as it pertains to women, health, and race and identity, Melva LaJoy Legrand is a public speaker, event producer/director, community leader, and storyteller. As the founder/CEO of LaJoy Plans, an event planning firm she re-launched in 2019, Melva has been recognized as a trailblazer in the events industry receiving the BizBash Top Event Industry Innovator Award and the Events Industry Council, Global Social Impact Award in 2022. As of 2023, Melva has spearheaded two new initiatives: Mondays With Melva, exclusive monthly content for her subscribers, offering career guidance as well as event planning tips, and Head Table Talks, an annual luncheon that she co-created as a safe space for event planners. Margo Fischer Margo Fischer is the owner of Bright Occasions, a full-service event planning company specializing in bespoke weddings and milestone occasions. Margo brings a wealth of industry knowledge and hands-on experience to her clients, from previous roles in corporate event planning and private event catering. She has a passion for curating unforgettable events. With a strong foundation in event planning and an impressive career in some of Washington, D.C.'s most prestigious venues, Margo boasts over 14 years of expertise in the event industry. In addition to helping couples and families, Margo has worked on community events such as the annual Art in Bloom museum experience and gala reception at Anderson House. And she co-produced the Beyond the Blackout series to highlight diversity and inclusivity within the event industry and is currently co-producing Head Table Talks networking luncheons to create a space for event planners to gather, mingle, and learn from one another. Kawania Wooten Kawania Wooten, CMP, brings a unique mix of experience and skills to her businesses, Howerton+Wooten Events and the Enlightened Creative. Her vast experience in the hospitality world includes hotel management, casino and gaming, the culinary industry, and 30 years as a professional meeting and event planner for the Washington D.C. elite. Kawania strives for professionalism, creativity, and impeccable organization within every function planned by the Howerton+Wooten Events team. She is an adjunct instructor in the Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Arts Department at Prince George's Community College.  Aisha Malik Rodriguez Aisha Malik Rodriguez is the founder and owner of Aim Aro Logistics LLC, a dynamic company specializing in production and event management on a global scale. With a career spanning over 25 years in the event and hospitality industry, Aisha has become a true expert in her field. Born and raised in Fairfax County, Va., and hailing from a rich Pakistani cultural background, Aisha brings a unique blend of experiences and perspectives to her work. Her family, which is large and spread across the world, has instilled in her a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and traditions. Aisha's company, Aim Aro Logistics LLC, excels in a wide range of services, including vendor management, event permitting, and emergency response management. With a passion for creating unforgettable experiences, she and her team are dedicated to helping clients navigate the entire event process, from start to finish. Whether it's a festival, a government or military event, a corporate gathering, a nonprofit initiative, or a private celebration, Aisha's expertise shines through. Jennifer Charles Jennifer Charles is a co-founder and the chief creative officer at Something Fabulous. Jennifer's specialty is in designing experience and storytelling marketing. Jennifer has a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She began her career in radio, television, and film. From interning at The Today Show and Good Morning America to working in production with The Food Network and New Line Cinema, she has experienced storytelling from many different angles and industries. Becca Mai Becca Mai is a West Virginia native who transplanted to the D.C. area shortly after launching a career in hospitality. She has been in the wedding industry for over 10 years specializing in planning for LBGTQ+, multicultural, and fusion weddings and events. While the majority of her career has been geared toward wedding operations, she has spent a lengthy portion of it building out platforms, training programs, and more. She is now a business strategist for wedding professionals and an inclusive wedding planner, assisting wedding business owners on the back of the business to streamline, automate, and organize with hospitality 100% in mind. 

In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with Kelly Roe, the brand-new executive creative director at global experiential powerhouse Jack Morton. At the time of this recording, she's been at the helm just three weeks. During their enlightening conversation, Adler and Roe discuss her time at The Kitchen, the in-house creative agency at Kraft Heinz; the evolving world of influencers; the art of inspiring teams and extracting their full potential; and the changing nature of what works now in events. This conversation is a wellspring of knowledge and inspiration—take a listen.

From Homeless Teen to Entrepreneurial Dream Natasha Miller, Entire Productions   – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 994 Natasha Miller Natasha Miller sits at the helm of Entire Productions, but she isn't your average CEO - She is a hyphenate entrepreneur who began her career in entertainment as a celebrated jazz artist with seven records released on her own label, Poignant Records. Having founded Entire Productions in 2000, when she was still performing, this single mother and Des Moines, IA native single-handedly built a multi-million dollar company. Today, Entire Productions is the go-to experience design and entertainment booking company in San Francisco and has expanded to Los Angeles and London. Their client base is growing exponentially and Natasha's vibrant personality and client management prowess are at the core of it all. With the support of her amazing staff handpicked by Natasha, Entire Productions' trusted expertise is relied upon to execute a slate of high-end social and corporate special events for an enviable roster of clients including Apple, Google, Gap, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Salesforce and more. They have been on the the Inc 5000 list of fastest growing companies in America for the last two years as well as designated by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 360 companies in the country. Natasha and Entire Productions are no strangers to media, either—they have each garnered press in their respective genres. In addition to performing as a jazz vocalist, Natasha employed her training as a classical violinist in the role of concertmaster for various orchestras and performed with her own Sapphire String Quartet until 2009. Her talent has been recognized by the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and The Wall Street Journal. Likewise, Entire Productions has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Modern Luxury, Bizbash, and more. In 2017, Entire Productions was also named on The Knot Wed 100 list, which includes the most amazing wedding pros in the country. Natasha's passion and commitment to giving back drive her invariable contributions and participation with numerous charitable organizations. She founded and supports the Bobby Sharp Scholarship Fund at Blue Bear School of Music, in memory of her beloved mentor who was best known for writing Ray Charles hit song Unchain My Heart. She has also served on the boards of the Symphonix Advisory Board and the International Live Events Association (ILEA) while volunteering and donating to numerous charities including Bread and Roses, Alameda Education Foundation, Little Kids Rock, Relay for Life, Alameda Hospital, Sophia Project, Midway Women's Shelter, Music In Schools Today (MUST), and the Red Cross.   Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Natasha Miller about going from homeless teen to entrepreneurial dream.   Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week's show: - How it's important for people to find strength within themselves to overcome obstacles. - Why thinking big can help you achieve your goals and lead to success. - How business owners must delegate tasks to navigate various parts of your business. - Why the Entrepreneurial Operating System can positively impact your business. - How it can be difficult to manage time and numerous projects effectively.   Connect with Natasha: Guest Contact Info Twitter @entireevents Instagram @natashamillersf @entireproductions Facebook facebook.com/natashamillerEntrepreneur facebook.com/entireproductionsExperience LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/natashamiller Linkedin.com/company/entire-productions   Links Mentioned: natashamiller.com Entireproductions.com   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 40-year veteran in the entertainment, media and events industries, J. B. is more ambitious and optimistic than ever about the potential for events and experiential storytelling to drive growth, progress and change. In his view, Empire is just getting started. J. B. Miller, President & CEO of Empire Entertainment, is an Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer with over four decades of experience as a producer and representative of the interests of global corporations, not-for-profits, private individuals and governments in all areas of the entertainment industries. As an Executive Producer, Miller has created, produced and overseen production of thousands of major corporate, not-for-profit and private events on six continents for clients that include Google, Time, Microsoft, The Walt Disney Company, Dartmouth College, Goldman Sachs, Mercedes-Benz, PepsiCo, IBM, Samsung, SONY, American Express, Viacom and many of others. Miller was recognized as Producer of the Year by BizBash's Reader's Choice Awards and has been named among the “Top 1,000 People in the U.S. Event Industry”. Since founding Empire in 1993, Miller and the Empire team have produced major events, broadcasts, conferences, premieres, parties, launches, grand openings, festivals and awards programs including Time Magazine's Time 100 Gala, The TriBeCa Film Festival, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeepers, The Webby Awards, Internet Week, The Clinton Global Initiative's Global Citizen Awards, The Gotham Awards, Japan Society's Centennial Celebration, the Keep a Child Alive Black Ball and the Grand Opening of Atlantis, Palm Island in Dubai among many others.

It's likely you've seen the news from over the weekend: Thousands were trapped at Burning Man—the psychedelic art and music festival that pops up every year in the Nevada desert—after days of torrential rainfall. In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler chats with Bentley Meeker, a legendary lighting artist and Burning Man attendee for the last 14 years. Meeker takes us through what happened this year and how he got out (trekking through three miles of mud), his work on a massive art installation depicting a 30-foot clitoris (yes, you read that correctly), and his past work lighting the famous Temple at Burning Man. This episode is bound to ignite your senses and expand your horizons. Take a listen.

In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler has assembled a powerhouse panel of experiential agency leaders to get the pulse of what's happening in the world of experiential marketing—what do clients want now? He's joined by Anika Grant, the founder and CEO of Idlewild Experiential; Cara Kleinhaut, the founder and CEO of AGENC Experiential + Digital Marketing; and Dan Mannix, the co-founder of underdog venture team. Join them as they navigate the intricate laboratory of the experiential marketing world, exploring the aspirations of its key players and understanding how they can harmonize these diverse needs to create exceptional experiences. Whether you're an industry veteran or a newcomer, this episode promises to be a wealth of insights that will help you stay ahead in this dynamic field. Also, stay tuned for part two next week, where they will discuss the joys and pitfalls of being an agency entrepreneur and fostering a culture of curiosity. 

Micaela Christophe, Vice President of Bessemer Trust, Joins Amanda Ma, CEO and Founder of Innovate Marketing Group, to discuss what makes an event go from good to great! Listen Now on EventUp!  Micaela Christophe is a Vice President for Corporate Event Management at Bessemer Trust. In this role, she is responsible for the planning, execution, and management for 75-100 events annually across the U.S. Guests include clients, prospective clients, and COIs. Prior to joining Bessemer, Micaela worked for Bank of New York Mellon, where she managed global events with ownership of the client entertainment program including sporting events and concerts. She also served as Corporate Events Liaison for BNY Mellon's employee resource groups and was actively involved in enterprise-level events driving diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy, including events surrounding talent recruitment, employee development, and client engagement. She serves as a founding junior board member of Part of the Solution, an organization that assists New Yorkers struggling with poverty. She is a past recipient of Harlem YMCA's 50 Achievers in Industry award and has been featured on the EMpower 100 Ethnic Minority list and the BizBash x Connect 40 Under 40 list for event professionals. Micaela earned an M.B.A. in marketing and project management from Iona College and a B.A. in communications from SUNY Albany.

In this episode, David Adler, joins us as a special guest! Connect with David and check out his book! https://harnessingserendipity.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-adler/ https://www.bizbash.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gathergeeks-by-bizbash-the-event-industry-podcast/id1004205039 David is a business and social entrepreneur who founded the event media company BizBash. He is also host of the podcast GatherGeeks where he discusses the latest news and trends affecting event marketers, meeting strategists, nonprofit organizers, and everyone in between. The podcast is the destination for information, innovation, and inspiration for anyone involved in planning events and meetings, from conferences, trade shows, and fund-raising galas to product launches, festivals, award shows, weddings, and birthdays. David recently launched the book, Harnessing Serendipity. David spoke to a wide array of people—more than 60 individual “collaboration artists, conveners, and connectors” and duos across a variety of sectors—from charities to corporate cultures and from theater and music to diplomatic and political arenas. In a world that often feels divided and conflicted, these people have had extraordinary success at getting people to gather and work together. Each of them works differently, but all excel at harnessing the serendipities that humans inevitably present. The book builds on the realization that together, we can be more powerful than we are individually, and the observation that collaboration is fast emerging as an essential critical skill in all walks of life and endeavors. The book features: A behind-the scenes diplomacy expert who explains the differences between hard power, soft power, and smart power and how they, literally, set the tables of statecraft for peaceful results. An executive who held company team meetings on bicycles so that the participants couldn't look at their phones. An innovator who's moved the action off the stage and into the hallways. A deep thinker who doesn't use the word “audience.” A quiet revolutionary who no longer uses the term “conference.” Numerous creatives who have piloted ways to integrate and leverage the new virtual opportunities. Sarah Brush EVENTive Brush https://www.instagram.com/eventivebrush/  

Hi there friends, ready to get a grip on effective marketing? Tune into this insightful episode with my special guest, Channing Muller. As the Principal of DCM Communications, Channing has crafted a stellar career coaching small business owners and event professionals to master marketing, navigating the delicate balance between sales and strategy. An award-winning coach, Channing's credentials are as expansive as they are impressive, featuring recognitions such as “The BizBash 500 Most Influential Event Pros,” “40 Under 40” by Connect, and “25 Young Event Pros to Watch” by Special Events magazine. She's not just a coach; she's an industry thought leader, contributing regularly to multiple publications and sharing her wisdom as a public speaker. However, Channing's journey is far from conventional. Having survived two heart attacks, she transformed herself into an endurance athlete, soon to be a 5x marathoner. This personal triumph echoes her resilience and determination, traits she carries into her professional life. Moreover, she's a self-made entrepreneur, who, despite not planning to tread this path, can't imagine looking back now. From launching her event career at a memorable Barton G event in Miami, which sparked off a decade-long stint of attending more than 2730 events, to her geographical journey that spans New Orleans, Denver, Miami, London, DC, and Chattanooga, Channing's adventures have left her with vast knowledge and invaluable experience. This episode promises to take you through an engaging discussion, shedding light on effective event marketing techniques, the essential role of email marketing, and the intricacies of social media strategy. Prepare to dive deep into Channing's expertise as she shares her tips to avoid the 'comparison trap' in the digital age. So, race yourself for a conversation that balances the serious, the insightful, and the unexpectedly witty. ------------------------------ Connect with Channing on these channels below: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/channingmuller/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dcmcommunications/  (Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/channingmuller/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dcmcommunications ------------------------------ ⁠⁠“Events: demystified” Podcast⁠⁠ is brought to you by ⁠⁠Tree-Fan Events⁠⁠ and your Podcast Host is ⁠⁠Anca Trifan, CMP, DES. ⁠⁠ Let's chat about your event, and schedule a time that works for you via the ⁠⁠20 min free consultation link. ⁠⁠ Original Podcast Music written and produced by ⁠⁠Fable Score Music. ⁠⁠ ---------------- For event and podcast updates, tips, and tricks of the trade, follow us on these social channels: Instagram: ⁠⁠@eventsdemystifiedpodcast ⁠⁠ Our YouTube channel: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2_hOoPp_DhYCvaH2SznPNw LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/events-demystified-podcast/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/eventsdemystified/message

Host: David Adler Guest: Michael Cirino In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with Michael Cirino, the mastermind behind the 100-Course Meal and founder of creative studio House of Attention. Cirino knows that events have the power to evoke emotions and leave lasting impressions, and his storytelling prowess is sure to leave you inspired. In this episode, he shares the secrets behind that groundbreaking dinner event, discusses the inner workings of House of Attention and his concept of “big ideas,” and reveals his remarkable perspective on event experiences. This conversation is sure to challenge your perceptions and ignite your imagination. 

This month's topic is Appointments and Tours, and in this episode we are diving into How to Make Appointments and Venue Tours More of an Experience for your wedding business. This is an interview episode featuring Ian Ramirez We talk about - > Why is experiential marketing so effective> How to set the atmosphere> Thinking outside the box, make the appointment/tour more then just a discussion of logistics> The 3 E's of experiential marketing> How to create a multi sensory experience> Why you need to switch from phone/zoom meetings to in person> Good, better, best Listen all the way through for the tangible SWAG at the end of every episode on the 3 things you can start implementing into your business today! Spoiler alert ;) - here's the list… Put the 3 e's into action…emotions, engagement, and experienceSame is lame, you want the client to leave your meeting with the WOW factorTo be trending ahead, scroll to the bottom of the Bizbash and add your email to https://www.bizbash.com/ Tune in next week for our new monthly topic covering Fighting a Slump ,next week we are talking about Root Cause Analysis - Tracing the Problem. To find and connect with Ian: Websites: https://www.ianjoseramirez.com/ and https://maderaestates.com/IG: @ianjoseramirez  and @maderaestates     For BTS between episodes: follow us on Instagram: @theweddingsassholesRate, Review, Follow and Share this episode with a friend! Thank you to our show producer and sponsor Sol Rise Entertainment. For all of your music entertainment needs please visit them at Sol Rise Entertainment - DJs - Live Music - Orlando (solrisellc.com)Need help? Email co-hosts Shannon Tarrant & Vanessa Negron at TheWeddingSass@gmail.com

Host: David Adler Guest: Chris Detert In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with Chris Detert, chief communications officer for Influential, dubbed as the largest influencer marketing company in the world. The company recently wrapped work for Possible, a new marketing conference that brought brands and tech and media companies—plus big-name speakers like A-Rod, Elon Musk, and LL Cool J—to Miami last month. In this lively convo, Detert discusses Influential's nail-biting approach to helping make this inaugural conference successful, curating celebrity speakers, how the company completed a big land grab for the upcoming Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity by taking over Twitter Beach, and the promising future of AI.

Timothy speaks to David Adler - founder of events company BizBash, host of the podcast 'Gather Geeks', and author of 'Harnessing Serendipity, which is about designing spaces and moments to have more goosebumps and memorable moments in your life. cliffcentral.com

Timothy speaks to David Adler - founder of events company BizBash, host of the podcast 'Gather Geeks', and author of 'Harnessing Serendipity, which is about designing spaces and moments to have more goosebumps and memorable moments in your life. cliffcentral.com

Michelle Loretta is a strategist for the events industry and creator of Be Sage Consulting, formerly Sage Wedding Pros. She has been educating, coaching, and consulting event professionals since 2009. With a degree in accounting, roots at the Big 4 firm Deloitte, and experience as a stationery entrepreneur, she dissects numbers to help level-up businesses' earnings. These days, Michelle primarily provides financial strategy services and Fractional CFO consulting to event business owners. She has been asked to speak at a number of industry conferences, including Coterie, Lend & Gather, Wedding Wire World, NACE Experience, and The Special Event. She was named one of the TOP 1000 Event Professionals by BizBash in 2019. Michelle is also the winner of the 2021 ILEA ESPRIT best conference award for the Be Sage Conference. You will hear all about Michelle's journey and her tips on ​'How to Prepare for Economic Uncertainty.' We will finish up with 'What She Wishes Other Vendors Knew' and her 'Confetti Hour Confession.' Featured Guest: Michelle Loretta with Be Sage Consulting Website: www.besageconsulting.com  Instagram: @besagealways  Tune into Michelle's first episode on The Confetti Hour - Listen to the podcast here! ---- THE CONFETTI HOUR WEBSITE! This website is home for my mentoring services for wedding planners, my educational blog, the podcast, and one of my favorite new offerings -- THE CONFETTI HOUR SHOP! The shop offers digital resources, fun products, and my go-to business tools for wedding pros & so much more. Check out the new site at www.reneesabo.com!  ——— Join Our Patreon Family!  Help support Renée and The Confetti Hour show with a small contribution per month. Your support goes towards the professional maintenance of the show allowing Renée to continue to bring on reputable professionals to share their incredible journeys and tangible tips to help wedding professionals elevate their services. In addition, our Patreon family receives additional discounts to my education shop and freebie resources throughout the year! Consider supporting at https://www.patreon.com/theconfettihour ——— Bring Your Event to Life! Merri is an online visualization platform for event planning that allows planners to bring their client's events to life in 3D. You can visualize your entire event using models of furniture, decor, flowers, and more, all within renderings of your venue! It also allows you to collaborate with your vendor team for seamless planning and execution of events. If you are a planner and are ready to see how Merri can uplevel your business, head to the MERRI website and use code 'RENEE' for a free 30-day trial!  For venue or rental companies interested in becoming involved on the platform, you can email ambassador@bemerri.com to get started!

BizBash founder David Adler, author of the forthcoming book, Harnessing Serendipity (April 24). Adler is a veteran media, marketing, and event industry entrepreneur. He founded BizBash in 2000, overseeing its growth as the largest B2B media company for the event industry with over 2.5 million user sessions annually.   In the podcast interview, Adler explains the mysterious dynamics and challenges of getting people to collaborate. For Harnessing Serendipity, he spoke to a wide array of people—more than 60 individual “collaboration artists, conveners, and connectors” and duos across a variety of sectors—from charities to corporate cultures and from theater and music to diplomatic and political arenas. In a world that often feels divided and conflicted, these people have had extraordinary success at getting people to gather and work together. Adler presents tips from Wynton Marsalis, Jason Alexander, Sarah Brown, Colin Cowie, and more. Each of them works differently, but all excel at harnessing the serendipities that humans inevitably present. The book builds on the realization that together, we can be more powerful than we are individually, and the observation that collaboration is fast emerging as an essential critical skill in all walks of life and endeavors. https://www.bizbash.com/ https://harnessingserendipity.com/    

Kristin Banta of Kristin Banta Events, Inc. returns to the podcast today to follow up and share some updates! Kristin Banta Events is headquartered out of Los Angeles and specializes in event design, planning, and production. She has been featured on several television stations such as Bravo, Style, Food Network, and Fox and in countless publications such as Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, Inside Weddings, Southern Living Brides, and the Los Angeles Times. She has even been the recipient of numerous awards including Best Social Event by BizBash and Best Wedding by Special Events. It has been over five years since Kristin was last on the podcast in episode 26, and so much has happened since then, especially the COVID-19 pandemic. She talks today about what she has learned as a result of the pandemic and how her process has changed, what is different about doing a premiere afterparty as opposed to a wedding, how she navigates burnout, how she discusses prices with clients and what her pricing strategy is, and so much more! Andy really appreciates being able to catch up with Kristin and really encourages listeners to go back and listen to episode 26 if you enjoyed this episode. He would also be really grateful if you were to share this episode with a few people you know who might also enjoy it. Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already so that you never miss a new episode and to leave a top review wherever you listen, as that really helps out the show and helps people find it!   This episode is sponsored by Zola, the fastest-growing wedding platform that connects today's couples with the right planners and vendors. Zola gives wedding professionals more control, better exposure, and higher quality leads - all with competitive pricing and no annual commitment. Create your free listing at www.zola.com/andy.   Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.   SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!   Time Stamps [0:00] – The sponsor of this episode is Zola. [1:09] - Andy discusses the book that he has been reading recently. [1:59] - Hear about today's returning guest, Kristin Banta. [3:24] - Kristin shares what she has learned about herself as a result of the pandemic. [5:57] - Kristin agrees that in-person communication is different from virtual communication. [7:38] - Has Kristin made any significant changes to her process since 2017? [10:44] - Kristin reveals what's interesting about doing a premiere afterparty. [14:23] - Kristin talks on how she deals with burnout. [16:38] - Does Kristin discuss money with clients or does she appoint someone else to do so? [19:09] - Kristin explains her pricing strategy. [19:49] - Why does Kristin no longer engage as much in publicity and media? [21:40] - What about the near future excites Kristin? [23:29] - Andy reveals where Kristin can be found online.   LINKS & RESOURCES The Wedding Biz - Episode 26 Kristin Banta: Upending Wedding Traditions Harry Lorayne - Ageless Memory: Simple Secrets for Keeping Your Brain Young - Foolproof Methods for People Over 50   Find Kristin: Kristin's WebsiteKristin's Instagram PageKristin's Facebook PageKristin's YouTube PageKristin's Pinterest Page   Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz Network The Music Makers   Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here. Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment & Zola.

IMEX is a leading event bringing together the global meetings industry in two locations, twice a year, in Frankfurt and Las Vegas. IMEX and its leadership team have won a number of industry awards including the Best International Trade Show Award by AEO, BizBash 10 Most Innovative Meetings 2020, AEO Best Trade Show… to just mention some of them. In this episode of The Events Cast Podcast, we have the pleasure to speak with Carina Bauer, the CEO at IMEX Group about the story behind IMEX's growth. We uncover the story of where IMEX all started, how it scaled and turned into a global event and how it become the industry-recognised event it is today. If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a 5-star review and share the episode with a colleague or friend Find out more at: www.theeventscast.com/carina-bauer   Follow or send us a message On Instagram: www.instagram.com/theeventscast On Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-events-cast/

Virginia Frischkorn is the founder and CEO of Partytrick, a tech platform built to disrupt the event industry, helping to make planning and executing highly curated events accessible and convenient for everyone. She is also the founder of luxury event production company Bluebird Productions, Something Blue, and the Aspen Picnic Company. Throughout her 14-year career in the event industry, she has gained prestige among her peers as one of the top event planners in the country. She has been named best wedding planner by Vogue, Brides, & Over The Moon, and was also recognized as one of BizBash's Must-Know Event Pros.

Super stoked to have Janice Cardinale, a heart-centric entrepreneur and founder of Event Minds Matter join me on the air to demystify the concept of mental fitness, and share strategies for having and maintaining this state of well-being that help cultivate awareness of how we think, behave and feel. Janice has been in the event industry longer than most #eventprofs I know, and in 2022, she was awarded the BizBash 15 over 50, Top 100 Smart Meetings Entrepreneur, #WomantoWatch by Courtney Stanley, and a Powerful Business Woman by Reiimagine Destination Travel. Janice considers herself a societal influencer but has also been known as a Heart-Centric Entrepreneur. In 2022 she founded a community known as Event Minds Matter. Janice writes about mental fitness and wellness for The Meeting Professional, and for United Colors of Design, a lifestyle magazine. As an advocate for wellness in the event industry, her community has built pillars for education, resources, and initiatives that support a caring culture and demonstrates that the event industry can become the first most mentally fit industry. UNIQUE FACTS Have started and sold two businesses and I am on a mission to "build brave spaces to amplify the industry's conversation on mental health." I founded Event Minds Matter in February of 2022 and have affected event profs around the world in less than a year. I write content for The Meeting Professional on mental fitness and wellness. I am the board chair for the Creative Design and Event Management course at Seneca College Take the Saboteur Assessment to find your mental fitness saboteurs: https://assessment.positiveintelligence.com/saboteur/overview ------------------------------ Connect with Janice on these channels: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-cardinale/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/event-minds-matter/ https://linktr.ee/eventmindsmatter ------------------------------ “Events: demystified” Podcast is brought to you by Tree-Fan Events and your Podcast Host is Anca Trifan, CMP, DES. Let's chat about your event, and schedule a time that works for you via the 20 min free consultation link. Original Podcast Music written and produced by Fable Score Music. ---------------- For event and podcast updates, tips, and tricks of the trade, follow us on these social channels: Instagram: @eventsdemystifiedpodcast Our BRAND NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2_hOoPp_DhYCvaH2SznPNw --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/eventsdemystified/message

Gretchen Culver is the creative mind behind Minneapolis' go-to design and planning firm, Rocket Science Events, but her business prowess doesn't stop there. In 2020, she opened the doors to Minne Weddings, a brand that provides stylish and affordable micro-weddings, as a way to meet her clients' evolving demands for small-but-significant celebrations. Her knack for identifying client pain points and solving problems has propelled Minne Weddings to the top of her market.   Named one of the “30 Under 40 to Watch” by Special Events, one of The BizBash 500 “Most Influential Event Pros” and recognized as a top planner by BRIDES and Martha Stewart Weddings, Gretchen's award-winning work has been featured in magazines, online, and on television.   She is an active thought leader in the wedding and events industry, contributing to major publications regularly and speaking at top-tier conferences such as Engage! Summits, Be Sage Conference, and The Special Event. She has also co-founded the Small Wedding Society and remains an active member of her local ILEA chapter. You will hear all about Gretchen Culver's journey and her thoughts on ​'Trends in Business and Design for 2023.' We will finish up with 'What She Wishes Other Vendors Knew' and her 'Confetti Hour Confession.' Featured Guest: Gretchen Culver with Rocket Science Events Website: www.rocketscience.events Instagram: @rocketscience.events | @tinyweddingsmpls ——— Big News! Confetti Hour Squad, my new education website is HERE!!! This site is a new home for my mentoring services for wedding planners, my educational blog, the podcast, and one of my favorite new offerings -- THE CONFETTI HOUR SHOP! The shop offers digital resources, fun products, and my go-to business tools for wedding pros & so much more. Check out the new site at reneesabo.com! NEW RESOURCE GUIDE With excitement for our new season, I also dropped my first INTENSIVE GUIDE for wedding planners in my shop! ‘A Guide to Creating A Process Driven Approach to Wedding Planning' is a 15-page step-by-step guide on creating a planning process for a wedding, no matter what style, budget, or kind of client you are serving! For a short time, I am offering it at an introductory rate of $129 until March 16th! To learn more, head to reneesabo.com/theshop. ——— Join Our Patreon Family!  Help support Renée and The Confetti Hour show with a small contribution per month. Your support goes towards the professional maintenance of the show allowing Renée to continue to bring on reputable professionals to share their incredible journeys and tangible tips to help wedding professionals elevate their services. Consider supporting at https://www.patreon.com/theconfettihour

Jitter Garcia, Vice President of Event Marketing & Brand Experiences, joins Amanda Ma, CEO of Innovate Marketing Group to discuss everything you need to know about diversity within events and what goes into producing engaging experiences for the new year! Listen Now on EventUp! Jitter is the Vice President of Event Marketing and Brand Experiences at TelevisaUnivision, overseeing the team that strategizes, curates, and executes culturally-relevant engagements that deepen both internal and external client affinity for its brands, content, and the community it serves. Before coming to TelevisaUnivision, Jitter worked in-house events at the recognizable brands of Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal, and Discovery Communications, creating experiences for both B2B and consumer audiences. Jitter was named one of Connect x BizBash's 2022 40 Under 40, Event Marketer's 2021 Women in Events as featured on the cover of their December issue and was BizBash's first Event Master in the inaugural episode of their docuseries of the same name. She has been featured in numerous publications as a thought leader in the events industry and her team's work has been celebrated and recognized with several industry awards over the years.