Solution Seekers

Marketing is essential for businesses to create brand awareness, generate leads, and drive sales. As the market becomes more and more desensitized to promotional materials, companies are finding it increasingly challenging to stand out. This is where demand generation comes in. 

Demand generation involves identifying and engaging with potential customers who are likely to be interested in your product or service. Building an audience, understanding their needs, creating a compelling email marketing strategy, and delivering valuable content are all crucial components of demand generation. By providing valuable information and positioning themselves as the "purveyor of truth," companies can bring potential customers into their funnel and introduce them to their brand in a more meaningful way. This approach is not just about selling a product, but providing value and building trust with the audience, which can ultimately lead to conversions.

In this episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, Paige Buck hosts Jack Kosakowski, CEO of Creation Agency, to discuss creating a compelling B2B demand generation strategy using events to bring potential customers into the funnel ultimately leading to more meaningful and effective conversions.

Food has the incredible ability to bring people together. Whether it's sharing a meal with friends, family, or strangers, the act of breaking bread creates a sense of community and fosters connections that transcend language, culture, and background. When it comes to events, the culinary experience is intertwined. Bringing people together through food is a powerful way to promote community, foster social connections, and savor an occasion. 

In this episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, Paige Buck hosts Tommy Halvorson, the Founder, and CEO of Hospitality Group to discuss the innovative design and exceptional cuisine that has earned him a reputation throughout the Bay Area, as one of the most sought-after food service providers. Tommy reveals the inspiration behind his four highly successful brands and the skilled team that has supported him in expanding his businesses with their individual areas of expertise.

Jonathan Stone is a self-described no-bullshit event industry pro with diverse industry experience spanning virtual and live events, industry tradeshows, media, film, and commercial production. He is currently a Senior Event Marketing Manager at Cloudera where he applies more than 10 years of event production experience working at companies like Facebook, Google, Brand Fuel, and many more to get the job done well on time and on budget.

In this episode...

From the not-so-glamorous challenges of ever-changing demands to the joy of seeing a group united over a shared experience, the life of an event organizer is both enormously fulfilling and incredibly stressful. It’s easy to lose perspective or inspiration while you’re in the middle of yet another hectic event project. What makes the long hours, late nights, and high-pressure situations worthwhile? The strong sense of camaraderie that’s fostered among peers, vendors, partners, and stakeholders to bring an unforgettable experience to life. 

Camaraderie is often used in reference to the bond among sports and military teams. As in sports and the military, events teams have missions and wins to accomplish and rely heavily on one another to get it all done. Strong team camaraderie is critical and that sense of friendship and trust is the secret ingredient enabling high-functioning events teams to collaborate, innovate, communicate respectfully, disagree amicably, continuously learn together, and ultimately, deliver. In a small, convoluted industry that’s in constant flux, your peers are your lifeline.

In this episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, Paige Buck hosts Jonathan Stone, Senior Event Marketing Manager at Cloudera, to discuss camaraderie in the events industry, the value of events as a marketing tool to bring people together, and how tech is creating new opportunities for connection.

Carol Galle is the Co-founder, President, and CEO of Special D Events, a live and virtual strategic event management agency. As a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), she has launched the Detroit Events Council and University Event Planners and is a frequent contributor to industry publications. Carol was recently named by BizBash magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the events industry.

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Event management is a niche industry that is often overlooked and misjudged. During the pandemic, the events space endured some of the more pressing challenges compared to other industries, requiring innovation among significant losses. Additionally, audiences and clients are more diverse than ever, yet the barrier to entry for this field is high. Learn how one top expert is propelling the events industry toward progressive change.

Carol Galle believes in the power of collaboration to achieve a common goal. When you share ideas with other professionals, you can solve industry-specific issues and demonstrate value to clients and audiences. Carol also advocates for education training in schools to present event management as a viable career path for all individuals. 

In today’s episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, Paige Buck welcomes Carol Galle — Co-founder, President, and CEO of Special D Events — to discuss how she is moving the events industry forward. Carol also talks about Special D’s core values, how living in Detroit has impacted her perspective on work and company culture, and the challenges of transitioning back to live events.

K’Dee Miller is a Senior Video Producer, Writer, and Editor at Patina Pictures, a creative video production company servicing prominent technology companies and nonprofits. In her role, she works with founders and executives in marketing, HR, and events by spearheading projects ranging from $5K to $50K. K’Dee has 10 years of experience creating video content for technology companies such as DocuSign, Adobe, and Microsoft. With experience as a video creator, she has also served as director and writer for numerous projects. 

In this episode…

The marketing industry has experienced a fundamental shift during the last few years. Remote and hybrid work has largely replaced in-person events, causing more and more people to withdraw from society. So how can you adapt your marketing approach to conform to this rapidly changing market?

Instead of producing content to divert attention from the pandemic’s aftermath, K’Dee Miller encourages marketers to acknowledge the hardships, discomfort, and vulnerability. In video marketing, this means embracing your environment and displaying authentic experiences. Often, clients are hesitant to present themselves in video conferences due to the level of transparency it entails. You can foster trust and encouragement by producing videos that demonstrate the realities of today’s business landscape.

In this episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, Paige Buck hosts K’Dee Miller, Senior Video Producer, Writer, and Editor at Patina Pictures, to talk about adapting video marketing to a shifting landscape. K’Dee explains how she fosters trust on set, Patina Pictures' video production process for clients, and the true meaning of disruption in video marketing.

David Ferris is the Head of Live Events at EPMC, a cutting-edge event management company focused on corporate and Esports event production. As a creative professional, David has experience in project management, production, event planning, editing, visual arts, and graphic design. Before EPMC, he was the Executive Director of the Asian Elephant Art & Conservation Project, where he negotiated and organized major museum exhibitions and gallery installations, helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for elephant conservation.

In this episode…

When producing corporate events, reliable technology is key. Yet recent developments in the space have presented unforeseeable challenges that impede seamless event production. So how are event companies pivoting, and how can you leverage new technology to continue producing events?

David Ferris’ company EPMC has adopted a hybrid model for event productions. This can cause virtual audience members to feel disconnected, so EPMC has leveraged presenter screens and chat features to increase interaction. With technology innovation comes potential glitches, so it’s important to prepare team members to streamline the process and ensure a positive experience for the audience.

Join Paige Buck in this episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast as she invites David Ferris, Head of Live Events at EPMC, to discuss innovation and pivoting in the corporate and Esports event space. David talks about how he facilitates Esports events, the key considerations for planning and executing events, and technology’s role in audience engagement.

Dan Clifford is a management advisor, meeting facilitator, and entrepreneur who helps other entrepreneurs build scalable, lasting companies. He specializes in strategic growth in areas such as business, revenue, and hiring. Prior to his advisory work, Dan founded and built AnswerLab, an Inc. 500 national professional services firm. The firm’s culture has been recognized in Fortune magazine three years in a row as one of the 25 Best Small Company Workplaces in the nation.

In this episode…

Do you want to set your business up for long-term success? Many entrepreneurs struggle to scale in the long run because they often overlook the complete picture. So how can you identify a vision and develop a plan for the future?

Business advisor and facilitator Dan Clifford says to establish a BHAG (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal) for your company. This incentive helps you focus on your motivations and develop small, actionable steps to accelerate business growth. Dan also emphasizes the importance of identifying core values to structure your organization. The need to analyze your processes, operations, and infrastructure to cultivate a unified culture that encourages accountability and transparency. 

In this episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, Paige Buck connects with Dan Clifford to talk about facilitating business growth. Dan shares his facilitation process, the common mistakes companies make when scaling, and the importance of establishing core values.

Paige Buck is the Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Kennedy Events, which produces high-level corporate events for leading tech and media companies. She started at Kennedy Events as an event planner, working to build a strategic and talented team before taking on a leadership role. Paige initially worked in the nonprofit and tech space, leading fundraisers for companies such as the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, SF Works, and Craigslist Foundation.

In this episode...

As businesses began opening up again in 2022, event companies had to pivot and adjust to new work environments. So what strategies have leading organizations employed to recover from past challenges?

Companies like Cápita Works have embraced nearshoring Mexico-based talent in US and UK companies for a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture. After two years of remote work, Udemy enhanced its office spaces to accommodate COVID restrictions and provide a welcoming environment for employees. Fundraising and events companies such as MKN Consulting Group and Glavin Jacobson have cultivated purposeful relationships with key stakeholders to facilitate success.

In today’s episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, Chad Franzen of Rise25 sits down with Paige Buck of Kennedy Events to share insights from her most notable interviews. Paige also details her experience as the host of The Kennedy Events Podcast, the difference between for-profit and nonprofit events, and her future plans for the podcast.

Elyse Napolitano is a certified coach and the Principal of Elyse Napolitano Coaching & Consulting, her practice where she helps hundreds of clients build inspired teams while living their creative purposes. After completing her coaching certification and founding her practice, Elyse co-founded the nonprofit Bay Area Business Advisory Consortium and served for two years on the Board of the SF Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. She also spent 15 years serving and leading teams in creative agencies, nonprofits, and startups. 

In this episode...

In dynamic hybrid or remote work environments, it’s often difficult to adequately separate the personal from the professional. So how can you structure your business and personal life to be a more effective leader?

Sprezzatura entrepreneura (business coach extraordinaire) Elyse Napolitano coaches her clients using three fundamental principles. First, she says you are your own most important client. By addressing your needs and putting them before your clients, you can serve them more effectively. Protecting and prioritizing your time and creativity is also crucial to avoid costly burnout. Lastly, identify key objectives for each client interaction to ensure you’re capitalizing on beneficial opportunities and creating meaningful contributions.

In this episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, Paige Buck sits down with Elyse Napolitano, Principal of Elyse Napolitano Coaching & Consulting, to discuss coaching principles for entrepreneurs. Elyse explains the significance of the term sprezzatura entrepreneura, how she structures her coaching process, and how to identify and reduce burnout.

Lawrence Arevalo is the President of Verducci Event Productions (VEP), which helps organizations amplify their message through compelling video and virtual events. VEP specializes in staging, lighting, decor, and audio/visual support. In his role, he manages the company’s operations, trains new talent, and performs as a DJ. Lawrence began his career as an audio/visual technician before becoming a meeting and event coordinator.

In this episode…

When scaling an event business, entrepreneurs are often too focused on operations and processes, overlooking their business’ culture as a result. So how can you manage your company’s growth while building a positive culture?

Event planner and DJ Lawrence Arevalo understands the emotional effects of rapid growth on team members. For this reason, he implemented strong core values and focused on relationship-building to foster transparent communication to meet his team’s needs. He emphasizes the importance of trusting team members to take ownership of their tasks to foster professional development that can augment organizational growth.

Join Paige Buck in today’s episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast as she sits down with Lawrence Arevalo, President of Verducci Event Productions, to discuss developing a company’s culture and scaling a business. Lawrence shares VEP’s brand promise, the company’s event production and execution process, and how he collaborates to solve challenges and scale.