As 2017 starts to take shape, we thought it made sense to pause and reflect on where we were as a company at this time last year. 2016 for EventSphere represented what Malcolm Gladwell might refer to as a tipping point, that “magic moment when something crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.”
When we began the year, we had just reached our five-year mark, had stuck closely to our growth plan, and had laid the foundation for 2016 to be a breakout year for the company.
As our CEO, Todd Lambert, repeatedly said, “2016 was going to be our time.” And it was due in large part to our employees, customers, and partners, for whom we are enormously grateful.
Take a Trip With EventSphere Down Memory Lane
Last year was filled with many wonderful accomplishments as well as invaluable lessons learned. Let’s start with the accomplishments…
Delivered Seamless Housing Service at the 2016 Democratic National Convention
Once again, we managed the housing process for the Democratic National Convention – an enormously complex process involving hundreds of sub-blocks and room types as well as several moving parts up through the event.
In addition to strategizing with the 2016 DNC Committee (DNCC), we facilitated reservations for over 90 hotels; managed and allocated meeting space; and oversaw event space at over 20 venues.
It was incredibly satisfying to pull off housing for another convention, and we couldn’t have done it without our dedicated employees, our solid partnership with the DNCC, and best-in-class technology, Passkey Citywide.
Received awards and recognition from industry peers and employees
2016 Lanyon Luminary Award for Best in Class and Company of the Year – Passkey Citywide.
Based on our work for the 2016 DNC, we received the 2016 Lanyon Luminary Award for Best in Class and Company of the Year –Passkey Citywide. Employees of Lanyon selected us for this award, citing our creative approach and strategic fulfillment for the 2016 Convention.
We were also named, for the second consecutive year, to the National Association for Business Resources’ “101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” list.
Earned new business based on proven results
2016 was also a year in which we welcomed many new clients to our roster.
We attribute these wins to the relationships we’ve built over the years; our reputation for managing complex, large-scale events; and the dedication of our employees, who go above and beyond to offer stellar customer service.
Some Notable wins we’d like to highlight:
- National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM): EventSphere’s consultative approach to large, complex events, along with the high level of customer service, was the deciding factor on for why NAMM brought us on board to manage housing for The NAMM Show. The show takes place twice a year and is one of the 50 largest tradeshows in the world with over 100,000 attendees
- American Telemedicine Association (ATA): ATA, naming our strong customer service as just one reason for selecting EventSphere, signed us on to manage its annual conference and other events.
- Girl Scouts of the USA: Girl Scouts admired how we handled the DNC and chose EventSphere to initially manage one show in 2017 and, based on our performance, hasve extended the partnership agreement.
- Emerald Expositions: We initially partnered with Emerald Expositions, one of the largest tradeshow producers in the US, on one show and are slated to manage numerous other shows throughout 2017 and beyond.
Bolstered our EventSphere team with new additions and promotions
Vice President of Business Development – Tracy Barrett Janosko
Wanting to further accelerate our growth, we hired our first official Vice President of Business Development in 2016 – Tracy Barrett Janosko. With her extensive industry experience and network, Tracy is an invaluable addition to EventSphere.
We also promoted several team members including: Kimberly Parnell (to Executive Vice President); Alice Meadows (to Executive Director of Administration and Finance); Patrick Malone (to Senior Client Services Manager); and Lindsey Barth (to Senior Event Manager).
Recently, Ken Fisk joined the team as Implementation and Experience Manager, a newly created role tasked with ensuring EventSphere delivers a positive client experience.
With our accomplishments came many lessons learned
As mentioned previously, last year brought several lessons, each of which we must heed if want to continue enjoying accomplishments like those cited above.
Firstly, we appreciate that our accomplishments in 2016 didn’t happen by accident or by winging it; they happened because we created and adhered closely to a more formalized strategy and growth plan. We will continue to follow this plan as we go forward.
Secondly, investing in our employees and creating a cohesive culture in which every team member feels respected and passionate about their work undoubtedly leads to higher employee retention rates and improved customer service. For us, the equation is simple … happy employees equal happy clients.
Lastly, we’ve learned that you don’t mess with a winning formula. And based on our growth over the last year as well as positive feedback from our employees, clients and partners, we’re confident our formula — extensive industry experience, extraordinary customer service and cutting-edge technology — works.
Looking Ahead to an Even Brighter Future
So, was this past year a tipping point for EventSphere? It sure felt like it, as we experienced more recognition and growth than at any point in our history.
As we’ve grown, however, we’ve recognized that we needed to introduce stronger processes and greater structure to the company – while making sure we maintain the entrepreneurial spirit, personalized service and employee dedication that got us this far.
Bottom line? We want to do more than just grow; we want to grow smart.
And we’re just getting started…