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Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips, Team Maggie Kennedy Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips, Team Maggie Kennedy

Team Introductions: Meet Event Admin Andrea

Meet Andrea, the newest addition to the team at Kennedy Events, bringing her expertise in event planning and a passion for creating unforgettable experiences. With a rich background in event coordination, influenced by her family’s catering business, Andrea excels in turning visions into reality. Her skills in problem-solving and attention to detail make her an invaluable team member.

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Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Marianne Jackson Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Marianne Jackson

The ROI of Internal Events: Attracting, Recruiting, and Retaining Talent

Elevate your talent strategy with internal events! Discover how strategic internal events can help your organization attract, recruit, and retain top talent. Our latest blog post dives into the ROI of these initiatives and why investing in your team’s engagement is a long-term game changer. Don’t let turnover costs drain your resources—learn how to create a thriving workplace culture today!

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Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Marianne Jackson Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Marianne Jackson

Corporate Event Budgeting: From Venue Selection to Final Costs

Creating a realistic corporate event budget requires thorough research, detailed planning, and flexibility. By starting with venue selection and considering all potential costs, you can develop a comprehensive budget that ensures a successful event. Whether you choose to handle the process yourself or hire an event planner, remember that early and detailed planning is the key to staying within budget.

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Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Marianne Jackson Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Marianne Jackson

SKO ROI: A Human-Centric Approach to Measuring Success

When hosting a Sales Kick-Off (SKO), it's tempting to focus solely on attendance numbers and immediate engagement metrics. However, to truly gauge success, we must consider the broader impact on our team and organization. By measuring post-event increases in Annual Contract Value (ACV) and total sales, as well as intangible benefits like shorter sales cycles, reduced employee turnover, and improved team morale, we can appreciate the full value of our efforts. An SKO should be seen not just as an event, but as a catalyst for meaningful change, aligning and inspiring our teams to achieve collective success.

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Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Marianne Jackson Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Marianne Jackson

Redefining the Sales Kick-Off: How to Transform Your SKO into a Revenue-Driving Powerhouse

Transforming your Sales Kick-Off from a traditional, sales-focused event into a comprehensive, revenue-driving powerhouse requires a shift in strategy and mindset. By aligning your SKO with the broader Revenue Operations (RevOps) framework and emphasizing continuous improvement, you can create an event that not only energizes your team but also drives tangible business results. Embrace this new approach to foster cross-functional collaboration, set clear and measurable objectives, and address real-world challenges faced by your sales teams. By integrating frequent, smaller gatherings throughout the year, you maintain momentum, swiftly adapt to market changes, and sustain team cohesion, turning your SKO into a pivotal, game-changing event that propels your organization toward extraordinary revenue achievements.

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Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Maggie Kennedy Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Maggie Kennedy

Kennedy Events Achieves WBENC Certification: A Milestone in Excellence

Kennedy Events is thrilled to announce our recent certification by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). This prestigious recognition marks a significant milestone in our journey, reinforcing our commitment to excellence, diversity, and empowerment in the event management industry. Our WBENC certification is a testament to our dedication to promoting diversity, fostering opportunities for women in business, and delivering exceptional event management services.

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Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Maggie Kennedy Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Maggie Kennedy

Navigating Layoffs: Preserving Culture and Morale in Bay Area Tech Companies

The tech industry, particularly in the Bay Area, has been a beacon of innovation, growth, and community for decades. However, recent waves of layoffs have cast a shadow over this vibrant sector, leaving employees and companies grappling with uncertainty and a shaken sense of belonging. While the immediate effects of layoffs on financial stability and job security are evident, the impact on company culture and employee morale can be profound and enduring. Amidst these challenging times, internal events emerge as a crucial lifeline, offering a means to heal, reconnect, and strengthen the community within tech companies.

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Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Maggie Kennedy Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips Maggie Kennedy

Reigniting Team Spirit: The Time is Now for Summer Team Events

Bringing the fun back into our corporate cultures this summer is more than just a chance to unwind and enjoy each other’s company; it’s a vital step towards reigniting team spirit, fostering a sense of belonging, and creating a more connected, cohesive future. Let’s make this summer a turning point, where we embrace the opportunity to reconnect, rebuild, and reenergize our teams in ways that will resonate long after the season has passed.

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Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips, Team Maggie Kennedy Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips, Team Maggie Kennedy

Team Introductions: Meet Event Producer Chida

Meet Chida, the latest addition to the Kennedy Events team. Renowned for her expertise in the tech and gaming industries, she joins us with a robust track record of orchestrating high-profile developer conferences, significant industry trade shows, and memorable special events. Chida’s comprehensive skill set encompasses event management, leadership, audience development, and a deep understanding of nonprofit organizations.

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Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips, Team Maggie Kennedy Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips, Team Maggie Kennedy

Team Introductions: Meet Event Planner Caitlin

Meet Caitlin, our latest addition to the Kennedy Events team. After an exciting two years of planning and executing the Special Olympics National and World Games in Berlin, she joins us as an Event Planner from her new home in San Diego, California. A Chicago native, she’s traveled the world for work and brings her global event experience and a knack for taming tangled event logistics to our talented team.

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Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips, Team Maggie Kennedy Plan Better Events, Smart Event Tips, Team Maggie Kennedy

Team Introductions: Meet Event Admin Xitlali

Kennedy Events is adding another key player to our global team! Meet Xitlali Ferreyra Magaña, our new Event Admin and the backbone of our events team. She will be working her magic both behind the scenes and with our clients. We are certain that her efforts to improve our client onboarding experience and support a myriad of tiny details that bring an event together will go far from unnoticed. Based in Morelia, Mexico, when Xitlali’s not wrangling contracts and improving the invisible processes that make partnering with KE stress-free, she’s practicing mindfulness outdoors, chowing down on her mother’s homemade specialties, or spending time with her rescue pup.

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Innovations, Adaptations, and Pivoting in the events industry: Year in Review With Paige Buck

In this episode of “Solution Seekers,” 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 “Solution Seekers,” the difference between for-profit and nonprofit events, and her future plans for the podcast.

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The Foundational Principles of Effective Leadership

In this episode of “Solution Seekers,” 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.

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How Scaling Culture Helps You Grow Your Business

In today’s episode of “Solution Seekers,” Paige Buck chats with Lawrence Arevalo; the President of Verducci Event Productions (VEP). Verducci helps organizations amplify their message through compelling video and virtual events. The company specializes in staging, lighting, decor, and audio/visual support.

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Community Funding Options for Disadvantaged Business Owners

In today’s episode of “Solution Seekers,” Paige Buck chats with Sara Razavi. Sara is the CEO of Working Solutions CDFI, an institution that makes capital and business consulting services available to diverse entrepreneurs, about community funding for diverse and underrepresented business owners.

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Cultivating Relationships in Partner Marketing

In this episode of “Solution Seekers,” Paige Buck interviews Maeve Naughton, President and owner of MKN Consulting Group, about forging strategic marketing and event partnerships. Maeve talks about the key considerations of event planning, how she supports event partners, and tips for navigating marketing partnerships.

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