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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

When Roxanne joined the Kennedy Events team as an Event Planner, she showed her chops from the get-go, untangling a nightmare of spreadsheets into an organized dream that had her first client singing her praises. She is an all-star addition to the team at Kennedy Events and we are thrilled to introduce you.

Even if you’re not looking to host your event in an actual ballpark, there are myriad factors that must be considered when pricing a custom event. From complex to simple, from small to large attendance goals, from cocktail receptions to multi-day experiences, your specific event needs must all be factored into the cost of your event. At Kennedy Events, we work with our clients to address every detail and create an event that's tailored to your needs.

On this episode of “Solution Seekers,” Paige Buck talks with John Silva, President of Always Fishing Hospitality Group, about transforming your business for a memorable customer experience. John shares his experience building relationships with his employees and clients, his innovative brand concepts, and his tips for creating interactive dining experiences.

In this episode of “Solution Seekers,” Paige Buck talks with Russell Benaroya, co-founder and partner at Stride, about reaching self-discovery in entrepreneurship. Russell shares his coaching strategy for identifying your core principles, the foundations of self-discovery, and how Stride teaches conscious leadership.

Meet Event Planner Mariana Fernandez. She joined the KE team as our first Event Admin, working her magic both behind the scenes and with our clients. We were so impressed by her efforts to improve our client onboarding experience and her desire to learn and grow professionally that it wasn’t long before she was promoted to Event Planner.

Adults come to your event with high expectations, an existing knowledge base, and fixed ideas about what does and does not work. When creating learning and retention events, it’s imperative that your event sessions inspire attendees, change their mindsets, and drive performance. While there are multiple methodologies to make this happen, creating an effective learning experience for adult learners can often feel like taking a shot in the dark. Learn how to gain the attention of your customers with these four proven strategies.

After 15 years of fine dining, outside catering, and event planning, Event Producer Jen Dorland began to develop and fine-tune private dining programs as an event consultant in the Bay Area. She comes to the Kennedy Events team with experience in events of all sizes and styles along with innovative ways to create experiences to savor.

Internal events are an investment in your overall culture, providing a valuable opportunity for you to show where your priorities lie—with your people—and that you have a vision for more than just the month ahead. For Bay Alarm, the challenge was taking the tight-knit, family-like culture within the company and translating it to the virtual realm without losing the sense of connection the company has intentionally cultivated. Businesses like Bay Alarm realize the immense importance of company-wide gatherings for the development of an organization’s culture and future. Here are the key strategies we used to structure their successful internal agenda.

With such a unique waterfront space and a lively crowd, there are so many details to share about the SPARK Conference at Pier 27 in San Francisco, Calif. As large corporate event planners, a client who wants to blend creativity with real business is a dream come true. We’ve previously shared a few of the elements that made this event such a success. Now we’re going to dive a little deeper into what made the SPARK Conference such a smashing success with the 700+ attendees who joined us for two days on the Bay.

Paige Buck is the quick-witted, detailed, and incredibly savvy co-owner of Kennedy Events. She made her mark in the Bay Area nonprofit and tech scene with her mad logistical and fundraising skills before teaming up with Maggie as Partner and Chief Strategy Officer to create the Kennedy Events you see today.

Are you planning an event for the fall season? Look to book now. We’re bracing ourselves for a big comeback this fall and the floodgates have already opened. In-person events were canceled left and right over the past couple of years and now both clients and attendees alike are eager to return and make up for lost time. In fact, many venues are already at capacity for the coming season.

Finding unique insights and tools that allow your organization to grow and scale can be a daunting task. There are companies that know how to monetize, particularly through online marketing — but where can you find them? In this episode, Paige Buck sits down with Lael Sturm, the Founder and General Manager at LPSS Digital Marketing, to discuss top tips for adding value to your business. Tune in to learn real-world tactics that will solve your business challenges.

With inflation rising, supply chain challenges continuing, travel costs increasing, and salaries ballooning for top talent, things are getting more expensive on all fronts. When it comes to live, in-person events, we are seeing a 20% increase across the board and we are cautioning our clients to plan for that increase; even before layering in the cost of hybrid technology, more facilitated community building, and flying in a now remotely dispersed workforce. Kennedy Events is armed from the beginning with a new-reality budget to make sure there are no surprises around the corner.

We are going to gather—in person—again! The live events industry is poised for a comeback, and while there’s no doubt that the road back to in-person events will be uncharted territory for many organizers; paved with puzzling new obstacles like fluctuating health and safety regulations. The key to navigating the uncertainty is acknowledging possible challenges in advance and adopting a community-first approach to planning and building connections between your attendees and your organization.

Company-sponsored social events have always been an important predictor of how high employees assess culture and their desire to stay. Intentional work-sponsored events will become even more important in the coming years. With limited social gatherings during the pandemic and a future that’s leaning toward hybrid work, leaders will need to be more conscious about structuring events to build team cohesion and culture in order to retain top talent. We know the alternative can leave you overwhelmed, stretched thin, and focused on securing a new workforce rather than your bottom line. Find out how you can make the case to secure the necessary budget for your next internal event!