As we count down the days until we come together in Austin, TX, let’s get to know this year’s featured speakers. Get your calendar ready—there's a lot of great sessions coming your way!
Gary Bordman, CSEP, Chief Creative Officer, AE&ES JustCallGary
For over 23 years, Gary Bordman has been designing and producing corporate & social interactive experiences on a Global scale. He has helped design and execute multi-city marketing tours, corporate teambuilding programs and interactive experiences for a wide variety of companies. He currently is the Chief Interactive Designer at AE&ES, LLC (Amusement, Exhibit & Event Services, LLC) in Las Vegas Nevada with the focus to deliver Immersive and innovated programs to the event and tradeshow industry with the process of rethinking & developing ideas. He spent 10 years on the Las Vegas International Special Events Society (ISES) Las Vegas Chapter and held every position until he stepped down after his Immediate Past President position was done. ISES now ILEA , is one of the premier global associations for event professionals. And currently serves as the VP of Programs & Education for the Las Vegas NACE Chapter. Gary previous background was serving in the United States Air Force (USAF) in the Logistics field and also worked with Silver Flag Alpha the Anti-Terrorism School at Indian Springs until being medically separated in 1999. Gary also brings a wealth of knowledge from growing up in the Carnival Industry. To date he still has many of those contacts he uses on a national level when clients call looking for a complete carnival or just a Giant Ride for the Super Bowl or corporate event.
Bobby Bradley, President, Texas Entertainment Group
Bobby is committed to growing businesses and empowering people to be successful. With over 3 decades of business ownership in multiple verticals, Bobby has experienced, first hand, the value of building the right relationships that empower your business to grow. Bobby is the current CEO and President of Texas Tent and Texas Entertainment Group, which are both based in North Texas.
Kelly Smink, President, Amusement Masters
Kelly Smink is an experienced owner with a remarkable track record spanning over 20 years in the entertainment industry. As the proud owner of Amusement Masters, she is dedicated to delivering top-notch entertainment and exceptional customer service. With a diverse range of game and amusement products, Kelly's company caters to various events, including college events, corporate functions, schools, team-building activities, community gatherings, and more. Renowned for her expertise in business development, client relations, and value-added services, Kelly is highly regarded for her unwavering commitment to going above and beyond to exceed expectations. She takes great pride in ensuring that Amusement Masters' services leave a lasting impression on clients, guaranteeing 100% satisfaction for their guests. With an impeccable selection of equipment and an outstanding staff, Kelly and her team are dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences for all types of events, be it a corporate event, social gathering, college program, school fair, or employee appreciation event.
Working Post Pandemic with Coopetition not Competition
3:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 13
With the events industry taking a hit due to the pandemic, it is difficult for suppliers to survive and continue providing customers with the goods and services they need. Many suppliers are experiencing a strain on their inventory and resources, so it is important for them to find ways to work together to provide customers with what they need.
Suppliers can now take advantage of the concept of “coop-etition” to provide customers with more comprehensive inventory and services without necessarily having to own all the items. Coopetition is a strategic partnership between suppliers that allows them to offer their event planner clients an array of products and services at an affordable rate. Working together with other suppliers via the concept of coopetition allows suppliers to provide customers with the inventory and services they desperately need, all while maintaining their own stock and helping other local suppliers thrive. With coopetition, all suppliers can benefit and create a win-win situation for their planner clients.
JC York, President & COO, Classic Entertainment / Wise Guys InterACTive
JC York is President and COO of Classic Entertainment/Wise Guys InterACTive, a diverse performance company specializing in themed characters, Live Digital Animation, Animatronics, Living Statues, Table Heads, DJ/VDJ, Emcees, Trivia and Musical Bingo Hosts, Photo Booth and Green Screen Photography, Karaoke, Game Shows and more. With a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications, JC utilized those skills during his time working for Fortune 500 companies, including those as a corporate trainer. Furthering of those skills, JC has gone on to moderate numerous panels, facilitate multiple Board of Director retreats and has led International Leadership Training Sessions. He has also spoken at multiple Hospitality Industry Chapters, and Local, Regional and International Conferences, including TSE. JC is very involved with event industry associations on local and international levels. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the SEARCH Foundation. He is a past President for both Meetings Professional International - Tampa Bay Area Chapter and International Live Events Association - Orlando Chapter. For ILEA, he has also served multiple years on the international level as a Regional Vice President and was extremely involved with their international awards program (Esprit Awards) for 10 years while serving for 5 years as the Chair.
Aaron Price, National Director of Creative, Access Destination Management
Aaron is an award-winning Designer and Executive Producer whose work has been recognized nationally and internationally by professional associations, including The Special Event. His professional background includes resort creative sales, food, and beverage, as well as VIP management. Those skills come together to make him one of the most exciting and dynamic Executive Producers today. Based in Dallas, Texas, Aaron designs and produces events scaling from 50 to 7,000+ attendees for one of the nation's leading Destination Management Companies, Access Destination Management. As a member of the National Creative team, Aaron also leads a team of creative professionals in over twenty-two of the most popular meeting and events destinations in the United States. Pairing textile and sensory impact with entertainment experiences, he has found his stride and passion in designing unique environments through the world of special events.
Art Menchaca, Director of Business Development, Rosemary's Catering, Rosemary’s Catering
Rosemary's Catering is the flagship of the RK Group's family of specialized event service companies. Established in 1946, it prides itself in a decade's long history of excellence and has won multiple industry awards. Art Menchaca has a diverse background with vast experience in Management, Sales, Customer Service, Operations, Logistics, and a Culinary Degree from Le Cordon Bleu, which gives him a unique perspective, allowing him to better understand the different aspects of an event. His high energy, creative spirit and positive attitude help him seamlessly navigate through most obstacles in the event industry and allows productive collaborations with other industry professionals.
India Rhodes, CSEP, Partner & Creative Director, Wilkinson Rhodes
India's knowledge of art, design, and theatre has made Wilkinson Rhodes one of the premier event design and production companies in the Southwest. She is a master at creating unconventional concepts through complex production and finds innovative solutions to tell her client’s stories. From luxury weddings and social soirees in secluded destinations to exclusive corporate galas and property launches, India and her team produce internationally recognized experiences for her elite clientele. Currently, India serves on the International Board of Governors for the International Live Events Association. She also serves on the board of the SEARCH Foundation and is a proud Junior League member.
Design Roulette: Spinning Client Visions into Captivating Event Experiences
8:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 13
Join us for a captivating, moderated panel discussion where seasoned event professionals will share their invaluable insights and experiences in the realm of event design. Our experts will delve into the art of crafting personalized event designs while emphasizing the importance of tailoring designs to align with the client's vision, and navigating the fine line between imposing personal styles and infusing their own creative spin, effectively communicating the reasons behind the client's choice to engage their services
The challenges inherent in event design will be explored, with an emphasis on identifying optimal strategies for seamless implementation within the design process. We'll also focus on working with destination spaces and showcasing the unique considerations and opportunities that arise when designing events in diverse locations.
Collaboration will take center stage as the speakers share insights on how to effectively partner with other creative individuals to produce holistic designs that encompass every facet of the event. Attendees will also have the chance to contribute their own challenges, fostering a collaborative environment for discussion and problem-solving.
This presentation aims to inspire and educate event professionals by providing practical tips and valuable insights on creating visually captivating and impactful event designs that not only meet clients' needs but surpass expectations.
You can see Gary, Bobby, Kelly, JC, Aaron, Arty & India LIVE at Catersource + The Special Event in Austin from Feb 12-15.
