|
 This month's 2007 Liberty Award Winner Spotlight is with Lauren Sheehy, GEP Philly. Lauren won her 2007 Liberty Award in Best Corporate/Public Events for "Five Decades of Music".
This award recognizes the creator of the best corporate, association, public, or non profit event by a special event planner, meeting planner, facility venue planner, exposition service manager, or any ISES who provides these services to the event industry.
ISES Phila - What does your company do and what is your role?
-
Lauren - GEP Philly specializes in the design and management of group events. Our destination management services include airport meet & greet, group tours, spouse programs, entertainment, themed receptions and dinners, team building programs and complete VIP services for corporations, associations, incentive travel and non-profit institutions. We operate out of our headquarters location in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, and maintain two satellite on-site offices at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Hotel and Loews Philadelphia Hotel.
ISES Phila - What was the event that you won your Liberty Award (please describe your role)?
-
Lauren - Five Decades of Music: In January of 2006, the PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association), which is a nonprofit international association of professionals in the meetings industry, held their annual conference in Philadelphia. This event was unusual in many ways since, although PCMA was the end client the Closing Reception was being hosted by the PCCA (Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority), ARAMARK (which is the in-house caterer at the convention center) and the PCVB (Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau). Therefore, this event was a true partnership between four companies in Philadelphia who would be showcasing the kind of service, creativity and facilities that Philadelphia has to offer. GEP Philly was hired as the overall creative consultant for the event along with providing the décor, room design, entertainers and impersonators, staffing and acting as logistical manager. Lighting was provided by the in-house production company of Visual Sound. The basic theme of the event was based on the concept that this was the 50th Annual Meeting of the PCMA and that PCMA had celebrated their 1st Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. A Five Decades of Music experience that would be a fun, energetic and interactive. Each decade of the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s was translated in entertainment, décor, color palette and lighting. The Grand Hall of the Convention Center was transformed into five separate decades each with distinct menu and entertainment. Design touches included bean bags, go-go dancers, LED Dance Floor, Break Dancers, platform bar with 6-foot martini luge and the Village People.
 
ISES Phila - How long have you been in the industry and a part of ISES Phila?
-
Lauren - I have been in the event planning industry for eight years including work in Public Relations and Event Planning in Boston, MA, Rochester, NY and Hamilton, NJ. Lauren has been a member of the Greater Philadelphia chapter since October 2002.
ISES Phila - What is your role in ISES Phila and/or International Leadership?
ISES Phila - What do you think is your favorite aspect of ISES?
-
Lauren - The people. The relationships I have created in the last 5 years with people not just from Greater Philadelphia but from around the world through ISES have been invaluable. It has been the most beneficial way of networking and connecting with vendors who have helped me and GEP Philly create some really amazing events in the area. Overall, I have also created friendships and a level of trust with vendors that can be hard to find. It’s very true that you get out of ISES what you put into it…if you come to meet people and connect… you will be successful.
|
