INDUSTRY LEADING DESIGNERS INDUSTRY CELEBRITY JUDGES NEW & TRENDING DESIGN PRODUCTS
EVENT SOLUTIONS 2016 3.15.16 1:30PM ON THE AFR® DESIGN STAGE
EVENT SOLUTIONS 2016 3.15.16 1:30PM ON THE AFR® DESIGN STAGE
Find your spark at the AFR® Design Challenge! DesignSparkLIVE promises to be an exciting and interactive experience that will spur ideas to take back to your events. Bob Russo and David Caruso, two design masterminds in the hospitality industry, go design-wild in an action packed live display of “design-on-the-fly” at its best. This year, new components heat up the challenge including industry celebrity industry judges and a couple of surprises that even the designers won’t see coming. You won’t want to miss it! March 15th at 1:30 PM located at the AFR® Design Stage on the trade show floor. For more information and up-to-the-minute updates, follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with hashtag #afrevents. See you there!
Regarded as a premier event planner and designer, David Caruso is known for the creativity, elegance and attention to detail that is evident in every event he designs. Caruso is extremely well known for producing elegant and elaborate events over the past 13 years since he’s been in business. He has transformed ballrooms into fantasy lands and backyards of private estates into magical expressions of his client’s style and personalities. In the past year, David has produced events in Wisconsin, Miami, Puerto Rico and Seattle. In early 2016, he will travel to Scottsdale, San Diego and the West Indies to create more signature events.
David has served two terms as the President of the Southern Wisconsin Chapter of National Association for Catering and Events (NACE) and is often invited to speak as an industry expert at national and local conferences/meetings. His work has been featured in key print publications including the nation’s leading bridal magazine, BRIDES Magazine as well as Catering Magazine and others. In addition, David regularly appears on national and local television shows and radio stations as an industry expert.
Bob has over 30 years’ experience in event and theatre production. After a brief stint as an actor, he realized his shortcomings and moved to the production side of the business. His work as an award-winning event designer, stage combat choreographer, and Emmy nominated costume designer, affords him the unique ability to interpret a client's vision. His work in the corporate world has been seen all across the Continental US and as far away as South Korea, Tokyo, Alaska, and Hawaii. Additionally, you can catch Bob at numerous industry organizations such as Meeting Professionals International (MPI), International Special Events Society (ISES), The Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA), and as a featured guest speaker at The Special Event, the industry's premier tradeshow and conference for event professionals. As Director of Creative Services at VDA Productions, Bob works with start-ups and fortune 500 and 100 companies while mentoring the younger design generation and still finding some time to ride his motorcycle. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobRussoVDA
Jodi Collen is the Director of Event & Conference Planning for Augsburg College, a private liberal-arts college in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In her role at Augsburg, Jodi and her team plan and manage over 400 events that happen on campus including Homecoming, Commencement, fundraising galas, student events and speaking engagements/performances by visiting dignitaries and celebrities including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, United States President Jimmy Carter, Senator Hillary Clinton, F.W. DeKlerk, Their Majesties the King & Queen of Norway, and hip hop artist Macklemore.
Jodi received her Master of Tourism Administration (MTA) with a dual degree in event & meeting management & sport management from the George Washington University School of Business, and earned her Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP) certification in 2005. Jodi has been active in the International Special Event Society for over ten years and currently serves as International President of the global organization.
Patrick Peel of Hello Las Vegas Destination Management Company is an award-winning designer whose work has been recognized in the event industry as well as the residential and hospitality design industries. A creative visionary in his own right, Patrick’s designs have won several awards, with the most recent being a coveted Gala Award presented in January 2016 at The Special Event for Best Decor: Total Decor Budget $100,000 To $250,000.
He is the current President of the Las Vegas International Special Events Society Chapter and an instructor at TISOH (The International School of Hospitality) Peel inspires and provides students with a deeper knowledge that is needed to be successful within the event industry. He lives his motto, “Love what you do, put your heart into it and you will be rewarded.”
David Twigger is Creative Director and owner of Vermilion Events and Design Group. This nationally recognized event design and production firm and its social division T Weddings and Events leads a team of award winning designers and styelologists.
Multiple Award winner for his table-scape and event designs, David most recently was awarded the 2014 and 2015 Zonie Award for Best Event Innovation and the 2015 NACE National Best Table Design, along with winning the AFR Design Challenge at the 2015 CaterSource Conference in Las Vegas. His winning year culminated with being named to the Arizona Foothills Trendsetter list.
