I've been thinking a while about this blog entry and how to share how Grand Connection came to have our name and what it really means. It all started 11 years ago with a meeting we had with Tom Walker. Tom is someone Tracy and I have known our entire career and it' scary to admit, but that's over 20 years! Yikes. Tom recently had a mild stroke and it started me thinking how much I appreciated his support and advice, especially in the early years when we were trying to think of just the right name. Tracy and I recently recalled the meeting with Tom in which we were doing a little "market research" on the feasibility of opening a DMC/Meeting firm in Grand Rapids. We were stalled on a name for our company, that's when Tom shared his idea "Grand Connection". Tracy and I looked at each other and looked at Tom and boom, instantly we all knew we had the name! Grand Connection it is and has been --- and boy have we been making connections ever since. I'm happy to add that Tom's recovered from his stroke and is working away at Reagan Marketing + Design. Which brings me to how things recently came full circle and I was able to help Tom make some connections for Jimmy Buffet tix in Long Island + help him secure rooms at the Waldorf Astoria and limo transfers for a project he was working on. Hey it's the least I can do for an old friend and the guy who named our company!
Here are some other connections we've made this past few months, since I've not been able to post to the blog lately....
- We created and implemented "Paint the Town Red", an art themed party for 700+ attendees of the National Lottery Convention in our hometown, Grand Rapids (pictured below).
- Negotiating and booking a large conference (500+ rooms) at the newly renovated Fontainebleau hotel in Miami beach for February 2011.
- Hotel rooms and ground transfers to and from (and in) Chicago for a Grand Rapids based company's guests from China and France.
- Arranging elegant VIP dinners at executive homes and cottages along the lakeshore of West Michigan, also arranging all ground and air logistics including surprise private jet departures.
- Implementing downtown shuttle route and arrangements for Artprize, the "American Idol" of the art world, held here in Grand Rapids.
- Booking and planning sales forums, launches and meetings in Atlanta, Rancho Bernardo, Laguna Beach, New York City, Chicago, San Francisco.
- Planning some VIP trips for convention planners in Grand Rapids, including private area, decor & food at outdoor concerts (pictured below).
- Registering thousands of people for these and other events....creating the websites, managing the bookings, confirmations, reservations, etc.
I know I'm leaving out tons of stuff...so if anyone on GC team wants to comment on their exploits, please do! Otherwise I'll catch 'ya next time I blog.
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