National Association of Catering Executives: The Detroit NACE Blog

NACE Member: Linda Savage

Linda Savage

Where do you work/what is your position?
The Toledo Country Club in scenic Toledo Ohio; Private Events Director

Toledo Country Club

How long have you been in the business?
I have been in some aspect of food service for 20 years but I have been Planning Events for 12 years now.

What do you love about it?
Meeting different people and making their visions become reality.

10 things people might not know about me or Toledo Country Club:
1. I collect sock monkeys.
2. Toledo CC is the only event site in Toledo that is on the River and can provide the loveliest views that the town has to offer.
3. I am working on my CPCE certification. Yea NACE professional certification!!
4. I love to do centerpieces for the club occasionally. It’s a great creative release. Thanks, Mayesh!
5. I like to take road trips. Obviously, since I sometimes have to drive quite a ways to make our meetings.
6. I love to cook and entertain.
7. I am a fan of Red Carpet events and critiquing celebrity dresses.
8. I cry at almost all the weddings I host at the club.
9. Toledo Country Club has, in my opinion, the best Chef in the area.
10. I LOVE BACON!

Razor Thin Margin In Presidential Vote Defines 2009 Detroit NACE Elections

November 20, 2008 - After an amazing 2008 Detroit NACE Awards dinner on October 17th, the chapter’s membership converged on Rochester’s Meadowbrook Hall on November 19th for some solemn business: Electing the 2009 Detroit NACE Board.

In a sign of the chapter’s growing vitality, long standing precedent was broken with three candidates running for Detroit NACE Chapter President.

After a hard fought and extremely tight campaign, Todd Lloyd of Chair Covers & Linens narrowly topped Kelly Brennan of the Michigan Governor’s Residence and Joseph Martinez of Christopher & Company by only one vote.

Todd Lloyd ran on a platform of recruiting new members, reforming NACE educational programs, as well as serving as an ambassador of Metropolitan Detroit’s dynamic creative community and host of outstanding venues.

The remaining slots were uncontested. Each of the positions are for a term of two years.

Introducing the 2009 Detroit NACE Board:

President                                                  Todd Lloyd                                 Chair Covers & Linens

1^st Vice President                                    Sue Keels                                    Royal Park Hotel

2^nd Vice President                                   Kelly Brennan                             Michigan Governor’s Residence

Secretary                                                   Linda Savage                              Toledo Country Club

Treasurer                                                   Nolan Gottschalk                       ShutterBooth

Event Professional Rep.                              Kurt Colone                               Mike Staff Productions

Let’s all get behind the 2009 Detroit NACE Board! Continued teamwork and professional cooperation will ensure a rejuvenated and energized Detroit NACE Chapter!

(Kurt is pictured in the middle w/ the black shirt, large medallion, and red plastic cup.)

Who are you, where do you work, and what is your position?
My Name is Kurt Colone, I am the General Manager of Mike Staff Productions. We offer Award Winning DJ, Photography and Videography Services.

How long have you been in the business?
Personally, I have been a part of Mike Staff Productions for close to 7 years. Mike Staff Productions is now 20 years old!
 

What do you love about it?
What I love about my career is simple: I truly get to do what I truly enjoy. On a day to day basis I get to work with my friends, work with music and be hands on in running a cool business.
 

How has NACE helped you along your journey?
NACE has been a big stepping stone for the growth of Mike Staff Productions. NACE puts you face to face with other business owners, sales professionals and decision makers every month. I say this often but it is one of the truest business philosophies I know, “The most successful people are everywhere, every time, where everyone is.” – Jeffrey Gitomer. That is what NACE is all about.
 

What advice would you have for someone looking to hire a company that offers what you do?
First and foremost: do your homework. I offer products and services that people don’t shop for that often, I know it can be challenging to shop for things you don’t have experience with. I suggest shopping several vendors: go meet them, sit down with them and see where they do business. I would say that the majority of my clients are young professionals. I want them to see that we have passion in our craft but we also work extremely hard to run a professional business.
 

What are 10 things people might not know about you and/or your company?
1. I am elated to announce that we just hired 8 award winning photographers!
2. MSP has won the Channel 4 WDIV Best of 2 years in a row. 
3. MSP has won The Knot Best of for the past 2 years.
4. We make it a BIG priority to take our employees on company vacation each year as well as Tigers games, Pistons Games and Concerts.
5. Mike Staff Productions is the official entertainment provider of Palace Sports Entertainment. 
6. This year, Mike Staff Videography has won 3 national awards.
7. We just moved to a great new office in Troy.
8. I will be newlywed on 11/29/09!!!
9. When I have free time I enjoy playing guitar.
10. Halloween is my favorite Holiday!!!!!!!!

2008 Detroit NACE Awards “Bring On The Bling” A Smashing Success!

When the Detroit NACE crew rolled up on the Troy Marriott’s Mediterranean Room on October 14^th to honor outstanding professional accomplishments for 2008, they were bringing the bling: What seemed to be a coterie of pimps, players, hustlers, starlets and nouveau riche was actually a collection of the most dynamic event creative professionals in Metropolitan Detroit.

Attendees were met by Officer Christopher Neumann of The Bling Police who was issuing Citations for Lack of Bling or Citations for Too Much Bling. The Human Red Carpet, comprised of Janet Engelhardt and others from the Royal Park Hotel and Chair Covers & Linens, provided the perfect entry point for an extraordinary event.

Ceremonies were kicked off with a performance by energetic members of the Troy Dance & BodyWorks dance troupe.

This year’s awards committee was co-chaired by Todd Lloyd of Chair Covers & Linens and Sue Keels of the Royal Park Hotel. The 2008 Nominations Chair was Joan Kacir, a former chapter President.

By all accounts, their leadership was a resounding success. Consider the following accomplishments:

·      “Bring On The Bling” was the largest NACE Awards Dinner in the history of the chapter.

·      The event was sold out at 160 attendees, nearly doubling the number of Detroit NACE members in good standing of 86 people.

·      There were more nominations this year than ever before.

·      This was the inaugural year for The Lifetime Achievement Award.

And here are this year’s big winners:

Best Catered Event, 2008: Toni LeGrande, CMP, The Townsend Hotel

Best Wedding Event, 2008: Floreen Halpern, Amaryllis Catering

Best Theme Event, 2008: Toni LeGrande, CMP, The Townsend Hotel

Best Table Design, 2008: Jennifer Charles, Something Fabulous

Best Event–Technical Support, 2008: Ryan Koral, Epic Motion

Best Industry Event, 2008: Sue Keels, Royal Park Hotel

Best Team Event, 2008:

Mark Ephraim, MPE Event Productions

Todd Lloyd, Chair Covers & Linens

John Lamb, Display Group

Tom Gaunt, Mayesh Wholesale Florist

Caterer of the Year, 2008: Sue Keels, Royal Park Hotel

Member of the Year, 2008: Kurt Colone, Mike Staff Productions

Michael Havens Award, 2008: Todd Lloyd, Chair Covers & Linens

Lifetime Achievement Award, 2008: Liz Bakunovich, Morton’s The Steakhouse

Special thanks to this year’s Detroit NACE Awards sponsors:

Blumz…by JRDesigns – Bouquets of Flowers

Chair Covers & Linens – Bling Chargers, LED Lighting, Linen for High-Tops

Christopher & Company – Floral Centerpieces

Colonial Rental – Bling Chandelier Centerpieces

Crystal Gardens Banquet Center & Town Host Catering – Coffee Station

The Display Group – Paparazzi Props

Edward’s Wedding Photography – Photography

Epic Motion – Program Creation

Fabulous Events – Chair Covers, Napkins and Table Linens

Federal Express – Shipping

GRAYMATTERS – Email Blast and Marketing

IceCaterers – Martini Luge and Ice Ball

The Lighting Guy – Lighting

Mike Staff Productions – DJ/Emcee Service and Audio

Morton’s Steakhouse

MPE Event Productions – Red Carpet

NACE

Royal Park Hotel – Bling Favors

Something Fabulous – Program

Showtime Events – Illuminated Bar and Table

Shutterbooth – Photo Booth and Program Creation

Troy Dance and BodyWorks – Dancing with The Stars

Troy Marriott – Venue and AV Services

Zingerman’s – Bling Cake

Here are the Shutterbooth photos - check them out! 

Also, please take a moment to enjoy the pictures, courtesy of Edward’s Wedding Photography.

Here’s a link to ALL of the pictures courtesy of Edwards Wedding Photography. 

This begins our new series on the blog where we’re going to highlight members. If you would like to be “spotlighted”, you must be a NACE member from the Detroit chapter and in good standing.

Our first guinea pig - excuse me - our first member we’re going to highlight is Todd Lloyd from Chair Covers and Linens.

Where do you work/what is your position?
Chair Covers & Linens, President and CEO. The Nation’s largest source for chair covers.

How long have you been in the business?
As a separate company, Chair Covers & Linens has been in business for 12 years.

What do you love about it?
That’s easy – I get to party for a living. We get to be involved with some of the most joyous times in peoples lives. It’s a blast.

How has NACE helped you along your journey?
Sometimes we get so busy in our daily business life we forget to make contact with people. NACE allows me to contact our customers and prospects at least once a month. The educational and networking aspect is also very beneficial.

What advice would you have for someone looking to hire a company that offers what you do?
First and foremost is product offering. Do they have what you want? Second, do they have the resources to pull off your event? What kind of backup plans and staff do they have if there is an unforeseen emergency like someone gets sick or a vehicle breaks down? Often we are very restricted with the time we have to do our job. Make sure the company you choose can deal with anything that is thrown at them.

What are 10 things people might not know about you and/or your company?
1. We offer more than just a chair cover company
2. We have the largest selection of linen in Michigan.
3. We have offices in 9 states.
4. We carry battery operated LED Lighting.
5. We have just under 200 employees
6. We have over 70 different styles of chair covers.
7. We offer over 100 different sash colors/styles.
8. We own a company plane
9. My partner and I collect cars (we have 9 of them).
10. I get to work with my youngest sister everyday.
 

Chair Covers and Linens staff

Pictured left to right: Todd Lloyd (Detroit NACE Secretary), Joan Kacir (past President), Rachel Torok, Brennan Donnovan

Website: www.chaircovers.net 

Here’s a link to the video:

http://www.videoone.tv/nace2008/

Here are the pictures from the picnic.. thank you, Joan!

Please follow the link below to take advantage of the special offer for the 2008 Summer Cruise Series.  

http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/dt2lfp

You unique password is: NACE

Our Detroit chapter celebrated fifty years this month along with all chapters of NACE.

Here’s the recap video from the event provided by Epic Motion:

Photos provided by Mike Guimond of MG Photography & Design


          

email Lindsay Simms to RSVP