GSE Meetings & Events

Spotlight

The following is a sampling of programs that the GSE Meetings & Events team has coordinated in past years.

Sister to Sister Foundation National Healthy Heart Campaign

Since 2006 GSE Meetings & Events has served as the Detroit Campaign Manager for the Sister to Sister Foundation’s National Healthy Heart Campaign. Sister to Sister is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that exists solely to bring free heart disease screenings and “heart-healthy” prevention information and support to an increasing number of women in order to reduce their risk of heart disease, the number one killer of women today. Since its inception in 2000, Sister to Sister has positively touched the lives of more than 18 million women nationwide through the National Healthy Heart Campaign. To date, over 50,000 women of all ages, races and socioeconomic backgrounds have been screened for heart disease risk factors in cities across the United States. One-third of these women have discovered that they are at risk for heart disease and have learned life-saving prevention activities. As the Detroit Campaign Manager, GSE Meetings & Events coordinates all aspects of the year round campaign including the execution of the Detroit Women’s Heart Health Fair, which features free heart screenings, high-energy fitness and cooking demonstrations, educational seminars, and dozens of exhibits and giveaways.

The Sports Executive Leadership Conference

Our marquee property is the Sports Executive Leadership Conference the quintessential international networking event for the global sports industry. The Sports Executive Leadership Conference is held annually at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, and has quickly become the premier high-level networking event for the industry. The conference has attracted some of the industry's top team owners, presidents and high-level sports executives from around the world.

2006 Avaya InAAU Customer Appreciation Reception

Avaya contracted GSE Meetings & Events to design and coordinate a unique event to entertain 2,500 of their customers at the annual International Association of Avaya Users conference in Orlando, FL. GSE created a street party event utilizing the CityWalk area at the Universal Orlando Resort. Guests enjoyed a strolling dinner on the promenade at CityWalk and then were entertained throughout the night by live entertainment on the streets and within the nightclubs and bars of the venue, which provided something for everyone from jazz, to reggae, to 80's dance music. The ability for guests to choose their own experience resulted in the event being one of the highest rated customer appreciation events ever hosted by Avaya at the conference.

Flagstar Bank Recognition Program

Since 2004, GSE has produced Flagstar Bank's Annual Awards & Recognition Program for its retail banking division. The full-day program for over 800 people features general session business meetings, meal functions, a keynote address, breakout sessions, and culminates with an awards and recognition program. GSE handles all aspects of producing the program, including theme development, contract negotiations, hotel logistics, managing catering functions, securing the keynote speaker, developing award and gift concepts, overseeing audiovisual production, coordinating ground and air transportation from locations in Indiana, Michigan, and Atlanta, Georgia, and much more.

2006 Avaya Events at VoiceCon

As the Diamond Level Sponsor of the 2006 Spring VoiceCon event at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando, FL, Avaya had a number of opportunities to entertain customers, business partners, and members of the media. Avaya selected GSE Meetings & Events to assist in the development and coordination of these programs in order to maximize their sponsorship value. GSE worked with the team at Avaya to design three events at the conference that helped communicate their brand identity and build relationships with key contacts. These events included the exclusive Diamond Dinner, an invitation-only event for Avaya's top customers, business partners, and potential clients, which was held at the Old Hickory Steakhouse inside of the Gaylord Palms.

Compuware Vantage "An Evening at the Ballpark"

Compuware asked GSE to develop an interesting event in a unique setting that would allow them to highlight their Vantage software and to entertain their customers and prospects. The result was "An Evening at the Ballpark", where guests were invited to a Compuware seminar at a Major League Baseball stadium, followed by a special appearance by a former professional baseball player, and the evening concluded with everyone having the opportunity to watch the game from a luxury suite or special seating area. Throughout this 11-city national tour, GSE secured special appearances that included former Cleveland Indians Hall of Famer Bob Feller, former Los Angeles Dodger Ron Cey, former Philadelphia Phillies reliever Mitch Williams, and former Milwaukee Brewer's great Jim Gantner. GSE was able to leverage its relationships with Major League Baseball teams to coordinate all event details for this program.

2006 Avaya Customer Appreciation Dinner and Media Analysts Event at InterOp

GSE Meetings & Events coordinated two simultaneous events for Avaya at the 2006 InterOp Conference at the Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort in Las Vegas. The events were hosted at the exclusive MiX Lounge and Restaurant at the top of the Hotel at Mandalay. The Media and Analysts event was a relaxed reception in the ultra-chic MiX Lounge highlighted by addresses by Avaya's top executives. The customers were treated to a world-class dinner at the MiX Restaurant "one of the Vegas's premier dining experiences. GSE handled all facets of the two events from design & decor, to registration logistics, to food and beverage coordination."

LaSalle Bank "A Day in the Garden" at the Landsdowne Estate"

In May 2004, GSE planned and executed an exclusive reception at the historic Landsdowne Estate in Lake Bluff, Illinois for clients of LaSalle Bank's Wealth Management Division. Over 300 guests attended the afternoon reception on the grounds of the Lake Michigan estate. Guests were able to tour the home and meet with experts in real estate, home decor and landscaping. An elaborate offering of hors d'oeuvres and refreshments were available on the property's Polo Grounds where General George S. Patton once played. GSE developed the event concept and theme, including site selection, and managed all of the pre-event and on-site logistics.

Avaya's "Salute to Excellence"

GSE researched, planned and executed every aspect of a 1000-person employee incentive conference for Avaya Communication at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 4-day conference featured elaborate dinner receptions in the evenings with world-class cuisine, high profile entertainment including Sinbad and Daryl Hall and John Oates, and a special performance of "O" Cirque du Soleil. During the day, GSE coordinated a wide variety of guest activities including luxurious spa packages, rounds of golf at exclusive courses, river rafting trips, mountain biking excursions, horseback rides, scenic tours and much more.

Buick "Ride and Drive" at the NEC Invitational

GSE has managed Buick's "Ride and Drive" promotional event at the Western Open in Chicago, and at the NEC Invitational World Championships at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. Buick invited 10,000 of their best customers to reserve two exclusive passes to the NEC World Invitational, where they had access to VIP parking and the option to ride or drive to the course in a new Buick LeSabre for one of the final two rounds of the tournament. Each attendee also received a gift bag, lunch and two passes to return for an exclusive golf clinic conducted by Tiger Woods and Butch Harmon the Monday after the tournament. GSE oversaw all aspects of these Buick "Ride and Drive" events and received excellent client feedback.

Michigan National Bank Fantasy Football Experience

A once in a lifetime event for 400 of Michigan National Bank's best customers at "The Big House" in Ann Arbor. The event began with lunch on the concourse at Michigan Stadium followed by guided tours of the University of Michigan athletic campus led by former Michigan football stars, free throw shooting on the court at Crisler Arena, a walk through the player's tunnel and out onto the field at Michigan Stadium, where fans were greeted by former Michigan All-American Anthony Carter. Once on the field, participants competed in a field goal kicking contest, a long-distance football toss, and had a chance to catch a pass in the end zone from former Michigan Quarterback John Wangler. The event concluded with dessert in the Michigan Stadium press box. This was the first time in history that an event of this kind was allowed to be conducted at Michigan Stadium, making it a true "money-can't-buy" experience. This October 2000 event was rated "Excellent" by participants, and our client expressed that their "customers got more than they expected out of this event."

3 Dimensional Services Skate at Joe Louis Arena

GSE executed a skate on the ice at Joe Louis Arena for over 30 clients of 3 Dimensional Services. The event was a dream come true for these hockey fans as they suited up in full equipment for a one-hour hockey game where their favorite heroes of Hockeytown play. They each wore custom Red Wing jerseys and played against former Red Wings goalie, Eddie Mio. The skate was followed by a buffet reception and a visit by hockey legend Ted Lindsey.