Special Events Management
2221 W. 43rd Street
Chicago, IL 60609
Phone: (773) 868-3010
Fax: (773) 868-0425
Email: mail@chicagoevents.com
|
|
Special Events Management (www.chicagoevents.com) was established in 1988 as Chicago Special Events Management. Since then it has grown to become the largest full-service producer of special events in the Midwest.
SEM Exhibit & Trade Show Services (www.semexhibits.com) are experts in exhibit booth design and construction. Its full-line of services includes custom exhibit booths, booth refurbishments, shipping, storage, coordination of on-site services, signage/graphics, exhibit booth rentals and much more.
***
SEM was founded to fulfill the need for professional management, production and promotion of special events within the not-for-profit and corporate sectors. Among the company's broad roster of event production services include: on-site logistics; public relations, marketing and graphic design; advertising scheduling and buys; sponsorship sales and management; vendor/sponsor relations; talent buying; administrative support; event consulting; and financial planning.
SEM's range of events is diverse: cause-related runs & walks, community art and street festivals, cycling events and related sporting events, outdoor concerts and the annual Chicago Flower & Garden Show™.
The company produces more than 100 events annually. In addition to 24 full-time employees, SEM's staff is complemented by more than 30 part-time logistics managers who are seasoned event veterans.
SEM is well-known and respected in the not-for-profit community and by chambers of commerce, neighborhood groups, municipalities and national charitable organizations. SEM also works closely with the City of Chicago including the Mayor's Office of Special Events and the Chicago Park District.
SEM produces many of Chicagoland's most notable festivals including the Chicagoland Best Fest Series comprised of the Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival, Wells Street Art Festival, Evanston's Custer's Last Stand, Northalsted Market Days, Taste of Lincoln Avenue, Guinness Oyster Festival, the Lincoln Park Zoo's "Jammin' at the Zoo" concert series and several others.
Among SEM's cause-related runs & walks are: Chicago Blackhawks Nad Dash to Madison, Chicago Cub's Charities' Race to Wrigley, the Wrigley Start Early 5K/10K and AIDS Run & Walk Chicago. The company also produces two world-class cycling events each year: the National Championships of Cycling, and the Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove in Elk Grove Village, Ill.
|
Our Personnel
|
Hank Zemola - Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Zemola founded Chicago Special Events Management in 1988. Since then the company has grown to become the largest producer of special events in the Midwest. This includes nearly 100 runs & walks, street festivals, concerts and sporting events held in Chicago and its suburbs. Among the company's better-known clients are the Wells Street Arts Festival, the Lincoln Park Zoo with its annual run and summer concert series, Northalsted Market Days, the National Criterium Championships of Cyclingin Downers Grove, Custer's Last Stand in Evanston, the Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival, AIDS Run & Walk Chicago and Taste of Lincoln Avenue.
Mr. Zemola has nearly three decades of special events experience. Before starting Chicago Special Events, he founded one of Chicago's first music production companies, West Productions, in 1974. That company pioneered several nightclub and music venue concepts that remains popular both regionally and nationally to this day.
The team of seasoned professionals employed by Chicago Special Events includes specialists in marketing/media relations, logistical planning, sponsorship sales, financial planning, talent buying, crowd control & security, booth sales, site negotiations and many other specialty areas of event management.
Mr. Zemola is also an active member of several Chicago area civic and professional organizations that include the Lakeview Citizen's Council, New City YMCA, and the American Liver Foundation.
Tony Abruscato - President
Tony's professional career began in the financial services industry where he quickly became the youngest member of the officer management team in the bank's history. He mastered a variety of skills within the bank's operations, marketing and advertising departments. In three year's time he was directing the sales and marketing programs for a Chicago neighborhood-based financial institution.
In the course of his banking career, Tony recognized the potential for developing mutually beneficial marketing and promotional opportunities for not-for-profit organizations and corporations. This interest initiated a career change and Tony joined Special Events Management in 1994.
Tony's areas of expertise include sponsorship program development and event sponsorship sales. He has been responsible for the sponsorship development and media partnerships of more than 100 events in the Chicagoland area. Tony developed and marketed the Chicagoland Best Fest Series, a combination of ten of Chicago's premier outdoor special events.
In 1986 Tony was successful in his bid for public office in the Northwest Suburbs and became the youngest elected official in the State of Illinois. An inherent entrepreneurial spirit has driven Tony's professional and personal life experiences. Each step has added more knowledge and varied experience which he brings to Maximum Profile Group as its President and co-founder. Tony's vast experience in marketing, banking, promotions, sponsorship and executive tasks enables his desire to assist others in creating winning and effective marketing programs.
Gregory Schmidt - Controller
Greg is SEM's numbers' guy with a keen eye on expenses, bills, payroll and all those accounting responsibilities that keep the company's financial house in order. Holding a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Indiana University, Greg has more than 20 years experience at companies in both Illinois and his home state of Indiana. In fact, he and his wife still live in the same house in which he was born in Chesterton, Ind., and raised their two (now adult) daughters! As befits a financial whiz who lives miles from the city hustle, Greg always enjoys a game of golf during Northwest Indiana's warm-weather months.
Steve Bingham - Senior Event Manager
Steve is a Senior Event Manager for SEM and oversees the management and logistical needs for our event client's festival and athletic events. Steve holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before joining SEM, he was a business analyst with Hewitt Associates where he evaluated and helped implement employee benefits programs. Prior to Hewitt, Steve served as the head of marketing and public relations for Humorology, Wisconsin's largest student philanthropic organization. He also has interned at public relations firms in London, England.
Gehrig Peterson - Director - Music
Long-time consultant and team member Gehrig Peterson is leading the SEM entertainment division. Gehrig has worked with Special Events Management since 1995, and has played a variety of integral roles in full- and part-time capacities. In recent years he has led the SEM sponsorship division, consulted as a special project talent buyer and has been charged with creating diversity promotions. Gehrig has extensive experience and relationships in talent buying community as well as show promotion, radio station sales and marketing and creating successful entertainment events. Gehrig has over 29 years of experience as a talent buyer in the Chicago market.
Karyn Serota - Director - Media & Marketing
Karyn plays several integral roles as the point person for SEM's diverse marketing efforts. Among them are: buying and placing advertisements; serving as the marketing liaison for event sponsors; working closely with SEM's art staff in creative planning; and overseeing all Web-based marketing efforts including maintaining the company's website as well as compiling and disseminating SEM's weekly E-blast newsletter that reaches 50,000 subscribers. A graduate of Illinois State University, Karyn joined the company in 2002 as an event manager for several high-profile runs/walks and street festival before being promoted to media & marketing director.
Sean McGahan - Art Director
As SEM's graphic designer, Sean oversees all of the company's visual and creative endeavors. From the design of hundreds of event posters and client brochures to flyers, restaurant menus, advertisements, postcards and more, Sean's artistic skills present a professional look for clients to the outside world. Sean joined the company in 2000 after graduating from Eastern Illinois University with a degree in graphic design. His expertise of the latest design technologies and software are also utilized in Web and Internet design projects for SEM.
Alan Cervenka - Project/Exhibit Manager
Alan has been an integral member of the SEM family for more than eight years. From serving as the manager of several annual events to having served in the vital roles of the company's volunteer and staffing coordinator, Alan is a talented managerial chameleon. There's very little he hasn't been involved with in all aspects of event planning. More recently, Alan has added the management of special company projects to his ever-expanding list of responsibilities. Prior to joining SEM, Alan came well-prepared to the company as the owner a small manufacturing company.
Noelle Coronado - Event Manager
Since joining SEM in 2008, Noelle has worn the hat of vendor relations manager -- where customer service is key -- to her current role as event manager, where she takes charge of every aspect of planning and successfully executing several of the company's most high-profile events. A native Chicagoan, Noelle earned a bachelor of science degree in recreation, sport and tourism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before joining SEM, Noelle's diverse background has included media research, public relations and event planning for both businesses and elected officials including an 18-month internship with the Mayor's Office of Special Events.
Steve Hansen - Event Manager
With his passion for biking -- he's even serving as president of the Illinois Cycling
Association! -- Steve is the go-to-guy for SEM's annual cycling events including Tour of Elk Grove, the Downers Grove championships as well as the Chicago Criterium. A native New Englander who now resides with his wife and two children in a near-northwest suburb, Steve earned both a bachelor's degree in music and an MBA from Northern Illinois University in Dekalb. Before joining SEM, Steve enjoyed a diverse career in both sales and management. And when he's not focused on riding, he's equally impassioned about photography.
Samantha Norris - Event Manager
Samantha empathizes with the fact that most events produced by SEM end up benefiting a great cause, be it a neighborhood group's community programs, or a non-profit organization with its mission to battle health or social ills. A native of southwest suburban Oak Lawn, she majored in psychology (with a minor in history) at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. She then earned a masters degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago. Before joining the SEM family--and cementing her belief that events raise money for important causes--Samantha worked with Prevent Child Abuse America on their annual fundraising run/walk. In off hours she enjoys sports endeavors, including running.
Josh Ruston - Event Manager
With his passion for sports, Josh specializes in managing several SEM sporting events including runs/walks, marathons and cycling races. An Illinois native, Josh earned two exercise and sport science degrees from the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse: a bachelor's in sport management in 2004, and a master's in sport administration in 2005. No stranger to the SEM family, he interned as an event assistant/coordinator for the company in the summer of 2005. Among Josh's diverse sports-related experience has been coaching youth basketball, soccer and baseball teams. And while attending UW-LaCrosse, he held several event logistic and promotion positions in the school's athletic department.
Peter Vanderhye - Event Manager
With his affinity for sports, Pete helps manage several of SEM's recreational events including runs/walks and bike races. Pete's also a true Chicagoan: he was born, raised and still resides in the Old Irving neighborhood on the city's northwest side. He earned a BA degree in mass communication from Illinois State University in Normal. While there, he held an internship with an ad agency that involved managing a block party. That experience led to his interest in event management. In off hours, Pete's a big fan of the Cubs (a true Northsider!) as well as the hometown Bears.
Johnny Gaskill - Production Director
It's all about music for Johnny. From staging and sound systems to working with performers, bands and their management, he's the behind-the-scenes guy who makes everything run smoothly at SEM events. Johnny's amazingly hectic schedule also includes providing production, engineering and audio expertise for two of Chicago's top rock stations: WLUP-FM and Q101-FM. But it doesn't stop there! He also has frequent gigs as tour manager for local and nationally acclaimed bands. The Oak Park, Ill., native majored in radio talent production & marketing at Columbia College. And in rare off-hours, in addition writing/recording music, he's equally impassioned about filmmaking, including music videos.
Daniel Oleksiuk - Production Manager
Although his official title is production manager, Dan is better known around SEM as warehouse manager, trade show manager and carpenter extraordinaire. A true chameleon, he pretty much does it all! The Northbrook, Ill., native (where he still resides) earned his bachelor's degree from Chicago's Columbia College in music, business and concert production. But for those who know him, his true passion is for building things. From showcase booths for the SEM-produced Chicago Flower & Garden Show, to intricate exhibits at national trade shows for Fortune 500 clients of SEM's trade show & exhibits division, his detailed craftsmanship is awe-inspiring. During off hours Dan, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine, enjoys sports and music.
Hillary Sutton - Exhibit Relations Manager
Hillary plays an integral role at SEM as the liaison with all of the company's event exhibitors and vendors. The position requires an attention to detail and diligent customer service.
Kevin Turk - Sponsorship Sales Account Executive
The financial success of SEM's events often hinge on the underwriting support of sponsors, and Kevin has quite the knack for making the sales pitch to both large and small corporations and businesses. A Michigan native (from the Ann Arbor area), Kevin earned an accounting degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo before moving to Chicago's Lakeview/Lincoln Park neighborhood. A fan of movies, music, restaurants and other pop culture pursuits, Kevin is also a co-founder (along with some college buds) of the annual "International Tom Hanks Day." Held in March, it celebrates the actor's acclaimed movie career and raises money for Hanks' favorite charities.
Laura Wilke - Sponsorship Sales
Laura is in sponsorship sales for SEM where she is responsible for soliciting companies and businesses to help underwrite numerous client events in return for unique public awareness-raising marketing opportunities. Laura holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Northeastern University on Chicago's northwest side. While at Northeastern, she was also actively involved with the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA), first as a volunteer and, later, hired to oversee its membership. In her spare time, Laura and her husband have their hands full raising two toddlers.
Gabe Coronado - Show Coordinator - Chicago Flower & Garden Show
Daniel M. Stober AIFD - Creative Director - Chicago Flower & Garden Show
A keen eye for detail best describe Daniel's skills as creative director of the SEM-produced Chicago Flower & Garden Show™ that's held each March. It's a natural fit for the Ohio native who has more than 20 years experience in every aspect of floral designfrom retail and events to weddings and private parties. In addition to his visual genius, Daniel's planning skills come in handy for the sprawling 9-day green extravaganza that is the Flower & Garden Show. With bachelor degrees in psychology and interior design from colleges in Michigan (where he spent several years before moving to Chicago), Daniel -- a theater buff -- also is a longtime member of the American Institute of Floral Designers.
Veronica Carrillo - Hispanic Affairs and Sales
Veronica plays a role in serving as the company's liaison for organizations and neighborhood groups serving the Hispanic community as well as companies desiring to reach this growing market. In addition, she is director of operations for Event Bright, an SEM subsidiary that provides post-event cleaning services. Veronica holds a bachelor of arts degree in international business from Western International University. She also has broad experience in banking/financial services, mortgage lending as well as the foodservice industry as a restaurant owner. In off-hours, Veronica does volunteer work with children, is an interpreter for international businesses, teaches Spanish classes and is active in efforts to reforest the Amazon Jungle.
Jose A. Velgara - Multicultural Marketing
Jose has been involved with multicultural projects both on the professional and community level. He brings over 25 years expertise in marketing to multicultural audiences through his past employment with Pepsi Cola General Bottlers and Royal Crown Cola. He has founded industry and community programs that have positively impacted the Chicago market. His volunteer work as Commissioner for the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations, further expemplifies his committment to the Chicago community. He has now joined CSEM to develop and execute programs addressing the growing multicultural market.
Fred Newton - Communications Manager
Fred has more than 20 years experience as a writer, editor and marketing manager for newspapers, non-profit associations and special events. Prior to joining SEM, he was communications manager/editorial supervisor at SmithBucklin Corp., the nation's largest association management firm. His diverse experience there included managing marketing programs for among others--the entertainment, health care and manufacturing industries. Before joining SmithBucklin, he was a news/feature reporter for a zoned suburban/city edition of the Chicago Tribune.
Dianne Patterson - Administrative Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator
When you call SEM, chances are the friendly voice you'll hear on the phone will be that of Dianne. She's also the person who will most likely greet you at the reception desk. But Dianne is much more than a friendly voice or face. She also wears other hats including that of general office manager. It's a role that includes coordinating messenger services, sorting through piles of staff mail, tracking delivered packages and other responsibilities to make sure the office runs smoothly. Dianne has been with the company for nearly a decade (including the predecessor company of what is now SEM Exhibits) -- and she's also the proud owner of six cats!
Gary Wilson - Operations
Jack-of-all-trades. Part-time bookkeeper. Office supplies manager. Product sampler. Run/Walk registrar. You name it: Gary does it! Having been with SEM for more than a decade, Gary is the answer man both within SEM's office and on-site at events. And if he doesn't know, he'll point you in the right direction. Gary also works closely with SEM's accounting staff as the behind-the-scenes guy when it comes to paying/processing invoices, billing, making bank deposits and ensuring those event gate entrances and other cash drawers have enough change on hand to weather a summer festival weekend.
|
|
|
