November 17, 2022 | 1:00-2:00 P.M. EST

BizBash, VDA, and guest speakers are coming together to discuss the future of experiential storytelling. This virtual event will give attendees tangible action steps to produce enticing experiences no matter the size of their organization, audience, or budget. We’ll also discuss measuring experiential’s return on engagement, and how to navigate partnerships to make an event successful. How do you scale big ideas to fit a smaller budget? What about effectively using technology? And what advice do these panelists have for a smaller organization that might just be beginning to implement experiential events?

Lindsay Carroll, Head of Marketing and Events, Robin Hood

Lindsay Carroll is the Head of Events at the Robin Hood Foundation. Over the last 14 years, Lindsay has produced innovative and purpose-driven events that raise funds and awareness for New Yorkers in need. 

As New York City’s largest poverty-fighting organization, Robin Hood finds, funds, and creates more than 300 of the most effective and innovative programs to help low-income New Yorkers overcome poverty’s grip. Lindsay has produced and executed Robin Hood’s signature events including the Robin Hood Benefit, Robin Hood Investors Conference, Robin Hood Rocks concert series and Heroes Breakfast among many others. The country’s largest fundraising event, the Robin Hood Benefit hosts 4,000 guests, features performances by top artists and raises tens of millions of dollars.

Amy Grigg, Manager, Creative Services, VDA

Amy Grigg is a creative force that has guided VDA’s success over the last 10 years – ultimately assisting with the 3D Virtual platform that put VDA on the Top 100 IT Agency in 2021/22, with Event Marketer. She has a creative eye and attention to detail that is critical in this Industry. She listens to her clients to strategize ways to hit event benchmarks and find creative eye catching solutions to drive ROI. As the Manager of Creative Services for VDA she conceptualizes anything from Tradeshow Booths, Corporate Stage Sets, Permanent Installations and fully immersive virtual environments.

As an industry thought leader she has recently co-hosted the Creativity and Compressed Timelines discussion at EMS 2022. Her knowledge is always expanding as she is constantly in search of the newest technologies to incorporate into an experience. In her spare time she still manages to find time to photograph events and play semi-pro volleyball.

Sarah Kloepple, Managing Editor, BizBash

Sarah has always loved storytelling. It’s why she joined her high school newspaper in St. Louis during her sophomore year. There, she quickly fell in love with journalism, which eventually brought her to the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri (Mizzou for short—go Tigers!). After earning her degree in journalism, Sarah returned to her hometown to work for local publications Feast Magazine and St. Louis Magazine, where she often covered the dining scene. She then became an editor for Stamats Communications, which owns multiple B2B brands, and was immediately drawn toward Meetings Today, a trade publication covering the meetings and events industry. (No surprise, given her love of the hospitality beat). Fast forward four years, and Sarah is now based in Baltimore and is the managing editor at BizBash, where she continues to cover the ever-evolving events industry.

Elizabeth Patterson, Senior Advisor, Experiential Marketing at Dell Technologies

Elizabeth Patterson is a production lead and flagship event strategist at Dell Technologies. She's passionate about bringing people together for a purpose and believes remarkable experiences bring a company's story to life. With a unique background on both the agency and brand side, she has executed a wide range of diverse experiences, including B2B and B2C product launches, international customer briefings, sales incentive trips, and national tours. Currently she's working on mainstage content, creative and production planning for Dell Technologies World, the largest annual event the company hosts. She also supports varied hospitality and broadcast programs, working with her team to deliver breakthrough content and compelling sessions.

Melanie Rich, Business Development Representative, VDA

Bringing visions together for the events industry has always been Melanie’s passion. Her first role was creating connections to raise awareness and funding for the non-profit sector. While navigating smaller budgets she always enhanced ROI and has parlayed that knowledge into developing brand engagements for trade shows, social events, forums, workshops, and one-to-one briefings always considering resources and user experiences. Today, she supports companies on the Fortune 500 list, as part of the development team at VDA conceptualizing experiential designs that impact brand recognition. Outside of work, she lives with her husband and two kids and has dedicated her life to creating for them, the ultimate childhood experience. Her Kryptonite is Cadbury Mini Eggs, 90's alternative music, and hooded sweatshirts