ThinkingAhead Executive Search’s Post

With Labor Day weekend wrapping up, summer is coming to a close, and we're already looking towards the holidays and preparing for the end-of-year awards banquets and events. As you plan your ceremonies, galas, and dinners, one essential role to consider is the proffer. Having a proffer at your event ensures a seamless and polished presentation, making your gift and award presentations shine. While the role may seem straightforward, if not done properly, it can quickly detract from the event's overall impact. Stay tuned this month for proffer tips—it’s always in the details, isn’t it? 🌟 📸 Not sure what a proffer is? Check out the photo attached for a quick definition and stay tuned this month for tips. #EventPlanning #CeremonyEtiquette #HolidayPreparations #ProfferTips #AttentionToDetail www.ElevatingEtiquette.com

So excited for this event! Check out the details from Jess below!

The Power of Networking 🌐 One of the greatest career accelerators is building meaningful connections. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned professional, the relationships you create can open doors to opportunities you may not have seen coming. Here’s what I’ve learned: Listen more than you speak: Everyone has a story and experience that can teach you something. Add value: Offer your help or insight before seeking something in return. Follow up: A simple “It was great meeting you” message can go a long way in maintaining connections. Let’s keep growing and learning from each other. 🤝 Karen Melonie Gould #Networking #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #BuildingConnections

➡️ Would you like to keep your staff and clients happy in 2025? Here is how I can help: 👉 Staff Entertainment Providing you with in-house or location specific fun, filled enjoyable staff wine and/or cheese events to keep your staff motivated. 👉 Client Entertainment Looking to impress those clients who are in town or that you have built long term relationships with and want to show them some appreciation. Bring them along to The Sheffield Table for an upto 18 seater private dining experience, customisable between 3 and 7 courses! Or do an in-house event organised by me as a bespoke wine and/or cheese package. 👉 Wine Gifting Perhaps you want to kick off 2025 by appreciating key customers and are looking for wine to be able to gift. Then I can give that advice and organise delivery too. 👉 Wine Cellar Builds Maybe 2025 is the year that you look to explore wine further and want to experiment with trying different colours, styles, grape varietals and wine producing regions. Then let me help give you advice on where to begin your journey and to learn about individual producers, wines and build it based on your personalised taste buds! 👉 Virtual Wine Tastings It's cold in the early months of 2025 and with a larger proportion of the UK working from home or more flexibly, why not invite me into your home via a screen and we can host a group wine tasting experience to suit your needs. The best bit is you can still stay wrapped up at home as you enjoy the experience! 👉 The Wine and Cheese Network, SHEFFIELD Where better to look for those new business connections, network with new potential clients and build long term relationships than with the compliment of Wine and Cheese. Join the NEW Wine and Cheese Network event at the end of January to try different wines and cheeses whilst in a fun, relaxed networking experience at the newly regenerated Leah's Yard. Book here: https://lnkd.in/djFbyxf4 👉 Manchester Wine Club, MANCHESTER For those who are looking at building their client base and contacts in Manchester, or want to learn more about Wine in an informal atmosphere, then head over to book your place on the NEW Manchester Wine Club, where we will take a journey of exploration and have a themed focus for the wines each month. Book here: https://lnkd.in/djFbyxf4 👉 Looking to INVEST in Fine Wine ? 📈 Thinking about looking at alternative assets to place funds, given interest rates are falling in developed countries and inflation remains above trend? Then look at investing in fine wine with advice from me on where to place your funds, how long to store it for in bond, who to use and why? ➡️ If you are looking for all things wine related, drop me a message or reach out via the website for further details on how I can help your business or you as the individual with the help of wine 🍷🧀 #supportlocalbusiness #wineevents #wineeducation #motivateyourworkforce #cliententertainment #privatedining

⏱️ Three Minutes Too Early or Three Minutes Too Late - The Fine Art of Wine Service Think about the last time you hosted a corporate dinner. What was your biggest concern? If you're like most of our clients, it was probably the flow of service. Here's a scene from last week's corporate gala: 200 guests, waiting for the keynote speech, and our team had exactly 12 minutes to ensure every glass was perfectly poured. Not too early (warm wine, anyone?), not too late (delayed speeches are never fun). ✨Let's break down how we nailed it: 7:42 PM - First temperature check of the whites 7:45 PM - Team positioned strategically by section 7:48 PM - First pour begins, synchronised across all tables 7:56 PM - Final quality check 8:00 PM - Speeches begin, every guest with a perfectly tempered glass One guest's observation stuck with us: "I didn't even notice the wine being poured - suddenly it was just there, perfect temperature, right when I needed it." Share your thoughts - what's your perfect service timing story? When did you experience service so smooth you barely noticed it happening? 🍷 #Hospitality #EventManagement #CorporateEvents #HospitalityIndustry #EventPlanning #BusinessEvents #HospitalityProfessionals #EventProfs #CorporateHospitality #EventStaffing #LuxuryEvents #HospitalityExperience #EventMarketing #ConferenceManagement  #CorporateCatering   #VenueManagement #ExperientialEvents

Picture yourself looking back, wishing you had taken the leap to join us in Napa. This event, Napa Wine Tasting Real Estate Mastermind Event, is not just a chance to learn—it's an opportunity to transform your career and your life. Don't let this pass you by. With only 20 seats available, time is running out to secure your place. Act now! 🕒 Book ticket now (remove the spaces): https://repro. events/napa2024 #Napa2024 #RealEstateMastermind #realestate #realestateinvestors #realestateinvestor

Business Fair info below 👇

Want an example of how to capture content at events? Look no further than Shawn P. Walchef visit to the Pizza Expo 2024. While there, Shawn caught up with industry leaders, like Matt Plapp 🎥 🎤 🍴 📚, 🍔🍟🍕🎙 David "Rev" Ciancio, and Felix Bazgan as well as gave us a behind the scenes view of the events with local phenoms, like Guiliano Raso. Watch our behind the scenes look at this amazing event and be sure to listen to the replay of our Rising Tide LinkedIn Live Room for tips on how to navigate industry events. How do you plan on telling your event story?

This week's theme is really about Community Building and Engagement Johnnie Walker Black Label: Stories Behind The Serves Cocktails all stemmed from someone and somewhere, and there are so many iterations which make these stories all the more captivating. The aim is to learn how to harness your own story and weave it through your journey. World Class Great Britain X Diageo Netherlands gave Scottish on-trade the opportunity to hear from industry experts on how their journey began, and how they have each used competitions in a unique way to craft their careers and their supporting networks. To make this event happen, we needed exceptional talent. Danilo Frigulti (World Class GB Winner 2024) opened the day with his World Class story from GB to the Global Top 8. Then our industry panel opened up about their own experiences to give real insight into what can happen when you push yourself to enter these competitions. Day moved into night and we created our own stories and memories through a takeover at Old Pal with our Johnnie Walker Black Label Netherlands Sour Competition Winners Halil Özgür and Luca Acquaviva. This collaborative event would not have come together as seamlessly as it did without the incredible input from Stefanie Margaret Elaine Anderson Ryan Montgomery & Maurits Wetemans Stories are ever-lasting, they connect us in ways we don't always fully comprehend. On Monday January 20th 2025, we all carved our own stories into the fabric of Scottish on-trade. #KeepWalking

🎩 “Eh, what’s up, doc?” …asks Bugs Bunny as he accepts an award for “Top Customer of the Year” at your annual awards ceremony. Imagine Bugs sitting there, nibbling on a carrot, and instead of giving him just another engraved plaque (which he’ll probably use to slice his carrots), why not make him REALLY feel like a star? 🧐 Here’s the scoop: Companies like yours can stand out by rewarding top customers with experiences they’ll never forget, like a weekend at the Super Bowl or the Ryder Cup! 🎉 Think of it this way—who do you think Bugs would remember more: the doc who hands him a trophy, or the one who hands him front-row tickets to the Big Game? 🚀 These events are more than just seats and snacks. They’re memories, connections, and a chance to say, “You’re not just any ol’ customer—you’re our MVP!” And trust me, even Bugs would ditch the carrot farm for a VIP ticket. 🥕 So, next time you’re looking to celebrate your best clients, skip the carrots and go for the crowd-pleaser…sports hospitality packages! 🏆