Jan
27
2013Many of the ISES Cleveland Board Members took the opportunity to visit Chicago in January 2013 for the ISES Midwest Retreat, ISES Leadership Summit, and The Special Event. Each attendee is going to share their experice with you on our blog. If you are interested in learning more about TSE 2013, make sure to REGISTER HERE for our TSE In Review Event on February 19th, 2013. Here is Director at Large, Matt Radicelli’s TSE 2013 experience:
“Why Am I Here?”
Why are you sitting and doing what it is that you’re doing right now? This very moment… Whether you’re in a cubical quoting insurance, in a kitchen feeding a baby, or at a special events convention like me…
I’m fortunate that I’m able to visit The Special Event in Chicago this year. I’m a student of customer service, Karma & good will, and lord knows I do my best to keep my life balance in check; but the first seminar that I chose this morning was about “building the business you want to achieve the life balance you dream about.” with Tami Forero from http://www.forteevents.com. Great Choice!
My best takeaway is a simple concept that I feel strongly and passionate about: Every moment of your day you should ask yourself, “Do I love doing this? Am I good at it? Does it make me money?” It sounds simple right? While I’m not suggesting that you quit your job selling insurance, leave your baby at home alone, or boycott that convention or workshop your boss sent you to… I am suggesting that your life balance is probably out of whack if you can’t say yes to all three of those questions. If you can say YES to all three, GREAT! Your life balance is probably in a good place. If you can’t say YES to all three, get to work, write it on the wall, and make it happen!
So why am I here?
I love Special Events. I am good at them. They make me money.
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May
21
2012ISES Cleveland is THE networking group for Cleveland Event Professionals.
This event took place in May, 2012 at La Centre in Westlake. The most tech savvy event professionals presented a different type of advancing technology to the room. After the presentations, everyone visited for more one on one contact and networking opportunities. New ideas for business improvement sprung up throughout the evening.
Special Thanks To Our Panelists:
- Shannon Dolan of EventWorks, Inc - Topic: 3D Holographic Display Technology
- Andy Halko of Insivia - Topic: Augmented Reality
- Zane Gloer of Aable Rents - Topic: CAD Design
- Aaron Lucas of Quez Media - Topic: QR Codes
- Matt Radicelli of Rock The House Entertainment - Photo Repository
- Nick Borelli of Rock The House Entertainment - Topic: Social Media Roadmap
- Steve Tanruther of Rock The House Entertainment - Topic: HTML-Based Office Hub
- Jessica Smith of Rock The House Entertainment - Topic: Basecamp: Increase Productivity, Accountability & Save Time
- Rita Singh of Miraj International - Topic: E-Mail Direct Marketing
If you are interested in joining the premiere Cleveland Event Industry group, check out www.isescleveland.com for more information.
Nov
10
2011
Please enjoy the photos in the gallery, below and the podcast of the Jewish Wedding Trends Event!
Thank you to our presenters:
Rabbi Steven Denker and Renee Higer, Executive Director, Temple Emanu El
Eileen Benson from Bridal Consulting by Eileen
and to our sponsors:
Platinum:
Lighting and Sound Design by Something New Entertainment
Learn more about Something New Entertainment in their Platinum Sponsor Spotlight.
Specialty Linens by L’Nique Specialty Linen Rental
Learn more about L’Nique in their Platinum Sponsor Spotlight.
Gold:
Specialty Seating Design by Be Seated Chair Rental
Learn more about Be Seated in their Gold Sponsor Spotlight.
Silver:
Floral Decor and Chuppah Design by Breathtakers Event Planners and Decorators
Podcast by Rock the House
Hosted at Temple Emanu El
Hightop Tables by Everything Tented
Other:
Photos by Digital Photography by Dale
Food provided by Around DownTown Catering
Jan
26
2011
Food by Duet Catering
Earlier this month, ISES Cleveland Members and guests spent another productive lunch enjoying beautiful and delicious food provided by newly-inducted ISES Cleveland member Pamela Waterman and Duet Catering, as well as a thought-provoking presentation by local ActionCoach Wayne Bergman learning about how a great group of “raving fans” can catapult your business to new heights, why you should spend time cultivating your own garden of “raving fans,” and what steps you as a business owner can take to make your happy clients want to spread the word about your business.
- ActionCoach Wayne Bergman
The event was hosted by Scott Pickel and Everything Tented, who set up a tent within their warehouse to allow us all to enjoy the tent experience, despite the cold weather. Sound services were provided by Matt Radicelli and Rock the House Entertainment Group. Linens and tableware were provided by Event Source.
Hosted by Everything Tented
Thanks to everyone who participated!
Sep
06
2010Click to view the entire Meet the Board or Member Spotlight Series.
Matt Radicelli, Founder and Owner of Rock The House Entertainment Group, has more than 15 years of experience in the special events industry and leads his team of more than 50 employees with passion and forward-thinking vision. Matt works hard, enjoys a challenge, and loves making something out of nothing.
Matt has been the CEO of Rock The House for 10 years and has systematically grown outward and upward with the addition of emerging new divisions such as Live Entertainment, Lighting, Digital Décor, Audio/Visual & Staging, Photo Novelties, and Multimedia.
Matt has been recognized both personally and professionally as a leader & trendsetter; accolades include Matt being named as one of Crain’s Magazine’s “20 in their 20’s”, as well as being awarded the “Flame of Inspiration” award in 2010. His company, Rock The House, was named CBC Magazine’s Connectors Choice “Entertainment Company of the Year” and “Best Video & Staging Company of the Year”, and Smart Business Magazine’s “World Class Customer Service Award”
Matt Radicelli holds a self-proclaimed Master’s Degree from The School of Hard-Knocks.
Aug
14
2010International Special Events Society Cleveland (ISES Cleveland) members and friends were the guests of the Cleveland Airport Marriott this past Tuesday evening for a delicious presentation of some of the hotel’s new posh eats from the on-site restaurant and lounge, AMP 150.
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Executive Chef Ellis Cooley photo by Anna-Jeannine Herman
Over the course of the hour, guests enjoyed a small sampling of the restaurant’s fresh fare (including sliced heirloom tomatoes with aioli on toast, sweet beet salad with goat cheese, sausage stuffed peppers skewered with tomatoes, corn pudding with scallops and more) as Executive Chef Ellis Cooley discussed the restaurant’s efforts to support the garden to table movement – not only by buying local as much as possible, but by actually growing vegetables in an impressively-sizeable garden right on-site at the hotel.
This past season, Chef Cooley oversaw the clearing of a large strip of overgrown weeds, brush, and grasses along the back of the Cleveland Airport Marriott’s parking lot. He replaced the useless vegetation with 40 cubic yards of topsoil (that translates to about 4 dump trucks full) and then started planting!
Though he deliberately chose plants well-suited to the area’s climate, he was unprepared for the success of the first year’s crop; nearly every seed planted has produced a plant, and the once-weedy patch is now overflowing with corn, squash, fennel, several types of peppers from mild to unbearably spicy, tomatoes, and more. The kitchen has its hands full with the habanero crop, and there is no shortage of fresh vegetables.
In addition to the restaurant’s efforts to grow their own vegetables, strong consideration is given to local farmers over larger suppliers. Whenever possible, Chef Cooley chooses to keep it simple, fresh and local.
The swearing in of the new board by Chapter President Matt Radicelli. Photo by Anna-Jeannine Herman
After a tour of the gardens, Chapter President Matt Radicelli (Founder, Rock the House Entertainment Group, Inc.) swore in the new year’s board members, including President-Elect Deb Hermann (Chairbabe/CEO, Ghostlight Productions), Vice President of Membership, Scott Pickel (Owner, Everything Tented), Vice President of Education and Programs, Rachael Fuller (Special Event Coordinator Cleveland Zoological Society), Vice President of Communications Laura Cahill (Coordinator, Community and Media Relations Lake Health), and Directors Jim Lottig (Senior Account Representative, Event Source), Candice Lopez (Conference Services, Kalahari Resort), Katrina Marshall (Special Events and Communications Coordinator, Cleveland Food Bank), Barbara Felt (Business Development Representative, Positively Cleveland), and our hostess Mary Frances Ody (Senior Event Manager, Cleveland Airport Marriott).
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Other attendees included Jennifer Thomas (100th Bomb Group Restaurant & Banquet Facility), Aable Rents Director of Business Development Zane Gloer, Facility Rental Associate Brian Hurtt along with Julie Anderson and Paula Coakley from the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Catering Sales Manager Shannon Harris, Jeff Alley, Renee Domaratz, and Bob Megazzini from the Cleveland Marriott at Key Center, COSE (Council of Smaller Enterprises) Event Manager Heather Dodosh and Katie Stevenson, Bob Javorsky (Rentals Event Sales Lasting Impressions Events), Brenda Kucinski (Event Director, Artistic Events by Catan Fashions), Disc Jockey/Designer Anna-Jeannine Herman and Justin Herman of Something New Entertainment, and of course the rest of the team from the Cleveland Airport Marriott, including Catering Sales Manager Michelle Hodous, Sales Coordinator Heather Double, and Sonja Scully.
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With his simple, straightforward and ingredient driven culinary style, Ellis Cooley combines a lifelong passion for cooking and over ten years spent working in some of the world’s top kitchens under many celebrated chefs. Ellis started his career in Atlanta, his hometown, but quickly found the desire to travel and work under a wider variety of top chefs. His journeys took him through South Florida, Spain, France and Austria before settling down in NYC. Once in New York, his culinary prowess was recognized and he was selected to open the ultra modern Hotel on Rivington on Manhattan’s lower east side. After a very successful opening, Ellis focused on larger properties and landed himself the job of restaurant chef at the New York Palace hotel in midtown Manhattan. After his time in New York, and with his sights set on warmer climates, he sold his winter coats and moved to Miami where he did consulting work for private condominiums.
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When the opportunity presented itself to move to Cleveland and open a farm to table restaurant he jumped at it…and bought back those old winter coats. “What better place than Cleveland to work alongside so many up and coming chefs and be surrounded by farms.” Ellis is excited to be in a city with such heart and love of good food along with having such a diverse and engaged population. He truly believes there is no better food scene in the country than right here in Cleveland.“I love to show our guests the variety of wonderful dishes we can make for them through our tasting menus. I get really excited when the wait staff brings back an order for them! I like to go out and introduce myself to the table and find out a little bit about what they’re interested in. Then I go back to the kitchen and put together a dining experience they won’t forget!”
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-Chef Ellis Cooley
-Chef Ellis Cooley
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