Event Professionals Day
Join us for a full day of learning for individuals who plan and produce public events.
This year’s Event Professionals Day is on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at the Des Moines Arts Festival offices in Mainframe Studios.
NEW! Thanks to support from Catch Des Moines, we are featuring TWO amazing event professionals to speak to our group - Keli O’Neill Wenzel and Kevin Grothe.​
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Cost: FREE! Thanks to Catch Des Moines!
Event Schedule
Tuesday, December 3rd
8:30 – 9 a.m.
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9 – 10:30 a.m.
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10:45 – Noon
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Noon – 1 p.m.
1 – 2 p.m.
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2 – 2:30 p.m.
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
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3:45 – 4:15 p.m.
4:15 - 5 p.m.
Come in and get settled. It’s nice to see you.
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Event Operations Roundtable
Producing an event is expensive…let’s talk about solutions to budget challenges.
Revenue Streams Roundtable
Are you capitalizing on your different revenue streams? We’ll discuss food, beverage, merchandise, ticketing, vendors, and other creative ways to earn a dollar.
Lunch provided by Ziegler CAT
Kevin Grothe – Creating Memorable Experiences through Sponsorship
Sponsorship Roundtables
Keli O’Neill Wenzel – A Trend is a Trend…Question is, Will it Bend?
Trends Round Table
Continued conversation and Happy Hour
Sponsored By
Meet Your Speakers
​​Keli O'Neill Wenzel - A Trend is a Trend... Question is, Will it Bend?
Trends are seriously shifting how we operate and engage our audiences at festivals. Deep dive into the changes in consumption habits, socialization, music discovery, rising costs, and general activations. These latest trends are something festival producers should be seriously looking at and adjusting how we operate.​​​
​About Keli O'Neill Wenzel​
CEO and President of O'Neill Events & Marketing, Keli is the creator and orchestrator of many of Kansas City’s most successful civic, corporate and entertainment events. Keli has a true and deep understanding of the city and over twenty years of experience working around – and managing – special events and attractions, from press conferences, shows and concerts, to important political campaigns and historic celebrations. O'Neill Events & Marketing is behind many of Kansas City's signature events and festivals, including Boulevardia, Kansas City Irish Fest, the 2017 WWI Centennial Celebrations, the 2015 World Series Parade, 2020 & 2023 Chief's Superbowl parade and rally and KC Current groundbreaking and stadium partner announcement. O’Neill has expanded beyond Kansas City, assisting with events across the country including the 2021 Philadelphia Flower Show and annual Camp Leavenworth for the city of Leavenworth, Kansas. In addition to the large city-wide festivals and celebrations, O’Neill Events works with corporations such as American Century, Children’s Mercy Hospital, North Kansas City Hospital, KC Chiefs Ambassadors and the new Smokey River Development. O’Neill Events & Marketing is proud to be the puppeteer behind the curtain of some of the most exciting, influential, innovative and memorable events. In addition to her role as president and CEO of O’Neill Events & Marketing, Keli also serves on the International Festival and Events World Board and Visit KC Foundation Board.
Kevin Grothe - Creating Memorable Experiences Through Sponsorship
As a festival or event, one of your main goals is to attract attendees without breaking the bank. What if you could do both? Learn how to create memorable experiences and secure sponsors at the same. In this fun-filled session with numerous examples, you will learn how to strategically connect with your customers and sponsors to create memorable experiences that will have a lasting impact and keep both groups coming back for more.
​About Kevin Grothe​
Kevin Grothe has more than 35 years of sales, marketing and fund-raising experience in the event industry. Known for developing long-term business relationships, he has successfully increased department revenues for several event organizations and institutions of higher learning. Kevin has been with Memphis in May International Festival for 18 years and serves as the Executive Vice President. He has worked with several national accounts including Facebook, Amazon, FedEx, UPS, AutoZone, Home Depot, McCormick, YETI, and Kingsford. Through successfully negotiating and implementing a myriad of sponsorship strategies, revenue has increased from $1 million to more than $2.8 million. Kevin also served on the IFEA Foundation Board and was the Board Chair in 2020 and 2021. Having done several presentations on sponsorship and events, He is also a coach for The Sponsorship Collective. Kevin is married to Betty and has three step-sons, Dean, Nick and Chase.