As 2025 comes to a close, I wanted to pause and reflect on the year behind us. Not just the number of events delivered, but what those rooms, conversations, and outcomes represented.
This year was about showing up with intention. Designing experiences that respected people’s time, raised the bar operationally, and created real connection between industry, community, and leadership.
What We Built Together
Across 2025, I had the privilege of leading and supporting events across manufacturing, workforce development, fitness, community building, and leadership. All of this work was done in partnership with organizations that care deeply about getting it right. While each event looked different on the surface, they shared a common thread: clarity of purpose and care in execution.
Some highlights from the year included:
Workforce & Industry Events
Much of 2025 was anchored in workforce development and industry‑led programming across Ontario and beyond. This included large‑scale student and employer events with Build a Dream, regional industry and workforce conversations with Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), and education‑focused programming delivered in partnership with school boards, colleges, manufacturers, and community partners. These events brought together thousands of students, educators, employers, and policymakers. Delivering them well required precision planning, strong governance, and constant attention to safety, flow, and experience at scale.
Leadership & Community‑Driven Gatherings
Alongside large programs, 2025 also included more intimate leadership and community‑driven gatherings. From Women’s leadership initiatives with Archive Events to community fundraisers for CAMH and resident‑led initiatives, this work supported organizations and associations as they navigated growth, change, and accountability. These rooms were smaller, but expectations were high. Clarity of purpose, thoughtful agendas, and trust mattered most.
Sport, Fitness & Culture
In parallel, I continued to support and produce sport and fitness-driven events with partners across the functional fitness community, including Element Fitness, Toronto Fitness Festival, and related event properties. In 2025, this also included supporting work connected to the Invictus Games, where precision, dignity, and respect for participants are non-negotiable. These projects reinforced a core belief: excellence in sport and excellence in event operations are built the same way through preparation, discipline, and respect for the people in the arena. The pride, energy, and community ownership in these events made them especially meaningful.
The Work Behind the Scenes
What doesn’t always show up in a highlight photo or a LinkedIn post is the work it takes to make an event feel effortless.
That work includes aligning dozens of stakeholders around a single objective, making hard calls early to avoid harder ones onsite, building systems that let teams focus on people rather than problems, and protecting the attendee experience even when constraints are real.
This year also marked an important internal milestone: the welcome of Justina Kim as a full-time member of the team. Investing in dedicated, thoughtful leadership enabled us to raise the bar operationally, strengthen project continuity, and better support clients in real time.
2025 reinforced that strong events are rarely about doing more. They are about doing the right things well.
Gratitude
To the clients, partners, venues, vendors, volunteers, and internal teams who trusted us with their events this year, thank you. Your openness, collaboration, and willingness to aim higher made the work better and the outcomes stronger. Special thanks to Maggie Wong, Dominic Chan, Monica Frischkorn and the community at Verity for their work and support on many of this year’s initiatives.
And to those who brought us in quietly, behind the scenes, to stabilize, support, or guide — that trust is never taken lightly.
Looking Ahead
As I head into 2026, the focus remains the same:
Design events that work. Respect the people in the room. Say the hard things early. Deliver with integrity.
If 2025 was about momentum, 2026 will be about refinement.
If you’re planning for 2026 and looking for a steady, experienced hand to design, stabilize, or elevate your event work — I’m always open to a conversation.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
