Attending the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay’s annual Gala is always a highlight for our team at The Marketing Posse, and this year was no exception. With the theme Big to the Future, we were thrilled to take on a larger role in this year’s event. We dove into planning bringing this event to life. And what a night it was!

Our CEO, Danielle Vona, has been on the board of BBBS since 2014, so this partnership holds a special place in our hearts. We’ve been working hand in hand with the incredible Amy Hollington, VP of Development of BBBS Tampa Bay, for months. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how it all came together.

The Preparation

Caren, our Marketing Conductor, took the lead on the Gala planning project. Weekly planning meetings with Danielle, Kari, Caren, and Amy kept us on track and ensured that no detail was overlooked.

Everything started with the theme—Big to the Future—inspired by the beloved Back to the Future movie. Our Creative Posse lead, Kenyon, created the Gala logo, tying the entire event’s branding together with the rest of the BBBS event series branding.

One of the evening’s most touching moments was when we played the “mission moment” video, where we highlighted the real impact of BBBS. In August, we coordinated a video shoot with Brandon Ransbottom and Chris Wolf leading the filming. Thanks to Tracey, TMP’s Administrative Guru, for helping us secure a great location for the shoot. The final video captured an example of BBBS mentorship through generations of one family, and really moved the audience.

Caren was able to connect with the one and only, Lea Thompson, one of the stars of Back to the Future! Lea was excited to be part of the program and recorded a video for the program. Her message was a fun and nostalgic touch, perfectly connecting the event’s theme to an iconic figure from the film.

Our intern, Alisson, worked alongside Danielle and Kenyon to help put together a visually engaging PowerPoint for the evening’s program.

Meagan, Marketing Maven, and Kaylee, Social Media Architect, collaborated to ensure we had the perfect shot list for photos and videos, ensuring that every key moment would be captured.

The Big Day

Event day arrived, and while the Gala officially kicked off at 6 PM, Caren was on-site bright and early at 8 AM to oversee every single detail. From setup to vendor coordination, Caren made sure everything was running smoothly so the event would be flawless when doors opened. She was Amy’s right-hand woman, and they made an exceptional team.

In the meantime, Danielle took the lead in coordinating and running the show rehearsal on-site. She made sure every element of the program was seamless, from the run-throughs to final technical checks. Thanks to her coordination, the night flowed perfectly from start to finish.

As the Gala unfolded, Kaylee was on-site capturing and posting live updates across both The Marketing Posse’s and BBBS social media channels. Real-time engagement allowed those at home to feel a part of the action while keeping the excitement alive for those attending.

Post-Event 

Once the Gala wrapped up, our team jumped into action, editing photos and videos to ensure the post-event visuals were polished and ready to share. Our keen eye for detail brought out the best moments from the night, showcasing all the work that went into making it a success.

A Huge Thank You

We couldn’t have pulled off this event without the help of some amazing vendors. Special thanks to:

• Tacy Briggs-Troncoso Photography, for capturing stunning images throughout the evening.
• Christi’s team at Windsor Event Studio for planning the event without a hitch. You can check out more of their work at Winsor Event Studio.
• Good Food Events + Catering, whose delicious spread had guests raving all night.
• Armature Works in Tampa, who had the perfect venue to host such an incredible event.

Reflecting on an Amazing Experience

Every member of our team played a part in making this Gala unforgettable. From the planning stages to live event coverage and post-production, it was a true team effort. We’re incredibly proud to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay and are already looking forward to what we can do together next.

If you need event support, creative content, or marketing expertise, The Marketing Posse is here to help. Let’s make your next event as memorable as this one!