Every May, it’s our pleasure to support the Lake County Partners team in hosting one of the region’s most anticipated business gatherings—The Big Event. Held once again at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, this year’s breakfast program brought together a full house of professionals from across Lake County for a morning of connection, celebration, and forward-looking insights.
We arrived onsite bright and early to set the stage for another smooth, high-impact program. As always, we worked closely with the Lake County Partners team to manage the many behind-the-scenes details, from signage and speaker prep to room transitions and guest flow. Even at 7:00am, the energy was already building (despite the thunderstorm they had to escape upon arrival) as guests filled the space with the buzz of conversation over coffee, accompanied by the elegant strings of Midwest Young Artists.
Soon attendees were invited into the Grand Marquee Pavilion where a fresh breakfast by the Lincolnshire Marriott team awaited. The program kicked off with remarks from Lake County Partners President Kevin Considine, followed by a series of meaningful acknowledgments. Outgoing Chair Steve Madden honored this year’s Community Investment Award recipients, Fischer Paper and Gina Schuyler, both of whom shared brief but heartfelt reflections on their work and commitment to the region.
Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart then took the stage with her signature enthusiasm, offering thoughtful remarks on the county’s continued growth and opportunity. She introduced Rajeev Kapur—the keynote speaker. As a CEO, entrepreneur, and author of AI Made Simple, his presentation struck just the right balance between humor and insight, drawing on his leadership experience in the tech and innovation sectors to challenge attendees to think boldly about the future of AI in their work.
As the program came to a close, Kevin Considine returned to thank the crowd and invite guests across the hall for the final treat of the morning: a casual book signing and sweet send-off, complete with coffee and the now-famous brownies from The Bent Fork Bakery.
Events like this aren’t possible without a top-tier team. AVP kept everything running smoothly with top-notch audio visuals and technical support, while Cobalt Photography captured the morning’s key moments. Branding and onsite visuals by a5 once again elevated the guest experience. And of course, a big thank you to our longtime client-partners at Lake County Partners—we’re grateful to have been part of The Big Event since 2016 and love watching it grow and evolve each year.