Event Production
Ten years of designing impactful, exciting and professional events for stakeholders and community members alike.
Featured Projects
Orchard Village Groundbreaking & Presser
CHN Housing Partners, Detroit Blight Busters, City of Detroit
Welcoming State and Local Elected Officials to Expand Affordable Housing & Honor A Legacy
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Community Engagement
Copywriting
Design
Executive Communications
Event Promotion
Event Production
Government Affairs
Vendor Management
Media Relations
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Mayoral & State Legislator Press Conference
Community Celebration and Groundbreaking
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City of Detroit’s Housing and Revitalization Department
Office of Pro Tem. City Councilman James Tate
City of Detroit Department of Neighborhoods
State of Michigan
Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis
Redfoot Vegas Productions
Orchard Village Apartments is a 48 unit affordable apartment complex in the Old Redford neighborhood of Detroit, that was co-developed by CHN Housing Partners (CHN) and Detroit Blight Busters (DBB). Primarily funded by federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), the development kicked off construction in August of 2023 by welcoming State Legislators, the Mayor of Detroit, community stakeholders our new neighbors to a groundbreaking ceremony.
As CHN’s and Detroit Blight Busters’ first affordable housing development in Detroit, the groundbreaking provided an opportunity for both of our organizations to show state and local funders - as well as our new residents - how we create a sense of home at Orchard Village.
“We are building a city where there is room for people of all incomes and I’m so proud of the work John George and his team are doing with CHN Housing Partners”
Opportunities to celebrate a new affordable housing development and home like Orchard Village Apartments are few and far between for the residents and project stakeholders. This sentiment set an expectation that our event had to be an exciting representation of what the development would become for 48 new renters.
I led all aspects of the groundbreaking event including site layout and design, rental equipment, food, run of show, signage, as well as marketing and communications with the public, project stakeholders and elected officials that would be participating in the event.
Coordination and preparation with elected officials who were coming to the ceremony was a top priority of the event. It was my responsibility to make sure that the Mayor of Detroit, three State Representatives, one State Senator and the City Council Representative knew what to expect at the event, including parking, run of show, seating arrangements, food and which media outlets would be represented at the event.
In the end, the event drew over 100 people to a celebration that honored the history of Detroit Blight Busters and the people that lived in the surrounding area. The community enjoyed lawn games, free lunch, an ice cream truck, free branded promotional items and a preview of what the development would look like in just a few short months.
Creating a Safe Space for Queer Artists, Allies and Community Orgs
The Fold Creative Space
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Event Promotion
Event Production
Fundraising
Graphic Design
Vendor Management
Community Engagement
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Clothing Swap & Fundraiser
Drink, Dance & Draw Event
Private Events
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Ruth Ellis Center
Lebanese Redhead
Swerve Breakfast
Bikes & Coffee
Peter Croce
The Fold Creative Space was a queer collective of artists that shared studio and event space to uplift small, local businesses and community based organizations. As the Event Producer, I designed original events that brought like-minded people together for education, solidarity and community.
The space consisted of two large rooms with modular furniture that could be moved around to accommodate different types of events and gatherings. We also offered to rent the space the space to community based organizations on a sliding scale - charging for-profit businesses a market rate would allow us to provide a discount rate for community organizations. Our menu of amenities and flexible event space provided the perfect space for lower budget events, fundraisers and photo or video shoots.
Over $300 raised and more than 10 large garbage bags of clothes donated to the Ruth Ellis Center, a transitional living space for queer youth.
Two of our most prominent events included a gender-affirming clothing swap that benefitted a local queer youth sanctuary and transitional home, as well as a drink, dance and draw event that showcased local DJs, food vendors and artists.
The clothing swap opened the space to shoppers who wanted a safe space to shop for clothes that fit their gender identity. After collecting clothing donations for two weeks, we kicked off the event with a coffee and breakfast burrito vendor. We asked shoppers who had three or more pieces of clothing to donate to pay a $5 cover and empty-handed shoppers to pay a $10 cover. Once inside, they would get a custom branded shopping bag that they could fill to the top for no extra cost. The event concluded with a conversation on gender-affirming care led by a representative from Ruth Ellis Center, the organization that received all clothing donations and proceeds from the event. The event raised over $300 and donated more than 10 large garbage bags of clothes to the organization.
The Drink, Dance and Draw event brought together two DJs, a Lebanese sandwich and hot sauce vendor and Atwater Brewery beverages by donation for a night of art and dancing. With doodle stations setup around the space, we encouraged folks of all creative levels to pick up a pen and put their thoughts, feelings and dreams on paper. The event paid vendors fair wages and raised funds for The Fold’s ongoing operating budget.
Gleaners Community Food Bank
Expanding Access to Fresh Food Through Community, Education & Volunteer Power
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Budget Management
Curriculum Building
Educational Instruction
Entrepreneurship
Farm Management
Network Building
Physical Labor
Volunteer Management
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½ Acre Production & Teaching Garden
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Over 400 volunteers over two seasons.
The Victory Garden is a half acre production garden created to bring fresh locally grown produce to the most food insecure residents of Livingston County. Operated by Gleaners Community Food Bank, the garden supplies vegetables to the Livingston food pantry and five satellite food carts across the county. It is both a food access resource and a community gathering place where people come together to learn, volunteer, and connect.
As Program Manager for two growing seasons, I oversaw the garden’s full operations while also producing a wide range of community events and volunteer experiences. This role combined land stewardship with event planning, program development, youth education and partnership building. Each season offered new opportunities to design welcoming hands on experiences that helped residents learn about food, health and community care.
“I am a Master Gardener who volunteered for two summers at the Victory Garden under Zach’s direction. I found him to be intelligent, organized, resourceful and creative, as well as one of the hardest workers I have ever seen. No project was too daunting –he’d jump right in, learn anything he didn’t know along the way and work through to successful completion. His people skills are a particular strength. He is able to connect with all kinds of people – little children to seniors, gardening novices to experts, high school kids to corporate types— and motivate them all. He is a joy to work with.”
I led the daily operations of the garden including planning the growing season and harvesting produce that supplied Gleaners’ pantry and the five food carts throughout the county. Alongside this work I produced a steady calendar of volunteer days, community workshops, youth field trips and on site learning activities that brought the space to life.
To manage the workload on the half acre site, I recruited, trained and coordinated more than 400 volunteers over two seasons including corporate groups, youth programs, faith communities and local families. I created a structure of lead volunteers who supported event flow, helped manage groups, and ensured the garden stayed well cared for during high volume volunteer days.
I designed educational classes and field trip activities for youth and adults which turned the garden into a hands on learning environment focused on nutrition, gardening and community connection. I also built relationships with local businesses, civic leaders and community organizations to co host events and expand the garden’s reach.
Throughout the season I attended Gleaners’ Mobile Food Pantries to provide recipe demonstrations and nutrition education using produce grown in the garden. I also piloted the garden’s first small revenue stream through the Rent a Row program which invited community members to adopt a growing row and support the program while engaging directly with the garden.
By the end of each season, the Victory Garden functioned as both a productive food source and an active community hub offering residents meaningful events, outdoor learning opportunities and a welcoming place to gather.