Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick Farewell Dinner & Reception
Client: Howard University
Date: June 8, 2023
Venue: Ritz Carlton Ballroom & Pre-Function
Event Challenge: Producing a large scale reception reflecting the legacy of Howard University’s President in less than a month
After dedicating nearly ten years of service, Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick made a decision to retire as President of Howard University. This left Howard with a daunting task: finding a way to honor Dr. Frederick’s lengthy tenure and dedication to the university in just one single night. That's where the Stratus team came in.
From the day of our kickoff meeting to the reception date, we had less than one month to plan, create, and produce an experience to honor an exceptional individual. We were honored to be asked to partner with Howard to send Dr. Frederick off with a touching reception but, with a tight turnaround, we knew it would be no easy feat. Like many of our partners, Howard entrusted Stratus to produce an event that would highlight the impact he’s had in an elevated way.
Our team began the planning process by finding out the Howard team’s goals and priorities in an effort to quickly ascertain the measure of success. This can be difficult when multiple Stakeholders have conflicting priorities, but an expert Producer knows how to perfectly juggle the needs of many different groups. The key to producing the perfect event lies in realizing what the client is not saying rather than what they are saying.
As a team, we were able to figure out the client’s exact needs in order to create a lasting experience. For example, our Producers took ideas from the Howard team, including the significance of the number 17 as Dr. Frederick was Howard’s 17th president, and, with the help of partners like Design Foundry, created a stage design that subtly incorporated the number without being overly flashy.
With a heavy focus on logistics, this event had to operate smoothly while utilizing an elegant yet simple design. Our team built out a production schedule, run of show, and floor plan that would create an experience that felt intimate while still welcoming hundreds of guests. However, at the last minute we had to completely update the floor plan as our guest count changed drastically from original estimates. Our team of partners including Lee's Flower, Atmosphere Lighting, Encore, Showcall, and Select Event Group, were easily able to adapt. Since we have built trusting relationships with our partners, we felt confident they could execute perfectly on site while our team managed clients, guests, and the overall production schedule.
By combining our design skills with our logistics expertise, we created a production with a flawless execution. With the help of our team, the Howard staff was able to focus on their honoree and a memorable experience rather than on the execution of the reception.
