Reflections and Looking  Ahead to 2023 with AV Chicago 

During this time of reflection and planning, we thought it would be the perfect time for our staff to share what they learned over the past year and what they are looking forward to in 2023. 

 

What have been your biggest takeaways or lessons from 2022?

Surround yourself with people that are smarter than you, lift you up, and push you to be better. Set goals. They might be big and scary but set them. We had a significant organizational plan and adjusted it down, and we hit our original plan. Believe in yourself and your team. And don’t forget to try new things and not be afraid to fail forward. – Amanda Eberle Boyer, General Manager 

There is still a massive labor shortage in the [events] industry, and thinking outside the box is the best way to find prospective clients and new hires. – Mel Baglio, Director of Operations 

Providing flexibility in the workplace is essential and gives team members a sense of worth and belonging. I say this because the last handful of new team members was very surprised at just how flexible AV Chicago was. There was no begging, making compromises or anything that seemed like the norm for other companies. This goes for taking PTO as well – one of the biggest questions I received when hiring and recruiting was, is PTO offered and can it be used? With all that in mind, taking a self-care day is essential. After what seemed like a very exhausting year, it’s ok to let go and take care of yourself. You can’t be the best version of yourself to your team or to anyone if you are not taking care of yourself. – Anne Celino, Director of Business Services 

My biggest takeaway is that we’ve seen a rather steep fall off of strictly virtual events and a massive increase in in-person events. However, the interest in incorporating hybrid elements remains very high. Many companies are encouraging in-person meetings, which is what people genuinely prefer. However, engaging virtual attendees for those who cannot travel remains a priority for companies and organizations. – Ketih Daggett, Account Manager 

 

What are you looking forward to or excited about in 2023? 

As the fear of a recession looms, I think production and live events companies are taking a conservative approach to 2023. While most event companies have gained market share since the pandemic, finding labor resources have been the real challenge. I’m looking forward to the pool of labor gaining strength as pay increases for an industry that has been historically underpaid for how technical and high-pressure it is. – Ketih Daggett, Account Manager

Our team! We continue to grow, and with that, we get even better. New perspectives and experiences bring new ideas and I can’t wait to see what we do. I’m also looking forward to all of the latest technology, gear, and fleet of vehicles that we will be using in 2023. We are investing in the right places to keep moving forward and supporting our clients. – Amanda Eberle Boyer, General Manager

We have a fully staffed leadership team for the first time! Excited to see all of the leadership work together to take AV Chicago to the next level and grow our team. I’m also looking forward to visiting new places in 2023. We just were in Boston and New Orleans, all within a 2-week space this past month, and I can’t wait to see where our work takes us next! – Anne Celino, Director of Business Services 

I am looking forward to everything in 2023! Sounds broad, but I am excited about everything that is coming. I am looking forward to new ventures, goals, and opportunities. – Mel Baglio, Director of Operations

 

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