EDF’s Annual Staff Retreat
Empire was thrilled to once again help produce the Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF) annual staff retreat, Community 2023.
The multi-day, hybrid retreat packed with keynotes, breakouts, and activities for 900+ in person staff members from over 10 countries worldwide was hosted at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, and online for remote participants.
Highlights included the Welcome Reception and EDF Expo on Day 1; welcome remarks from Mohegan Tribal Elder Beth Regan; a Community Chat and Q&A with EDF President Fred Krupp and Executive Director Amanda Leland; keynotes with CNN’s Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir and Comedic Thought Leader Michael Jr.; the EDF Staff Awards Ceremony; karaoke; a dance party with DJ Ian Ali; and Wellness Fair featuring yoga, biometric screenings, and much more.
Empire’s scope of work included overall project management, consulting on run of show development and technical production, speaker advancement, stage scenic design, environmental wayfinding design, screen content design and animations, Cvent website/app design, stage management, and overall logistics.
Empire is proud to have worked with EDF to deliver a very memorable staff retreat.
Photo credit: Terrence Irving Photography
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
