Our Work

Following the immensely successful launch events and 12-city U.S. tour for Dartmouth College’s $3 billion capital campaign, The Call to Lead, Dartmouth’s leadership and Board of Trustees once again engaged Empire as their creative and production partner to take Dartmouth’s message worldwide with a series of Global Summits.

Alumni, family, and friends from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), gathered for Dartmouth’s first-ever Global Summit in London–a platform on which to claim Dartmouth’s pride of place in the global higher education landscape through increased brand awareness and institutional competitiveness, fostered by a highly enthusiastic, highly supportive international communities, including undergraduate alumni, graduate alumni, and parents.​

The Global Summit weekend included three distinct events filled with learning, fun, and inspiration to celebrate Dartmouth’s 250th anniversary. Friday’s Welcome Reception showed that the “Big Green” had arrived in London. Held at The Shard, London’s tallest tower, the venue offered guests 360° views of the city and the iconic London landmarks, The Tower of London and the London Eye, which were lit in green light for the evening. At The Shard, guest enjoyed networking, cocktails, and rekindled connections to Dartmouth’s five schools.

Saturday morning’s programming sessions brought guests “back-to-class” at the Institute of Technology & Engineering (IET Savoy) and fully immersed them in Dartmouth’s bold strategy and vision for its big bets on discovery. The lunch networking hour featured hosted table conversations and allowed for participatory engagement by all in attendance. Gail’s Bakery, owned by a recognized Dartmouth alumus, provided guests the opportunity to taste the best that London has to offer with a local connection to their alma mater.

The crowning jewel of the weekend was a spectacular celebration in one of London’s most historic venues, Guild Hall, that fused Dartmouth’s rich history with forward-looking plans for its next 250 years. Students and faculty shared stories of collaboration that have led to world-changing impact spanning disciplines, generations, and geographies. The evening included a surprise musical performance by the Dartmouth Idols paired with acapella group Anuna performing a 900 year-old Irish vocal tradition. The evening included stunning announcements of substantial support and donations by many generous alumni.

Between stage segments, meals were served with precision timing as guests were treated to a visual extravaganza of high resolution footage and imagery of the Dartmouth campus through the seasons.  

The evening culminated with Laurel Richie, Board of Trustees Chair, recapping Dartmouth’s strategic priorities and energizing the crowd to act and answer The Call to Lead. At the conclusion of Richie’s remarks, guests moved into the afterparty, where  Dartmouth’s Baker Tower, recreated with its spire glowing green, served as the centerpiece of the space. This striking scenic piece was surrounded by a variety of themed activities including a London phone box (recreated in green) and other social media activations.

Empire worked closely with several Dartmouth departments and teams, as well as faculty, students, and volunteers, to plan and execute the first of these international events. Empire’s roles included concept and program development, venue acquisition, budgeting, registration, scripting, screen content production, technical production, catering, permitting, security, scenic, décor, staffing, and guest logistics and experience.  

Empire is a leading international producer of high-level events, both on and off campus, for many of the world’s leading educational institutions.

For more information on Dartmouth’s Campaign, visit https://calltolead.dartmouth.edu/about/dartmouth-250-global-summit

VIDEO CREDIT: Dartmouth MPG Team

The inaugural New York City VenuesNow Conference was held at the Conrad Hotel downtown for over 600 attendees. Oak View Group’s Media & Conferences division annually hosts the conference which provides a forum for leaders in the live entertainment industry to discuss important trends and topics appearing in the VenuesNow magazine published by OVG. After two years in Los Angeles, the flagship event has moved to New York City.

The first day of the VenuesNow Conference took place in the Gallery Ballroom and featured opening remarks by OVG Founders, Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff. Soon after, the all-star lineup of speakers would discuss key topics from Capital Ideas to Esports. James Dolan sat down with Irving Azoff to discuss business and MSG Co. and the program included panel discussions featuring NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert, and MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

Other notable speakers included Executive Vice President of MSG Live, Darren Pfeffer, President of San Francisco 49ers and Co-Managing Partner of Elevate Sports Ventures, Al Guido, Director of Strategy for AT&T, Dave Macdonald, and many more. The first day of conferences concluded with another opening night cocktail reception in the Gallery Prefunction space and Northeast Gallery featuring DJ Monopoli.

The final day of the conference took place on 9/11, 18 years after the devastating tragedy. A beautiful floral installation honored those affected by the events on 9/11 with a graphic wall featuring silhouettes of the twin towers built out using white roses.

The opening topic, “Never Forget: How Sept. 11, 2001 Forever Changed Public Assembly,” featured a highly qualified panel of safety experts who discussed exactly how public safety in this business has changed post-9/11. Light discussions followed throughout the final day and attendees were encouraged to take roses provided to the 9/11 Memorial, just a short walk from the venue.

The VenuesNow Conference connects leaders, influencers, and visionaries in a variety of discussions and networking opportunities, highlighting comprehensive topics and the future of the industry. Empire was proud to serve as the overall producer for this event.​

Co-founded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Project Everyone, the Goalkeepers event takes place during the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York City and brings together Heads of State and international Sustainable Development Goals “Goalkeepers” (those spearheading various missions in their local communities). Among other themes, this year’s Goalkeepers focused on the challenge of fighting global inequality.

Kicking off the two-day event, the 2019 Goalkeepers GlobalGoals Awards were presented at the Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The Awards program opened with an energetic dance number by “This is America” choreographer, Sherrie Silver, performed by a group of young dancers synchronized to original screen content.

Host Tumelo Mothotoane kept the program flowing as global change-makers were honored for their work. Award winners included African Union Youth Envoy, Aya Chebbi; Child Rights advocate, Payal Jangid; mPharma Founder, Gregory Rockson; and Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who was honored for his progressive sanitation work in India.

Award presenters included Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, and Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund, Henrietta Fore. Simultaneous translation was utilized to translate between Hindi and English to ensure the audience could enjoy the entire program.

After the Goalkeepers Awards program, guests entered the Atrium space overlooking Central Park to enjoy cocktails and custom food bars. Guests interacted with custom activations including an art installation made of over 75,000 bottle tops, collected and painted by women in Salvador, Brazil, and an impressive 68’-long custom mirror wall, encouraging social sharing by the guests to spread the word about their favorite goals.

The next morning, over 400 guests were welcomed back to the main Goalkeepers event by a stunning multimedia vocal performance by Ogi Ifediora, performing to looped tracks of herself and screen content by renowned TreatmentStudios. Once inside the Appel Room, programming began with keynote remarks by New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Arden, and Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, followed by a seated conversation with both Prime Ministers along with Bill & Melinda Gates.

Throughout the day, other speakers delivered impactful messages, including Stanford Professor and bias expert, Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt, Lydia Murithi, Dr. Joia Crear Perry (all in conversation with Melinda Gates discussing bias), Aliko Dangote and Zouera Youssoufou (in conversation with Bill Gates discussing ways to change the odds instead of evening the odds for today’s less fortunate, especially children), as well as Richard Curtis, who spoke regarding the 2020 call to action.

Session moderators included Journalist and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, James Chau (Bill Gates’s session), and British journalist and broadcaster, Tulip Mazumdar (Melinda Gates’s session).

Providing even more of an audience reach this year, a segment of the program was filmed for the BBC World Debate. Moderated by Zeinab Bedawi, this segment featured Mo Ibrahim, Sigrid Kaag, Kay James, and John Fugelsang, who discussed inequality throughout the world. This segment was broadcast the following weekend on BBC.

Between and after content sessions and as breakfast, coffee breaks, and lunch were enjoyed, guests were invited to experience activations in the Atrium including the “Goalkeeper’s Library”, where the titles from the Goalkeepers community were available for the guests to take. In addition to the Library, guests were able to select a #togetherband, allowing them to showcase their favorite goal in a fashionable way.

Empire was proud to work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Project Everyone, and many other partners to present Goalkeepers 2019.

To learn more about the Goalkeepers event, please visit: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/goalkeepers/

Additional information about the Sustainable DevelopmentGoals can be found here: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300

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Empire was honored to serve once again as Samsung’s producer of the 18th annual Samsung Gives Charity Gala, which raises funds for a variety of social and charitable programs focused on helping youth build brighter futures. This year’s Gala took place in the Hammerstein & Grand Ballrooms of the Manhattan Center in New York City.

Upon arrival, guests entered the foyer, which had been transformed into an elegant registration space with deep blue drapes and chandeliers adorned with twinkling lights, crystals, and flowers hanging to the floor, along with a moving digital step & repeat of charity logos, utilizing Samsung’s new product, “The Wall.”  Guests then proceeded to the Promenade in the Hammerstein Ballroom and upstairs to the Grand Ballroom to enjoy cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres, surrounded by large-scale floral installations.  

After cocktails, guests made their way into the historic Hammerstein Ballroom, which was transformed into a scintillating banquet hall. An attention-grabbing LED set design showcased animated content and logos of Samsung’s donors and charity partners. Throughout the event, the LED panels were used for to provide visual complement to each musical performance.

The evening’s program included live “Voice of God” announcements by celebrities DJ Irie, Jessie Decker, and Mark Messier; a lively opening performance by DJ Irie, Wyclef Jean, and The Young People’s Chorus of NYC (under the direction of Francisco Nunez); special guests Ryan Seacrest and Mark Consuelos; and remarks by Good+Foundation Founder & President, Jessica Seinfeld, and Eric LeGrand among others. From Samsung, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics America, Joe Stinziano, and President & CEO of Samsung Electronics North America, YH Eom, both addressed the audience. This year’s “Champion of Hope” award was presented to NBA Champion and philanthropist Dwayne Wade by his sister, Tragil Wade. The evening also featured a mid-show performance by Portugal. The Man who played their hits, “Feel it Still,” and “Live in the Moment.”

The evening’s finale was a performance by legendary hip hop group, The Roots, who delivered a non-stop high-energy set that featured a surprise performance by Ciara who, along with her dancers, had the entire crowd on their feet through her hits including, “Goodies,”“Tootsie Roll,” “1, 2 Step, and "Level Up.“

The Samsung Gives Charity Gala raised more than $2.4 million for its Charity Partners, who included The Ryan Seacrest Foundation; Good+Foundation; The Irie Foundation; Boomer Esiason Foundation; CAPA Foundation; The Eric and Jessie Decker Foundation; Farm Team; Joyful Heart Foundation; Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City; New York City Ballet; New York Public Library; New Victory Theater; Team LeGrand; The Mark Messier Foundation; Victor Cruz Foundation; Why Not You Foundation; Young People's Chorus of New York City; and The Wade Family Foundation. Each charity was represented by a celebrity in the audience, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Ali Wentworth, Mariska Hargitay, Peter Herman, Yolanda Hadid, Ali Wentworth, and more.

For the 5^th year, Empire was proud to work closely with the Samsung team to design and deliver an incredibly memorable evening benefitting these worthy causes.

For more information onSamsung’s charitable initiatives, please visit https://www.samsung.com/us/careers/giving-back/

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Expanding the #CreatorUnite conversation—“unifying the powers of sports”—adidas Japan, the New Zealand National Rugby Association, and Empire launched the “CreatorsUnite Art Exhibition”.

With the theme “ALL BLACKS” (New Zealand Men’s Rugby Union), famed Japanese artist, Noritake Kinashi, including 17 other Japanese creators from various fields of modern art, illustration, calligraphy, and graffiti created artwork that unites athletes and creators.

Each art piece was released online from September 14th, and was displayed in the adidas store in Shibuya Japan.

Empire created and managed the exhibit, handling the media kick-off and fan event, producing yet another successful event with Adidas Japan.

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Bustle Digital Group held their 2^nd Annual Rule Breakers event in Brooklyn, featuring performances by Lizzo, Betty Who, Jessie Jo Stark, Abir, and more. Empire produced the main stage and other elements at the all-day immersive festival, designed to celebrate women who push boundaries, ignore convention—and of course, break rules—to further women’s rights.

The day began with attendees engaging in a 45-minute meditation session and then moved on to roller skating in the rink that's part of the LeFrak Center in Prospect Park. DJ’s Natasha Diggs and Rashida spun the tunes that kept the guests dancing and the festival vibe building.

The audience was then treated to a surprise show by Brooklyn United, a marching band comprised of fifty or so boys and girls ranging in age from 6–17.  The troupe marched into the audience which quickly made space for them in front of the stage where the kids wowed spectators with their high-energy musicianship and dancing.

The first headline performances of the day came from Abir and Jessie Jo Stark, both of whom delivered fantastic shows. The buzz built as Betty Who took the stage later in the day, with the 6’ 2” singer bringing tremendous charisma to her performance of hits such as “Mama Say” and “Somebody Loves You”.

After Betty Who’s performance ended, the 6,000+ crowd was clearly buzzing and moving closer to the stage for the headline performance of Lizzo, which came just minutes after a rousing speech about women’s rights by politician Stacey Abrams. Lizzo took the stage to a roar from the crowd which she wowed with her sense of humor, incredible vocals, choreography (along with her “Big Girl Dancers”), and her messages of love and acceptance. Songs like “Truth Hurts”, “Juice”, “Good As Hell” and more had the audience singing along to every word and dancing under a perfect sunset in Prospect Park.

Lizzo’s concert ended at 9PM, at which point Empire had 15 hours to flip the venue to be ready for doors for the client’s Camp Romper event starting at noon the following day. The Camp Romper event was a family-friendly program, highlighted by performances by Rock & Roll Playhouse, an organization which prides itself on providing kids and parents a place to inspire creativity through music across the country. And they certainly did so for the many families who came out to the Camp Romper event. The families enjoyed the fun music and activities that the bands provided, along with activations scattered throughout the event space where the kids could have their faces painted, watch bubble artistry, and much more.

Empire provided the staging, audio, and lighting for the main stage and also coordinated and managed other various entertainment elements throughout both days. We are proud to produce some of the most exciting consumer-facing events on the planet, including the Bustle Rule Breakers and Camp Romper events.

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One of the world’s leading automotive companies tasked Empire with securing two fantastic nights of concert entertainment for their Dealer Meeting in Chicago, and Empire delivered with Train and Imagine Dragons.

On the first night, the 2,400 auto dealers and their spouses got to see firsthand why Train is one of the best bands available for corporate events. Lead singer Pat Monahan always works the crowd with his incredible vocals, great songs, and sense of humor. When the band wasn’t performing their own smash hits, like the Grammy-winning “Drops Of Jupiter” and “Hey Soul Sister”, they delivered widely-known cover songs like “Under Pressure” and “Reeling In The Years”. And as usual, Pat invited attendees to join him onstage to help sing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” which is always a highlight of Train’s shows.

Word among the guests was that the Train performance would be difficult to top. But Imagine Dragons hit the stage on night two, and from the opening notes of their blockbuster “Believer”, it was obvious the crowd was in for another great night. Between hits like “Demons”, “Thunder”, and “On Top Of the World”, lead singer Dan Reynolds spoke about the importance of equality, loving yourself for who you are, and the urgency of getting therapy for young people suffering from depression. And when the band closed the show with their #1 smash “Radioactive”, punctuated with pyrotechnics, confetti cannons, and streamers, it was an over-the-top ending for two incredible evenings.

Empire has been securing headline entertainment for special events since 1993. From classic artists such as Elton John and Stevie Wonder, to the hitmakers of today like Train and Imagine Dragons, we are honored to provide the best in musical and comedic entertainment for our clients worldwide.​

Creating meaningful connections between Uber Eats and its partners was a common theme throughout the recently-held Future of Food Summit in Hong Kong as the company continues to invest in Asia Pacific where consumers order more Uber Eats than any other geography in the world!

Empire Japan x Pico TBA were proud to produce this two-day summit, partnering with Uber Eats Global Creative team, which hosted around 300 industry and opinion leaders from Asia Pacific as well as notable F&B figures from around the region including Coca-Cola, Cafe Coffee Day, Burger King, Baskin Robbins, Guzman y Gomez, Chai Time, and more.

The summit was kicked off by Mr. Raj Beri, Head of Uber Eats APAC who talked about the state of food on demand in Asia Pacific, followed by a fireside chat about how technology is changing the way we eat, keynotes, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. There were also various experience zones, workshops, and food drops for the attendees to enjoy.

Empire x Pico TBA was involved in the concept development, planning, venue management, production, and operations.​

Empire recently welcomed Health Catalyst, a Utah-based data analytics company, to New York City for the exciting launch of their IPO. The group was treated to an action-packed day for over 300 of their employees and guests.

After ringing the closing bell at NASDAQ, the group boarded six double decker buses for a customized tour of New York City, including a walking tour of the World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial.

The bus tour culminated at Pier 40, where guests boarded a private dinner cruise showcasing the Manhattan skyline, including a trip under the Brooklyn Bridge and a close-up viewing of the Statue of Liberty.

Empire is a leading producer of launch events, campaigns, and announcements, and is proud to support innovative ventures like Health Catalyst.

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Sometimes an event venue just screams out for a particular type of artist. Such was the case when a longtime corporate client asked Empire for a concert act to perform an outdoor, summer night amphitheater show at the San Diego Symphony. Empire suggested James Taylor as the perfect performer for the setting and the client readily agreed. Empire contracted the five time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, who has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, to perform a greatest-hits set that included mellow classics like "Fire & Rain", "You've Got A Friend", and "Sweet Baby James". His more upbeat hits such as "Your Smiling Face", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", and "Mexico" had the 1,000 plus attendees out of their seats dancing and yelling for multiple encores. With the sun setting behind the stage, and a full moon rising, there was no doubt that James Taylor was the perfect performer for the evening.

Earlier at the same conference, Empire had also secured The Honorable Newt Gingrich and Valerie Jarrett (Senior Advisor to Barack Obama) to engage in a moderated conversation about the state of the American political system. The two proved that politicians from opposite sides of the aisle can speak civilly to one another, listen to one another, and discuss real solutions to modern challenges such as immigration, the "tribal" news media, and economic disparity.

Securing keynote speakers and headline entertainers is one of the many services available to clients in Empire's overall portfolio of event production services. Empire has delivered an incredibly broad range of many of the world’s leading artists and thinkers for private events. We pride ourselves on collaborating with clients to determine the best performers and presenters based on deep understanding of attendee demographics, event budgets, client goals, and project setting.​

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J. B. Miller, President and CEO of Empire Entertainment, Inc., and Mark Poncher, President of PeakXVGlobal Events, announced the union of their two global event production agencies. After many years of collaboration, Empire and PeakXV agreed to merge in order to expand their capabilities and global footprint to best serve the mission-driven needs of existing and future clients. The combined entity will now be known simply as Empire.

Miller and Poncher have more than 60 years of live and broadcast event production experience combined, bringing clients’ brands and stories to life with lasting impact. The companies they’ve built have each become industry leaders in the design, planning, and execution of global media and experiential events worldwide.

“All of us at Empire are thrilled to welcome Mark Poncher and his team to our family,” says Miller. “From our first collaboration in 2007 on the ClintonGlobal Initiative Global Citizen Awards at Carnegie Hall, it was clear that Mark and his team were consummate professionals and extraordinary producers who share Empire’s commitment to excellence and client service. We know that combining our two stellar teams into one organization will provide all our clients in the corporate, private, government, and not-for-profit arenas with unparalleled capabilities to create and produce events that matter.”  

Poncher, now COO of the company, added, “I’m really excited, as is everyone on the PeakXV production staff, to join forces with the great team that Empire has built. Together we look forward to strengthening capabilities across the organization and expanding our West Coast team to support current and future clients.”

Empire recently marked its 25^th anniversary with another consecutive year of record growth. The New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong-based firm has executed projects in over 100 countries, including high-profile events like the TIME 100 Gala, Tribeca Film Festival, the Black Ball, and the Grand Opening of Palm Island Dubai. The union with PeakXV will contribute greatly to increasing momentum and growth. And with Poncher taking on the role of COO, Miller, long recognized as one of the event industry’s top executive producers and creative visionaries, will dedicate substantially more time to client management and creative direction.  

“Our plan is to leverage our respective strengths and prioritize three areas with great growth potential for us,” says Miller. The Empire plan calls for:

1. Increasing focus on noteworthy thought leadership programs, summits, conferences, and exhibitions of international stature and gravitas.  

Empire’s experience on projects like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeepers, Eurasia Group’s GZero Summit, and Smart Cities NYC, is now supplemented by the team behind the Clinton Global Initiative, C40 Johannesburg, Solve at MIT, and others.

2. Expanding Empire’s west coast presence with full, local production capacity from Seattle, Portland, and the Bay Area to Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Empire has long served west coast clients in the technology, media, entertainment, automotive, digital, and fashion/lifestyle industries. This move immediately transforms Empire’s existing west coast team into a large-scale operation capable of full-service client management, creative development, and execution for all types of projects.  

3. Expanding capabilities to produce large scale sporting and civic events, particularly surrounding the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.  

Poncher and his team bring unrivaled experience in large-scale sporting events to supplement Empire’s work with sports brands that include FOX Sports, Sports Illustrated, Nike, and adidas. Poncher’s deep experience in the sports space includes the Pan Am Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies in Rio and Guadalajara, the Pyeonchang handover during the Closing Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, The Paralympic Games, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, and serving as Executive Producer for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Special Olympics at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

This expansion also serves as an important step in Empire’s long-term global growth plan, which includes creating a formal presence in Europe, Middle East, and Africa, where both Empire and PeakXV have extensive capabilities and past experience.  

J. B. MILLER, PRESIDENT & CEO

J. B. Miller founded Empire in 1993 and has grown it into a dynamic, full-service, New York City- and Tokyo-based experiential and entertainment production agency that designs and produces projects for corporate, government, association, not-for-profit, and private clients.

Led by Miller, long recognized as one of the industry’s leading executive producers and creative visionaries, Empire has executed projects in over 100 countries. These events have included broadcasts, parties, conferences, launches, festivals, and awards programs such as the White House U.N. General Assembly Head of State Reception, the TIME 100 Gala, The Tribeca Film Festival, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue launch, The Webby Awards, The Clinton Global Initiative’s Global Citizen Awards, The Gotham Awards, the Film Society of Lincoln Center Chaplin Award Gala, the Fitch Ratings Why? Forum, the Robin Hood Investor Conference, the Keep a Child Alive Black Ball, Microsoft Connect Developer Conference, Internet Week, and the Grand Opening of Atlantis, Palm Island, in Dubai.

Empire projects have also included participation by artists and leaders such as Adele, Jay-Z, Bono, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Prince, Sting, David Bowie, Andrea Bocelli, Kanye West, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Jerry Seinfeld, Billy Crystal, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, President Barack Obama, President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, Blue Man Group, and David Copperfield, among others.

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MARK PONCHER, COO

PeakXV was formed at the beginning of 2017 as a partnership between Mark Poncher and Chris Wayne (who passed away in January 2019). Their clients include the Clinton Global Initiative, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Third Way, Solve at MIT, the Soufan Foundation, the General Entertainment Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HuffPost, and the Above the Noise Recovery Fest Concerts.

Prior to PeakXV, Mr. Poncher spent more than 30 years producing events, creating experiences, and managing environments for audiences large and small. He has served as the Executive Producer of the Clinton Global Initiative conferences worldwide since 2006, C40 Annual Meeting in Johannesburg, the Bloomberg Tobacco Awards in Abu Dhabi, and the U.S.-Africa Business Forum.

Mark was also the Business Producer for the ceremonies for 2007 Rio and 2011 Guadalajara Pan and Parapan American Games, Rio Réveillon (New Year’s Eve), and the Cinco De Mayo 150th Anniversary broadcast special. He was Head of Production for the Baku 2015 European Games Ceremonies and the Executive Producer of the 2014 and 2015 Rose Parade Opening and Closing Spectaculars. He produced the Handover Ceremonies for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as the Executive Producer for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

For more information, contact:

J. B. Miller

President & CEO

jbmiller@empireentertainment.com

Mark Poncher

COO

mark@empireentertainment.com

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​Empire delivered a private concert by legendary rock musicians for a birthday celebration at a client’s private estate in Northern New England.

For this intimate event of approximately 70 guests, Empire secured a 75-minute headline performance of John Fogerty, the Co-Founder of Creedence Clearwater Revival and Rock ’n Roll Hall of Famer, alongside a special guest performance by Billy Gibbons, guitarist and lead singer of ZZ Top and Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer.

The event took place in a constructed tent in an open field. Following a dinner, a surprise reveal of the stage introduced the evening’s headline entertainment.

When Fogerty and Gibbons hit the stage, everyone got up to sing and dance to their classic hits including, “Proud Mary”, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”, “Centerfield”, "Sharped Dressed Man", and “La Grange”.

Prior to the performance, the guests enjoyed an intimate dinner and an exciting 20-minute drone show. Empire worked closely with the event décor team to orchestrate a seamless performance for this special birthday celebration.

Empire is a leading producer of private concerts by celebrities, megastars, and icons.

Playworks celebrated their fifth annual Get in the Game Gala, hosted by Nickelodeon, in the Viacom Building rooftop overlooking Times Square on a beautiful summer night.

This year Playworks New York/New Jersey expanded their impact to serve more than 125,000 girls and boys in over 200 schools across our region to ensure safe, healthy, and inclusive play which helps reduce bullying, increase physical activity, improve learning, and promote social and emotional skills.

In addition to their full-time Playworks programming in local New York City and Newark schools, this winter they launched daily programming in four Rochester schools as part of their Western NY expansion, funded in part by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

There was much to celebrate as Playworks' NY/NJ Board Chair, Laura James, and Team Up Program Manager, Luis Guerra, presented the Most Valuable Principal award recognizing Dina Ercolano, and honored five Playworks Junior Coaches.

The evening featured inspiring remarks from Playworks NY/NJ Program Director, Henry Appiah, Director of Development, Deborah Brodheim, and Founder and CEO, Jill Vialet. A live auction led by CK Swett raised funds to support the expanding efforts of Playworks to bring the power of play to every child in New York and beyond. A special highlight was Sponge Bob Squarepants greeting guests and congratulating the Junior Coaches on their awards.

Attendees enjoyed stunning views of Times Square and experienced play through immersive activations of traditional recess games like Four Square and Switch, along with life sized installations of Jenga, Hop Scotch, Ground Pong, and a rousing game of Ro-Sham-Bo Rockstar.

Working closely with Playworks, Empire served as the overall event producer, managing elements including venue, décor, programming, and technical production. Empire is a leading producer of fundraising events and we are honored to have produced all five years of the Annual Playworks New York Get in the Game Gala.

To support or learn more about Playworks, please visit www.playworks.org

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Third Way, the national think tank, in conjunction with the Black Economic Alliance and Winston Fisher, gathered Democratic officials, strategists, constituency leaders, campaign staff, and influencers from early and battleground states to chart the way to win in 2020.

Opportunity 2020, The Way to Win, was held in June 2019 at the Gaillard Center in Charleston, South Carolina, and built on Third Way’s 2018 strategy session in Columbus, Ohio, where Democrats coalesced around a message of economic opportunity that delivered the House majority and helped rebuild the Blue Wall. Empire installed environmental branding throughout the venue to create a sense of place for all attendees so that everywhere they turned, carefully-curated images would remind them of their goals for 2020. These included a 3D display at the ballroom entrance, scrolling images on built-in screens, and strategically placed banners and graphic walls.

Third Way Opportunity 2020 kicked off with a plenary session in the smaller of the two ballrooms set in a theater arrangement supplemented with soft seating for networking and a custom stage branded for the event. The two-hour plenary featured presentations and panel discussions with University of South Carolina Director of the Center of Education and Equity of African American Students, Dr. Jennifer Reed, Senator Chris Coons, and New Mexico Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham. Immediately following the session, attendees moved upstairs to the Galleria for an opening reception.

The next day, the plenary was held in the large ballroom where Empire built a three-tier amphitheater to create a more intimate setting for the presentations. Presenters and moderators included Executive Director of the Black Economic Alliance, Akunna Cook, Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, Congressman, Joe Cunningham, President Obama’s 2012 campaign manager and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Jim Messina, and former Obama White House Communications Director, Jen Psaki.

The conference wrapped with a reception on the roof deck of the nearby Dewberry Hotel.

The Peter G. Peterson Foundation, based in New York, is a non-partisan organization dedicated to addressing America’s long-term fiscal challenges to ensure a better economic future. Founded by Peter G. Peterson and led by Chairman and CEO, Michael Peterson, the Foundation works with leading policy experts, elected officials, and the public to build support for solutions to put America on a sustainable fiscal path. The Peter G. Peterson Foundation engages in grant-making, partnerships, and research to educate and involve Americans across a variety of perspectives.

While the Peter G. Peterson Foundation presents several events throughout the year, the Fiscal Summit is their marquee event. Empire’s Los Angeles based team (formerly Peak XV) has been producing the Fiscal Summit since its inception.

The Fiscal Summit brings together leaders, experts, and policymakers to discuss how to build a sustainable fiscal future to put America on a path for prosperity, leadership, and growth. In 2019, the headlining speakers included Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, interviewed by CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent, Manu Raju, and Director of the OMB and acting White House Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney, interviewed by CNBC Correspondent, Eamon Jamers.

Other notable speakers included Congressman John Yarmuth (KY), Congressman Kevin Brady (TX), Senator Heidi Heitkamp (ND), and Director of the Congressional Budget Office, Phillip Swagel.

The event kicked off with a cocktail reception in the POV Lounge and Terrance of the W Hotel overlooking DC and the Washington Monument. Peter G. Peterson Foundation CEO, Michael Peterson, welcomed guests and gave a quick synopsis of the next days’ schedule.

The conference was held at the Newseum in Washington DC and consisted of panels and presentations in the main plenary room on the 7^th floor followed by lunch and additional discussions on the 8^th floor. Both rooms were webcast and included interactive polling and online Q&A to the moderator via a private email system.

After the main conference concluded, a special session called “The Solutions Initiative” was hosted on the 7^th floor, which had been rearranged during the lunch hour. This session brought together leading think tanks from across the political spectrum to put forward comprehensive plans to set America on a stronger, more sustainable fiscal path. The Solutions Initiative session provided attendees an opportunity to learn more about the initiative and interact directly with the plans’ authors about their policy choices, recommendations, and tradeoffs.

This special session included speakers from seven Centers and Institutes and was moderated by Jeff Holland from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.

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Red Bull Japan was recently looking to produce a television documentary about Japanese technology that spoke to its youthful audience, highlighting how Japanese products like the Technics SL1200 turntable contributed to the birth of hip hop and the Sony Walkman led to the “Personal bubble phenomenon.”

Empire’s staff film producer/director, Bruce Nachbar, worked with Strategy SET, a Tokyo-based creative agency, to produce and direct a film that told the story of the cultural upheaval brought about by these technologies, and how music creation and consumption were changed forever.

The 44-minute long, feature documentary included interviews with artists, historians, and many of the players who witnessed the transformation first-hand as well as vintage footage and music.  

Check out Playing it Old School: How Japan changed the world at:

https://www.redbull.com/int-en/films/AP-1PB6VN4ZH1W11

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Empire produced a wedding celebration for a Russian client at the historic Plaza Hotel. The bride and groom welcomed over 200 guests from Russia and around the world to the iconic New York hotel for an elegant evening punctuated by performances from the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Affiniti NYC, and Gloria Gaynor, among others.

The evening began with an elegant cocktail reception in the Palm Court. In spectacular formal attire, arriving guests enjoyed caviar and champagne under palm fronds and a domed glass ceiling as the Todd Londagin trio played jazz standards.  

Suddenly the enormous mirrored panel doors swung open and guests moved into the Terrace Room for the wedding ceremony. The Terrace Room had been transformed with hydrangeas and peonies and the room glowed with thousands of candles lit as the wedding party entered to a string and woodwind ensemble for the ceremony. At the top of the steps stood a huge floral Chuppah.

After the smashing of the glass, a Russian violinist struck up a lively song of celebration as guests followed the wedding couple to the Grand Ballroom which had been transformed into a vision of old Hollywood glamour, with lighting and florals that accented the decadent gold interiors.

Empire secured the world-renowned Duke Ellington Orchestrato perform for the newlywed’s grand entrance into the ballroom. The 17-piece orchestra crooned American jazz classics as guests enjoyed a seven-course meal and numerous toasts from the wedding party. Two Russian hosts emceed the evening in English and Russian.

Towards the end of dinner, Gloria Gaynor, the soulful disco singer, was welcomed to the stage by the cheering guests and performed a full set including her hits “I Will Survive” and “Never Can Say Goodbye.” Her soulful voice and classic hits had guests on their feet throughout the performance. Affiniti NYC closed out the night with modern dance classics, keeping guests on the dance floor into the early hours of the morning.

Empire worked closely with The Plaza and a team of florists, lighting designers, and engineers to orchestrate every moment of the wedding. Photo's credited by @vertdegris

Empire is a leading producer of both corporate and private concert events.

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For the seventh consecutive year, Empire served as the producer of the Fragrance Foundation Awards, the fragrance industry’s premier event celebrating outstanding achievement and creativity.

Held at the iconic David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, the evening began with guest arrivals and an elegant cocktail reception in the theater’s soaring marble lobby. A delicate fragrance created exclusively for this year’s awards by the Lifetime Achievement Perfumer scented the lobby while guests walked the red carpet, mingled, and sipped champagne. A breathtaking floral backdrop made with real peonies, irises, and roses served as an interactive photo-op indoors.

For the second year in a row, comedian and actor Jane Krakowski, hosted the main program. Once guests were seated in the theater, Jane kicked off the star-studded awards with a humorous opening monologue and medley of songs covering the fragrance industry and achievements since the prior year.

Notable program participants included Hall of Fame Honoree, Tom Ford, Lifetime Achievement Perfumer, Dominique Ropion, and Fragrance Industry Game Changer, Laura Slatkin.

Celebrity presenters and attendees included Michelle Pfieffer, Henry Golding, star of Crazy Rich Asians, Carine Roitfeld, Bebe Rexha, Maria Borges, Nick Youngquest, Luma Grothe, Jason Wu, Hilary Rhoda, Hannah Bronfman, and Maye Musk, among others.

Following the awards program, guests ascended a gorgeous marble staircase to the David Koch Promenade for a seated dinner for over 500. The evening ended with an afterparty held on the terrace of the promenade, overlooking the iconic Lincoln Center fountain where guests danced to music by DJ Coleman.

The Fragrance Foundation Awards bring together virtually every luxury and consumer brand in the fragrance industry, including Estée Lauder, John Varvatos, Coach, Dior, Coty, Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, Giorgio Armani, Bottega Veneta, by Killian, Jo Malone, Maison Margiela, Victoria’s Secret, BYREDO, Viktor & Rolf, LVMH, Puig, Chanel, Chloé, Marc Jacobs, Versace, Lancôme, diptyque Paris, L’Oréal, Revlon, NEST, Bvlgari, and YSL.

Empire is a leading producer of events, award shows, and programs for the luxury brand, fragrance, cosmetics, and fashion industries.

Empire proudly produced the 5th Annual World Connect Benefit Dinner at Chelsea Piers’ waterfront venue, Current.

World Connect invests early-stage funding in grassroots, locally designed and led projects that drive transformative, self-sustaining development in the most under-resourced areas of the world. World Connect success stories were integrated throughout the event with enlarged photos and informational signage explaining their mission connecting the attendees to opportunities to support specific initiatives.

A handpan performer welcomed guests into a vibrant, waterfront space where bold and colorful activations were featured. Vinyl decal paths on the floor guided guests from point to point, designed to tell stories of various World Connect initiatives and their impact. Some paths led to beautiful imagery from their sites, while others led to experiential stations where guests could purchase items made by World Connect-supported businesses and sample their handmade products.

There was also a Portal, which was a livestream media room for guests to interact live and in real-time with two World Connect project leaders on site in Lagos during the cocktail hour. Music by the World Guitar Duo, Jason and Elysa Hochman, played music while guests enjoyed cocktails overlooking gorgeous views of the Hudson River.

Guest entered the dinner room where tables were set with beautiful glass globe centerpieces set amid nests of greenery and fairy lights. These were surrounded by white, modern candles warming the room with a grounding energy.

The thoughtful stage program featured the Executive Director, Pamela Nathenson, Board Chair, George Biddle, and Dinner Co-Chair, Christoph Becker, who shared the powerful impact of what World Connect can achieve with minimal funding.

The program’s feature was an incredible conversation between Dinner Co-Chair, Clara Bingham, and honored guest, Chief Theresa Kachindamoto, who was the first female Chief of the Dedza District in Malawi, overseeing over 900,000 people. Chief Kachindamoto has successfully annulled over 5,000 child marriages, encouraging children to go back to school. World Connect has launched three projects in her district–a primary school with $3,000, a reforestation project with $3,000, and a maternity house with $10,000.

The evening helped World Connect raise $600,000 which will launch 135 projects across the globe to catalyze locally-led development. To learn more about World Connect and to donate or get involved, visit https://www.worldconnect.global

Empire is proud to support World Connect and their global initiatives to connect the world.

For the first co-ed Cruise Collection fashion show, Giorgio Armani has chosen Tokyo in homage to the designer's affinity with the Japanese culture and aesthetic. Hidetoshi Nishijima, Uma Thurman, Honami Suzuki, Takumi Saito, Kento Yamazaki, Tadao Ando, Moka Kamishiraishi, and Tomoyasu Hotei (HOTEI) were some of the famous faces who took their front row seats at the fashion show. To close the show, a longtime favorite, Ai Tominaga, one of the country’s most well-known models, walked the runway.

Empire was contracted to support id creations, a Shanghai-based international production house, with the livestream production of the event on Instagram. Thousands of followers watched the show live on Instagram and over 20,000 post event on IGTV.

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Celebrating its 11th anniversary, the Shorty Awards continue to honor the best influencers, celebrities, brands, and agencies on social media, across Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and other platforms. The show returned to PlayStation Theater in the heart of Times Square in New York City for the ceremony.

Over 800 influencers, brands, agencies, and guests packed the theater for the ceremony, which featured a hot pink carpet, cocktail reception, seated dinner, and an afterparty at the W Times Square hotel. The staged event livestreamed on YouTube and Twitter to over 211,000 (and counting!) viewers internationally, as fans all over the globe tuned in to watch their favorite social media stars.

Comedian and actress Kathy Griffin hosted the show and kept the audience entertained with her trademark comedy from both the stage and the audience during a crowd interaction bit.

Helping keep the show lively throughout, well-known presenters included Jay Shetty, Shangela, Mamrie Hart, Denzel Dion, Eva Gutowski, and Sean Evans.

This was the most competitive show to date, as over 7 million votes poured in from fans all over the world, a record for participation. Winners of the signature Whale-Tail Trophy included Shantell Martin, March for Our Lives, Ryland Adams, Shane Dawson, and Shorty’s very own host, Kathy Griffin.

Recognized this year for their contributions to the world, Phenom Award recipients included Kevin Love (Athlete), Marsai Martin (Entertainment), March for our Lives (Changemakers), and Terry Crews (Activism).

New Orleans-based band and 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest winners, Tank and the Bangas, brought down the house performing four hits from their new album Green Balloon, including "Nice Things" and "Ants" to finish out the night.

Empire is proud to partner with The Shorty Awards for our fifth year and we congratulate all the 2019 winners, as well as an even larger congratulations to eleven successful years of the Shorty Awards!

Empire is excited to announce that the production team behind Solve at MIT, Peak XV Global, joined the company this month. The team has produced Solve at MIT, Solve’s annual flagship event, for the past three years and just completed the 2019 event.

Solving the world’s most pressing challenges is no small goal, but that is exactly what Solve at MIT aims to do. Each year, Solve launches four challenges and convenes more than 550 leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs from around the world on MIT’s campus to develop solutions to those challenges. Along with partnership building and intensive working sessions, Solvers gain access to more than $1 million in funding for their solutions.  

Attendees from more than 28 countries are treated to plenary discussions featuring MIT President Rafael Reif, U.N. High-Level Commissioner Alaa Murabit, Inter-American Development Bank President, Luis Alberto Moreno, Schmidt Family Foundation President, Wendy Schmidt, and Crate and Barrel CEO, Neela Montgomery. This year, the opening plenary featured a moving performance by poet and musician, Lyla June, followed by a lively reception at the MIT Museum.

Over the course of three days, our team created an environment across multiple buildings on MIT’s campus conducive to information sharing, networking, and partnership building. Arriving Solvers were greeted by a full-building graphic on the windows of the iconic Kresge Auditorium. During the evenings they were invited to curated salon dinners to further their solutions and networking within the Solve community.

Our team designed plenary rooms to accommodate a variety of content, from live performances, to custom video content, to Solvers presenting their challenge solutions. This year we designed a custom wall installation in MIT’s Media Lab where five Scribit robots drew artwork for Solve attendees to enjoy throughout the conference. We designed multiple conference venues to create an intimate feel for networking while enveloping the Solve community in a branded environment and creating a seamless, multi-day experience.

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For the fifth consecutive year, Screenvision Media called on Empire to produce their Upfront to demonstrate the power, emotional impact, and multifaceted reach of cinema advertising to their audience of media buyers and planners.

Screenvision Media asked Empire to strategically conceptualize and design an elegant event that would show media buyers why cinema advertising plays a critical role in any advertising campaign.

Traditionally held the week prior to network upfronts, the decision was made to present this event during the week of network upfronts to draw the most prestigious clientele. The chosen venue was the storied motion picture theater now known as the Ziegfeld Ballroom and the theme would be Inside Cinema.

Guests arrived at the Ziegfeld and were welcomed to the space with a striking champagne tower. Guests were served movie theatre popcorn as they took their seats in a theater over which hung custom-made, oversize crystal and LED chandeliers in the art deco design of the movie house.

The stage presentation was led by Screenvision Media CEO, John Partilla, CRO Katy Loria, and EVP Christine Martino. To help drive their key messaging, renowned cinema stars Hilary Swank and Vince Vaughn joined them on stage to discuss the impact cinema has on moviegoers.

In addition to announcing their 2020 10-pack offering, Screenvision Media also unveiled their newest initiative, a partnership with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, where they will work alongside studios in the earliest scripting stages to promote gender equality in movie roles. As part of this initiative, Screenvision introduced a new content segment in their Front + Center pre show, where Geena Davis will introduce a special look at upcoming films that receive a ‘GD-IQ Check’.

To conclude the presentation, Idina Menzel, star of Frozen and Frozen 2, performed her hits “Defying Gravity,” and “No Day But Today.” During her finale performance of “Let It Go” from Frozen, Menzel invited several guests to join her on stage.

The evening continued with cocktail reception/afterparty where guests created their own cinema-inspired gifs with two custom-created photo booths.

Empire was responsible for event details including concept ideation, venue acquisition, layout and scenic design, catering, production, scripting, screen graphics, décor, staffing and talent booking.

Empire is proud to work with Screenvision Media to reach advertisers with a high-impact, experiential upfront.

Empire is a leading producer of innovative Upfronts, Newfronts, and other mission critical business-to-business events.

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The 23rd Annual Webby Awards was held at Cipriani Wall Street. Honoring the best of the internet, the show is renowned for limiting award recipients’ speeches to five words or less. Host Jenny Slate, from Parks & Recreation, Big Mouth, and Obvious Child, set the tone with a hilarious opening monologue before getting into the awards. Presenters and winners at the event included Michael Douglas, Tracy Morgan, Issa Rae, Tierra Whack, Hasan Minhaj, and many more. Empire produced the event for the 15th consecutive year.

As always, winners’ five-word speeches alternated from poignant (Monica Lewinsky’s anti internet-bullying “Unbelievably grateful. Click with compassion.”) to protest (climate change activist Greta Thunberg’s “Act now or face disaster”), to spur-of-the-moment irreverent (Michael Douglas holding up his trophy and saying “My kids think it’s hilarious”).

The Webbys also took time out to reflect on the fact that 2019 is the 50^th Anniversary of the birth of the internet by inviting Vint Cerf to the stage to say a few words. Widely heralded as one of the very small handful of people who invented the internet, Cerf was thoughtful about just how far the technology has come in such a short time, and the incredible impact it has as “a mirror of our society”.

The Webbys took a new approach this year in order to distribute the best moments from the show. The night’s highlights, five-word speeches, and biggest moments were shared in real-time, with #Webbys, across Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. The show was optimized for social sharing from how the show was filmed, to how the stage was built, to a partnership with Instagram, and beyond, in order to ensure people across the Internet were able to experience the best moments of the show as they happened.

Empire is proud to maintain longstanding relationships with our clients and is honored that the Webbys have chosen us as their production partner since 2005. You can view the 23rd Annual Webby Awards in full here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOtdiLaK2N4

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Empire was proud to recently serve as producer of Smile Train’s 20^th Anniversary gala titled “It Starts with a Smile.” Over 500 people gathered at Capitale in New York City to celebrate Smile Train’s two decades of empowering local medical professionals and supporting comprehensive cleft care for more than one million children worldwide.

During the program and seated dinner, which was hosted by ABC’s Ginger Zee, Smile Train CEO, Susannah Schaefer, delivered moving remarks about the huge impact that proper care has on a child with a cleft. Chairman of Smile Train’s Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Larry Hollier, Miss Universe Organization President, Paula Shugart, and Top Chef’s, Graham Elliot, were all honored for their philanthropic efforts, while retired NBA player, Dikembe Mutombo, was recognized for his humanitarian work. The program also included a moving tribute to Smile Train Founder, Charles B. Wang. Other program highlights included appearances by Miss Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach, Miss USA 2015, Olivia Jordan, and a lively auction conducted by Paul Florez.

Guests arrived at the landmark Stanford White building to see a beautiful photo backdrop adorned in greenery. Interviews took place on the red carpet while others enjoyed cocktails at crystalline design-inspired bars that displayed rotating imagery of children helped by Smile Train. Additionally, an LED background interactive photo activation allowed guests to choose to be pictured in a variety of locations around the world where Smile Train supports cleft programs.  

Inside the grand ballroom, large, heart-warming photos of Smile Train beneficiaries from around the world flew from the soaring skylight roof. Stunning decor included luminescent centerpieces with gorgeous geode designs and bars covered in matching images. Ambient screens with moving visuals were set up as backdrops behind each bar to ensure the room was glowing throughout.

Alexa Ray Joel, Christie Brinkley, and Billy Joel’s daughter performed classic covers to end the dinner program, and later in the evening, Rev Run and DJ Ruckus raised the roof with a dance party of old-school music.

Empire is a leading producer of fundraising galas and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

We are grateful for the opportunity to support Smile Train’s incredible work by producing Smile Train’s 20^th Anniversary Gala. To learn more and donate, visit smiletrain.org.

Following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company, Fox Corporation embarked on a bold new path of growth with its retained divisions: Fox News Media, Fox Sports, Fox Entertainment, and Fox Television Stations.  

As part of this new journey, Fox Corporation convened an Investor Day event as a platform for the company’s top leadership to share the company’s new strategic direction with the global financial community. The Investor Day event would need to present the company’s future vision flawlessly to this critical audience. Empire was entrusted to serve as the producer of all aspects of event. Working closely with Fox’s Los Angeles-based Creative Services and Special Events team and the New York-based Operations and Finance teams, the team secured the auditorium at historic One Madison Avenue building. Empire transformed the 110-year-old space into a future vision of innovation with a set that included a custom LED stage and scenic screen surrounds showcasing three large LED walls (with design direction by David Korins Design). The program, which included both a live conference and a livestream transmission, began with Chairman Rupert Murdoch who welcomed the audience before turning the stage to Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Lachlan Murdoch. Following remarks by Lachlan Murdoch, Chief Operating Officer, John Nallen, took the stage before handing it off to the heads of the four divisions of Fox Corporation. CEO of Fox News Media, Suzanne Scott, CEO & Executive Producer of Fox Sports, Eric Shanks, CEO of Fox Entertainment, Charlie Collier, and CEO of Fox Television Stations, Jack Abernathy, each presented their divisional plans and performance in multi-media presentations that featured multiple videos and extensive animated graphics for each portion. After a short break, the audience was treated to a panel discussion with the commissioners of Major League Baseball, Rob Manfred, and the National Football League, Roger Goodell, who shared their insights on relationships the leagues have with FOX Sports.

Chief Investor Relations Officer, Joe Dorrego, led a Q&A period, and Chief Financial Officer, Steve Tomsic, presented the company’s overall financial performance.

In addition to the main stage program and livestream, Empire also designed and staffed the registration, lounge, and reception areas, all based on the new Fox Corporation visual design.

The flawless program came off not only on time and on budget but was, in the words of the client, “An Awe-inspiring feat.” Empire has been proud to serve Fox for over 15 years and is a major production resource to many of the world’s largest media and entertainment companies.