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The new decade brings with it a historic milestone for the Ultimate Ventures team. In January, our amazing Director of Operations, Debbie Bastian, DMCP, celebrates her 20th Anniversary with our company. With this extra-special event on the horizon, we thought it was a great time to sit down with Debbie and learn which events (of the hundreds she’s managed!) have been her favorites.As UV’s clients can attest, having Debbie on your Dallas-Fort Worth event planning team is like having a fairy godmother watching over your program. She takes the time to get to know her clients, their priorities, and understand their fears in order to create the best experience.
Even with over 20 years of event management experience in the DFW area, Debbie is a firm believer that there is always something new to learn. She particularly loves the thrill of planning events that no one has ever seen/done before or the challenge of working with a new venue/vendor. Teaching new partners “the ropes” and introducing them to the “UV way” of doing business is part of the job to ensure that vendors meet the needs of Debbie’s seasoned clientele.
Some of Debbie’s favorite venues to work in include Gilley’s Dallas, AT&T Stadium, Gaylord Texan Hotel, the Omni Dallas Hotel, and the Hilton Anatole Hotel where she feels right at home.
Because her events are like her children (she loves them equally!), here are Debbie’s Top 10 Special Events, in no particular order:
1. “Rockin’ through the Decades” Event at Gilley’s Dallas, Dallas, TX., November 2018
From Beatles tunes to Bon Jovi hits, this award-nominated corporate event featured music, entertainment, and interactive games from everyone’s favorite decades with décor to match. Truly a full-service event with hundreds of moving parts!
2. Corporate Special Events at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX.
Since her first event at AT&T Stadium in 2009, planning events at AT&T Stadium was, and will always be a thrill for Debbie! She loves providing once-in-a-lifetime experiences for guests like seeing their faces on the big screen, taking a behind the scenes tour, or having a private performance by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
3. “Welcome to Texas” event on the Omni Dallas Lawn, Dallas, TX., April 2016
Ultimate Ventures was one of the first companies to produce an event on the Omni Dallas lawn, and you can bet that Debbie was all over it. From food trucks to a country-western crossover band, it was a dazzling display of all things Texas including live armadillo racing, of course!
4. “Totally Awesome 80’s” Themed Event at the Hilton Anatole Dallas, Dallas, TX., July 2016
This high-energy event earned Ultimate Ventures a 2017 Texas Star Award for “Best Corporate Event”. Guests were surrounded by iconic 80’s nostalgia like Pac Man, arcade games, an LED stage, karaoke/lip sync battle, and neon flare everywhere!
5. Multicolor Reception at the Hilton Anatole, Dallas, TX., April 2019
For this event, the Hilton Anatole’s lawn space was divided into the client’s eight different geographic regions each with vibrant colors and unique furniture groupings.
6. “Texas Star” Welcome Event at the Gaylord Texan Hotel, Grapevine, TX., & American Airlines Center buyout, Dallas, TX, August 2017
Events in Texas are larger than life, and these two events were no exception! From a large scale western welcome event at the Gaylord to an all-out extravaganza at the American Airlines Center for 7,000 people, event services included name entertainment, a wide variety of performers and entertainers, massive transportation movements, and staffing. Debbie’s production schedule for this program read like a novel!
7. Light up the Night at Sundance Square, Fort Worth, TX., November 2017
Event planning in Fort Worth’s Sundance Square’s outdoor plaza is a labor of love for Debbie. This particular event was designed with neon décor, games, and entertainment to electrify the square.
8. Old West Movie Reenactment & Event at Circle R Ranch, Flower Mound, TX., June 2013
Debbie worked closely with her client to produce a custom “Spaghetti” Western (i.e. Old West movie reenactment) complete with stuntmen jumping from buildings, thrilling fight scenes, and cowboys on horseback. Guests were awed by this custom show and the event that followed.
9. “Polar Express” Corporate Holiday Party, Office building, Irving, TX., December 2014
Transforming an office building into the Polar Express wasn’t easy, but with careful planning and execution, Debbie delivered holiday magic to hundreds of families via festive décor and entertainment such as outdoor carnival holiday games, stories with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and themed food & beverage stations.
10. “Cowboy Up” Welcome Event at Gilley’s Dallas, Dallas, TX., April 2016
We love showing off all things Texan! At this over-the-top event, guests were greeted by cowboys on horseback, and inside there were fun Texas-themed décor, entertainment, and food stations around every corner.
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