HOW THE GRINCH TRIED TO STEAL CHRISTMAS IN SOUTH FLORIDA

The presents filled the church halls, everything from MP3s to Justin Bieber CDs. The First Born Church in Fort Pierce had captained a successful toy drive for the under privileged children in the area. Volunteers donated their time to make every gift look as beautiful as possible. The gifts were set to be delivered Christmas Eve and everyone was excited to see the look of joy and excitement on every child's face.

Just three days before the big delivery, a Grinch broke into the church and stole $200 worth of gifts intended for the local children. The pastor of the church knew that the Grinch would not prevail, and that the toy drive could still be a holiday miracle for so many people.

When Renee Radabuagh, CEO Paragon Events, heard about the heart-wrenching story she was determined to defeat the Grinch and make Christmas happen just as the pastor had envisioned. 

The day before Christmas Eve Mrs. Radabaugh was able to replace every gift that had been robbed from the church. " I am so blessed and fortunate to be able to help. Every child should experience unwrapping a present on Christmas morning."

So, much like the Dr. Seuss story, the Grinch tried to steal Christmas, but the true Christmas spirit will always overcome. Happy Holidays! And YOU still have a chance to make a difference in the lives of others this holiday. Please click here so that Paragon Events may donate on your behalf to the charity of your choice.

Paragon Events staff with local church members

             

Santa Came Early

"How will I ever be able to keep this away from my kids," Lisa exclaims after being notified of her Fall Formula Sweepstakes win. Lisa participated in the 6-week Fall Formula Sweepstakes sponsored by Paragon Events- the grand prize, a new iPad2. "I am so excited about the new found mobility I will have. My new iPad2 will be the perfect assistant in my travels across the state and country." When asked about which app she can't wait to download, she quickly replied, "Bento. To help me manage contacts, track projects, plan events and organize the busy details of my life."
"I am so thrilled to have been selected as the sweepstakes winner. It feels like Santa has arrived early this year!"  Congratulations Lisa!

Lisa Rawlins

SMILE FOR A GREAT CAUSE

Behind that giant smiley face, is Renee Radabaugh's teenage son, Dakotah.
As a parent, you are probably constantly encouraging your kids to do the right thing or to get involved in the community. Above all, parents plead with their children to simply stay out of trouble. As a mom, Renee says she "could not be more proud of my Dakotah." Dakotah decided to not only meet all of his mom's requests, but he went a step beyond and volunteered his extra time (which seems to be so valuable to most teenagers) for the Imagination Organization. The organization encourages at risk youths to get off or stay off drugs and alcohol, and that is definitely something to smile about.

As the holiday season is upon us, we at Paragon Events felt the need to give as well. Our Featured Event this month, "One Click. One Wish. Make a Difference." is one all about helping those who could use a helping hand this holiday season. To see how Paragon would like to make a difference on your behalf please visit the featured event page.
Happy Holidays!

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME FOR DINNER PARTIES

As event planners, food is a big part of what we do and we know that the holiday season is packed full of holiday parties. Here are two simple hors d oeuvre recipes that we have found are a hit with guests.

Tomato Tart:
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Ingredients:

• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
• 1/3 cup Dijon mustard
• 4 medium tomatoes, sliced 
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 cup crumbled Chevre (goat cheese)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs (parsley, rosemary, basil, marjoram, thyme) 

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425F. Roll out the pastry into a 10-inch tart pan and bake it for 18 to 22 minutes until it puffs and turns golden brown. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool to room temperature. 

Spread the Dijon mustard in an even layer over the browned pastry, leaving 1/2-inch of the edges empty.  Arrange the tomato slices over the mustard. Sprinkle the tomato slices with the sea salt, pepper, goat cheese and herbs. Serve the tart at room temperature or chilled. This goat cheese and tomato tart makes 8 to 10 servings. 

Cheesy Mushroom:

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients: 

• 16 ounces sliced mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley 
• 1/3 cup shredded Swiss or Monterey Jack cheese 

Preparation: 

Heat butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. when butter is foamy, add mushrooms and cook until lightly browned,stirring constantly.

Whisk together the sour cream, egg yolk, and salt and pepper; stir into the mushrooms. Heat through, stirring. Spoon mushroom mixture into a shallow baking dish; sprinkle with the chopped parsley and shredded cheese. Bake at 425F for ten minutes, until cheese is melted.

Serves 4.

Bon appetit! We wish you a very happy holiday with lots of happy gatherings. Please let us know how the dishes tasted at your dinner party.

And if you find that you could use a few more elves in the kitchen, Paragon Events offers several catering options for your special event.  

KICKING OFF CHRISTMAS IN WASHINGTON, DC

Happy Holidays at The Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center! Paragon Events was at the Gaylord managing a week long Government Conference. There were 50 attendees from 8 countries in attendance. Along with the planned activities, dinners and meetings, our guests were able to enjoy the Holiday light show spectacular put on by the Gaylord!

SAVE THE GREEN, MONEY THAT IS

If you are in the event planning industry, chances are you have been pondering the concept of Green, the environmentally - cautious movement that is sweeping through our country. You might be wondering, how much should I invest in "greening" my product? Or maybe you're thinking, should I even bother with being "eco-friendly" - odds are people will give up this ideology in a few years. Or maybe you fall into the category that "Going Green" is a must. You have hired your consultant and are on your way to being the environment's biggest fan.
The Convention Industry Council will release their very first Green Meetings and Event Standards this month. The anticipated release drummed up several discussions on LinkedIn this week. Here are a few: Will these new guidelines change the way the event planning industry operates? Will they change what our customers demand? Do I need to transform my company into a Green Machine?
We asked the question in our ongoing Paragon Events' Fall Formula Survey  "Do you feel it's important to offer green solutions to your clients, why or why not?"
The Results: While a majority of people claim to love our earth and love the concept of eco-friendliness, they care more about the green in their pockets. Companies and consumers alike agree, if the price is right they will go green; but saving the monetary green is more important.
Three things to keep in mind when plotting your green initiatives:
1) Clients will not pay more for eco-friendliness.
2) Be creative and you will find that you can actually save clients money if you choose to go the green route.
3) Last but not least, I think companies will start to see more and more benefits from going green, such as tax credits and niche markets. As the economy improves, more people will demand green services.
 I believe the green phenomenon is not a trend, but here to stay. The new guidelines will make this more evident. Start devising your green concepts now. To see how Paragon Events is plunging into this market, check out our new Eco-Vents division.

PROUD TO SERVE OUR NATIONS' CAPITAL

Paragon Events Expands Driven by increased demand for its offerings,Paragon Events expands to the Washington,DC market.   DELRAY BEACH, FL - November 3, 2011 - Paragon Events, Inc., is expanding it's services to the Washington, DC market as a result of the nationwide increase in demand for Paragon Events' premier Meeting & Conference Planning services as well as Destination Management services. Ms. Terry Bradley has been appointed Director of National Accounts Northeast Division and will serve as an executive level liaison to this market. With this addition, Paragon Events, Inc. secures a footprint in this emerging sector and plans to meet the growing demands of the Washington, DC corporate and philanthropic events planning and destination management community.  Director of National Accounts Northeast "Our remarkable and consistent growth is a result of our strong positioning and innovation in the event planning marketplace," said Renee Christiansen Radabaugh, CEO and Founder, Paragon Events. "Our presence in the Washington, DC Metro area and the expansion of our National Sales team represent huge milestones in the growth of our company, " said Radabaugh. "These developments also secure our commitment to serving this innovative, quality-demanding market with our best-in-class event planning services. We are particularly excited about our new event planning division, Eco-Vents, that should be appealing to our environmentally-minded partners in Washington, DC. Terry shares our philosophy on being truly committed to sustainable practices while serving the customer. Her addition to our sales team is a true benefit to our organization and our clientele." Living and working in Washington, DC for 25 years, Terry Bradley is a seasoned executive. For the past two and a half decades, Terry has been associated with a wide range of leaders from government, corporate and non-profit industries as well as the governing boards of leading colleges and universities. She is widely traveled within the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Canada and Mexico. Terry has a deep knowledge of successful conference planning techniques through her work as Founder and Chairman of her own non-profit agency, the Washington,DC-based organization August Rain. This role allowed Terry to focus her energy and passion on helping those who cannot help themselves by delivering clean drinking water worldwide. Terry will be responsible for leading sales growth, managing Paragon Events' regional expansion and bringing Paragon's Destination Management services to this market.  Ms. Bradley is as demanding of excellence in the planning and production of an event and destination meetings as she is insistent on delivering superior customer service and innovation to each of Paragon Events' clients. The many and varied relationships she has enjoyed while living and working in Washington, DC provide her with a wealth of knowledge and resources. Her philosophy is simple: Find a way or make one.  Paragon Events, founded in 1989, specializes in Corporate Event Planning, Destination Management and Association Management. This full scale meeting and special events firm was founded by Renee Radabaugh, President and CEO.

CLEAN THE WORLD

It is a luxury most people take for granted, the ability to wash our hands without thinking twice about it.
In America, it seems that soap is very much an item taken for granted. We can purchase soap at the local convenience store for next to nothing. We can buy it in bulk, which will keep us stocked for months on end. Americans can even give soap as presents. High-end retailers offer soap gift baskets and decorative soap bars for lavish bathrooms. Soap is so integrated into our culture, it often does not receive the credit it deserves.
Clean the World, a social enterprise based in Orlando, Florida, hopes to change our outlook on soap and educate us on the life-saving powers this cleansing bar holds.
Every year, millions of people worldwide lose their lives due to hygiene-related illnesses. Clean the World's dual missions: saving lives across the globe by providing soap and reducing the waste of plastic bottles, are two goals we knew we had to support. By teaming up with hotels across the nation and people like you, Clean the World is able to collect and distribute cleansing products to impoverished people everywhere.
Join Paragon Events, this Saturday, November 5th at the Peabody Hotel for Clean the World's Inaugural Gala. Hope to see you there and together we can Clean the World!

WHEN A CRISIS STRIKES.....

Renee Radabaugh, CEO and Founder Paragon Events, shares her four tips for managing a crisis in the event planning industry. Plus, her own crisis management story.

MORE IS MORE

It sounds simple enough, communicate regular updates to your clients; but this is a big point of contention in the business sector. In a world where communication is now a cornerstone, clients expect their hired service providers to be able to effectively communicate around the clock. When it comes to communication, less is not more. As a Director or Manager in any industry, it is safe to say the more you communicate with your client, the more your services will be appreciated.

In our ongoing Fall Formula survey, Updates, Good Response Time and Communication were all mentioned as top qualities a business partner must have. These same three nouns were also mentioned as frustrations often experienced when dealing in professional settings. So, it becomes quite obvious, if you want to be a top dog, you have to be willing and able to relay information at the drop of a hat. The good and the bad and the not so sure, clients want to know it all.

How can your business step up it's communication? Do you have a Communication Policy in place? Is there a game-plan for follow-ups? Have you asked your client their preferred method of communing? Emma Thompson says it best, "Any problem, big or small, always seems to start with bad communication."

WHAT'S YOUR FALL BUSINESS FORMULA

The metamorphosis from summer to fall brings a myriad of changes. The autumn air has a way of producing alterations in our fashion, climate, landscapes and recipes just to name a few. The fall also helps kick off football season and several favorite American holidays. For those of us in the business world, the change from summer to fall also initiates Fourth Quarter Business Decisions.
Hence, the official launch of Paragon Events' Fall Formula Sweepstakes. The Sweepstakes will provide participants with knowledgeable insights into this season's most important issues in the event planning industry. The nuggets of wisdom will be published bi-weekly on Thursdays right here on our blog. By taking part in the Sweepstakes, you'll also have a chance to win a new iPad 2; a piece of technology that Oprah Winfrey claims has completely changed the way she does business. Get involved in the conversation and help make your fall business plan and your event a stunning success.
And remember, as you break out the sweaters and whip up the season's first pot of chili, that just as the seasons are always changing, so is the way of the event planning world.

HOW SOCIAL MEDIA FITS INTO YOUR CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLAN

It seems that Social Media is everywhere these days; watching TV a little tweet pops up with a tweeters opinion of the show that I am watching. Magazine articles now have QR Codes. On the weekends, instead of hanging out with friends, our teens are on Facebook hanging out in the virtual world. Besides Social Media invading my personal life, this virtual world has become a "must have" in my business world.
I am 24 hours a day 7 days a week, connected in this cyber space. It makes you think, if the unexpected was to happen, if a crisis strikes, Social Media is a pretty important tool to have. In an instant, you can blast an update to event attendees, suppliers, vendors, staff and anyone else who could possibly need to know what is going on; when it is “Go Time” on Plan B.
So, when it comes to your Crisis Management Plan, is Social Media on the checklist?
Here are five ways to incorporate Social Media into your Crisis Management Plan:
•First things first, be actively engaged on at least one platform in Social Media.
•Create a Facebook Event Page for the event that you are planning. Instead of updating all of your Fans; you can update this single event page designated for everyone involved in the event, including attendees.
•Have a “Social Media Task Force” in place. At least one staff member who is in charge of updating your Social Media sites and mass texting everyone that needs to know. Depending on the crisis, updates should be sent out every 15 minutes with accurate information. Make sure you have a list of names and emails of everyone who needs to be informed on event day.
•Update all of your sites quick and easy with a Social Media Dashboard. A single program that updates all of your sites at once; saving a tremendous amount of time and increasing your efficiency even more.
•Depending on the crisis, you can use Twitter to retweet information from news outlets to your followers. This adds even more credibility to your brand and it shows you truly care about keeping your followers informed.
Don’t wait for a crisis to hit before you build your Social Media network. If used correctly and effectively during a crisis, Social Media can take your relationship building to the next level.

MEDICAL HISTORY TIMELINE VIDEO - Created by Paragon Events

This is a video created by Paragon Events, it was used at a presentation for the Northwest Medical Center CME Symposium. It shows a timeline of groundbreaking accomplishments, in the medical field.

LEADERS IN THE EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS NAME PARAGON EVENTS INC. THE MPI SEC 2012 MEETING FORWARD PLANNER

Experts in the industry choose Paragon Events Inc. to be their expert in the industry. Twenty applicants bid on the Southeast Educational Conference and after a challenging process of elimination, Paragon Events Inc. was chosen as the 2012 Meeting Forward event planner. The 20th annual SEC is a three day conference that attracts between 450-650 meeting planners and suppliers from around the world. An event known for its exceptional attendee experience and superior marketing value, Paragon Events Inc. is honored to plan this prestigous event.

The Southeast Educational Conference has developed into an event that is looked upon as a benchmark in the industry. Other markets are looking at the SEC as a prototype for producing a similar type event. MPI is a fabulous organization and the best advice I can give is "get engaged." There are a lot of B2B opportunities and great education and networking functions.We are truly excited to have been chosen the SEC meeting manager, Renee Radabaugh, CEO and Founder, Paragon Events. 

The 2012 conference will take place at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort, August 8th-10th. For more information on the 2012 SEC please contact Francesca Radabaugh, SEC Manager, at francescar@paragon-group.com or (561) 243-3073.

PARAGON EVENTS INC. EXPANDS INTO WASHINGTON, DC MARKET

Driven by increased demand for its offerings in the Washington, DC Metro area, Paragon Events Inc. expands its National Sales Team and appoints a new Regional Director. Paragon Events Inc., the leading provider of premier Corporate Event Planning, announces the appointment of Ms. Terry Bradley as Director of National Accounts Northeast. As a result of the nationwide increase in demand for Paragon Events' premier meeting and conference planning services, Ms. Bradley will serve as an executive- level liaison to this market. With this addition, Paragon Events Inc. secures a footprint in this emergent sector and meets the growing demands of the Washington, DC corporate and philanthropic events planning community. "Our remarkable and consistent growth is a result of our strong positioning and innovation in the event planning marketplace,"said Renee Christiansen Radabaugh, CEO and Founder, Paragon Events.
To learn more about Ms. Terry Bradley and her role with Paragon Events Inc. please click here.

2ND ANNUAL CRUSH AND CUISINE

The Second Annual, NBC East Coast Crush and Cuisine: A Feast of Food and Wine has opened registration! Come join us at the Westin Diplomat on October 19-21 for this three day event! There are a variety of fantastic food and wine options for you to enjoy such as the Royal Tasting where you can experience dinner-by-the-bite; generous appetizers and heavy hors d'oeuvres created by our featured chefs, local restaurants and culinary partners! Inspire your palate at our Grande Finale Dinner. Enjoy "The Feast," a six course dinner hosted by Executive Chef David Hackett. Also experience an assortment of wine and food tastings, as well as chef demonstrations throughout the weekend! You will not want to miss out on the chance to win a car either, by participating in the Tasting on The Tee golf tournament on The Westin Diplomat's 18-hole championship course! Click on the link below to see all of the upcoming events and sign up today!!

LA MYSTIQUE INTERACTIVE DANCE GROUP

Paragon announces the acquisition of La Mystique the interactive dance company that enhances events with theatrical dance groups that perform, entertain, and interact with the guests. "La Mystique, a South Florida based company that travels internationally. It is over 18 years old and in the business is considered to be the premier entertainment company of its kind. La Mystique features freeze posed fabulous costumed entrance entertainers and high energy production numbers that provide motivation and excitement. Most importantly is the guest involvement- the guest may never sit down. With La Mystique the guests are always entertained and entertaining. I have used this entertainment group with confidence for years, I am excited to have this product incorporated into the Paragon family of great services," Renee Radabaugh, owner and CEO of Paragon Events. Paragon Events is a 22 year old events management firm that specializes in corporate meetings, incentive programs, special events and medical meetings both nationally and internationally. Renee Radabaugh says "La Mystique is an excellent addition to the great Destination Services we offer." Click on the link below to learn more about La Mystique!!

PARAGON OFFERS NEW ENTERTAINMENT OPTION

Paragon has secured a new entertainment option for your guests. Paragon Events finds an electrifying new entertainment act to be featured in an upcoming event at the Wynn Encore Beach Resort in Las Vegas. "It is always exciting to discover unique sources for entertainment. The acrobatic entertainment performed by these artists includes a floating pool bubble contortionist and a hanging acrobatic performer who will serve guest champagne from a chandelier. The performers will prove to be a creative addition to the event. With this addition of these wonderful performers, the event is sure to 'wow' each and every attendee," Renee Radabaugh, owner and CEO of Paragon Events. Contact us for further details.