The Events Solutions Podcast

Episode Summary In this episode of The Event Solutions Podcast, host Jorge Lopez welcomes Larry Long Jr., CSP, founder and Chief Energy Officer of LLJR Enterprises, for a high-energy conversation about resilience, relationships, and the realities of building a business in the speaking and events world.   Larry shares his path from a failed first venture, an indoor baseball and softball academy tha...

Episode Summary In this episode of The Events Solutions Podcast, host Jorge Lopez sits down with Sam Eitzen, co-founder of Snap Bar, for one of the most candid and inspiring conversations of the season. Sam's journey is anything but typical. Growing up in Southern Morocco, where traditional teenage jobs didn't exist, he made his first money performing magic shows for his parents' friends. By 18, h...

Episode Summary In this episode of The Events Solutions Podcast, host Jorge Lopez sits down with Alana Pontecore, a Group Sales Manager in the Northern California hospitality scene, to unpack the real dynamics behind booking, planning, and executing successful events.   Alana pulls back the curtain on what a Group Sales Manager actually does - bridging the gap between clients and properties while...

Episode Summary What really happens behind the scenes when an event changes at the last minute?   In this episode of The Event Solutions Podcast, host Jorge Lopez sits down with Corey Dinofia, Director of Events at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, to break down the realities of managing large-scale events in one of the country's premier venues.   Corey shares his journey from working as a banquet ho...

Episode Summary What does it take to evolve from a solo DJ into a nationwide event production company handling over 600 events a year?   In this episode of The Event Solutions Podcast, host Jorge Lopez sits down with Jordan Chance, founding partner of Luxe Productions, to explore the journey from passion-driven beginnings to building a high-performing, design-focused AV company.   Jordan shares ho...

Episode Summary In this episode of The Event Solutions Podcast, host Jorge Lopez sits down with Bobby Fader, Director of Catering at La Valencia Hotel & Spa in La Jolla, California, to explore a decades-long career built on work ethic, relationships, and genuine care for people.   Bobby shares his journey from starting as a dishwasher at age 13 to leading one of Southern California's most iconic b...

Episode Summary In this episode of The Event Solutions Podcast, host Jorge Lopez welcomes Annette Zeller, Director of Catering and Conference Services at 1 Hotel West Hollywood, for a deep dive into the realities of hospitality, luxury events, and the psychology behind high-expectation clients. Annette shares her journey through some of the most iconic luxury hotel brands, including Park Hyatt, Be...

Episode Summary In this episode of The Event Solutions Podcast, host Jorge Lopez sits down with Brenda Biggers, a seasoned administrative leader at Setpoint Medical, to explore the realities of planning internal corporate events inside a fast-paced, highly technical organization.   Brenda shares her journey into event planning, not through a traditional events background, but through organization,...

Episode Summary Creativity doesn't come from chasing the newest platform or piling on more tools; it comes from listening.   In this episode of The Event Solutions Podcast, Jorge Lopez sits down with Josh Weaver, a marketing leader whose career spans Zappos, Exploding Kittens, Amazon-owned brands, and experiential campaigns that connect deeply with audiences. While Josh doesn't come from the tradi...

Episode Summary In this episode of The Event Solutions Podcast, Jorge Lopez sits down with Dan Reback, Event Strategist for the West Coast and Mountain States at Jewish National Fund USA, to explore what it really takes to design events that deliver meaningful ROI.   Dan oversees more than 150 events annually across five states, blending strategy, creativity, and hands-on execution to ensure event...

Episode Summary In this episode, Jorge Lopez speaks with Brooke Erickson of K&L Gates, where she leads sophisticated, high-touch client experiences for one of the world's largest law firms. Brooke shares how she designs bespoke events ranging from zoo buyouts to multi-day destination programs, all built around relationship-building and strategic engagement. She breaks down the psychology of attend...

Episode Summary In this episode, Jorge Lopez sits down with hospitality veteran Susan Avery, who brings more than 35 years of hotel and event expertise from Marriott's flagship property, the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina. Susan shares insights from her work on major citywide events, including three Super Bowls, the 1996 Republican National Convention, and large medical and scientific confere...