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True partners: that’s what we aspire to be.
When you work with Creative Group, your events will be based on innovative ideas, founded on proven strategy, aligned with budgets and timelines, and backed by a responsive, adaptable ally. We’re committed to elevating your meetings and events to new heights and empowering colleagues to discover their full potential.
Let's Thrive. Together.
STRONGER TOGETHER
PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE
It is a daunting task to choose a partner who meets all the criteria and understands who you are. From Superstars, to Driven by Data, to Holiday Parties and NADA Comedy Clubs, Creative Group has supported Charter across the spectrum. Our strong relationship and knowledge of what is important to you, is our foundation for a deeper partnership.
Creative Group is uniquely suited to support Charter’s current priorities with a keen understanding of your business challenges, a track record of cost-focused, multi-program relationships, a fierce commitment to creative innovation, and a deep resource bench.
Our shared bond enables us to unlock new possibilities
and create the future ... together.
Consultative. Customized. Experience Driven.
Post Covid, businesses demanded more from event and marketing agencies. Creative Group's answer has been to develop tools, processes, and personnel to deliver innovative experiential strategy and execution. Charter's meetings and events will be tailored to help your organization grow, and ladder up to your objectives and brand ... all while delivering the highest-quality participant experience.
ELEVATE
EXPERIENCE AND CAPABILITIES
Whether it’s an intricate incentive trip, leadership conference, special event, or client advisory board, Creative Group has refined what’s possible for the last 53 years. Every project is multifaceted, and we polish each to perfection through creativity and attention to detail. Our capabilities include:
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Strategic Sourcing and Contracting
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Experience Design and Event Management
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Engagement Communications
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Production Design and Execution
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Travel Services - Air and Ground
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Attendee Experience Technology
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Channel Loyalty Programs
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Employee Engagement and Recognition
Explore our
case studies below
for examples of multi-program event experiences.
KEYS TO INSIGHTFUL RESOURCING
Our talented and tenured team understands that destination and hotel choices directly impact attendees’ opinions of Charter. Targeted, insightful sourcing helps establish program identity and experience expectations, thereby building events with your goals clearly in focus.
A discovery takes place with each Business Unit contact and the core Creative Group team prior to planning each event. Core questions include:
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WHO is your primary and secondary audience?
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WHAT is your purpose and desired outcome?
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HOW will you measure success?
In developing Charter’s 2026 incentive and meeting event budgets, estimates are based on the provided Event Details Overview. Our Experience Design and Sourcing team uses averages of current and historical programs Creative Group has operated.
DELIVERING DYNAMIC EXPERIENCES
WHAT OUR PARTNERS ARE SAYING
Dedication is a word Creative Group takes seriously; so is partnership.
To create the robust team needed for Charter’s full menu of events, the commitment starts at the top. Without senior executive support, the team is merely words on paper.
Charter has the commitment from our President, Janet Traphagen, our SVP Customer Experience & Insights, Melissa Van Dyke, and our VP Customer Experience, Mary Wysopal.
The key to an effective partnership at the account level is championed by your dedicated partner and consultant, Account Executives, Micki Collins or Brian Kelley.
Operationally, we propose the following team to serve Charter’s diverse event and audience needs:
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Your account is embraced by two Creative Group Executive Champions: Janet Traphagan, President of Creative Group and Scott Tarnoff, Regional VP of Sales.
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Your Account Executives, Micki Collins and Brian Kelley will remain as your business partners and consultants.
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Overseeing our Operations teams will be our Charter-dedicated Account Operations Manager (AOM). For Spectrum Reach, Stephanie Sorrells is continuing in her role as Event Marketing Strategist.
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Reporting to your AOM are Program Managers (PMs); Yes, we hear you…7 of the 13 opportunities take place in March/April. We recommend 5-7 individual program managers to allow focused program support over this condensed peak season.
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Reporting to your PMs are support team managers/specialists based on the event needs. These individuals could include Registration, Communication, Project, Event Technology, Design and Sourcing Managers, along with an Air Services team, Event Producer, Onsite staff, and additional event partners.
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Each dedicated team “path” is supported by your AOM who is involved in team calls and serves as a point of escalation.
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Our data practice helps us anticipate team member capacity and assignment of programs.
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Our structure ensures back up.
THE COMMITMENT
COMMITTED TO GIVING YOU OUR ALL
OUR DEDICATED TEAM
Janet Traphagan
President, Creative Group, Charter Communications Executive Sponsor
As Janet Traphagen says, “I didn’t seek out this industry; it found me – and it’s been a 30-year adventure.” She was part of Creative Group’s executive committee when the company was sold to Direct Travel in 2015. At that time, Janet was appointed president of Creative Group. Leading the organization, Janet focuses on setting the vision and helping the company achieve breakthrough performance. Her philosophy is always “human, over hype”. By getting very clear on Creative Group’s values, Janet encourages leadership initiatives that help people realize their full potential. She sees it as multiplying their talent, and she finds joy and fulfillment in helping people thrive.
Scott Tarnoff
Regional Vice President of Sales
Scott brings to Creative Group over 20 years of experience as a sales leader and individual contributor. His passion for helping clients maximize the performance of their employees and partners has led to long term partnerships within multiple verticals for some of the world's largest global brands. Scott holds a B.A. from the University of Iowa and is an outdoor enthusiast who loves to travel the world.
Micki Collins
Account Executive
Micki started her career with Creative Group in 2022. Succeeding in sales and advertising management roles in the Communications industry for many years, she learned that her strengths were in motivating, inspiring and leading teams to exceed goals and to better themselves. Micki chose to join the Creative Group team to do just that. Her expertise lies in the ability to integrate innovative strategies that drive her clients’ growth and success. Her knowledge of corporate acumen allows her to bring custom curated approaches to clients focusing on their business objectives to meet & exceed their goals, laser focused on the participant experience.
Brian Kelley
Vice President/Account Executive
Known for his creative and consultative approach, Brian is a 15-year Creative Group veteran. As Spectrum Reach’s internal advocate, Brian leads the internal strategic vision and communicates your broader objectives to the team. With over 25 years in the industry, including stints in advertising and experience marketing, Brian recognizes the big and small picture as well as all the details in between.
A true business partner is one who’s obsessed with your success.
Mutual success is about long-term sustainability.
It’s of utmost importance to choose a partner designed to thrive from the start.
Creative Group has consistently nailed each of these points to you over the years, and we want to continue doing so. We don’t claim to be perfect but rest assured, we are committed to reliably delivering excellence and continuously improving to meet your needs.
In partnership, Creative Group’s collaborative team composed of our VP of Finance, VP of Business Development, and dedicated Account Executives, customized a pricing plan for Charter. We believe this volume structure is fair, transparent, and advantageous.
VOLUME PRICING SLIDING SCALE STRUCTURE
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Award the programs that we have curated, planned and executed (Superstars, FOLC, CAB East & West and Holiday Parties) = 14% management fee.
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Award above programs + one (1) additional program to reach $6M – $7.99M =13.5% management fee
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$8M to $9.99M = 13% management fee
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$10M to11.99% = 12.5% management fee
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Over $12M = $12%
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Exclusions from the management fee include air, technology and staff expenses.
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Air is based on actual cost, no markup and a nominal service fee.
In addition, our team of Directors curated Preferred Volume Pricing for Charter:
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Communications
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Event App
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Registration Website
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Exclusive Gifting Partner Rebate
Click on the box below for details.
STRONGER TOGETHER
We Will...
Leverage cost savings across multiple programs
We will...
Endeavor to understand each business unit’s priorities and expectations
We Will..
Drive operational efficiencies to scale and manage the volume
We Will...
Elevate the attendee journey/experience
DELIVERING VALUE WITH PROGRAM VOLUME
THANK YOU.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to respond to your RFP and look forward to a fruitful partnership where shared philosophies, a customized approach, abundant experience, and true dedication come together to unlock amazing audience experiences.
