And the Oscar goes to…

No, that’s not Russel Crowe in the Gladiator. It’s L!VE’s very own Doug Maynard, who was awarded the 2023 Engager Award at our annual Strive Awards on March 16.

We had a blast transforming our internal Associate Achievement Awards into a full Oscar-style production this year. And when we say full production, we mean it. We built a 16-foot stage and scenic backdrop at our Cincinnati facility and equipped the room with full audio, lighting and projection capabilities, and banquet seating complete with branded centerpieces for more than 100 people.

Just like the Oscars, we had a professional voiceover talent announce the nominees of each category, such as The Problem Solver, which recognized creative thinking and best practices to find the perfect solution for complex problems, and The Road Warrior, which honored a jet-setting associate who excels in the demands of a hectic travel schedule with zero hesitation, willingness, and a can-do attitude.

“Our people are one of our biggest differentiators,” said Rusty Ranney, President and CEO of L!VE. “It’s their creativity, ingenuity, and passion for creating a true human connection at every event, brand activation, scenic experience and video production that makes our work special, and they deserve to be recognized and awarded for their accomplishments.”

We also honored team members who have reached 5, 10, 15, and 20 years of service. We had five staff members celebrating 20 years with L!VE!

In addition to the awards, we also had numerous giveaways during the event as well as interactive trivia games, where selected audience members participated in a series of custom activities.

It was the type of memorable, highly engaging experience that L!VE is known for, but this time it was to honor our own staff. We had a great afternoon celebrating the incredible work our team does for our clients, and it was a nice opportunity to shine the light on those who usually work behind the scenes in making all our events extraordinary.