One Check-In Table Became a Front-Row Seat to the Stories, Pride and Excitement Surrounding a Once-In-A-Generation Project
By Gina Stegner, SMS
Senior Account Executive
I’ve planned and worked a lot of events during my decades in communications. Although events are a lot of work, I genuinely love them. I love developing themes, working with vendors and community partners and finding the right location to bring people together.
The Best Part of Working Events
But what I love most is talking with the attendees and hearing their stories.
In May, Rasor was part of the groundbreaking for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project. I was stationed at the check-in table welcoming hundreds of construction workers, engineers, community leaders, politicians, government officials and members of the media. That spot gave me the opportunity to hear story after story from people who understood just how significant this project is for our region and beyond.
The People Behind the Project
One man told me he was thrilled to be part of building the bridge. When his company won the bid three years ago, he strategically planned his projects so he would be available once construction began. He’s not from Greater Cincinnati, but he said he wanted to be part of a bridge project that would impact travel across the country for generations. He’s now moving his loved ones here because Cincinnati will be home for the next eight years.
Conversations that Stayed with Me
I also had the opportunity to talk with Hilarious Scales. We first met at the controlled demolition of the Fourth Street Bridge in Northern Kentucky, but this was the first time we really had the chance to chat. I joked that my selfie with him was going to make my young adult children think I’m cool, and he laughed while telling me about his rise to fame with Gen Z. Throughout the day, I watched government officials, laborers and engineers line up to grab a selfie with him.
At one point, a very well-known local politician approached the table and simply gave me his last name as if I might not recognize him. When I immediately responded that I knew exactly who he was, he seemed genuinely humbled by it.
An assistant to a congressperson shared how honored their entire team felt to finally see this bridge move from conversations and planning into reality.
Several members of the media told me they couldn’t believe the groundbreaking was finally happening after covering discussions surrounding the bridge for years.
Others shared memories of growing up in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, remembering when the current bridge was built and talking about their hopes for the future of the region.
That’s the part of communications and public engagement work I never get tired of. Behind every major project, press conference, groundbreaking or event are real people who see themselves in the outcome. Some see opportunity. Some see progress. Some see the future of their hometown. Some simply feel proud to witness history being made.
And for a few hours at a check-in table, I had the chance to hear all of it.
Rasor is an award-winning agency in Cincinnati, delivering marketing, communications, design, event planning and public relations strategies to industries including healthcare, municipal and infrastructure and B2B/B2C. Want to learn more about how Rasor can help you make your next event a success? Contact us at info@gorasor.com or 513-793-1234.