Whether we are orchestrating an event for hundreds of people or thousands, we craft moments that move, delight, and unite people. In partnership with visionary clients, our team creates and designs unforgettable experiences that deliver high impact returns.

THE AFTER PARTY

NBC News, MSNBC & Comcast NBC Universal

In 2009, Dufour & Co was hired to create a signature event for MSNBC that would rise above the frenzied of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) Dinner weekend as a must-attend soiree. From the very first year, “The After Party” was immediately one of the most sought-after invitations for Members of Congress, Ambassadors, celebrities and journalists, while maintaining an intimate feel. We transformed the exteriors and interiors of the Embassy of Italy, the National Building Museum, the United States Institute of Peace and the Organization of American States into high end, elegant party atmospheres with an intimate feel. From curated brand experiences custom-designed for major sponsors like Johnny Walker, interactive guest experiences using cutting-edge event technology such as 360 cameras, and whimsical culinary offerings including food trucks and pancake artists, Du4 brings fresh excitement and intrigue to this iconic event each year.

With more than 700 high profile guests in attendance, The After Party remains the hottest ticket in town. Having helped MSNBC to establish their brand in a unique, attractive and effective way, this event is now co-hosted by NBC News, MSNBC & Comcast.

MINORITY CORPORATE COUNSEL ASSOCIATION

Diversity Gala

The Minority Corporate Counsel Association hosts an annual black tie gala to present their Diversity Awards. We were initially contracted to provide guest management and seating support for the Gala when it was held in New York City at Alice Tully Hall. Following a successful first year, MCCA contracted with Dufour to oversee the entire production as well as guest management for this signature fundraising event with close to 1,000 guests. For 2014, the event was moving for the first time to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the pressure was high to create an event with a smaller budget but just as much excitement for guests and sponsors as in previous years in New York City.

We collaborated with MCCA to design a complete event experience that would appeal to guests and satisfy sponsors, including managing the budget, full production services with high profile entertainment, seating management and sponsor package fulfillment, brand placement and décor design including menu selection.

The first year at the new venue proved to be the most successful Diversity Gala to date; the overall event raised more funds and delivered under budget. We continue to work with MCCA annually, working to keep the event running on time and delivering a great guest and sponsor experience.

TARGET

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Opening

As a sponsor of the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Target was invited to participate in the opening weekend Festival. As a long-time partner of Target, we were brought on board to design and produce Target’s activation at the Festival. We were tasked with ensuring Target’s production was appropriate to Museum guidelines and the tenor of the weekend while also reflecting the corporate brand. We served as primary point of contact for the Museum, United States Secret Service, National Park Service and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival team.

Situated on the Washington Monument grounds, Target’s Making History social media tent was one of the most popular offerings for the tens of thousands of guests attending the Museum opening weekend. Participants completed postcards, posted on Instagram, enjoyed a 360 camera and also enjoyed charging stations. The social media activations resulted in more than 30,000 impressions in addition to more than 10,000 postcards mailed.

MICHIGAN STATE SOCIETY

Inaugural Gala 2017

After many Inaugurations executing a gala with another firm, The Michigan State Society hired Dufour & Co to bring a fresh and modern approach to this elegant and iconic event. Collaborating closely with the event committee, we created a unique atmosphere for attendees to celebrate their love for The Great Lakes State. This monthslong process included starting from scratch on every element of the event—creating sponsorship packages, a complete theme, look and feel for the event itself, a website and invitation platform, and of course every detail of the event itself.

The result was guests entering a completely transformed space efficiently and safely, quickly moving into the National Museum of American History to enjoy a band of Police Detectives from Flint, Michigan, a Motown lounge, and Vernors ice cream floats. We worked hand in hand with the staff of the Michigan Congressional Delegation to ensure that every constituent had a home base for the event through a dedicated website, email account, and phone line. By activating our strong partnership with the National Park Service and other major federal agencies, our team was ideally suited to provide real-time updates on road and metro closings to our guests to ensure their smooth arrival.

The Michigan State Society has asked us to return for their next Inaugural Gala and we also provide association management and consultation services to the Society between Galas.

LIVING CITIES

Innovation Teams Convening & 25th Anniversary Convening and Celebration

Living Cities is a national non-profit organization that regularly hosts convenings as a part of their work to address the challenge of people living in poverty in urban settings. Recognizing their established reputation as a convener and builder of networks among urban government professionals, Bloomberg Philanthropies in 2015 tapped Living Cities to organize and host three convenings a year for their Innovation Teams (i-teams). Living Cities does not employ any meeting or event professionals and approached Dufour with a challenge: the organization was fully capable of the content delivery required for these convenings but the logistics of planning each event were burning out their staff and increasing turnover rates. Dufour was hired to collaborate with Living Cities on the design of the agenda for the three i-teams convenings, each with approximately 100 attendees.

We quickly integrated our team with the Living Cities team to select a venue (United States Institute of Peace) and design a convening agenda that would allow attendees to experience firsthand the progress made in the host city. Tasked with “getting out of the hotel” and really seeing the host city while balancing a content-heavy schedule, we successfully planned and executed custom designed tours of the host city’s innovation projects, two off-site meals at local restaurants and an entire session built around one of the city’s most iconic historic sites. We were able to increase the production value of the convening and allow the Living Cities staff to fully focus on content delivery, improving the overall outcome of the convening. Dufour was also enlisted to produce Living Cities 25th Anniversary Convening in Washington, DC.