Hi, I’m Grail!

I started this agency to create a place where clients would feel at home and employees would love to work: A place where we create exceptional experiences for the brands we are lucky enough to work with.

How I spend my days:

Strategy | Leadership | Design | Business Development | Company Growth | Mentorship | Purpose | Contracting | Public Speaking | Creating shareable moments that matter | making the team laugh when things are too serious.

Experience:

• 25+ years in event marketing, sponsorship and communications.
• Worked on the “client side” with YTV, the NBA, Molson and The Heart & Stroke 
 Foundation, gaining valuable experience in the international media, sports, 
 non-profit, retail and in consumer packaged goods.
• Oversaw sponsorships, events and promotions for brands like Coke, Nike, 
 Nestle, and on the Molson Indy Car races. Also worked as a snowboarding 
 instructor in Switzerland and a bartender in Portugal!
• Proud of being listed on the Profit 100 for 5 years and on the W100 top female 
 entrepreneurs in Canada. Winner of the regional RBC Female Entrepreneur of 
 the Year and won the BDO Business Value award. But it is not about the 
 awards. It’s about the daily reward I get working with creative, smart people internally and externally. I am very proud of this agency, our people and the 
 work we do!

What I love:

Being an entrepreneur | white wine or a good Moscow Mule | my family | my ‘side-hustle’ as a dedicated hockey mom to my two boys | mashed potatoes | travel | cottage life | my husband, Paul and our two bossy grey cats.

Hi, I’m Val!

How I spend my days:

I like numbers. Actually, I love numbers!

I help our project teams ensure each line item, of every budget, for each and every client project is accounted for and accurate. I also oversee cash flow, accounts payable, HR & payroll and find savings for our clients wherever I can.

Experience:

• 14+ years’ experience in Finance managing accounts payable & receivable, cash flow, budget reconciliation, payroll, detailed project budgeting and overseeing bookkeeping functions for small to medium businesses.
• Spent the last 9 years helping YHE grow by implementing strong financial and budgeting rigour and processes.
• Earned a reputation as one of the country’s most reliable, detailed and disciplined event agency finance experts.

What I love:

Happy clients, balanced budgets, Albania, cooking, travel, my family and my little angel, Ani, who is 3 and the boss of all of us.

Hi, I’m Graham!

I am a finder of awesome, a curator of cool, and I have created all types of events and experiences for some of North America’s biggest brands.

How I spend my days:

I start each day with a coffee in-hand, on my “inspiration hour”. I look for new ideas, designs and textures, tech innovations, activations, destinations, and new venues. Of course, my day is also spent on the practical stuff: rolling up my sleeves to dig into our processes, budgets, curating great experiences from ideation to execution, and storytelling for our clients and their brands. I am passionate about mentorship and guiding the team on their journeys as they grow and learn. I also spend time building our client relationships and seeking new business opportunities and partnerships.

Experience:

• 16+ years in experiential marketing, sponsorship, and creating integrated marketing campaigns across North America.
• Led teams overseeing event design and production on large and small conferences and tradeshows, cross-country XM tours, high-profile product launches, galas, VIP incentive trips, and awards programs, delivering meaningful event metrics.
• Created and managed experiences for brands like P&G (Canada and USA), Pepsi, Disney, Bombay Sapphire Gin, IKEA, and Skip.
• Also worked on producing cartoons overseas, media planning, and buying and decorating dream homes!

What I love: 

A “creative” at my core, I love finding inspo in unexpected things around me | My husband Rob & our beautiful dog Zoey | Anything Christmas, (I own an ornament line!) | A connoisseur of coleslaw | Travel & adventures like white-water rafting or mountain biking | Long drives | Mentoring LGBTQ+ youth through the Project Violet initiative.

How I spend my days:

Creatively conceptualizing narratives | creating moments of wonder, inspiration or curiosity | event coordination | vendor management | writing show-flows and production schedules| stage managing on-site | collaborating with A/V | overseeing production processes

Experience:

• 17+ years in production, immersive narrative and experience design
• 4 years producing offline to online workflow for TV and Film
• Stage-managing large-scale festival events (such as TIFF)
• Creating and producing immersive narrative theatre in Toronto, NYC and LA
• On-site event management

What I love:

Being awed | unplugged 90s music | solo adventures to faraway places | being the social convener of my friend tribe | painting with my daughter | the thrill of watching people in an experience I’ve created!

Hi, I’m Sophie (Sophia on the weekends!)

How I spend my days:

Coordinating projects | securing & managing vendors | hunting for cool stuff | updating project plans | budgets & blueprints | taking mad notes | venue sourcing | traveling to cool places | social media | on-site event coordination | dotting the “i”s | mixing the post work drinks!

Experience:

• A degree from Queen’s University.
• At YellowHouse I have gained experience working on 25+ events in Toronto, California, Banff, Whistler, Winnipeg and Costa Rica!
• Side Hustle: I save lives in my spare time. Well, ok, I am a part- time lifeguard and haven’t had to save anyone yet, but I am ready!

What I love:

Travel | going to live sporting events with my dad | working out | jaeger & sprite | mushroom pies | spending time with friends | swimming & playing tennis.

Hi there. I am Danielle Groulx. And yes, the X is silent!

How I spend my days:

New ideas | venue sourcing | securing & managing vendors | managing budgets | space design & decor | on-site event management | designing activations | creative & graphic design | production | bringing ideas to life!

Experience:

I spent several years in customer service within the hospitality industry before I joined KPMG in Recruitment and HR. There, I learned the nuances of company structure, people management, processes, and procedures. But my true passion for creativity, design, decor and curating exceptional live experiences ultimately led me to YHE, where I love to bring unforgettable events to life!

What I love:

Travelling | Pilates and yoga | Vintage clothing | Being the designated chef for my friends and family | Music festivals | Spicy margaritas on a sunny patio | Documentaries | Making new connections around the world.

HELLO! It’s Alisha.

How I spend my days:

Producing successful events, incentive trips & conferences | collaborating with the YHE team | reviewing contracts | managing group hotel & air travel | designing bespoke experiences around the world | producing conferences & business events that exceed expectations | consulting | budget & project management | account & relationship management | traveling to interesting places | mentorship

Experience:

• 15+ years of event and marketing agency experience with a focus on scalable incentive group travel
• Event & Account Management leader in the financial, automotive, public and private sectors
  Producer of multiple successful conferences, product launches, trade shows, fundraisers, retreats and incentive travel programs
• Side Hustles: Planning social & community events & curating personalized cocktails

What I love:

My Job! | Travel | Reposado Tequila | Amateur Chef | Carnival | Painting | Dashboard & Shower Karaoke 😉 | My 2 kiddos | Foodie | Coach© Purses | Nail Art | Music is LIFE!

Hi, I’m Laura!

With 12 years of marketing expertise in the B2B space, I’ve created campaigns worldwide and have also led programs from Iceland to New York City, spanning intimate gatherings to events for over 8000 attendees.

How I spend my days:

Creating annual event strategies for brand and agencies | Orchestrating seamless Events | Navigating B2B Marketing opportunities

Experience:

Partnering with tech giants, I’ve made my mark by elevating brands globally. From product launches to industry conferences, I thrive on turning visions into reality. I have worked on both the agency and the client side, allowing me to bring valuable insights to every project.

What I love:

Cherishing Moments with my Daughters | Embracing an Active Lifestyle | Teeing off on the Golf Course | Supporting the Toronto Maple Leafs!

Hi, I’m Jen!

How I spend my days:

Helping the YHE team find new and exciting clients and business partners in the United States. My job includes uncovering great new vendors and unique experiences to help us better serve our existing clients, as well as developing new relationships. I’m based in the event and entertainment capital of the world …. Las Vegas!

Experience:

• 13 years in Sports Marketing in Toronto
• Local Business Development for Yellow House Events
• Teaching graduate students in the Sport Camp; Event Marketing program at George Brown College

What I love: 

Travel, wine, and current events. Also my two daughters and four (badly behaved) pets.

My favourite destination? Too many to pick but Maui, Kenya and France’s wine country top the list. I’m also an adoption advocate and wannabe yogi. Namaste!

Hi, I’m Meg!

How I spend my days:

I lead key accounts | design experiences | mentor the team | set best practices and impact key business decisions on our management team. I am based in Montreal, so I spend a lot of time on video calls and planes.

Experience:

• Co-built Yellow House as the first official employee and now leader of the team.
• 12+ years of event production experience layered on a post-grad degree in Communications & PR.
• Developed and refined our execution processes, grew key accounts including Samsung, BlackBerry, Google, Home Depot and continue to oversee some of our most complex projects across North America and the Caribbean.

What I love:

What I do. I also love spreadsheets, my clients, “calling the show” from the tech table, poutine and pizza (but not together), checking out new restaurants and trendy hot spots, attending live sporting events, travel, the beach, my family and my military man.

Hi, I’m Sasha!

How I spend my days:

Contributing to the project teams on XM programs | Content creation | On-site event management from set-up to tear-down | Vendor and venue research | Attendee management | Vendor procurement and contracting | Database management | Research | Design.

Experience:

• Spearheaded key projects at Loblaws Companies Limited and Chartright Air Group, in the procurement department, increasing reporting accuracy and streamlining processes so teams could deliver smoother, more impactful projects.
• Worked in fast-paced customer service roles for 5+ years – from private golf clubs to the corporate world to grocery chains – learning how to stay calm under pressure and create memorable guest experiences.
• Graduate from Western University with an Honours in Business Management & Legal Studies. Also served as Director of Marketing for ACE Western, leading digital campaigns, managing content for a chapter of 200+ delegates, and exploring my interest in content creation.
• Joined YHE to bring my love of organized chaos, attention to detail, and positive energy to unforgettable experiences.

What I love:

Cottage time | My lovable “dumpster cat” | Live music | Finding new & fun recipes to try | Spending quality time with my friends and family | Going on unexpected adventures | Travel | A well-organized spreadsheet.

Hi, I’m Finn!

How I spend my days:

Creating experiences | Venue and supplier sourcing & management | Budgeting and scheduling | Sales and proposal generation | Shipping coordination | Registration management | Research and reporting | Design mockups and idea boards | On-site execution and travel | Always carrying a creative journal to capture new ideas.

Experience:

• Helped build a 6-person healthcare startup right out of school, juggling brand, product, sales, and financial strategy. I now mentor young founders who are figuring it out for the first time.
• Spent 5+ years in customer and professional service roles, from fine dining to private clubs, learning how to listen for, and anticipate, client needs.
• Studied neuroscience and psychology because I’m endlessly curious about what makes us tick and how moments turn into memories.
• Joined YHE to bring that mix of curiosity, creativity, and calm under pressure into experiences that surprise, delight, and stick with you.

What I love:

Gathering friends for shared moments and meals | Satiating my curiosity through reading | Running in the warm summer rain | Singing around a campfire | Long, inspired chats at cozy cafes | Adventure travel and backpacking | Coaching young startup founders through ‘aha’ moments.

Hi, I’m Paul!

How I spend my days:

Consulting with the team on sporting events & festivals | education | research & development | travel | hotel sourcing for incentive travel programs | HR & hiring | internal company events | business development, but most importantly, frequently changing the lightbulbs in the office. [Really, I am the Chief Illumination Officer].

Experience:

• 30 years as an educator, PHD candidate in History with a deep knowledge of Toronto’s neighbourhoods through my studies of the “Ward” and Group of Seven artist Lawren Harris’ urban paintings. I have read over 100 books on this subject.
• Organizer of city-wide sporting events, including the tournament design of the inaugural MLSE Team Up Challenge.
• Chair and organizer of an international conference for principals and educators, walking tour guide, carpenter.

What I love:

Sports: watching them, playing them or watching my boys play them. Travel | cottaging | being on the water | fixing and building things | reading | scrabble | Jamaican food | Lugtread (it’s a beer not a tire type).

How I spend my days:

Supporting events on-site | Always ensuring attendees have what they need | event set-up and tear-down | customer service | registration and attendee check in | valet services | building activations | database management | research | bartending and food service (Smartserve Certified).

Experience:

• I have worked on-site at a wide variety of events in customer-facing roles
• I was one of a team of Event hosts at 2x 350-person “Skip the Dishes” Ski Trips in Banff (March/April 2022). Hosted guests and oversaw one of the key venues and hotels.
• Organized guest transportation to and from ski hills and dinners throughout Banff
• Oversaw the concierge and check-in desk, ensuring each guest received their ski rentals and arrival information and custom activity calendars.
• I have also worked as a valet and guest services host at the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. Let’s just say, I have driven some nice cars in that time!

What I love: 

All Sports | Playing Hockey for the Sackville Blazers in Halifax | Travel | My Oversized Cat | Spending time with Friends | Music | Watching Bingeworthy series’ | writing | cooking

How I spend my days:

Supporting events on-site | hosting attendees | event set-up and tear-down | customer service | registration and attendee check in | building activations | database management | research | bartending and food service (Smartserve Certified).

Experience:

• Completing my honours degree at Western University in Legal studies and Business Management.
• 4 years of customer-facing roles.
• Experience as a lead bartender with a strong knowledge of cocktail creation, wine regions, tasting notes, pricing, distilling/brewing/vinification process, etc. I can make a tasty simple syrup, clarifying cocktails, dehydrating garnishes, juice pearls, etc.)
• I was one of a team of Event hosts at 2x 350-person “Skip the Dishes” Ski Trips in Banff (March/April 2022). Hosted guests and oversaw one of the key venues and hotels.
• Organized guest transportation to and from ski hills and dinners throughout Banff
• Oversaw the concierge and check-in desk, ensuring each guest received their ski rentals and arrival information and custom activity calendars.
• I have also worked as a boat taxi captain, construction and building decks and was Sailing Head at the Ojibway Club, setting curriculum and safety plans for campers.

What I love: 

Travel | Spending time with Friends | Sailing | Playing and Watching Sports | Music | Cooking

We are always looking for great talent! Send your impressive CV to iwantin@yellowhouseevents.com. Want to build your event experience? Email us to get on our volunteer list or our short term staffing list. We also accept interns enrolled in an accredited PR, Marketing or Events program and promise great hands-on learning to those selected.