Facilitation, Speaking & Conferences

MonkeyBar Management facilitates and produces innovative, personalized events and educational/training programs for executive peer groups, nonprofit organizations, and sales/leadership teams. Our training/speaking/facilitation work centers around leadership and vision, change management, strategic planning, sales training, and creating a dynamic strengths-focused organization. No two sessions are alike (and it’s hard to capture people “thinking differently” on camera!), but we hope to intrigue you to think about your own session / event possibilities with some of our recent work. See all photos.

  • "Beecher's Loft" at the Seattle Public Market was a spectacular venue!
  • Unique private meeting venues became a 'brand standard' for our EAGL group events during the pandemic.
  • "Teamwork makes the dream work" ... and it works even better when you have a plan and a coach!
  • Like so mamy things, collaboration is simple in theory... challenging in reality. #TeamGrowth
  • Teams learning to innovate and "fail faster" via the Marshmallow Challenge in the gorgeous LaunchPad space in Bemidji, MN
  • It only looks like a church ... but there was a lot of "Sales Gospel According to Corey" this week at a training session for a dynamic team who is ready to ROCK their sales goals this season!!

Executive Academy for Growth & Leadership

MBM is proud to help produce EAGL – a one year “mini-MBA style” certification program for commercial horticulture (culminating in a certification from Texas A&M University). Our ‘wow’ business-relevant content doesn’t inspire a ton of photo-worthy visuals, but destinations and interactions are designed to be inspiring to the group of participating business owners, pushing their businesses to new levels of profitability and relevance. See all photos.

  • The proud EAGL Kappa cohort at commencement ceremony in Austin, TX.
  • EAGL Alumni at the Villa La Foce garden during the EAGL Explorations tour to Italy, fall 2016
  • Our fourth (Epsilon) class of EAGLs in the midst of their inaugural strategy session, kicking off their 9 month certification program in Applied Horticultural Business Management (via Texas A&M University)
  • A part of our EAGL Alumni group getting ready to fly high at the first Delta Track reunion.
  • An aerial ropes course was a part of our Delta Track reunion program, pushing business leaders to personal growth at the edges of their comfort zones. We love taking businesses to new heights - literally and figuratively!
  • The EAGL Marketing Module takes place at the Hyatt Lodge at McDonald's "Hamburger University" corporate campus, where we snagged the opportunity to snap a class photo (Beta group) with the iconic Ronald!

London Inspirations

Some of our client consulting work is with retailers, we pride ourselves on staying current with visual merchandising trends and innovative retail and food concepts that resonate with consumers. The MonkeyBar team finds inspiration everywhere… and we’re always planning future Adventures!
See all photos.

  • An inspiring (temporary) multimedia museum-quality installation showcasing the history of Prada.
  • Repurposed shipping containers and bright colors create unexpectedly cool restaurant structure.
  • Change your perspective!
  • Scale, color and the element of surprise creates drama.
  • Kellee & Corey: stunning Pradasphere exhibition at Harrods (May 2014)
  • Color, drama and scale! Nobody does it better than Chihuly...

Executive Safari Retreat

MBM produced a Strategic Business Adventure Safari in South Africa in Feb 2013, bringing together like-minded independent business owners eager to explore the future of their industry and their own businesses in a luxury adventure facilitated learning environment. Educational outcomes included: communication clarity, strategic leadership, future visioning, systems for exceptional service, and self reflection. See all photos.

  • South African Springboks became one of the official beverages of the group, toasting successes and new friends along the way!
  • The educational outcome of each day was focused by a 'Thought of the Day' distributed and discussed by the group.
  • Stunning and high-quality wildlife sightings separate this from other safari experiences.
  • Naturalist ranger guides pause to share even the smallest miracles of nature...
  • Mama lioness and playful new cubs frolic and welcome us to our first game drive.
  • We share the safari lodge with playful ververt monkeys and mischevious baboons!

Farm-to-Fork Dinner

This private event with the theme “Farm-to-Fork” was produced at a private home in Wayzata, MN on Lake Minnetonka, designed to showcase the local and organic farms of Minnesota to the guest of honor, Jamie Durie, star of HGTV’s “The Outdoor Room”. In addition to a room frame created from burlap and dramatic lighting to set the scene, the event featured die-cut menus in the shape of the state of MN, seed packet placecards set in fresh potatoes and corn, and a creative organic / local menu elegantly presented by the talented team at Tastebud Catering. Hosted by Monrovia and VPG. See all photos.

  • A drinks and hors d'oeurves station out in the lawn - featuring fresh local strawberry margaritas and a craft beer tasting - drew guests out towards the lake before sunset.
  • Heirloom seed packets became personalized placecards (set into fresh ears of corn), hosta leaves from the yard were coasters. Printed menu was in the shape of the state of Minnesota.
  • The warm glow of the paper lanterns created the perfect dinner atmosphere as the sun went down. (Using remote control LEDs made turning them on/off easy!)
  • Mix & match chairs were tied together with floursack napkins and simple ribbon. Dramatic burlap curtains in a temporary installation created visual boundaries for the outdoor room.
  • As the sun went down the canopy of varied size lights created perfect ambiance. The contrast of the square plates/table and the globe lights was by design.
  • For the farm-to-fork dinner, assorted heirloom tomato seed packets (from Otten Bros!) were transformed into placecards with die cut ovals, then slipped into grooves cut into purple potatoes and half-ears of sweet corn. (Next time I'd paint the bottoms of the packets with a shellac to make them hold up a bit better in moisture). You can also see the stunning (!!) rustic elegance floral arrangement from Bachmans in this shot, and coasters for water glasses are hosta leaves cut from yard.

Northwoods Sunset Campfire Event

MBM was hired to design a business book launch of OPTIMIZE (TopRank Marketing, author Lee Odden). The Minnesota company wanted to infuse a sense of ‘North Woods Summer Evening’ into the empty warehouse theatre space, creating an elegant event for 200 guests. MBM orchestrated creative supplier partners to the table to supply dramatic lighting, innovative plants/floral decor and props – including river rocks, mason jars, candles, and lacquered stumps – stretching the budget to create impressive effect that set the scene for casually elegant audience interaction. See all photos.

  • Using the varnished stumps for varied buffet height was one of my favorite low-cost effects!
  • ... rest assured, the MonkeyBar team has the bar covered!
  • Central elevated (30") section of the buffet was a rock ring & firebowl featuring a mass of votives surrounded by firewood to create a faux campfire. Decorative marshmallow skewers and evergreen branches in moss covered 'logs' created 4' tall floral displays on each side to reinforce the theme.
  • The atmosphere-creating LED uplights and gobos (Rosco) were brilliantly designed & installed by the AV For You team.
  • Budget was kept in check by choosing poly linens in natural colors (Vendor: Apres Party), Drama in the 2-story space was created by strategic LED uplighting and gobo placement (Vendor: AV for You).
  • River rocks, cut white pine branches, and pillar candles in quart mason jars were cost-effective centerpieces - we mixed & matched centerpieces with 4 variations (stunning amber gel gobos - vendor: Rosco via AV For You - on the raw brick walls in the background).