We See Solutions.™
“When you know more,
you can do more"

When the North Carolina Joint Underwriting Association (NCJUA) needed an event production partner for their critical board meeting, they turned to Encore to deliver a seamless two-day hybrid event that would connect and engage their important participants. Enter the tech-savvy Joanna and her team!
Joanna Brady Matthews
- 20+ yrs. of AV / technology event experience
- Thrilled by live productions
- A “classic country girl”
- Four-wheeling enthusiast
- Helps care for two close family members
- Has six adorable (outdoor) cats
The Challenge
When NCJUA’s remote audience increased from two to ten, and the in-person board member needs adjusted around the “U”-shape setup, Joanna and her team knew adapting their technical support would be crucial to deliver a seamless production experience.
A seasoned technician, Joanna understood the customer’s needs, from the distance of the in-room split screens and different views, including a robotic camera that caused switching complexities and readability issues, to elevated internet requirements and the right in-person table-top microphones to handle private side-bar conversations during live presentations.
The Solution
Passionate about solving challenges, Joanna anticipated needs the customer hadn’t originally expressed! She and her team recommended customed solutions to set NCJUA’s event up for success:
- In room, they included everything from a 55-inch confidence monitor and versatile push-to-talk microphones for the adjusted head count to hard-wired internet for secured speed and stability.
- For the dual-audiences and seamless board meeting, Joanna partnered with NCJUA’s IT Coordinator to build confidence and trust as she stepped in to cue up and advance content for a dynamic, switching production experience.
Key Solutions Used in This Story | ||
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Production / Show Management | Technology / Audiovisual Solutions | Infrastructure Services |
Staging Services Show Management | Audio Solutions Presenter Support | |
The Result
Thanks to Joanna and her team’s forward-thinking mindset, expertise and personalized solutions, NCJUA’s board meeting elevated from standard to standout! When the event had wrapped, the customer stated, “Everything went even better than we could’ve expected!”
Explore More Stories and Solutions.
From routine challenges to the moment of truth that threatens to derail your event, our people solve them flawlessly. Explore their stories.
We See Solutions.™
“When better is possible
good is not enough”

Eager to attract new distributors, jewelry designer Sara Blaine was planning a special event at Le Meridien Atlanta Perimeter to showcase her jewelry collection, eSBe. The event would be crucial for her small business, so she needed each of her current and new custom designs to dazzle. Enter Jazz and team – ready to deliver down to every last illuminating detail.
Jazz Thomas
- 10 yrs. of experience
- Over 1,500+ events
- Known for being "rock steady"
- Photographer for community-oriented events
- Proud owner of a pet cockatiel named Pepper
- Enjoys learning about new event technology and tools
The Challenge
With her jewelry showcase event just one week away, Sara visited the venue for a pre-event walk-through. She mentioned that she wished the ballroom where her custom designs would be displayed featured daylight lighting, which she felt would really make all of her jewelry pieces shine. As a natural troubleshooter, Jazz sprang into action to execute on her vision.The Solution
With over a thousand events under his belt, Jazz was able to use his lighting expertise and personal research to determine which new LED daylight fixtures would provide the right wattage, brightness and light beam pattern to source them. He then worked with Le Meridien to replace 25 key ballroom lights above the showcase tables with the new bulbs to ensure both Sara and her jewelry would be radiant at the event.Key Solutions Used in This Story | ||
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Production | Technology | |
Show Management | Audiovisual Solutions Lighting Solutions | |
Key Solutions Used in This Story | ||
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Production | ||
Technology |
The Result
Thanks to Jazz’s solution-oriented mindset, Sara’s event was a success. She was incredibly impressed with Jazz’s initiative, technical problem solving and the end result. The venue was equally pleased. The lighting fixtures he installed added such brilliance to the space that the venue itself decided to not only keep them in place but matched all lights in the ballroom to preserve the same ambiance. As for Sara, she continues to utilize Le Meridien and partner with Encore for her events, having seen Jazz go out of his way to elevate each detail, creating the right environment for an excellent experience.
Explore More Stories and Solutions.
From routine challenges to the moment of truth that threatens to derail your event, our people solve them
flawlessly. Explore their stories.
We See Solutions.™
“Where there's a
will, there's a way"

Nicole and team were unexpectedly given four hours to transform a hotel suite into an event hosted annually for women in leadership and VIP customers. Just 45 minutes before guests arrived, they learned an unexpected, framed sign for a major sponsor was too large to move up to the room. But that’s okay. This is what Encore’s people do every day.
Nicole Russell
- 20+ yrs. of experience
- 1,000+ events
- Single mom, 1 son
- Loves to travel
- Life coach/mentor
-
Plays piano, sings karaoke and
is a fan of 80s music
The Challenge
Encore in Sydney, Australia, never hesitates, even when there is a change in plan to the original timeline. This is exactly what happened when an unexpected late checkout left only four hours to set up an annual VIP event for key customers. Plus, an unexpected oversized framed branding sign for a major sponsor didn’t fit in the elevator or stairwell, and it couldn’t be disassembled. Just 45 minutes from doors opening and with two merchandise lines on display, it would have been an incredible missed opportunity to not set the stage.
The Solution
Noticing the sponsor was in a frenzy making calls for an alternative branding solution, Nicole thought fast on her feet with an idea. She engaged her production team to provide the perfect solution. The Encore team obtained sponsor approval and raced into action to deliver a monitor and supporting gear to the suite. The Coach® Australia logo was provided electronically and placed above the purse line display for all to see with 10 minutes to spare. Collaboration, on-site solutions and creative problem solving helped the team overcome unexpected obstacles.
Key Solutions Used in This Story | ||
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Technology | ||
Audiovisual Solutions |
The Result
With years of experience guiding the collaboration, Nicole led her team to seize the opportunity of turning the hotel suite into a special event for all participating. The client was thrilled to have such a successful event, and the sponsor was relieved to have their last-minute problem solved. The invitation-only luxe event was a brilliant success, and everyone got the VIP treatment.