Help Us Donate to After School All-Stars
HELP US SUPPORT AFTER SCHOOL ALL-STARS
R&D Events has teamed up with our friends at After School All-Stars to help raise money for their upcoming soccer tournament. Each year, nearly 350 kids play in the annual After School All-Star soccer tournament in Las Vegas and receive a soccer ball for participating. R&D Events has pledged to donate one soccer ball for every 10 “Likes” we get on our Facebook Page.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LIKE US
It is simple, all you have to do is click the “LIKE” button on the R&D Events Facebook Page and we will donate One Size 5 soccer ball for every “10″ new likes that we get on our profile. Share this link with as many people as you can and you be helping a child in need in the Las Vegas Valley, not to mention be following one of the coolest company’s on the planet!
LIKE US: HERE
Tis the Season for Cheap Wigs
WHO DOESN’T LIKE A GOOD WIG?
As the Halloween season is quickly digested by the all-consuming Christmanukkah holiday (Christmas-Hanukkah-Kwanzaa), stores throughout the country try and figure out what to do with their left over Halloween costume displays. {Insert R&D Events} With prices slashed to nearly 90%, we take full advantage of this post-Halloween smorgasbord every year by stock piling on wigs, costumes and just about anything else that we can use for one of our nearly two dozen events. We in-turn use all of these costumes as props in our 60 Seconds Flat, Battle of the Bands, Mission: Las Vegas, and just about every other event we offer. Over the past ten years we have found that anytime people have the opportunity to dress-up in costume, they will take full advantage of it. I will have to admit, there is something about sporting a mullet wig that makes team building just that much more fun.
R&D Events is the country’s most unique and diversified team building company. With nearly two decades of experience, the team at R&D Events has redefined the art of team work and has designed more than two dozen unique and fun events that will help strengthen your company’s ability to work together. Call us today to get your team back on track! www.rndevents.com
Photo of the Day: November 2, 2011
PAINTING WITH A PURPOSE
The R&D Events team spent the afternoon spray painting 220 drumsticks for next weeks Jam Session event. At the event, each team will get a different color drumstick which will signify their specific team color as well as provide them with an additional “instrument”. This unique Corporate Social Responsibility event is quickly becoming one of the most talked about events throughout the team building community and by far one of the most rewarding events that we offer; both for the students that receive the instruments and for our clients.
If you want to learn more about Jam Session or any of the nearly two dozen unique and award winning team building events that we have to offer, you can visit us online at rndevents.com.
MORE INFORMATION If you are looking to design a custom event with charitable ties, R&D Events can help. We are the leaders in Corporate Social Responsibility events and we travel throughout the United States partnering with local charities and organizations that have a passion for their communities. Contact us today to learn more!
Corporate Social Responsibility Team Building
TEAM BUILDING WITH A HIGHER PURPOSE: R&D Events recently had the opportunity to partner again with our good friends at EPI-USE to produce a custom Corporate Social Responsibility event that we dubbed “The Ultimate Charity Challenge”. A blend of high energy, interactive games paired in a partnership with local charities made this a truly unique and rewarding experience for every attendee. With the event taking place at the Marriott Harbor Beach in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, R&D Events sought out four local charities that were making an impact in South Florida and designed an interactive game show that would not only be fun, but rewarding for all who attended.
EVENT OVERVIEW Throughout the course of two hour event, participants competed in a variety of games that were not only highly engaging, but served a deeper purpose. We kicked the event off with a one hour game show that included music trivia, Minute to Win It inspired games, as well as an over-the-top version of our award-winning musical chair scavenger hunt game (always a crowd favorite). This first hour was designed to help raise the energy level in the room as well as allow the attendees and their families (spouses and children are encouraged to attend) to simply let loose. Following the game show portion of the event, we invited each of the selected charities up on stage for a one-on-one interview with our emcee. This allowed the audience to learn a little bit more about each charity and how their donation will benefit the local area. Following each interview, the audience would then engage in an activity that would benefit each cause. The selected charities and their partnered games were as follows:
- Women in Distress of Broward County: WID is a local women’s shelter that provides a safe haven for battered and abused women. We designed a game called “Tower of Hope” in which participants were given toilet paper, paper towels and tissue boxes and were instructed to build the tallest structure using only those items. The team with the tallest structure would win the game and would be awarded with the privileged of presenting the $1,000donation check to the charity. Following the event, all of the toiletry items (along with an additional $1,500 in sheets, pillows, and other “wish list” items) were donated and delivered to the shelter.
- The Humane Society of Broward County: Following the Humane Society’s presentation, which included a cameo appearance from “Digger the Dog” (the Humane Society mascot), teams were provided with a basket filled with either cat or dog toys that they would then need to transform into a stylish, gift basket. Following the game, all of the gift baskets were donated to the Humane Society, who in-turn, will use them as gifts for people who adopt a dog or cat from their shelter. In addition to the gift baskets, we also partnered with EPI-USE to donate a state-of-the-art HD camera as well as a friend for “Digger the Dog”. As with all of the charities, we sat down with the staff at the Humane Society and asked them, “what do you really need?” Their response, “Scratchers”; a cat mascot that we can use for presentations at schools and charity events. So, we got them a mascot…definitely one of the most unique and memorable donations we have ever made.
- The Everglades Foundation: This organization is helping to restore the Everglades, a fragile and neglected ecosystems that not only supports the 7 million people living in Southern Florida with drinking water, but the nearly 100 million tons of produce that the US consumes each year. Since a monetary donation was most needed by this charity, we decided to onve again include a partnership with Women in Distress for their charitable game. So, we had teams assemble a 2′ x 5′ , 48-piece puzzle that depicted images from the Everglades. Following the game, all of the puzzles were donated to the Women in Distress children’s therapy room, and the Everglades Foundation were provided with a check for $1,500.
- Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation: We saved what we believed would be our most impactful presentation for the end, as we knew that their message would would truly touch the hearts of everyone in the room. The JJCCF serves a truly noble cause within Southern Florida; children with cancer. Their mission is to help support families who are struggling to make end’s meet as they care for their child who is battling cancer. The stories told by the presenters had everyone in the room moved, including the team at R&D Events. Following their presentation, all of the children in the room gathered up on stage to present a $2,500 check to the JJCCF which received a standing ovation.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY R&D Events considers themselves blessed to have the opportunity to partner with clients that have a passion for giving back. Corporate Social Responsibility is not a fad; it is a way of life for some companies. And even in a troubled economy, it is so moving to see companies like EPI-USE donate a portion of their bottom-line and give back to a community like Ft. Lauderdale that is truly in need. The impact from this event will surely stick with us for years to come.
- Founders of R&D Events delivering the donation to Women in Distress
MORE INFORMATION If you are looking to design a custom event with charitable ties, R&D Events can help. We are the leaders in Corporate Social Responsibility events and we travel throughout the United States partnering with local charities and organizations that have a passion for their communities. Contact us today to learn more!
All Work and No Play
IT HAS TO BE FUN
What is the point of working all day if you never get the chance to have any fun? At R&D Events, we take fun seriously – that is why when the skies are blue and the water is calm you are almost guaranteed to find us out on the water for a few mid-day laps around the lake. Today we took the team out to Lake Mead in Southern Nevada for a 3 hour water-ski session. The glass calm water made for some epic conditions and the talent aboard the S.S. R&D had everyone pushing the envelope. Joining us on our R&D Events team outing today were:
Geoff Rhodes: Co-founder and National Sales Manager who is known more for his prowess on the mountains than the water.
JP DeLay: Co-founder and head of Operations who is also a world class water-skier, bare footer, wakeboarder and just about anything that involves water.
Keena Staskal: Longtime R&D Events employee who travels the country producing world class team building events who is also a darn good slalom skier.
Scott Duncan (aka. Scotty D): Look to hear more from Scotty D over the coming months as we will be partnering with him on a few events in Florida later this year.
When asked what she thought of her first team outing, Keena said “work should be enjoyable and every day at R&D Events is better than the next. Spending the afternoon on the lake wasn’t too bad either”. I have to agree – getting the chance to get out of the office for a few hours was just what our team needed. Go figure, the company that is considered one of the premier teambuilding company’s in the country, took the day off for a little team building. How ironic.
If you want to spend the day having a little more fun, contact us today! We may even take you wake boarding…
R&D EVENTS is the country’s most unique and diversified team building company. With nearly two decades of experience, the team at R&D Events has redefined the art of team work and has designed more than a dozen unique and fun events that will help strengthen your company’s ability to work together. Call us today to get your team back on track! www.rndevents.com
R&D Events Celebrates 2nd Anniversary
TWO YEARS IN BUSINESS!
Today marks the Second Anniversary of R&D Events! As we look back on the past two years we find ourselves blessed to have had the opportunity to partner with some of the finest DMC’s in the country to help us grow into one of the country’s premier team building companies. We would like to thank our friends at the following Destination Management Companies for all of their continued support and their willingness to take a chance on two relatively unknown guys. It is because of these companies that we are the success we are today.
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS (in alphabetical order)
TWO YEARS IN REVIEW:
It feels like only yesterday that JP and I sat at a booth inside the local Whole Foods Market and sketched out a plan to start a team building company. From our first event at the Palms (a casino gaming tournament for 20 persons), to hosting the 3rd Annual Smokin in Mesquite BBQ tournament, to designing a custom Minute to Win It event for 500 persons, our journey has been filled with a lot of great memories. As we take a minute to reflect on the past two years we are amazed at what we have been able to accomplish in such a short period of time. Below are a few of our milestones:
- 128 - the total number of events that we have executed
- 11,996 – the total number of participants that have taken part in our team building events
- 36 – the total number of uniquely different teambuilding events that we have executed
- 3 – the number of states in which we have executed events in (Nevada, Arizona & Hawaii)
- $5,250 – the total amount that R&D Events has donated to Friends of NV Wilderness through our partnership with 1% For The Planet
We are truly blessed to have found success in such a great city and we look forward to the next two years and beyond! THANK YOU!
R&D EVENTS is the country’s most unique and diversified team building company. With nearly two decades of experience, the team at R&D Events has redefined the art of team work and has designed more than a dozen unique and fun events that will help strengthen your company’s ability to work together. Call us today to get your team back on track! www.rndevents.com
Mission: San Diego Now Available
R&D Events is pleased to announce their expansion into the San Diego market with their newest event, Mission: San Diego. Heading-up the San Diego office will be long-time R&D Events employee, and San Diego resident, Josh Krier. Josh is a world renowned entertainer who spent nearly a decade refining his craft at Club Med Resorts throughout the world. He has the unique ability of being able to enthusiastically engage everyone in the room and get them to have fun while working towards their intended goal. We are excited to have Josh lead this expansion effort and even more excited to begin designing new and unique events for our clients!
Building a Cohesive Team
On June 26, 2011, under blue bird skies and nearly no wind, members of the R&D Events staff climbed one of the lower 48’s most coveted peaks; Mt Rainier. At 14,411 feet, Mt Rainier is a beast of mountain whose slopes are covered in massive glaciers and exposed rock. This was our second attempt in as many years at the mountains summit and being self-guided, it was up to the team as a whole to push ourselves to the top. You can watch our video HERE.
In mountaineering, the goal is clear; reach the summit and come back alive. But what I think some people overlook is that although the mountain itself can be physically and mentally challenging what keeps most teams from reaching the summit is their inability to work together as a cohesive unit. Just like in the workplace, good team chemistry starts with selecting the right people. Here is my recommendation for anyone planning on building a team for their next summit attempt or for their next board room:
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN:
A lot of the characteristics that make-up a great team can be found in the characters from the Emmy Award Winning film, Saving Private Ryan. To help offer some clear points of reference, I have linked the team characteristics with the character from the movie to help drive home the point (this will make a lot more sense if you have seen the movie).
TEAM CHARACTERISTICS:
Leader: Without question this needs to be the strongest member of your team. The best leaders are those that are driven and focused, yet attentive to the needs and struggles of other team members. Personally I find myself gravitating towards charismatic leaders who exude confidence and are not afraid to express their views should a problem arise. Although, silent leaders are just as effective as long as they are able to tackle any issues head-on and that they are able to think on their feet and not be afraid to take criticism should their plan fail or back fire. Tom Hanks’ character, Captain John Miller, is the prototypical strong, silent leader. His ability to control and lead his team under variable and stressful circumstances makes him one of the great movie leaders of all-time.
Lieutenant: This is your second in command and the person who you will want your team to rally around should your leader step away. This individual should possess similar qualities to your leader, yet serve as their right-hand-man on all issues. Tom Sizemore’s character, Sgt. Mike Horvath, is the perfect example of someone serving in a lieutenant’s role.
Dependable Work Horse: This is your go-to team member. If you need to get something done you call on your work horse (aka. Jack-of-all-trades) to get it completed. When assembling my team I usually pick this person first and then build my team around them since this one individual (or several individuals) will most likely interact with everyone on your team. They are vital to the overall success of your team and need to treated with the upmost appreciation. Barry Pepper’s character, Pvt. Daniel Jackson, is the teams work horse in Saving Private Ryan. This guy was able to serve in a multitude of roles and could always be counted on by his superiors to get the job done.
Detailed and Logical Thinker: Although this type of personality can slow down forward progress at times, selecting someone who possesses the ability to methodically think through a tough issue or who is able to handle the day-to-day minutia can be vital to your success. I have always found that the overall success of my team’s have comes down to the details. You need to have someone that is able to deliver on your day-to-day promises and is not thinking of the “big picture”. As far a character that fits this role, I think Giovanni Ribisi’s role as the team medic is someone who is constantly reviewing the team’s health and firmly focused on the details to help drive the team to their ultimate goal.
Comedian and Free-thinker: This is tough a role to fill on any team. Generally the person that best fits this persona also carries with them the baggage of being lazy and at times disruptive. However, all work and no play means that your team will eventually burn themselves out and a little comic relief now and then never hurt anybody. On every trip I take I always try and find someone that has a jovial attitude and free spirit to help keep the team relaxed during stressed moments. At the very least, they always make for some fun camp fires. I had a tough time selecting a character that best fit this role in Saving Private Ryan. I want to select Vin Diesel’s character, Caparzo, but we have so little to go on since his part was tragically cut short. I am tempted to go with Ed Burns’ character, Pvt. Reiben, but his role on the team was more of a “radical free-thinker” and one that I categorize as poison. So for now, I would have to leave this one blank.
In the end, your team is an extension of you. You need to surround yourself with the best persons you can find based on the talents and roles that you believe will make you successful. If you will be serving as the leader of your team, I would recommend reviewing my other blog post Keys to Leading a Great Team as well.
If you are interested in learning more about what makes a great team or if you want R&D Events to execute an award-winning teambuilding event for your next outing to Las Vegas, you can always reach the Director of Fun here.
Minute to Win It
In 2010 NBC released a relatively basic concept for a new game show called Minute to Win It and it quickly became one of the most talked about shows on TV. The general premise is that participants would use a variety of random everyday items to complete a series of tasks that if accomplished, would earn them a shot at one million dollars. Games such as Hanky Panky, Card Ninja and Nervous Nelly became household names overnight and people across the country began rummaging through their “junk” drawers in order to try it for themselves.
Over the past few months R&D Events has been bombarded with inquiries from companies headed to Las Vegas, eager to produce their own version of Minute to Win It. After conducting several “test” events with our friends (guinea pigs) at The Loews Lake Las Vegas, we finally designed an event that is both fun to play and fun to watch.
We started by creating “play-in” games featuring challenges from the actual show. If participants are able to successfully complete a game within 60 seconds, their name will be entered into our database and sorted based on their overall time in that particular game. Once the play-in time is up, we will review all of the scores for each game and announce the overall winners from each game. These winner’s will then move on to the Finals.
Once in the finals, all of the participants will make their way up on stage where they will compete simultaneously in 5 different head-to-head games. At the end of each game, the top participants will move on until only two participants remain. The last game will feature the top two participants going head-to-head in a monumental dual with pride and the potential for BIG prizes on the line.
This is truly one of the most entertaining events you will ever hold and one that all of your attendees will surely be talking about for years to come! If you are headed to the Las Vegas Valley and you are looking to produce and award winning teambuilding event, then be sure to contact the team at R&D Events.
Minute to Win It: VIDEO LINK
Days of Thunder
R&D Events has just unveiled it’s newest and hottest teambuilding event; Days of Thunder. Perfect for any size group, Days of Thunder has taken the Las Vegas team building market by storm and is quickly becoming one of the most talked about events in our repertoire. In this event teams work together to construct a full size “soap box” car and drive it into the pits where you will use real impact wrenches to change all four tires before racing to victory lane. This is the newest and most over-the-top event available from the country’s leader in unique and fun team building events; R&D Events.
You can check out the promo video HERE.




















