Peak Events is an award winning event planning and production company in Northern Arizona that focuses on the planning, coordination, and production of premier events. Peak Events was started out of a passion, drive and enthusiasm for the events we create. Founded by Debbi Grogan, the mother/daughter team, worked together on events for 9 years. Jennifer Grogan continues the legacy of her mother and the events they created. Our goal is to offer each client an experience that is unforgettable, unique and flawless. We work hard, laugh often, and invest all energy into the creation of unforgettable events. We want our clients to enjoy the creation, implementation and execution of their event, so we approach every event consultation as an opportunity to make future friends – so get to know us, after all, you probably will never forget us, or the events we produce.
If you would like to become a part of our team as an intern, please email us at [email protected]
Debbi Grogan
Founder
Debbi Grogan, a fifth generation Arizonan, started Peak Events in 2001 after spending most of her career in the nonprofit world. Realizing that life is too short not to have fun every day, Debbi transferred her extensive fundraising and event planning skills into Peak Events, finding the perfect outlet for her creative and outgoing personality. Debbi spent the first years of the business focusing on social events, and in 2008 expanded the business to include her love of festivals which has resulted in the Flagstaff Oktoberfest, Mountain Country Music Festival, Rock the House and the Flagstaff Blues and Brews.
We lost Debbi in December of 2018 after a hard fought battle against stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Jennifer Grogan
Owner
Jennifer grew up in Flagstaff and has been involved with Peak Events since its inception. While attending NAU, Jennifer and her sorority sisters were hired for events and from day one, she knew this was something she wanted to do. After graduating from NAU in Public Relations and Advertising, Jennifer helped with the marketing of the business, while gaining experience as a marketing manager for both an online company and a local engineering firm.
In 2009, Jennifer joined Peak Events as a partner and started producing Rock the House and the Flagstaff Oktoberfest. In 2010, Jennifer found an excellent fit to her organizational skills when Peak Events began producing conferences. Jennifer has a unique ability to keep committees and groups organized and on schedule which has proven invaluable when working on conferences. 2013 Peak Events began producing the successful Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival. In 2014 Jennifer helped produce the Mountain Country Music Festival.
Jennifer is actively involved with the Flagstaff Community, as a member the Tourism Commission and the Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation. When Jennifer isn’t busy planning events, she enjoys snow skiing, spending time with her family and also spending time at Lake Powell.
You can contact Jennifer here or by phone at 928-606-7600.
Mackenzie King
Event Manager
MacKenzie grew up in Mesa, Arizona and found Peak Events while attending Northern Arizona University for Business Marketing. Her first introduction to the world of events was the 2017 Flagstaff Blues and Brews festival. From there she realized her love for creating events and promoting opportunities to bring people together and create memories. I have also worked in a private golf club planning and coordinating their events for various holidays, private dinners and fundraisers.
MacKenzie’s ability to communicate with people has been tremendously helpful in the many roles she has had while with Peak Events. From planning and set up, to day-of and check-in, her communication skills help to keep attendees and committees informed with what is going on with their events.
Outside of her love for events, MacKenzie practices jiujitsu, kickboxing, and enjoys spending time with her family!
Giselle Rodriguez
Team Leader
My name is Giselle Rodriguez. I am currently a sophomore at NAU and am a Business Management major. I am from Queen Creek, AZ and am the oldest of three. I am a First-gen college student and am enjoying my experience here in Flagstaff. I enjoy being outdoors and the local shops of downtown. I am excited to further my knowledge and experience with Peak Events!
Layla Gnapp
Team Leader
Hi! My name is Layla Gnapp and I am a junior at NAU majoring in Hotel and Restaurant Management with a minor in Classical Studies and two certificates in Event Planning and International Tourism. I’m also a First Generation Student and a Dorrance Scholar. In my free time I love to cook, try new restaurants, travel, go to concerts and spend time with family and friends. Through my time at NAU I’ve found a passion for events. I am excited to work with Peak Events this semester to expand my knowledge, experience and learn more about the world of event planning.
Payton Hale
Team Leader
Hi, I’m Payton Hale and I am from Northern Colorado. I am currently a Junior at NAU. My major is Strategic Communications with an emphasis in Advertising and I am double minoring in Hotel and Restaurant Management and Travel and Leisure Planning. I have enjoyed attending a variety of events such as concerts, fairs, and markets since I was young and I’m so thankful that Peak Events has given me the ability to pursue my interest in event further. In my free time you can find me doing any and all outdoor activities as well as attending a variety of concerts. As a first generation college student I am proud to be studying at NAU and to pursue my interest in event planning with Peak Events
Elise Ramstetter
Team Leader
Hello my name is Elise. I’m a senior at NAU, majoring in Psychology and Sociology. I love to be outdoors and spend time with others, making people happy is one of my favorite things to do. Planning events has always been intriguing, with a mix of order and fun in the process. I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge of different cultures while planning something that will hopefully be fun for all.
Michelle Fahlgren
Team Leader
Hello! My name is Michelle Fahlgren. I am a senior majoring in Hotel and Restaurant Management and I am a transfer student. What I enjoy doing in my free time is hiking, shopping, going to concerts and festivals, spending time with friends and family, and playing video games. I was born and raised in Arizona. I’m excited about being able to gain new experience and understanding on event planning while working with Peak Events.
Laura Ellsworth
Team Leader
Hello! My name is Lauren. I’m 21 and studying Business Management at NAU. I am a Senior and graduate next May! I grew up in the White Mountains of Arizona and love horse riding.
Natalia Szymczak
Team Leader
Hello! I am a 23 year old communication and photography student at Northern Arizona University. I was born and raised in Tucson but traded cactus for pine trees and call Flagstaff my home now. I am passionate about planning and taking photos of life’s most important events. I am also passionate about using effective communication to help inspire people to protect the environment. As a first generation college student, I am inspired by my mother who is a business owner and interior designer. Outside of school and work, I love to explore and hike around Northern Arizona, take photos and watch movies with my fiancé and two cats.
Madeline Cesar
Team Leader
Hi! My name is Madeline Cesar, I am a Junior at NAU working towards a marketing degree. I am 20 years old and hope to have a career in event planning!
Past Interns - "Where Are They Now?"
Ashley Karin
- Worked from January-December of 2017
- Currently Ashley is working in Orlando, FL participating in the Disney college program.
- Working at the Magic Kingdom at a restaurant as a hostess
- ”I am looking to find my way into events at Disney and working at Peak Events has given me different skills and experience to help prepare me to put together events for a company like Disney.”
Brianna Pierce
- Worked for Peak Events for about 2 years
- Brianna is not currently working, but is a stay at home mom
- ”Peak Events helped me just in my daily life. On how to be organized when just planning something simple from a dinner party to a birthday party, always be prepared!”
Brooke Kirby
- Worked from 2014-2015
- Brooke is currently living in Austin TX as the operations manager for a hotel ran by Interstate Hotels & Resorts
- ”Peak events helped me to get to where I am now by giving me a chance to work in events when I had very little events knowledge or experience, they took a chance on me. They taught me a lot about sponsorship and the hard work that goes in to the type of productions that they put on. One day I hope to get back into the events side of hospitality because of Peak Events!”
Cayla Cordova
- 2016-2017
- I just moved to Minnesota and I am currently job searching for a role in Event Management.
- Peak Events allowed me to gain experience in a variety of large and small events. Peak Events allows for you to experience both the planning and execution side of events.
Elizabeth Aiello-Coppola
- I worked for Peak Events during the 2015-2016 academic year.
- Currently Elizabeth is in her last semester of grad school at University of San Diego, getting her masters in Higher Education Leadership.
- ”Peak Events helped me develop skills to use in my future career which will be Student Affairs. Although my whole job isn’t event planning technically, I now get to help my students at the college I work at plan their own events and I feel confident that I’m steering them in the right direction because of everything that I learned through interning at Peak Events”
Emalynn Johnson
- I graduated from NAU with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management and an Event Management Certificate on December 14, 2018. While I’ve been living in Phoenix post-graduation, I have been preparing to move to Orlando, FL at the end of the month. I will be participating in a Disney College Program as a Character Attendant until August 2019. I hope to participate in a Disney Professional Internship immediately following my college program. I plan to live in Orlando for a year and hope to come back to Arizona and work in events in Phoenix afterwards. One goal I have for my future is to work on a team for larger music festivals in Phoenix like Pot of Gold, 8123 Fest, The McDowell Mountain Music Festival, or Decadence. I’m excited for new adventures post-grad, and I am so glad that I was able to gain the experience I have from Peak Events. I will be able to apply everything I have learned from Peak to my future in festivals and events.s.
Emily Bollinger
- Worked for Peak Events from the beginning of my sophomore year (September 2015) to the end of my Junior Year (June 2017).
- Emily is currently finishing up her senior year and getting ready to graduate in May! She is also working for NAU Summer Camps & Conferences as a Conference Planning Supervisor, and will be staying here in Flagstaff after graduation to work here for a few years!
- ”Peak Events was a really unique internship and gave me the chance to experience many different types of events. With 2 Oktoberfest’s, 2 Blues & Brews, 2 Star Parties, a wedding, and even some corporate parties and a fundraiser, I got to really get a grasp of different events and what I want to pursue for my career. I learned a lot about myself and what I am capable of, as well as what I need to work on. Peak Events definitely made me stronger and gave me an amazing introduction into the world of events!”
Gabriela Miranda
- Worked for Peak Events in 2019
Haley Van Dyke
- Worked from May 2012-October 2014
- Haley is currently an account manager and on-site coordinator for The Color Run. She love bringing on fun brands and sponsors to our events. Haley enjoys the fast pace environment of events and creating memorable experiences for participants.
- ”Peak Events lined me up for success in events by allowing me to experience first hand working with sponsors and local business which allowed me to gain connections in the community. They believed in me and encouraged me in the events world and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.”
Isabelle Lopez
- 2010-still currently involved but not as an intern
- Communications and administration for a church in Mesa,AZ.
- “Helped beef up my resume and show that I can handle coordination with great detail!”
Jackie Merz
- Worked for Peak Events in 2017
- Currently working full time at Tucson Federal Credit Union and also finishing her communications degree with a minor in psychology at the UofA Online. Also, recently started a lifestyle/beauty blog and Jackie is working on making that profitable!
- ”Peak events helped me get here by helping me better understand how a business works and really learning how to pay attention to details. I never knew how much work really goes into making a business run or even running an event like Blues and Brews. I’ve become a lot more appreciative of how small businesses get going as well from working for peak events even as trying to make my own online blog work and earn me money”
Jamie Wigner
- Worked for Peak Events from 2018 to 2019
Jasmine Davis
- Worked for Peak Events in 2019
Jessica Dippoito
- Worked for Peak Events in 2013
Jordan Holland
- Worked the summer of 2015.
- Jordan is about to graduate with her English literature degree in spring and will be teaching in 2019!
- “Peak events helped me with my leadership and organizational skills that are absolutely essential for teachers to have.”
Kami Meier
- I think spring 2013
- I am a National Team Sales Manager at Trunk Club in Dallas.
- Peak Events taught me the value of good management and going after what you want.
Kim Munson
- 2014-2015
- Currently I live in Seattle Washington, I am working as a dispatch manager. I am also planning my friends weddings on the side because I still think it’s fun! I like to hangout and play with my Boster Terrier, Hudson also known as Haus!
- Peak Events helped me get where I am today because they taught me organization, hard work and my passion for events! Because of Peak Events I have realized that I do love event-planning and I would love to do it full time eventually!
Kira Tucker
- Worked for Peak Events from 2017-2019
Krista Finley
- Worked for Peak Events from 2018-2019
Kyrstin Bouchard
- Worked 2017-2018, not quite a full year.
- Kyrstin is currently a restaurant manager at one of the highest volume Old Spaghetti Factory locations, San Diego. No social life at the moment due to a rigorous training program.
- ”Peak Events gave me the first opportunity in a work environment to experience being delegated to complete projects and complete them with positive results all on my own. It also gave me the opportunity to oversee and lead/instruct a team to perform specific duties. These were such valuable tools going into a management role where I will have to execute projects on my own as well as lead a team of people to work together towards success on a busy evening.”
Lauren L'Ecuyer
- Worked with Peak Events from January 2017 – January 2018
- Lauren is a senior, and the student body president at NAU (why she had to stop interning)
- ”Peak events helped me to develop event planning skills, organizational tactics, some of the best mentors in Flagstaff, and great memories planning the events and staffing them. Such an amazing experience”
Lindsey Wentzel
- Started with Peak Events in 2014
- Lindsey continues to work with Peak Events as an Event Manager.
Lyndsey Zamora
- 2014-2015
- I am working as a design assistant for Herron Interior Design and Heath’s Paint Center. Really involved in my community church and serving as a CARES team member with Apartment life at the Bella properties here in Flagstaff, AZ.
- Peak Events helped me get a real good understanding on how to communicate and organize tasks more effectively . This helps me greatly, especially in my field with having to communicate with many vendors, manufactures, workrooms and most importantly our clients. Learning to network and how to schedule things for our clients projects.
Mackenzie Robinson
- I worked for Peak Events for about 10 months during my senior year!
- Currently Mackenzie is an Event and Sales Coordinator at a entertainment facility in Mesa. She mainly work on booking team building programs/smaller events for corporate groups, ASU teams & clubs, large church youth groups and other organizations. Also participated in the planning process of larger scale events such as high school Grad Nights, Sweet 16 birthday parties, corporate holiday parties, etc. Additionally Mackenzie is in charge of the companies entire social media presence so daily she is working on coming up with new content and posting/keeping our social media accounts active and updated!
- ”Peak Events definitely helped me gain the experience I needed to land the position I am in today. I was exposed to so many different elements of planning both large and small scale events from the brainstorming phase all the way to the actual event. Working on Oktoberfest was an awesome experience and taught me a lot about running huge festival style events, which sadly I’m not currently doing but would love to again at some point. But the biggest thing Peak Events helped me learn was that no matter what when working with a team communication is KEY!!!”
Megan Yancey
- Worked for Peak Events for one year
- Currently, Megan is a Event Coordinator at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
She deals with a wide variety of clientele- from the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau to companies such as Amgen and For the Troops. Megan is also a wedding coordinator for her church (Moorpark Presbyterian Church), there wasn’t a lot to work with in this position so she is working on developing a contract and some marketing material. - ”Peak Events helped me get to where I am now in so many ways. By working for Peak Events I learned so much about event planning and management. I learned what goes in to hosting large scale events and how to facilitate those events. I learned how stressful events can be and how to control that stress, especially when I’m tired. What I got most out working for Peak Events which I never expected was confidence. I grew in my confidence of knowledge and experience and now can be confident in decisions I make and how things should be managed. I am so grateful for this company and my experience with Peak Events.”
Meghann Topilko
- Worked for Peak Events for roughly 2 years
- Meghann currently works as an Event Management Voyager for the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. It is essentially a Manager-in-Training program for recent graduates. She trained for a few months in each supervisory/managerial role in the Banquet and Event Management departments at this property.
- ”Peak Events was my first introduction into the Event Planning world. While it was mainly social events, it allowed me to familiarize myself with the concept of creating and maintaining relationships with vendors, sponsors, and internal and external clientele. I got the unique perspective of a family-owned business built from the ground up that was highly regarded within the community. Having this experience gave me opportunities that led to the amazing job I have now.”
Melina Theriault
- Worked for Peak Events from 2016 to 2018
Meredith Gregg
- Worked for the summer for 2015
- Meredith is currently working full time at University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls as the Aquatics and Certifications Coordinator. She is also pursuing her Masters degree in Public Health. In her “free” time she’s enjoying training for a half marathon and another relay running race. Meredith enjoys hanging out with her friends and family and taking advantage of times where she can sit and read a book for leisure.
- ”Peak Events had some big benefits for me that helped me progress personally and in my field. Personally, it helped my self confidence, to make a situation, and act on that situation. I had that confidence that I didn’t need all the direction provided to me and going with what I felt was the right approach or decision. It helped me professionally because this helps a tremendous amount with my current position. I do not have another assistant with me to bounce off ideas or how to go about tasks. I need to make those decisions and be pleased with it. Marketing and communication skills also translate to my job right now as well. I run two programs and in order for those programs to be effective I need to advertise to the right audience and communicate well.”
Rachel Mahkovec
- Worked for Peak Events from 2018 to 2019
Rae Millard
- Worked for Peak Events from 2018 to 2019
Rebecca Klein
Ryan Evans
- Worked for Peak Events in 2019