Latest news with #CreativeGroup
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Epic Group, Creative Group to boost fashion manufacture in India
The JV was initiated under the leadership of Epic Group chairman Ranjan Mahtani, and in partnership with Creative Group, which is led by chairman Vijay Agarwal. The collaboration was marked by a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on 9 January 2025, which has now been formalised through a shareholder agreement. The venture is supported by an initial funding of $15m and aims to reach a turnover of Rs5bn ($60m) in the foreseeable future. Under the Spectra JV, the inaugural project is a denim and bottoms manufacturing plant with the capacity to manufacture 700,000 units monthly. Spectra will lay emphasis on sustainable practices, innovative approaches, and initiatives that contribute to community growth. Some of the key features of the initiative include use of renewable energy sources to maintain a reduced carbon footprint; creation of 3,000 jobs initially, with the goal of increasing employment opportunities to 10,000 as operations expand; and introduction of advanced manufacturing techniques for apparel production. Combining the manufacturing expertise of Epic Group with Creative Group's 50 years track record in textiles, the collaboration seeks to deliver value to clients, associates, and stakeholders and contribute to India's ascent as a leading centre for eco-friendly garment manufacturing. 'We remain grateful for the opportunity to work alongside dedicated teams and partners who share our vision. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to sharing more updates as Spectra grows and evolves,' said Epic Group. "Epic Group, Creative Group to boost fashion manufacture in India" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Skift
09-06-2025
- Business
- Skift
Women Leaders in Meetings: Janet Traphagen
Janet Traphagen has spent her career helping define what leadership looks like in the business events space, not just through her rise at Creative Group, but through the values she champions: emotional intelligence, authenticity, and culture as a performance driver. Janet Traphagen joined Creative Group in 1996 and has risen from account manager to president, a role she's held since 2014. Under her leadership, the company, which specializes in meetings, events, and incentive programs, has navigated major industry shifts. A past chair of the Incentive Research Foundation, Traphagen also serves as an advisor to global hospitality brands and mentors small business owners through programs in the Chicago area. Her approach to leadership emphasizes operational discipline alongside emotional intelligence, a philosophy grounded in self-awareness, curiosity, and long-term people development. We spoke with Traphagen about her path into the industry, how her leadership style has evolved, and the values she believes will define the next generation of leaders. How did Traphagen land in the world of meeting planning? I didn't find the world of meetings and events, it found me. When my career started, the profession itself was less formal and underrecognized. My first role was at GE in the marketing department, and I supported the people whose roles included organizing their meetings and top-performer incentives. It immediately clicked with my skillset and how I was wired, and the rest is history. My managers took notice, and event planning became my responsibility. From there, I went to Cardinal Health and started their first meeting planning team. It was the first time that was a designated responsibility within the organization. Eventually I moved to the agency side and continued to grow not only with Creative Group, but also with the industry as it matured and really became respected and valued as a profession. What are the qualities that make a good leader? There are so many that I could list, but the one that is the most foundational is a deep awareness of yourself. If you don't lead yourself well, you can't lead others well. The second that comes to mind is humility, which goes hand-in-hand with self-awareness. As a leader you have to do the inner work and stay grounded. Closely tied to those is having a growth mindset and staying curious. There are a host of other attributes — brave, decisive, courageous, risk taker — but to me good leaders must be committed to remaining self-aware and humble. How would you define your leadership style? My leadership style is a balance of holding the head and the hearts of those I lead and instilling that value throughout the organization. One of our core philosophies at Creative Group is called 49/51. The 49 is reference to the percent of any given role that is focused on the skills it takes to be technically excellent at your job and serving our clients. The 51, the larger of the percentages, is focused on building trust and relationships with each other and our customers. Culture is an amplifier of performance. This balanced approach of human-centric values alongside operational excellence helps people see the impact they're making, and that's what drives results. My focus is creating an all-around culture that inspires people. What skills have you developed that have helped you grow into the leader you are today? We all lead from who we authentically are on the inside. Therefore, you have to invest in yourself and make sure you have outside influences to provide guardrails in who you are as a leader. Two things I've done are invest in therapy to stay grounded and do the inner work that keeps me self-aware. I also have an executive coach who I trust to be fully transparent and brutally honest with me. It's also important to remain a student of leadership. Retaining that deep curiosity has allowed me to develop over my career and continues today. As a leader, what are the challenges that keep you up at night? At a macro level, it's the consistent effort to balance culture with performance targets. I've done my best to be intentional and balance the tradeoffs that have to be made. Being financially successful allows us to invest further in the culture that has made us successful. Keeping that balance is the biggest challenge that I face on a daily basis. Which female leaders have inspired Traphagen the most? Within the event planning industry, Christie Hicks, when she was at Starwood, was fearless and iconic. She was one of the few female senior leaders in the industry earlier in my career and was someone who inspired me. Outside the industry, I recently had the chance to hear Jane Fonda speak at a women's conference, and she was incredible. At 87, she's still an activist and showing up to share her perspective with others. She was incredibly inspiring. The whole crowd was blown away. At the end, the standing ovation just would not stop. And we were all looking around each ther, thinking, 'life goals.' How has mentoring helped you become the leader you are today? One of the more unconventional forms of mentorship came from a customer. She was more senior than me and had a knack for giving me feedback right between the eyes. She reminded me to take care of myself and gave very honest feedback on the events we provided to her. It was a relationship I really valued and helped me grow as a leader. How has your leadership style changed throughout your career? My leadership style has evolved a lot over the years. Early on, I naturally leaned toward helping and supporting others, seeing leadership as collaboration and service. Over time, I realized I needed to define leadership on my own terms, not just accept the traditionally masculine, hierarchical model that's been the standard for so long. I've really come to embrace what I call finding the 'third way '— leading from a place that honors both masculine and feminine energies. I can be decisive and analytical, but also deeply empathic and nurturing. I've learned to integrate both, rather than pick sides or accept a limited definition. Ultimately, my leadership journey has been about finding the confidence to lead authentically, blending these energies, and focusing on what's truly effective and human, rather than conforming to old models. Can you share advice for aspiring women leaders in meetings? Find your people, whether that's a therapist, a coach, authentic friends, or healthy relationships, where honesty is prioritized. These connections help you keep perspective on how you're showing up in the world and keep you grounded. Stay aware of how others experience you. I often ask new managers, 'How do you think others are experiencing you?' It's a powerful way to build self-awareness and empathy. As a leader, your voice carries weight. So being conscious of that influence is essential. Invest in your growth and lead with awareness of the responsibility that comes with leadership. What does leadership mean to Traphagen? The first word that comes to mind is privilege. It is a privilege to lead and have the opportunity to influence a team of people. It also comes with a deep responsibility. Words matter, energy matters and decisions matter. It's not something to take lightly. As leaders, we hold the head and heart of our teams and get the opportunity to grow, inspire and celebrate with them. At Creative Group, we heavily invest in leadership training at all levels because it is so important to our success as a business. The alignment created throughout our organization builds the positive culture that makes a difference for our employees and our customers.
Skift
04-06-2025
- Business
- Skift
How AI, Gen Z, and Geopolitics Are Reshaping Incentive Travel
More than 500 incentive travel professionals converged at the new AVA Resort Cancun this week for the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) Invitational, raising just under half a million dollars in the process. IRF President Stephanie Harris addressed artificial intelligence, positioning it as an ally rather than a threat. In recent IRF research, 63% of respondents said they either use AI or that they will to support incentive travel planning. The primary uses include private program materials, planning, and forecasting. 'AI is designed to enhance, never to replace,' Harris said. The core strength of incentive travel remains human interaction, or 'HI,' according to Harris. 'The relationship economy means taking a human-first approach. And as we navigate the increasing mistrust of what's in our email, and what is on our social feeds, actual relationships equal trust. Human interaction equals transparency.' She encouraged prioritizing face-to-face connections, despite slower speeds or inefficiencies, over digital alternatives. Harris also highlighted the generational transition underway, noting how rapidly shifting tech skill sets are affecting the industry. 'Over the next five years, 39% of the tech skill sets that we have in this room today are going to be outdated,' she said. 'Gen Z is coming in hot, with new ideas and approaches, and they are adept with technology in ways that frequently astonish and sometimes embarrass me.' Incentive Travel Steady Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty While geopolitical issues and tariffs were key topics, the overall sentiment was cautious optimism, given the long-term nature of incentive planning. 'So far in '25, there have been a lot of OMG moments, but for the rest of the year, we're really not seeing a lot of big change,' said Janet Traphagen, president of Creative Group, during the closing panel. 'In speaking with our customers, they're definitely hunkering down and looking at long-term strategies like their supply chains,' she added. Traphagen shared how one client, early in the Trump administration, relocated an incentive trip from the U.S. to the Caribbean. 'But overall, we have not seen a lot of movement. I think this has made people take a breath and say, 'Let's just see what really happens.' So the impact has not been big, but it has not been zero either.' Another panelist, Chris Johnson, director, global travel and enterprise events at Land O' Lakes, expects continued uncertainty. '2026 is going to have a lot of unpredictability, and probably '27 as well,' he said. 'We need to have some patience and empathy, instead of pushing our top executives to, let's say, get that contract we need signed by next week. Trust me, they're probably not thinking about that event or that contract signature as much as they are about the changing climate within their business.' New Research from the IRF Johnson and the other panelists referred to how they use IRF research in their decision-making and planning. Newly released studies focus on Building a Culture of Recognition and European Attendees Preferences, and are free on the IRF web site.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Creative Group Welcomes Ken Haller as Vice President of Production
Role to Lead Innovation and Support the Growth of Meeting and Event Production SCHAUMBURG, Ill., March 6, 2025 /CNW/ -- Creative Group, Inc., a leading full-service meeting, event, and incentive agency, is thrilled to announce the addition of Ken Haller to its leadership team as Vice President of Production. Haller brings decades of expertise as an executive producer and team leader. With this addition, Creative Group will expand its focus on innovation, and this role will also support the rapid and continued growth of Creative Group's event production portfolio. "Creative Group's meeting and event production team is among the best in the industry, and I'm honored to work alongside such talented individuals," says Haller. "Together, we will build on the company's success and take our capabilities to the next level." With more than three decades of experience in delivering events, Haller brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for solving client challenges. He has produced large meetings and events, incentive programs, and world tours in over 37 countries, worked with three former Presidents of the United States, and assisted in the production of the Atlanta Summer Olympic Games. Haller previously owned and served as VP of One Smooth Stone beginning in 2002. He then worked as Executive Producer and Director of PRA, Production Services when One Smooth Stone was acquired by PRA in 2018. "Ken is the perfect addition to lead our exceptional team," says Melissa Van Dyke, SVP of Integrated Marketing and Innovation at Creative Group. "His leadership and expertise will help Creative Group amplify what we do best—delivering memorable results for our clients and creating transformative experiences that inspire and delight." With Haller's leadership, Creative Group is poised to expand its production capabilities, enhance client partnerships, and achieve new levels of success in delivering world-class events. About Creative Group Creative Group is a full-service meeting, event, and incentive agency that delivers business results by inspiring people to thrive. An industry leader, Creative Group has been honored with numerous Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) awards and the CMI 25 Awards, which recognize the top 25 most influential meeting and incentive management companies in the U.S. Creative Group was founded in 1970, and continues to serve clients in financial services, life sciences, insurance, manufacturing, retail, technology, automotive, and hospitality. Employing more than 220 people, the company is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, and maintains offices in San Francisco, Appleton, Wisconsin, and Toronto, Canada. For more information about Creative Group, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Creative Group, Inc. View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Axios
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Axios
Eagles Super Bowl parade: Route, closures and what to expect
The Eagles' Super Bowl parade on Friday will shut down the heart of Philadelphia for a daylong party. Why it matters: Plan for school closures, traffic delays and heightened safety precautions. State of play: The celebration will stretch from the South Philly sports complex to the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the city says. Philly's school district has canceled classes for the day. By the numbers: More than 1 million fans are expected to turn out for the parade on Valentine's Day, said parade producer Fred Stein of the Creative Group during a news conference with city officials today. What they're saying: "This unifies the city. You can feel it," said Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. "We're going to be on the world stage." Route The parade will start at 11am at South Broad Street and Pattison Avenue near the sports complex. The route will proceed north up Broad Street, past City Hall and LOVE Park, and turn onto the Benjamin Franklin Parkway before ending at the Rocky Steps around 12:30–1pm. The ceremony and speeches on the steps will run from approximately 2–3:15pm. What else: Fifteen massive screens will be positioned along the route displaying Super Bowl LIX and live parade scenes. Players and coaches will arrive in open-air buses. Safety precautions The city will activate its emergency operation center and other resources for the parade. Expect a large police presence during the day, Bethel said. Tips: City Managing Director Adam Thiel recommends that parade-goers sign up for the city's emergency notification system. He also suggests that fans: Know where they want to go and how they're getting there and back. Designate an emergency meetup location. Don't depend on cell service, as systems will likely become overloaded. Be aware of exits in case of an emergency. Transit Service on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines is free on Friday, but expect delays. Yes, but: Those lines and Regional Rail will serve only select stations. Fun fact: Presidents Day is Feb. 17, so fans who join the citywide party on Friday could be in for a four-day weekend. Editor's note: This story has been updated with the latest parade details.
