Venue: Minneapolis Convention Center Ballroom
Attendees: 400
Event Planner: Ryan Hanson, Menttium Corporation
Caterer: Kelber Catering, Inc.
Audio/Visual: Graybow Communications Group
Lighting: Graybow Communications Group
Video Animation: EckoFX
Pyrotechnics: RES Specialty Pyrotechnics, Inc.

Minneapolis-based Menttium Corporation, which offers strategic mentoring programs, put on an event for participants entering the 2005–2006 Menttium 100 program. The program sets up year-long cross-company partnerships between businesswomen and senior-level executives. The kickoff event, held at the Minneapolis Convention Center, brought together mentors and mentees from more than 100 Minnesota companies.

Before the general session, guests networked over coffee in the lobby. Soon after, the general session began in a hall dominated by a large stage and a 50-by-30-foot fabric screen.

Menttium, along with Maple Grove-based EckoFX, created an animated video for the opening to the event. The video told the story of Menttium and the program and launched the day’s theme, “Be There,” a message to the mentors.

Halfway through the film, the words “Be prepared to be transformed” appeared. Then, fireworks exploded as the fabric screen fell to reveal bright banners framing a screen where the video resumed. The banners boasted images in both traditional printing and UV-sensitive paint, and special lighting intermittently revealed the UV images.

“This program is all about taking time for personal development—a kickoff to their partnership,” says Ryan Hanson, Menttium’s creative director. “There is already a lot of anticipation and excitement going into that. We needed to match that level of excitement and create a remarkable event.”

To create a unified, branded experience, the five-color scheme of the Menttium brand appeared in the details of the event, starting with the invitations right down to the food. Oversized balloons in five colors, supplied by Andon Balloons in Richfield, hovered over the tables and brought a playful element to the room.

After mentors and mentees met one on one, Kelber Catering served guests a choice of wild blueberry salad or spiced pecan salad followed by chicken parmesan with steamed snap peas and baby carrots. A fudge-filled chocolate cake, topped with whip cream and flavoring in Menttium colors, followed the meal.

The Twin Cities was hosting one of four Menttium 100 program across the country, and the company would be putting similar events on elsewhere. Hanson felt the biggest challenge was to create a set that would have a strong impact but could also be transported and adjusted for different venues. He developed the idea for the 14-piece banner set, which could be displayed in a variety of ways and highlighted by fireworks, colors, and lights.

“The idea is to do something new, fun, and different, something that people haven’t seen,” he says. “It makes all the difference in the world and keeps them coming back.”