Episode Player
Planning for America 250: Strategy, Storytelling and Scale
What One Thing? A Meeting Planner's Guide to the Top of the Events World
America’s 250th anniversary isn’t just a historic milestone. It is a major opportunity for event professionals to create experiences that bring people together and tell stories that actually stick.
In this episode, Smart Meetings’ VP JT Long sits down with Melinda Curley, vice president of customer experience at Hargrove, and Johanna Walsh, vice president of event production at Encore, to talk about what planners should be thinking about now. From tight timelines and rising demand to infrastructure, permitting and budget realities, they share practical advice for getting ahead of the 2026 surge.
But the real opportunity goes beyond logistics. The most memorable events, they explain, will be the ones grounded in authentic storytelling, whether that means highlighting local history, cultural identity or imagining what the next 250 years could look like.
The one thing: start early, be intentional and create moments that make attendees feel like they are part of something bigger.
Episode: “Planning for America 250: Strategy, Storytelling and Scale” (Season 4, Ep. 47)
Release date: February 26, 2026 • Length: 13:46
Host: JT Long (VP, Smart Meetings)
Guests: Melinda Curley (VP, Customer Experience, Hargrove) + Johanna Walsh (VP, Event Production, Encore)
Source: Buzzsprout episode page (Smart Meetings) — https://www.buzzsprout.com/2087892/episodes/18748041
