Liz Glover Wilson, CMP, CSEP, founded Elizabeth Rose Consulting, LLC with the vision of utilizing her years of fundraising expertise, volunteer coordination and event management to make a positive impact in our world. Her daily commitment is to offer services that are geared towards rejuvenating and sustaining fundraising efforts for local non-profits. 


 

Under her direction, Elizabeth Rose Consulting – a boutique consultancy – has supported 13 clients and 3 philanthropic partnerships since 2009, helping raise over $9 Million in funding for critical programs and special projects. This has been achieved through consulting services that include strategic fundraising planning, major gift solicitation, management of sponsorship and in-kind support, engagement with Board and Committee members and effective donor cultivation events.

 

Liz’s non-profit experience started early in life, while as a young girl she worked side by side with her parents to implement and run various community outreaches through her church. Before starting ERC, Liz spent nearly 17 years building her expertise in communications, event marketing, staff management and business development. She spent nearly 14 of those years at a real estate investment firm as VP of Corporate Events, where she developed a successful charitable foundation from the ground up, giving her a strong understanding of the various growth stages non-profits experience. During this time, she dedicated 10 years to serving on a non-profit board, which gave her understanding of the complexities of navigating non-profit leadership and insight on ways to energize volunteers.

 

Liz holds a B.A. in Business Management from Mercy College and has a background in the fine arts. She is a registered fundraiser with the State of New York and speaks at conferences on non-profit and event management topics. She is Past President of the ISES New York Chapter and is a proud member of the Association for Fundraising Professionals. She is a CMP (Certified Meeting Planner) and CSEP (Certified Special Events Professional). She is a dedicated philanthropist and leader in her industry.

In 1972 Van graduated from Hofstra University with a BA in Economics. After completing active duty in the United Sates Coast Guard (Honorably Discharged) he spent a year touring and performing as a bass guitarist and vocalist .

 

Van founded BESTEK in 1974, a company which has grown to include all phases of design and technical production support including equipment for events and shows of all descriptions. These include the 125th Anniversary of Coca Cola, 18 years of partnership with the NFL supporting the annual Super Bowl Owner’s Party ( 5000 guests, invitation only), the launch of the HTC Opt 1 phone, multiple Annual Hofstra University Alumni Galas, and many other annual fund raisers and corporate events.

 

Van’s specialty is using his theatrical background, problem solving ability and design sense both in lighting and scenery to engineer and create settings which capture the designer’s concepts and the client’s dreams.

 

Van, a founding member of ISES has served the New York Metropolitan Chapter as treasurer and as president and is also a member of PLASA, the international theatrical dealers association. He served for several years on the ISES Ethics Committee and has taught courses in technical event production at NYU. He lives on Long Island with his wife Fran.

In my new position as a Creative-Director-To-Go, I'm available for any type of PROJECT from conception to strategy to execution or as a connector, consultant or resource for original, innovative Ideas in all aspects of the events industry and beyond!

 



Debra lives New York City so she's continually exposed to some of the greatest and most prolific visual design work going on in the world today. As well, she regularly travels the country observing and analyzing visual design at a tremendous amount of shows and exhibits. She contributes to the design community by sharing her wealth of knowledge through speaking engagements and product endorsements. And as a Creative Industrial Designer, Debra is responsible for a variety of product lines, all informed by her vast knowledge in Event Design and Live Experiences. 



 

Specialties  
In addition, Debra's work in experiential and live marketing, as well as show production combined with her expertise in technology, design trends and social media marketing, truly allows her to add a special and unique creativity to all her projects. And her value doesn't end there -- Debra is totally connected - one of the most socially networked people in the business today. All of which conspires to make Debra a highly valued resource and team player within the industry.

 

In 1983, Winthrop was associate producer of Return Engagement a feature film directed by Alan Parker, about the tour debate between Timothy Leary and G. Gordon Liddy; he had a cameo appearance in the film with Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Also in 1983 BWI started touring Wild Video Dance Party® and the Big Surf Drive-In® Movie to thousands of colleges and universities nationwide. He closed a $350,000 promotion contract with Kodak, producing and touring a multi-media show entitled Earthwalk.  EW featured 3,500 slides taken by the Walker Brothers with music by Pink Floyd and the Allan Parson’s Project narrated by Orson Wells. Also in 1983, Brian co- produced, Shades of Harlem, an off Broadway show that toured Europe as well. 

 

In 1984 BWI started a Performing Arts Division and toured Lazer Zeppelin, Boys Choir of Harlem, Boston Chamber Music Society, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, the National Theater and Dance Company of Gambia, David Brenner, and many of the cast members from Saturday Night Live.

 

In 1987, Winthrop signed a $2.5 million contract with Coca-Cola, USA touring Club Coca-Cola ® (AKA Wild Video Dance Party) to 2,500 sites nationwide.   He closed Panasonic Industrial and their newly found RAMSA division as a second tier sponsor and tied the promotion together with Coca-Cola, VP of Public Affairs, Tony Tortoricci, with Special Olympics as the beneficiary.

 

Starting in 1992, WVDP became a hit in the corporate market performing at numerous tech and pharmaceutical events including the closing entertainment event at  the Microsoft World Wide Global Summit for five years in a row as well at PCMA, Special Events and MPI.

 

In 1993 Brian became Treasurer of NY Metro ISES and served as President for two terms from 1995 to 1997.  Winthrop recalls advancing his own money to finance the early ISES meetings and when he left office the treasury had a $10,000 surplus.

 

Brian coupled with his wife Mariella founded Big Wave Event Productions, LLC in 1996.  Big Wave is one of the leading event production firms in the northeast and prides itself in maintaining state-of-the-art inventory of line array audio, HD video, LED and intelligent lighting, trussing and motors as well as a large selection of stretch fabrics and drapery.  Big Wave produces large scale general sessions, benefits & fundraisers, product launches, fashion shows and Club Big Wave.

 

In 2010, Winthrop started Big Wave LED creating its own line of LED lighting fixtures as well as installing AV and lighting equipment in the education market.  Current projects include six digit contracts with Yale University and Choate Rosemary Hall.

 

Brian Winthrop his partner and wife of twenty-six years, Mariella Winthrop, reside in Roxbury, Connecticut and have four children and two grandchildren.  His interests are sailing, skiing, horseback riding, Yoga, cooking and reading. Brian Winthrop donates a variety of Big Wave events to nonprofits raising in excess of $100,000 annually.