Built to Last: 20+ Years at Event 360 Featuring Joann Buckley Collins

Event 360 is built by people who believe deeply in what they do. People guided by purpose, meaningful work, and a commitment to making the world better through the events we plan, produce, and execute.

We have more than a dozen individuals on our team who have called Event 360 home for more than 20 years. Their longevity is unusual in this industry, but for us it’s foundational. In this ongoing series, we honor the team members whose commitment, knowledge, and heart have helped shape our company. Through their stories, reflections, and memories, we celebrate not just the years they’ve spent here, but the impact they’ve made along the way.

Today, we’re proud to recognize Joann Buckley Collins, who joined Event 360 in 2004 and currently serves as our Fundraising & Communications Strategist.

When you think back to your first year at Event 360, what stands out most to you now?
I started at Event 360 when my son was just a few months old, which has made keeping track of how many years I’ve spent here quite easy. I just need to remember how old my son is (he’s 22 now). That first year held a unique challenge for many of us in that we were fully remote, working from home, in 2004 — a time before Zoom or Teams or FaceTime when that method of working was very rare. But we connected with each other, made real, strong working relationships and did amazing work from our home offices across the country.

Which of Event 360’s Six Values resonates most deeply with you, and how have you seen it come to life during your time here?
Uncompromising Standards.

Over and over, I have seen my coworkers go above and beyond what our client partners or event participants have asked or expected of us. Whether we are agonizing over the perfect wording, pushing through the pouring rain on a load-in day, crunching numbers multiple times to confirm they’re correct, or taking the extra time to make a personal connection with participants that inspires them to up their fundraising goals. You can call us Type A, or perfectionists, but really we are simply a team of people who care, and care deeply, about the work we do so we can stand behind our results with pride.

What is a moment — on event or behind the scenes — that you’ll never forget?
In 2019, I was part of a team who developed a new on-event activation for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. The goal was to create a moment that could inspire and invigorate participants on the second night of this three-day event, when they had already walked 40 miles and needed to boost their spirits to get ready to tackle the final 15–20 miles. I wrote a script for an honor ceremony that I was really proud of — a blend of poignant and tear-jerking moments that built to an empowering send-off. It had a lot of moving parts, involving kids, candles, lighting cues, slideshows, speeches and a carefully curated soundtrack. That first night I got to see it finally come to life on event, I knew we had something really special, and a very powerful mission moment that reimagined and reinvigorated a crucial part of this three-day event.

What’s one piece of feedback you received here that changed the way you work?
I can’t remember the exact way he worded it, but at some point early on in my tenure here, Tim Brockman said, “Everything is everyone’s job.” What he meant was that if we see a problem we need to become part of the solution, no matter our title or role. On event, this means that when you see a piece of trash on the ground, it becomes your job to pick it up. When working behind the scenes building emails, updating websites or creating fundraising materials, this has meant for me that when I see something that needs fixing or could be better, I take it upon myself to do the fixing. Even if I have to roll my sleeves up and teach myself HTML or some basic design skills. It may not be in my job title, but at Event 360, we’re all working together with the same goal — to make the best and most impactful P2P fundraising events we can.

What’s changed the most at Event 360 since you started, and what has remained constant?
I’m struck by how much other things have changed around me, in the world, in culture, in the industry, while the core of what I do at work, and many of the people I do it with, has remained the same.

What are you most proud of having been part of at Event 360?
Being a part of this team of people. I don’t know anyone in any other business that has had this type of longevity, loyalty and consistency of purpose. It’s no coincidence that so many of us have been on this team for 20+ years, and that others have come back after leaving. It’s a carefully curated combination of talent, personality, kindness, high standards and the inherent value in the work we do.

What advice would you give to someone just beginning their Event 360 journey today?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help. Knowing what you don’t know is actually really valuable, whether you’ve been with Event 360 for 2 weeks or 20 years. And we don’t have egos here, so anyone will take your call or answer your email with an open heart and a friendly voice.

Thank you, Joann, for the care, craft, and consistency you bring to Event 360. Your presence and experience have left an indelible mark on Event 360. For more than 20 years, you have elevated the standard of every piece of work you touch. Your efficiency blows our minds! We are constantly amazed at how you tackle every challenge head on. Thank you for being an unflappable co-worker who is always ready to offer a helping hand.

We’re thankful for all you’ve contributed and for everything still to come!