News & Events at ACC

ACC Graduates First Class of Event Planners Now Accepting Applications for Next Class

(April 26, 2007) In early April, Arapahoe Community College’s Corporate Learning Division (CLD) graduated its first class of event planners. The CLD is now accepting enrollments from those interested in becoming Event Planners. The new round of the accelerated nine-class program will begin on May 8, 2007. The program trains participants in every aspect of event planning, from city-wide festivals to backyard weddings to major Chamber events.

In partnership with the Colorado Festivals and Events Association (CFEA), ACC created this flexible evening based program designed to heighten the skills of working adults who are already event planning professionals or those who wish to become one. Upon graduation, completers of the program receive a certification in Event Management that is recognized by the CFEA.

For the program’s first class of graduates, this past year was a busy one. The graduates not only completed nine five-session courses but they also attended several different event functions, including a Nuggets game and a behind the scenes tour of the Pepsi Center. They completed a 50 hour real-world event planning internship and participated in the CFEA (Colorado Festivals & Events Association) annual conference. Further, to earn their certificate, they had to compile a portfolio of their work.

The program instructors include some of the top event planners in the Denver metropolitan area. They range from personal business owners to city event planners and even Kroenke Sports Group’s Event Manager for the Pepsi Center. The faculty also mentors the students and provides a variety of backgrounds and experiences to share with the students as the they progress toward their certification.

The program features the following nine classes: Event Design and Administration; Funding Sources; Marketing and Sales; Operations and Logistics; Staff and Volunteer Management; Entertainment and Community Attractions; Food Beverage Hospitality and Meeting Planning; and, Conventions, Arenas and Sporting Events. The classes can be taken individually or as an entire certification program lasting 10 months. The next program begins May 8, 2007 at the University Center at Chaparral located near the Parker / Lone Tree Border east of I-25.

The graduates for the first class of the program ranged in age from 20 to 60 and many were already Event Planning professionals while some were new to the field. The graduates were: Sarah Beatty, Kam Breitenbach, Sara Buys, Robbie Freund, Laura Graybill, Stephanie McDonnell, Alice Redwine, Connie Simon, Terry Smith, Rochelle Whittington and Drew Wolman.

For information about the program please contact Enrollment Coordinator Meredith Tofield at 303-734-3701, or you can e-mail her at Meredith.tofield@arapahoe.edu.

News & Events at ACC