This year, Elevate Global US marks a decade of delivering world-class event staffing and brand activation solutions. Some of the achievements of the team have been momentous; from staffing major US (and global) events such as the Super Bowl, Comic-Con, and Coachella to launching disruptive technology such as Elevate Impact – our proprietary data tool and Elevate 1CRM, our in-house staffing database. Additionally, Elevate Global US has been listed on the Inc 5000 list 5 times – which features a list of the fastest growing companies in the US.
We sat down and interviewed a few key members of the US team who have been instrumental in our success. In this blog, they share their reflections on the journey so far, the challenges they’ve overcome, and their visions for the future of Elevate Global US.
Leadership Insights with Mike, Managing Director
Mike has been working as Managing Director of Elevate Global US for just over 2 years and has over 20 years experience in the experiential marketing space. We asked him, “What has been the most rewarding aspect of leading Elevate Global US for the few years?”
“It’s always challenging, but that makes the rewards even greater. The mantra is: no challenges, only opportunities. Watching our relationships grow and seeing the trust we’ve earned from top agency clients and brands has been incredibly rewarding.”
He highlighted that something that has majorly contributed to Elevate US’ success is how they’ve fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration within the team. Here’s how they’ve done it:
“There’s a saying: if you aren’t learning, you aren’t growing. Our data-driven tools keep us innovative and guide our strategy. While F2F collaboration can be challenging across such a large country, teamwork is earned, and my team consistently steps up. It all starts with having the right people and fostering relationships in and out of the office.”
A Global Perspective from Carina, Global COO
Moreover, Carina, Elevate’s Global COO, has been in the business for 15 years, and was one of the key figures around when Elevate Global US was launched back in 2014. We asked her what is something that Elevate Global US has achieved that she’s most proud of from a global perspective:
“Over the last 10 years, the US business has grown tremendously in both volume and geographical reach. Whether it’s managing 500+ staff for a high-profile event in Austin or running 121 demos across 500 retail locations coast to coast, the US team consistently delivers impressive results on these challenging briefs.
I’m proud of the people that make Elevate Global US the business that it is today. From our humble beginnings as a team of 3 in a tiny New York office to now 24 heads across multiple offices and hubs, the team have worked hard to establish Elevate Global US as a leader in the US event staffing space.”
Building a Strong and Diverse Team with Brandon, HR Director
Brandon’s worked at Elevate US for 3 and a half years as their HR Director. Firstly, we asked him what his approach to has been building a strong and diverse team at Elevate US:
“At Elevate, building a strong and diverse team is at the heart of what we do. Blind recruiting allows us to assess candidates solely on their skills and experience, minimizing bias in the process. By posting on diverse job boards, we broaden our talent pool and prioritize inclusive job descriptions and flexible work options to meet varying needs. Our mentorship program, Elevation, supports new team members in their career development from day one. These efforts align with our business goals, creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.”
When it comes to what excites him the most as we continue to grow, he shared:
“It’s the way we can use technology to enhance the experience for our staff, Brand Ambassadors, and clients. Tools like our 1CRM database, Elevate Answers, and Impact are just a few examples of how we’re always looking for ways to improve. We’re creating an environment where everyone—whether it’s our team or our clients—feels supported and set up for success.”
Navigating Payroll Challenges with Will, Payroll Manager
Also, Will joined Elevate US as a Payroll Manager 4 and a half years ago. We asked him since he’s joined, what’s been the biggest challenges in managing payroll for such a large and dynamic workforce, and how does he overcome them?
“Since Elevate is a global business, the biggest challenge was helping our UK team understand how payroll and taxes work in the US, as well as ensuring timely payments to our employees. With my 25+ years of experience, I guided Elevate through the complexities of US payroll, emphasizing the differences in compliance from state to state, compared to a single federal level.”
What's next for Elevate US?
In conclusion, as Elevate US looks back on a decade of impressive growth, the team is already focused on what lies ahead. With major events like the World Cup and LA 2028 Olympic Games on the horizon, the future promises exciting opportunities that will continue to position Elevate Global US as a leader in the event staffing space.
Mike reflected, “We’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible in the US. We’re uniquely positioned within the large-scale, sport, and lifestyle categories. With key events coming to the US and Canada, the potential for growth is enormous. Our goal is simple: to become the #1 event and experiential staffing business in North America.”
On behalf of the whole team, we want to say a big thank you to all our clients, partners, event staff and members of Elevate Global US HQ who have gotten us this far. We look forward to the next decade!
If you’d like to learn more about our services and what we have on offer, check out our website or reach out to the team today for a chat.
