MY FAVORITE VENDORS 04.11.08 11:09 AM The Heritage Foundation Turns to Nouveau Fleur
The Heritage Foundation's Emily Sankot Kayrish
Photo: Courtesy of Emily Sankot Kayrish
Emily Sankot Kayrish is the assistant director of special events for the Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit public policy research institution based on Capitol Hill. Kayrish is responsible for planning donor-related and policy-based events across the country, ranging from luncheons and receptions to multiday conferences and conventions. She handles roughly 85 events a year. In her five years at the foundation she has coordinated speakers ranging from President Bush and Condoleezza Rice to the cast and creators of Fox’s 24.
Venues: "I have worked with dozens of great venues around the country, but in Washington, D.C., my hands-down favorite venue is the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. I have done roughly 20 events there in my time at Heritage, and it is always a wonderful experience. The entire Reagan Center team is great, from Leslie Atkinson in the sales department to my event manager, Courtney Coyle, to Alex Morillo, who is the greatest banquet captain on the planet. They go above and beyond to ensure that every detail is taken care of. One year my keynote speaker was in a wheelchair, and to ensure that we got him into the appropriate handicapped parking spot in the garage, my event manager spent an hour walking up and down the parking garage to write up directions and a map to guide him to the right location."
Flowers: "I have recently begun using a new florist who has opened up shop on H Street NE called Nouveau Fleur, which is owned and operated by Debbie Moultry. Debbie puts together such gorgeous arrangements—she has quickly become one of my favorites."
Catering: "Catering by Cedric J. Frazier is my secret weapon when I need to impress important clients. Cedric’s food is to die for, and his attention to detail is unparalleled. My guests always rave about his food—they often try to pry his secret recipes out of him. He’s done corporate events, weddings, birthday parties, you name it. In fact, some of my big donors who have had his food at Heritage events now hire him to cater for them, too. Cedric catered a dinner Heritage hosted honoring [Supreme Court justice] Clarence Thomas, and the justice was so impressed that he then hired Cedric to cater a dinner at his home. Cedric is also the resident chef for bishop Alfred A. Owens Jr. and co-pastor Susie Owens, pastors of one of D.C.’s largest African-American churches."
Photography: "Charley Geer of Chas Geer Photography is the only man I’ll trust to photograph my events. He has photographed Heritage events for over 25 years. He has an amazing ability to always capture the moment, and his knowledge of who’s who among the guests ensures he gets great pictures of the right people. He travels with me to virtually every event I plan across the country. He spent two weeks on the road with me this past fall during a six-city book tour I did for Justice Thomas’s memoir, and he really captured the essence of the affair."
Decor: "I rely on Freeman for all of my decor needs. In January, I had a last-minute event with Vice President Cheney that I had to coordinate over a holiday weekend. The team at Freeman came through with all the pipe and drape and decor that I needed, and I really appreciated their help over a holiday weekend in getting everything coordinated—especially on such short notice."
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