Tara Back
President, Jack Morton Worldwide, New York, 42
Launch pad: Back has more than a decade’s experience at the industry giant, in leadership positions on two continents. In 2008, she was named executive vice president and managing director of New York and spearheaded a dramatic renewal of the office. As president, she is in charge of Jack Morton’s New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago operations.
Big innovation: “Restructuring Jack Morton around creative ideas.”
Career highlights: Producing the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and the 2010 Samsung 3-D LED TV launch, the biggest product launch in Samsung history and the largest event held in Times Square, outside of New Year’s Eve.
Style signature: “Black, with a reveal or edge of some kind.”
Launch pad: Back has more than a decade’s experience at the industry giant, in leadership positions on two continents. In 2008, she was named executive vice president and managing director of New York and spearheaded a dramatic renewal of the office. As president, she is in charge of Jack Morton’s New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago operations.
Big innovation: “Restructuring Jack Morton around creative ideas.”
Career highlights: Producing the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and the 2010 Samsung 3-D LED TV launch, the biggest product launch in Samsung history and the largest event held in Times Square, outside of New Year’s Eve.
Style signature: “Black, with a reveal or edge of some kind.”
Photo: Sasha Nialla
Julie Shanklin
President and C.E.O., Syzygy Event Productions, Washington, 52
Claim to fame: Shanklin’s boutique event design firm produces roughly 400 events annually with 25 full-time staffers. “We are not trying to compete with the giants in town; we want our style to be custom, not cookie cutter.”
Launch pad: “Working in a flower shop in college, a local congressman’s wife saw my work at a party and asked if I could travel with her to the Democratic National Convention in 1992. I gladly accepted her invitation, and the next day I started my own company. I started with 10 events in New York for the convention.”
Work philosophy: Last year Shanklin donated more than $200,000 worth of business to charity events, either offering her services for free or at cost. Syzygy’s modern aesthetic could be seen at the Washington Ballet Jeté Society’s edgy Dance Party and the Humane Society’s sleek Fashion for Paws runway show.
Claim to fame: Shanklin’s boutique event design firm produces roughly 400 events annually with 25 full-time staffers. “We are not trying to compete with the giants in town; we want our style to be custom, not cookie cutter.”
Launch pad: “Working in a flower shop in college, a local congressman’s wife saw my work at a party and asked if I could travel with her to the Democratic National Convention in 1992. I gladly accepted her invitation, and the next day I started my own company. I started with 10 events in New York for the convention.”
Work philosophy: Last year Shanklin donated more than $200,000 worth of business to charity events, either offering her services for free or at cost. Syzygy’s modern aesthetic could be seen at the Washington Ballet Jeté Society’s edgy Dance Party and the Humane Society’s sleek Fashion for Paws runway show.
Photo: Dan Hallman for BizBash
