Corporate grand opening
A live dealership environment required brand presentation, guest flow, vendors, and operational details to work together.
Ashley Stanfill Events
RICHARD TROUTNER
Let’s get your event moving.
I’m the Business Manager for Ashley Stanfill Events. I handle client outreach, the first conversation, onboarding, agreements and commercial coordination, marketing, follow-up, and the business process that keeps an engagement moving from inquiry to an organized handoff.
Client outreach
Initial conversations, follow-up, and relationship development.
Onboarding
Turning an inquiry into an organized planning engagement.
Agreements
Scope, proposals, commercial communication, and next steps.
Growth
Marketing, partnerships, and the ASE internship program.
The business side of the engagement
My job is to make it easy to start the conversation and keep the process moving.
Event planning starts before a run of show or vendor call. It starts with understanding what the client is trying to accomplish, what is already decided, what still needs to be solved, and whether ASE is the right fit for the assignment.
I handle the client-facing business process around that work: outreach, inquiries, onboarding, proposal and scope coordination, agreements, follow-up, marketing, and day-to-day commercial communication.
That structure allows Ashley and the event team to remain focused on planning quality, hospitality, vendor coordination, guest experience, and execution while I keep the business side of the relationship organized.
Start here
You do not need a finished event brief.
What are you planning?
Tell me the event type and the business or guest objective.
When and where?
Share the date or timing, city, and venue status.
What is already handled?
Venue, catering, vendors, guest list, production, registration, or nothing yet.
Where do you need ASE?
Planning, coordination, vendor support, guest experience, onsite execution, or a defined combination.
From inquiry to active engagement
A clearer path from “we have an event” to an organized working relationship.
01
Initial conversation
I gather the core facts, goals, timeline, decision-makers, and current planning status.
02
Scope & proposal
We clarify what ASE is being asked to own, support, coordinate, or execute.
03
Agreement & onboarding
Commercial details, agreement steps, client information, and internal handoff are organized before planning moves forward.
04
Keep it moving
I stay involved where business communication, follow-up, scope questions, or commercial coordination need attention.
Mercedes-Benz of Bellingham
Business coordination connected directly to real event execution.
The Mercedes-Benz of Bellingham grand opening is a useful example of how the business and event sides of ASE connect. Richard supported the engagement through caterer sourcing and coordination, RSVP support, guest greeting and check-in, custom backdrop logistics, table setup, and onsite problem-solving alongside the event team.
Guest arrival & check-in
The client experience begins before the formal program. Greeting and registration are part of making an event feel controlled from arrival.
Vendor & onsite coordination
Catering, setup, guest areas, signage, and other moving pieces need clear ownership and responsive communication.
Brand experience
Corporate events are not just logistics. The environment has to support the client’s brand, guests, and reason for gathering.
Marketing, relationships & growth
ASE has to earn the opportunity before it can execute the event.
My role also includes marketing and business development: reaching prospective clients, maintaining follow-up, presenting ASE’s capabilities, developing referral and venue relationships, and helping turn real event work into credible proof for the next client.
Corporate clients
Corporate event planning
For marketing teams, executives, HR teams, dealerships, and organizations planning visible business events.
Launch events
Grand openings
For new locations, showrooms, branches, businesses, and branded openings that need guest and vendor coordination.
Partnerships
Venues & referral relationships
For venues, vendors, organizations, and referral partners interested in working with ASE.
ASE internship program
Building practical event experience for the next person coming into the industry.
I manage the ASE internship program, including outreach, applicant communication, onboarding, and the business-side structure around the experience. The goal is to give interns exposure to real event-planning support, client communication, vendor research, guest experience, and event operations rather than treating an internship as observation only.
Explore the ASE internshipWhat the program emphasizes
Client communication
Learning how inquiries, expectations, follow-up, and professional communication affect an engagement.
Planning administration
Research, documentation, scheduling, vendor details, and task ownership.
Real event operations
Understanding how guest experience, vendors, logistics, and onsite execution connect.
Contact Richard at ASE
Tell me what you are working on.
Whether you are planning an event, evaluating ASE for an upcoming assignment, exploring a venue or referral partnership, or asking about the internship program, send the details below. I will help route the conversation to the right next step.