Kind Words
Events - Overall
Tech Nonprofit | In-Person & Virtual | Executive Director
Orletta Caldwell, Ph.D
It was my distinct privilege to work alongside Elise during my tenure at MCWT. As our Event Director, Elise was nothing short of extraordinary. She had an unparalleled ability to bring visions to life thorugh meticulously planned, engaging, and impactful events. Whether coordinating large-scale conferences or intimate gatherings, Elise consistently exceeded expectations with her creativity, attention to detail, and ability to lead cross-functional teams. Her calm demeanor and strategic foresight were invaluable assets, especially during high-pressure moments, ensuring that every event reflected the excellence and professionalism of MCWT.
Beyond her event expertise, Elise was my trusted right-hand and strategic partner. She demonstrated exceptional leadership, seamlessly balancing multiple projects while fostering strong relationships with stakeholders, sponsors, and vendors. Her problem-solving mindset and collaborative approach helped strengthened the organization and its visibility. Elise's dedication to elevating our mission and creating memorable experiences impacted our team and the communities we served. I am truly honored to have worked with someone of her caliber, and I have no doubt she will continue to excel and inspire in any future endeavor.
Tech Nonprofit | In-Person & Virtual | Colleague
Lauren Evans
It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside Elise, whose deep historical and institutional knowledge has been instrumental in MCWT's continued success. Elise is not only a vault of events expertise, but she also brings a level of collaboration, warmth, and professionalism that makes every project better. Her ability to seamlessly coordinate complex initiatives while fostering strong relationships across teams and stakeholders is truly remarkable. She is the kind of colleague who not only gets things done but does so with a generosity of spirit, making her a steady and thoughtful presence.
She is a natural leader and a true asset to any organization. Her strategic mindset, coupled with her dedication to best practices in events, ensures that every initiative she touches is impactful and well-organized. She is forwarding-thinking, innovative, and always striving to elevate the work she does. I feel incredible lucky to have worked with her and know that wherever she goes next, she will bring the same level of excellence, thought leadership, and passion that has defined her career. Her future is undeniably bright, and I can't wait to see all the ways she continues to make an impact.
Boutique Arts Festival | In-Person | Multiple Nights | Colleague
Julie Ridenour Perea
Elise is truly a "Jill of all trades", able to handle any situation with enthusiasm and a smile. During our time together at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, she organized a high profile fundraising dinner, diligently researched films (and licensing) for Top of the Park, deftly managed credentials for all festival employees, and stepped up to assist wherever and whenever she was needed. I would happily endorse Elise to anyone!
Event - Tech Conference
Virtual | 1,000 attendees
Nancy Vogl
For the past several years, I've worked with Elise Luddy by providing speakers for a major event she's been heavily involved in the planning and production of. Elise is savvy, smart, a delight to work with, and always on top of things, all while creating a memorable experience for the attendees. I highly recommend utilizing Elise for planning any event, be it an intimate affair or a massive gathering.
Sherene McHenry, PhD, CSP
Elise Luddy did a masterful job pivoting from producing a large, in-person Michigan Council for Women in Technology event to creating a state of the art virtual conference. It was enjoyable from start to finish, and attendees, vendors and speakers were all set up for success. Getting to join Elise in empowering and equipping the attendees was a great privilege and pleasure.
Mark Ostach
I had the privilege of working with Elise for the MCWT Annual Conference in 2021; It was an absolutely JOY to work with her. She was proactive, helpful, and kept things positively moving forward as we planned the first virtual conference. So grateful to have had the chance to work with her!
Event - Boutique Arts Festival
In-Person | Multiple Events on Multiple Nights
Jaclyn Lebert,CTSM,CTA
Elise goes to great lengths for her clients and I was so grateful to be one at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. At the time, my company's conference deliberately coincided with the festival so attendees could experience this great downtown event. Unfortunately, when I contacted her to book the tent they had historically rented, it was already sold. Since our CEO was adamant about having this premiere location; it left me in a terrible predicament. I explained this to Elise and she assured me she would find a solution. Elise worked to relocate another scheduled event so we could have the ideal location. It was fantastic and I so appreciated her efforts.
Dianne Michalek
Elise is a talented, enthusiastic and energetic master of event planning. We worked together on the Ann Arbor Summer Festival when my company was a sponsor. She has an amazing ability to keep calm in chaotic environments and adapt to changes with ease. She treats everyone working for her, and with her, with the same respect which results in a supportive, collaborative team environment. I would highly recommend Elise to plan your next big event.
Jessica A.S. Letaw
Elise took a large, complicated event and made it incredibly easy for us. We had expected to work hard at our party, and Elise kept everything running smoothly and beautifully from before we started to well after everyone had gone home. She was a pleasure to work with, and I hope to have the opportunity to do so again.