Coordinating large-scale, high-stakes events: The Cedar Hill project

So I’ve teased a cedar-themed project on my socials for a few weeks now. Wanna know how those pieces of wood, cedar shrubs, art pieces featuring Frederick Douglass, and a helipad all come together?

You may recall back in October, I supported a client so he could focus his attention on being a present Father of the Bride at his daughter’s amazing wedding in Charlotte, North Carolina. Well, this busy dad reached out to be for another project, dear to his heart in his professional capacity.

For the last few years, my client has led a public-private partnership between his company, Universal Health Services, and Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office in the District of Columbia to build a brand new, full-service hospital, aimed at improving health disparities among Washingtonians living east of the Anacostia River in Wards 7 and 8. The beautiful Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health, opened its doors on April 15, 2025, named in honor of abolitionist Frederick Douglass’s home in the area.

This connection to the important work of Frederick Douglass and modern day leaders fighting for equity really resonated with me, and I had the honor of coordinating three large-scale, high-stakes opening events related to the grand opening. I leaned into the cedar theme, as often as I could, integrating natural wood elements in garlands, floral arrangements, and even cedar shrubs used throughout the events.

Provider sneak peek

On April 2, my client invited area providers (such as doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants) to a sneak peek of the facility to build excitement and potentially recruit new providers to practice in the new facility. We supported this event by:

• Space planning and designing a functional layout for a high-end event in the hospital cafeteria

• Working with, securing contracts with a local florist, Lee’s Flower Shop, and bartender Make It A Double, paying vendors, and tracking expenses

• Designing, sourcing, and delivering high-quality welcome gifts, wayfinding signage, and event details aligned to brand identity

• Creating a looping slideshow with information about the facility, aligned to brand identity

• Providing on-site support the evening of the event

VIP ribbon cutting

I had the honor of attending the VIP ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 10 - think big scissors and keys to the city - so cool! Those are the shrubs I bought on stage with Mayor Bowser and my client, Dr. Tony Coleman, CEO of Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health. Squee!

Leadership appreciation event in the skylounge

And the evening following the ribbon cutting, my client hosted a leadership team appreciation event at a local skylounge in DC to commemorate the occasion and provide a way to thank an inner-circle of seventy-five people deeply engaged in this work. For the skylounge party, we:

• Managed relationships with key vendors, including Make It A Double bartender, an amazing celebrity chef, Daniel Thomas, who prepared the most delicious hor douvres and dining experience, and jazz trio ensemble led by Reggie Payne

• Purchasing a mobile bar and setting it up onsite as well as a step and repeat with hospital logos

• Providing on-site support the evening of the event

Community block party

To build trust with Washingtonians in underserved neighborhoods, we planned and designed a free community block party with all the bells and whistles. Our support included:

• Convening and leading a team of collaborators from DC government, the corporate hospital operator, and the local hospital and tracking event planning milestones

• Building relationships with over 20 vendors, leading communication and facilitating payment

• Site planning and creating a schematic for:

  • Kids’ play area with facepainting, bounce houses, cotton candy, popcorn, and an ice cream truck

  • Community assets such as a mobile library and fire trucks from DC government

  • Lawn games, free haircuts from local barbers at Manifest and Self-Made

  • A local radio station, WPGC, and a go go band, The Kim Michelle Experience

  • Food distribution, including 2,000 boxed lunches from three restaurants in the community - MLK Deli, Mama’s Kitchen, and Ben’s Chili Bowl

  • A first aid tent, welcome table, and a presence from partners at Care First and Amazon

• Creating a Plan B for adverse weather, including arranging delivery of food to a local men’s shelter

While we made the challenging decision of rescheduling the block party to a day with better weather (I’m still low-key mad, Mother Nature), my client now has everything they need to make the event successful on a sunny day in the near future - from security plans to vendor relationships, from hour-by-hour on-site schedule to scripts for local radio personalities.

I returned home to Richmond exhausted, but with such a full-heart. I’ll continue to follow Cedar Hill’s story, and I wish all involved in the project great success in serving Washingtonians with high-quality healthcare. Check out the news stories from Fox 5 DC, ABC 7, WAMU, and the Washington Post!

Could you - or your company - use extra bandwidth and capacity for a short-term project like this? A conference you’re hosting? An employee appreciation event? A recruitment fair?

Take a deep breath. We’ve got you covered. 

We can help with large-scale, high-stakes event planning and so much more!

At Laura Kassner Consulting, our mission is to reduce your mental load so you can pursue things that bring you joy. From planning events to make your home function smoothly to research and planning skills to make memories or navigate big life decisions, we are here to support you. Book a free 15 minute consultation and let’s discuss whatever is weighing on your mind.