Turning Chaos Into Seamlessness: Inside High-End Corporate Event Planning
Why does corporate event catering start at $250 per person? Jodi Fyfe, CEO of Chicago's Paramount Group and 15-year veteran of high-end event production, breaks down the real costs behind off-premise catering. From the hidden equipment expenses corporate planners miss to the dozens of staff members required for a seamless 50-person dinner.
Gregory Perrine · Jan 29, 2026 · 1 min read
The Real Cost of Event Logistics: What Corporate Planners Need to Know
Most corporate planners see the finished event. Jodi Fyfe sees the controlled chaos that makes it possible.
As CEO of The Paramount Group , running off-premise catering, corporate dining, and event staffing for 15 years, Jodi has orchestrated everything from intimate boardroom dinners to 1,000-person galas. In this Event Logistics Lab episode, she reveals the operational reality of event production: the equipment lists planners forget, the staffing ratios that make or break service, and why 'perfect' events are actually managed chaos from start to finish.
What you'll discover:
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The complete event logistics journey from inquiry to execution
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How to budget for corporate events when there's no kitchen on-site
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Why your $250/person quote includes 15+ roles you've never thought about
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Where technology creates efficiency vs. where human expertise is irreplaceable
This is essential listening for meeting planners, corporate event coordinators, and anyone responsible for delivering professional event experiences.
