In this episode, your host Amy Milne gets real with Erica Helphand, Managing Partner & COO at OP 3 Events. Erica's passion for non-profit events started over 20 years ago when she went to cheer on friends at the finish line of The Northeast AIDS Ride (now known as Cycle for the Cause), and she's been in the biz ever since. Erica talks about how the pandemic gave non-profit organizations the opportunity to reset their priorities, allowing them to come back their 'why' and focus on what is important to their constituents. Together, Amy and Erica share some of the small things you can do to not only elevate your event experience, but make it fun. At the top of their list: make parking a priority and don't be afraid of cheeky signage. Erica has always been a crew member to the core and really encourages non-profits to view their volunteers as participants rather than an after-thought. To wrap things up, Amy and Erica have an important conversation around gender equity for women in the non-profit sector, and take a moment to celebrate that OP 3 is a certified Women Owned company!To find out more about OP 3 events, check out www.thoseeventgirls.com and you can also get in touch with Erica directly via email at Erica@op-3.com.“You don't want the ice bucket challenge, you want YOUR ice bucket challenge.” - Erica HelphandConnect with us:Beyond Fundraising Inc: https://www.startingbeyond.com/Join our Non-Profit Event Pro Community: https://www.thenonprofiteventcollective.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-milne-8946791/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milneamyr/https://www.instagram.com/startbeyond/https://www.instagram.com/thenonprofiteventcollective/