Team Effort
Every year, Skokie hosts a large-scale pageant event in July that shows true teamwork among the players involved. International Pageants, Inc. brings contestants, employees and their families to the area for two weeks of competition on stage at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts’ Centre East. This event has really become a joint effort between the theatre, the pageant and the Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center—Chicago North Shore.
Joe Dadiego, the General Manager of the Doubletree, says, “International Pageants had been coming to this hotel since before it was renovated, but at that time they weren’t really partnered with us or the theatre. Back then, they would come, do their event and leave.”
Mary Richardson is the Executive Director of International Pageants, which she oversees with her husband, Mel, the CEO. “We were approached by another state that wanted to bring the event there—it was a great offer and we were tempted,” states Richardson.
Dadiego remembers this time period well, and says, “At the end of the pageant that year, they told me about the deal they were offered from another town.”
After talking with Michael Pauken, the General Manager of Centre East, and considering what the Doubletree could offer International Pageants in terms of incentives, Dadiego and his crew flew out to talk to Mel and Mary to try and convince them to stay in Skokie. “We asked them what they needed from us to stay, and they told us they would like to have a stable partnership that helped them grow their venue,” reflects Dadiego.
“It was an effort to see how we could all work together and make the event even better,” explains Pauken. Since the theatre is located right next to the hotel, it is an attractive set-up for most groups. “We do a number of projects together each year,” he continues.
International Pageants wound up signing on for a three-year deal and they were thrilled to be able to stay in the area. “Joe really took the lead with the hotel and Mike with the theatre—the deal they were able to offer us was a really good one,” says Mary Richardson. “Chicagoland is really a ‘destination.’ I tell all of my contestants and their families that it is a place you’d want to vacation and many of them do that while they are here.”
The relationship has worked out well—not just for the partners—but for the businesses in the area, too. The influx of people for the pageant events helps to bring in large amounts of dollars to the area. “The merchants across the street from the hotel always ask when we are coming,” notes Mary Richardson.
Dadiego mentioned that the Skokie Chamber of Commerce has been an invaluable resource for helping to promote the event. “They have helped with finding sponsors and getting the community involved.”
Westfield Old Orchard has collaborated, as well. “July is typically a slow month in terms of events in Skokie, so the pageant really comes at the perfect time,” says Dadiego.Pauken agrees. “Theatre is slow in the summer so it works well for us to have them here—it’s a great event for all of us.”
The nicest part about this arrangement is the fact that it benefits everyone who is involved. The relationships are based on a mutual respect for one another, as Dadiego pointed out. “Mary and Mel are very committed to working with us, and their values have matched up with ours quite nicely.”
Mel Richardson sums it up well, saying, “We’ve all become partners in this event. What Joe and Mike have done is to help form an alliance that says ‘let’s make this more of a family.’”
Working together, the three organizations have created a stable partnership that has truly become a team.
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