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Regional Executive Assistants' Cocktail Hour
Wed, May 20
|Chicago's First Lady
REACH & Admin Awards Nominees Celebration
Join us for our return to Chicago's First Lady! Our May REACH event will kick off spring and give us all an opportunity to celebrate this year's Admin Award nominees--we hope you can be there!
Time & Location
May 20, 2026, 5:15 PM – 7:30 PM
Chicago's First Lady, 112 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601, USA
Guests
About the event
Please join us aboard Chicago's First Lady on Wednesday, May 20, for Regional Executive Assistants Cocktail Hour!
In addition to being our usual mix-and-mingle vibe for REACH members, we are also using this time on the water to celebrate this year's Admin Award nominees in advance of the Chicagoland Admin Awards "Good as Gold" Gala on Friday, June 12.
Do I need to purchase a ticket to attend the event on May 20?
Yes. This is a big and very special event for our group. While REACH membership remains qualified and free, there are still costs associated with putting on our events, particularly an impressive one such as this one! Ticket prices to attend our events remain affordable because of the generous support of our incredible sponsors. REACH ticket sales are the sole funder of (and solely fund!) REACH operations and our event overhead costs. Membership is free because we believe in minimizing cost barriers to professional networking and access to resources. Please take a moment to learn more about our sponsors and consider them for your next car service, charter service, board dinner, or event!
How much does a ticket cost, and what does it include?
Tickets for our May event include passage aboard Chicago's First Lady for our two-hour event; complimentary soft drinks, beer, and wine; and complimentary food. A cash bar will be also available for liquor libations.
REACH Beyond Tickets ($50 REACH Member / $60 Non-REACH Admin Award Nominee)
REACH Beyond tickets are the first tier of tickets available for purchase as soon as ticket sales open. These tickets represent early-bird pricing and are the most affordable and the best value. REACH Beyond tickets are on sale through Friday, April 24. Admin Award nominees (both REACH members and non-REACH members alike) who attend the event will have the option to redeem an $8 refund on their ticket purchase to celebrate this year's eighth annual Admin Awards.
REACH Up Tickets ($55 REACH Member / $65 Non-REACH Admin Award Nominee)
REACH Up tickets will be available for purchase as soon as the REACH Beyond tier closes, and they will remain on sale through Monday, May 4. Same great benefits as REACH Beyond tickets! Admin Award nominees (both REACH members and non-REACH members alike) who attend the event will have the option to redeem an $8 refund on their ticket purchase to celebrate this year's eighth annual Admin Awards.
REACH Out Tickets ($60 REACH Member / $70 Non-REACH Admin Award Nominee)
REACH Out tickets are the final tier of tickets that will be available for purchase from May 5 through Tuesday, May 12. Ticket sales will close at midnight on Tuesday, May 12. We want to give all of our REACH members as much time as possible to decide to join us, but we need to finalize numbers after May 12.
I'm an administrative professional, but I'm not an executive or personal assistant. Can I still attend on May 20?
Yes, if you are 2026 Admin Award nominee! Our friends at The Admin Awards celebrate the administrative profession as a whole, which includes folks who may be at a different stage in their administrative career track that we as Executive and Personal Assistants share. Although REACH membership is reserved for executive or personal assistants, for this particular event, we are inviting REACH members as well as all Admin Award nominees to join us for the fun! Administrative professionals who are not eligible for REACH membership must be 2026 Admin Award nominees in order to purchase a ticket.
Are Admin Award nominees eligible for discounted pricing?
We are proud to be partners with The Admin Awards and recognize them as the leading awards and recognition program for the administrative profession. We are honored to use this REACH event as a joint opportunity to raise a toast to this year's Admin Award nominees, and in celebration of the eighth annual Chicagoland Admin Awards, ticketholders who attend the event on May 20 who have also been nominated for a 2026 Admin Award by May 20 will have the option to redeem an $8 refund on their ticket purchase.
Can I bring a guest?
Attending a REACH event is a special and exclusive benefit of being a REACH member (and in this case, Admin Award nominees, too!). If you're interested in having another EA or PA join you, please instead encourage them to apply to join REACH so they can purchase at REACH prices! As space for this event is limited, we will assess guest count closer to the event and may have the option for ticketholders to purchase a ticket for a guest.
Event Sponsors
We look forward to being joined by representatives from our various sponsors and encourage REACH members to consider them for any future travel or event needs you may have! Email addresses of ticketholders will be shared with our sponsors so they can follow up with everyone after meeting them on May 20. Organizations interested in co-sponsoring this or future REACH events can contact Ike Saunders at ike@nbandw.com.
REACH is proud to partner with UrbanRide, a leading provider of premium group transportation and mobility solutions, as a sponsor of this special evening aboard Chicago’s First Lady. UrbanRide supports meaningful connections—both on land and on the water—and will be enhancing the event experience through sponsorship support and curated engagement opportunities for attendees. Jaime from UrbanRide will be in attendance to network with guests, share insights into their services, and connect with fellow professionals throughout the evening. As a sponsor, UrbanRide is committed to supporting REACH’s mission of bringing people together through elevated experiences, thoughtful partnerships, and impactful relationships.
Jaime Starcheski
Director, Elite Client Services
702-718-5775 Direct | 866-718-5466 ECS Team | 800-525-5750 Groups Team
Lettuce Entertain You®, one of the nation’s most celebrated restaurant groups, is a premier partner for the evening and is generously sponsoring the cuisine to showcase signature offerings from Café Ba‑Ba‑Reeba! and Summer House Santa Monica. Members of their teams will join us, offering a unique opportunity to connect with the team behind some of Chicago’s most iconic dining concepts. Their team will also be on site staffing and supporting the catered experience, ensuring guests enjoy exceptional hospitality.
Alison Lowry
Divisional Sales & Events Director
(773) 532-9300 | alowry@lettuce.com
REACH is proud to host this event aboard Chicago’s First Lady, with generous support from First Lady Cruises, Chicago’s leading architectural cruise and specialty event provider. As the official venue and experience sponsor, First Lady Cruises offers guests a one‑of‑a‑kind setting to connect, network, and enjoy the city from a truly iconic vantage point. Known for exceptional service and unforgettable experiences on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, the First Lady Cruises team will ensure a seamless and elevated evening on the water. Their partnership helps transform this event into a memorable experience that combines stunning views, thoughtful hospitality, and meaningful connections—setting the perfect backdrop for the REACH community.
Clare Agra
Director of Charter Sales | First Lady
Email: cagra@firstlady.com
Office: 847.358.1330 Direct: 224.836.6062
BoomPop, an AI-driven event planning platform, helps companies plan, manage, and execute engaging team gatherings—whether in‑person, virtual, or hybrid. BoomPop works with organizations to design experiences that strengthen workplace culture, boost employee engagement, and create meaningful connections beyond the day‑to‑day work environment. From team outings and offsites to client events and celebrations, BoomPop streamlines the entire planning process through a centralized platform and curated vendor network, making it easier for teams to bring people together in thoughtful, memorable ways. Through its partnership with REACH, BoomPop reinforces a shared belief that well‑designed experiences are a catalyst for connection, collaboration, and growth.
Madelyn Shaughnessy
Director of Sales
(310) 740-4086 | madelyn@boompop.com
Starflight Aviation is an “on demand” charter jet company. They require no minimum revenue commitments or memberships and are happy to provide charter jet quotes for consideration. We are pleased to serve the current travel needs of clients like Disney Corporation, Universal Studios, Uber Technologies and Stevie Nicks to name a few.
24/7 availability to contact a charter manager “live”- No answering service or voicemail.
Immediate response to requests for information and/or charter quotes.
Outstanding reputation working with support staff to ensure an excellent charter experience.
Competitive pricing as we have excellent relationships with our operator suppliers including preferred broker status with several.
Vetting of operators to meet specific requirements for aircraft, crew, insurance, safety etc.
David Neesan
Head of Business Development
david.neesan@flystarflight.com
Direct Line: +1 630 533 6641
US Support Office: +1 201 393 0455
The Admin Awards is the number one recognition program for Administrative Professionals, considered the highest honor in the Administrative Profession, and a national movement uniting executives and Administrative Professionals across industries, cities, and generations.
Often referred to as the Academy Awards for Admins, the program invites companies to nominate their Administrative Professionals across nine award categories that reflect the many ways Admins drive business forward.
All nominees are celebrated at the Admin Awards Good as Gold Galas held in cities across the U.S., where Finalists and Winners are also announced.
Since inception, thousands of executives have joined the movement to honor the people who make ideas real, momentum possible, and excellence inevitable.
Sunny Nunan
Founder, CEO & Proud Daughter of a Retired Executive Secretary
Ph: 469-865-6394
Tickets
REACH Out Ticket
Sale ends
May 12, 11:59 PM
Tickets for our May event include passage aboard Chicago's First Lady; complimentary soft drinks, beer, and wine; and complimentary food. A cash bar will be also available for liquor libations. To celebrate this year's eighth annual Admin Awards, 2026 nominees who attend the event have the option to redeem an $8 refund on their ticket purchase. All monies not refunded go solely toward the cost of REACH events. TO EXERCISE THE REFUND OPTION, BRING YOUR PRINTED TICKET TO THE EVENT.
$60.00
+$1.50 ticket service fee
REACH Out Guest Ticket
Sale ends
May 12, 11:59 PM
Tickets for our May event include passage aboard Chicago's First Lady; complimentary soft drinks, beer, and wine; and complimentary food. A cash bar will be also available for liquor libations. A guest ticket may only be purchased by a current ticket holders
$60.00
+$1.50 ticket service fee
Total
$0.00