Challenge

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection engaged Epstein Creative Group to manage their flagship 2025 Energy Summit, seeking to increase attendance while educating stakeholders about energy efficiency regulations and positioning the county as a sustainability leader. The client needed comprehensive event management that would allow their team to participate fully rather than focus on logistics.

Approach

ECG developed a six-month strategic plan centered around the theme “Beyond Benchmarking: Navigating Energy Performance,” addressing every aspect of the event lifecycle:

Strategic Planning & Communication

• Created detailed event documentation and maintained weekly client meetings
• Developed comprehensive run-of-show documents and staffing plans

Registration & Technology

• Implemented CVENT platform with specialized registration pathways
• Designed an intuitive, ADA-compliant website (18,500+ views)
• Created and managed 28 eblast campaigns (48.52% open rate)

Creative & Brand Development

• Designed cohesive visual identity across all touchpoints
• Produced comprehensive environmental graphics and signage package
• Created branded templates for presentations and marketing materials

Program & Speaker Management

• Curated 23 breakout sessions from proposal submissions
• Coordinated 50+ presenters and facilitated GBCI continuing education units
• Prepared speeches, talking points, and briefing materials for VIP speakers including County Executive Marc Elrich and nationally recognized keynote Carl Elefante

Execution

The two-day Summit showcased ECG’s attention to detail and operational excellence:

• Managed all on-site logistics at the Silver Spring Civic Building
• Coordinated sustainable catering, AV, photography, and vendor services
• Facilitated dynamic exhibition area with 15 sustainability solution providers
• Managed specialized features including Solutions Desk consultations and Energy Audit signups
• Provided VIP speaker support and real-time social media coverage
• Orchestrated networking receptions and seamless session transitions

Results

The 2025 Montgomery County Energy Summit exceeded all expectations:

• 304 attendees from diverse stakeholder groups – highest attendance in event history
• 4.6/5 stars overall satisfaction rating
• 90% session satisfaction with 91.3% rating for speaker expertise
• 134 GBCI CEUs awarded to participants
• 5 media stories generated through strategic press releases
• 83.4% of attendees likely to implement new energy-efficient practices
• 4.8/5 rating for Montgomery County’s leadership in sustainability

Impact

The Summit delivered lasting value by providing critical information about energy regulations, demonstrating sustainability leadership, and connecting solution providers with potential clients. Most importantly, it allowed the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection team to fully engage with their flagship event without managing logistics.

Based on this success, ECG has been engaged to plan the 2026 Montgomery County Energy Summit (April 28-29, 2026), continuing our partnership in advancing Montgomery County’s sustainability goals.