Production firm Ignite!Events acquires Parties & Props

Event production firm Ignite!Events, which is headquartered in Edwardsville, has acquired event design company Parties & Props, Ltd., effective June 3.

Ignite!Events will become Parties & Props Event Production Group, an event design company that specializes in distinctly creative events.

For more than 25 years, Parties & Props, Ltd. has provided options for event design and décor.

Under the leadership of mother-daughter team of Mary and Amy Allison, the organization created thousands of successful special events, weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, fund-raisers and galas, private parties, corporate events and unique experiences, in and around the St. Louis area.

Allison Hershberger (above left) is the president/founder of Ignite!Events. She resides in Edwardsville.

“Parties & Props has been a trusted partner of our company for more than 12 years. We could not imagine how we would continue to produce successful events without their design team’s excellent sense of style and extensive inventory. And then I thought to myself, why should we?” Hershberger said. “The two organizations offer complimentary services that when fused together create a well-round, full-service organization with strong core competencies that are certain to be of great benefit to our clients.”

The new operation will focus on providing unique, high-end event design, décor and production services to clients. Parties & Props EPG will work to retain key partnerships with planners, clients and vendors, by offering a wide variety of event design and production services.

As the new CEO of Parties & Props EPG, Hershberger brings 25 years of event design, planning and production experience including working with large-scale corporate events (NASCAR, IBM, Sony-Ericsson and more); private events (weddings, bar and bat mitzvah’s, family reunions, etc.); non-profit events (walks, runs, galas and fund-raisers) and public and political events.

Amy Allison will remain with the company as a key consultant during the ownership transition. In addition, Hershberger announced that all key Parties & Props, Ltd. and Ignite!Events staff members will be retained, ensuring continuity of service for current and new clients and vendors.

“We could not think of anyone who is more capable to take Parties & Props to the next level than Allison,” Amy Allison said. “We are excited the company will live on and look forward to where Allison’s insight and leadership will take it.”

With the creation of this combined organization, Hershberger also announces a realignment of the new leadership team, which includes the addition of: Tim Kent (above right), Design & Development director; Jason Wells (below left), operations director; and Betsy Bovee (below right), project director.

“I am excited to have such a strong team right out of the gate,” said Hershberger. “The diversity of experience and accumulated knowledge of our team will be a true asset for Parties & Props EPG and for our clients.”

For more information about Parties & Props Event Production Group, contact Allison Hershberger at (314) 963-0880 or visit www.partiesandprops.com.

— From the Illinois Business Journal