Design the gathering around what matters.
helping organizations make better use of the time they bring people together
I provide gathering design and facilitation for team days, retreats, staff gatherings, and selected community or member events.
Gathering design
A clear plan for the experience — not just the schedule
You may already have a venue, date, and guest list. I help you determine what should happen between arrival and departure.
Depending on the scope, that can include:
Clarifying the gathering’s purpose.
Reviewing or shaping the agenda.
Designing the participant journey.
Developing conversation prompts and participation formats.
Planning welcome, transitions, and closing moments.
Creating a practical run of show.
Briefing your internal host or event team.
This can be a focused planning engagement or part of a larger facilitation project.
Gathering Design Intensive
A contained planning engagement for someone preparing a retreat, team day, or event.
You receive a planning conversation, an agenda or experience review, and a concise set of recommendations.
Team facilitation
Help people contribute, not just listen.
I design and lead structured sessions around an agreed objective.
The format may include individual reflection, paired conversation, small-group work, and whole-group discussion. Participation is purposeful, with clear instructions and options that do not require everyone to share personal information.
how this works
Team Connection Session
A tailored 60–90-minute session for a small team gathering.
Half-Day Team Experience
A more substantial facilitation block, considered when the objective, group, and scope are a good fit.
Ongoing gathering support
If your organization brings people together regularly, we can discuss an ongoing relationship after an initial engagement.
That might include an annual gathering calendar, defined session design and facilitation, and limited planning support.
The scope is agreed in advance. This is not unlimited event support or on-call availability.
quick disclaimer
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quick disclaimer *
Stop starting from a blank page.
A practical planning guide and reusable workbook for people bringing friends, teams, and communities together.
Inside you’ll find:
A clear purpose-setting process
Invitation and opening scripts
Thirty-two questions organized by purpose
Four participation formats
Three sample agendas
Language for common hosting challenges
Follow-up templates
Five reusable planning and debrief worksheets
Designed for everyday hosts and leaders planning small, low-stakes gatherings.
What’s outside the scope
Real Gumption is not a full-service event-production or destination-management company.
Services do not automatically include venue sourcing, transportation, catering, rentals, decor, or technical production. I can work alongside the people responsible for those areas.
I also do not provide therapy, clinical support, mediation, or a one-session solution to serious organizational conflict. Check out our Privacy Policy for more info.
Start with a conversation
We will discuss the gathering, the people involved, and whether my approach is an appropriate fit.