The Sedona Forum:

Red Rocks, Global Impact

The McCain Institute’s trademark event, held each spring in beautiful Sedona, Arizona, is attended by some of the most prominent names in politics, technology, philanthropy, and the occasional NBA Hall of Famer. At any point during the week, there could be a high-stakes policy discussion in one room and a bipartisan roundtable in the other. As The McCain Institute’s year-round event partner, NJI was asked to create a space where these discussions could take place seamlessly and unencumbered by the hybrid programming model.

PROJECT BRIEF

Each spring, influential policy leaders from across the globe gather in Arizona for the Sedona Forum, an off-the-record discussion of some of the most pressing issues facing society today, such as human trafficking, the refugee crisis, misinformation, food security, and international relations.

Many of the conversations throughout the week addressed events that had been breaking news just hours earlier, and a number of the speakers were prominent figures on the front lines of these issues. As with all of NJI’s clients, their time is extremely valuable, so their message needs to be clear, and the technology used to broadcast that message needs to be flawless.

THE PROCESS

Over the course of the pandemic, NJI has developed a hybrid programming workflow that we have refined and rolled out across our client base. For the Sedona Forum, we strategized with the McCain team in advance to maximize the impact for both on-site and virtual audiences.

NJI created a brand refresh for the forum that reflected the institute’s core beliefs of democracy, human rights, and character-driven leadership. As the event drew closer, we pre-recorded the virtual panel videos that needed to launch in tandem with the gathering, and coordinated the stage, sound and lighting in each meeting room.

When showtime arrived, NJI was there to ensure that every aspect of the live experience felt effortless so that the McCain team could focus on what really mattered to them — their guests. From graphics on LED panels, to the minute-by-minute run-of-show, to establishing secure video links with speakers in Ukraine, the McCain team was able to lean on NJI to execute at the highest level.

THE OUTCOME

NJI’s role at The Sedona Forum was to be the invisible partner behind the scenes, to help create an atmosphere for some of the most discerning thought leaders on the planet to put aside their differences for one weekend in the desert. By all accounts, the event stood out from other conferences that many of the guests were accustomed to, and the excitement and significance of their discussions were palpable throughout the weekend.

NJI’s partnership with The McCain Institute continues year-round outside of the event space, and we continue to support them in their mission to advance democracy and human rights around the world.