Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Kulovitz.
Hi Erika, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Growing up, design wasn’t just a hobby, it was my environment. I fondly remember spending hours at my grandfather’s drawing desk, sketching away while he meticulously worked on blueprints. We’d also hang out in his workshop creating and building (though, admittedly, those power tool skills didn’t quite stick with me!).
My grandfather taught me how to dream, design, and execute. He was all about the experience, finding inspiration in nature, obsessing over the details, and bringing an intense passion to everything he made. Those formative lessons became the exact blueprint for my own journey into event design, experiential marketing, and leadership. He also taught me the value of relationships. He never made us feel like he was “too busy”. He would bring us into what he was doing, or stop to engage with us. His deep faith and his family were his priorities and you felt that in all that he did.
A unique thread to my careet path is my 23-year background as a dancer. This chapter of my life gifted me with a deep appreciation for the arts, stage presence, theater, and drama. More than anything, it taught me how to evoke and channel raw emotion.
Producing a world-class event is remarkably similar to choreographing a complex dance. It requires rhythm, seamless transitions, and a profound understanding of how an audience moves and feels. At Akire Events Agency, this mindset ensures that every event has a heartbeat, transforming passive attendees into active, emotionally engaged participants.
Over the last two decades, I’ve had the privilege of building a diverse career in events and marketing. My journey started in a local invitation store, where I learned the ropes of product purchasing and foundational design. From there, I transitioned post-college into conference planning and digital marketing, eventually diving headfirst into full-scale event design and production.
Originally a proud Chicagoan, I eventually packed my bags and transported my life across the country to Los Angeles. From coast to coast and internationally, I’ve expanded my wings to learn every facet of the industry, including:
-Creative Conception: Scenic set design, multimedia concepts, and experiental aesthetics.
-Logistics & Execution: Venue negotiations, tight budget management, and technical production.
-Talent & Flow: Entertainment management and intricate crowd-flow choreography.
From intimate incentive retreats to massive corporate conferences, every guest experience has always been the focus and top of mind in all that we do.
All of this and my diverse background has naturally culminated in one of my greatest professional passions: The Purpose Summit. Last year, I stepped in as the Managing Partner to steward the vision and grow it’s impact.
For me, the Purpose Summit isn’t just another event on the calendar to plan; it is the ultimate intersection of everything I love. It’s where design meets deep, intentional impact. The Purpose Summit allows me to collaborate with visionary leaders, craft spaces that foster genuine human connection, and build environments where purpose-driven ideas can thrive. The team and I strive for this at every event, but when you own it, it’s a different lense to create something even more meaningful.
Underpinning every blueprint , every choreographed transition, and the profound impact we make at the Purpose Summit is my deeply rooted faith. I view my creative talents not merely as a career, but as a divine calling to honor the ultimate Creator through my work. For me, Akire Events Agency is a vehicle for true stewardship, an everyday opportunity to serve others, cultivate genuine community, and reflect a higher intentionality in every single detail. Guided by my faith, I move forward into the future of event production, dedicated to building spaces where human connection and heavenly purpose beautifully align.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t struggles. Being an entrepreneur is a wild and beautiful roller coaster! For me though, it’s how we’ve handled those obstacles. First through faith and prayer, then through intentionality, critical thinking and logic. Some of those challenges as lessons learned along the way and others required a quick reaction. For example, COVID, where our industry took a massive pivot, for us it was a quick reaction to remind our clients and others how versed we were in the vitual space. That said, having a foundational team who believes in you, the mission of the company, our culture and values is what pushes us through to the otherside of those struggles.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Akire Events Agencyis a premier, full-service event design and production agency headquartered in the Chicago area. Founded by Erika (Lohmar) Kulovitz, we are a proudly women-owned and operated firm acts as a strategic partner for brands, corporations, and non-profits.
We absorb the overwhelming, chaotic stress of planning complex logistics so our clients can focus entirely on what matters most: authentically connecting with their audience. We don’t view ourselves merely as event planners—we are experience creators.
<b>What We Do & What We Specialize In</b>
Akire Events Agency works across a massive spectrum of scale and scope. Whether orchestrating multi-day corporate conferences, high-stakes non-profit fundraising galas, or luxury incentive travel trips, our execution relies on a dual mastery of rigorous logistics and high-concept artistic design.
Our core capabilities include:
-Strategy & Theme Development: Aligning the event’s purpose with the client’s core brand story, including custom sponsorship and speaker strategy.
-Experience & Creative Design: Engaging the senses through immersive storytelling, custom main-stage aesthetics, activations, video storytelling, and boutique entertainment.
-End-to-End Management: Flawless execution of venue procurement, custom food and beverage curation, and complex transportation networks. Production Logistics: Building rigorous production schedules, drafting exact Runs of Show, and providing ironclad on-site technical direction
<b>What Sets Us Apart</b>
What truly differentiates Akire from traditional production companies is how they view the psychology of an event. We don’t just look at floor plans; we map out the emotional journey of an attendee from the very first pre-event digital touchpoint to the final post-event follow-up.
<b>What We Are Most Proud Of Brand-Wise</b>
We are deeply proud of our values-driven operational culture. Our mission is we create experiences that connect and serve people with intentional human connections for impacting the Kingdom
Our brand is built on five core pillars:
Align with Purpose
Keep our Word
Inspire Intentional Experiences
Respond in Love
Embrace Creative Solutions.
See what we did there, the anagram spells Akire!
We pride ourselves on doing the right thing for our clients, our vendors, and our internal team—even when it is costly, or when no one else is looking. Over a decade of execution, we have successfully scaled into a powerhouse agency capable of producing multi-city, award-winning programs while preserving the intimate, agile, and fiercely loyal relationships.
<b>What We Want Your Readers to Know</b>
If there is one thing we want your readers to take away, it is that an event is just a date on a calendar, but an experience changes behavior for impact.
In a world craving genuine contact, a mediocre corporate gathering is a missed opportunity. Your event should leave a lasting impression that turns passive attendees into passionate ambassadors for your brand. Partnering with Akire means bringing on a dedicated extension of your own internal team—one that is wholeheartedly invested in transforming your next gathering into an unforgettable chapter of your brand’s story
Any big plans?
We in a pattern of growth and are looking forward to what that means for our clients events, along with new clients to create an even bigger impact on those around us locally and around the globe. Our talented team is growing and being able to shepard and lead them is a true honor.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.akireevents.agency
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akire_events_agency/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akireproductions
- Linkedin: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCreGumcelHjx7mqPwblLzHQ/videos
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCreGumcelHjx7mqPwblLzHQ/videos
- Other: www.linkedin.com/in/erikakulovitz
