Hidden Gems: Meet Nicky Bee of Great Lakes Event Works

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicky Bee.

Hi Nicky, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Great Lakes Event Works started because I kept seeing the same problem: communities had great event ideas and passionate volunteers, but not always the structure needed to actually execute them well.

I became the person people called when events needed organization behind the scenes — sponsorship outreach, vendor coordination, timelines, logistics, and keeping moving pieces on track. Over time that role grew into Great Lakes Event Works.

Today I work alongside event boards, nonprofits, and businesses to bring structure and strategy to community events so they can grow sustainably year after year. My focus is making sure the operational side is handled so the events themselves can thrive and continue bringing people and businesses together.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Building something from scratch rarely is.

A lot of what I do happens behind the scenes, and when events run well people don’t always realize how much planning, coordination, and problem-solving went into making that happen. Early on, part of the challenge was helping people understand that structure and organization are just as important as the idea for the event itself.

Another reality is that many community events are volunteer-driven. The passion is there, which is great, but passion alone doesn’t keep vendors organized, sponsorships secured, timelines moving, and logistics handled. Bridging that gap and building trust with organizations has been part of the process.

There have definitely been moments where things felt like an uphill climb, but seeing events grow, businesses get involved, and communities come together makes it worth it. Every challenge has helped shape what Great Lakes Event Works is today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
What really defines my work is being out in the community and building the connections that make events possible. A big part of my time is spent meeting with local business owners, talking through ideas, and helping them see where they can plug into events in ways that make sense for them and the community.

I also spend a lot of time working with vendors, artists, and small businesses who are looking for opportunities to share what they create. Events give them a platform, and helping connect those creative entrepreneurs with the right events is something I really enjoy.

In many ways I see my role as a bridge — bringing together businesses, organizers, vendors, and the community so everyone benefits. When those pieces come together the right way, an event becomes more than just something happening on a weekend. It becomes something that supports local businesses, gives creatives a place to shine, and brings people together in a meaningful way.

What I’m most proud of brand-wise is that Great Lakes Event Works has become known as someone who shows up, does the work, and helps turn ideas into something real for the community.

What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is seeing communities and local businesses build strong ties with each other.

Small businesses are the backbone of most communities, but they only stay strong when people feel connected to them. Events help create that connection. They give businesses a chance to be visible, vendors a place to share what they create, and residents a reason to gather together.

Those moments turn into memories — the festivals people look forward to every year, the vendors they come back to, the businesses they start supporting long after the event is over. That’s where real sustainability comes from.

When communities support their small businesses and those businesses support the community right back, it creates something that lasts far beyond a single event. That’s the part of the work that matters most to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://GreatLakesEventWorks.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578830604487