Meet the All-Female Team Who Are Putting the Fun Back Into Function

Photo: Courtesy of Create & Cultivate

In a world where special events are being held every day, West Coast-based Non Plus Ultra strives to make one-of-a-kind events for their clients in a truly memorable way. Founded by Jordan Langer in San Francisco, Non Plus Ultra is a venue activation firm that specializes in unique events and parties. We all know that attending cool events is amazing, but what is it really like to work in the events world?

For starters, it’s fun! Having a hand in the events industry is very fast-paced, and full of excitement. The Non Plus Ultra team activates some of the most iconic venues, including The Palace Of Fine Arts and The San Francisco Mint, to help clients host the most incredible and unique events you could imagine.

They have women working in management, marketing, sales, production, and more. Each experience is different, but everyone at Non Plus Ultra is having a blast. And what better way to learn more about their female team members’ experiences than to hear about it straight from them.

So read on and learn more about their roles, experiences, and what it’s like to work in the event’s space.

Meet Amanda:

“It’s been really incredible to see how much our small team has accomplished and how developed our venue portfolio has become over just these few short years.”

Amanda has been working for Non Plus Ultra for two years. She took her love of The San Francisco Mint, and turned it into a career. “I accidentally fell in love with the San Francisco Mint during a tour,” she says. “The moment I set foot in the space I said out loud this will be my next venue.” As Non Plus Ultra’s project manager, Amanda coordinates all the logistics for every event at each of the venues to make sure they are practically perfect for the team and their clients. “The event world is absolute chaos, and I thrive in making order out of all the mess,” she explains. The event world may be hectic, but Amanda navigates it with no problem.

With the type of events thrown throughout the year, you would think that they’re working with a huge team, but they’re actually pretty small. Some may see this as a problem, but with Amanda in their court, they have nothing to worry about. “We handle hundreds of large-scale events a year with a very small close-knit team,” she says. “Keeping it all in check and making sure all my coworkers feel supported every day is a huge accomplishment in my book.” Amanda is a vital part of the Non Plus Ultra team, they can always count on her to keep things running efficiently.

Meet Andrea:

“I’ve been with Non Plus Ultra since the beginning, and I look forward to where it will lead me next in this crazy city.”

Andrea is our community events manager. “I love the arts and entertainment,” she says. “Working at Non Plus Ultra, we don’t always get to focus on the neighborhoods of the city.  I strive to focus on the needs of the local culture to create community-oriented events and work with organizations to bring people together and celebrate that diversity.” Andrea ensures the events at all of our venues live up to the community’s expectations. “I have done everything from taking tickets to communicating with company executives on sponsorship dollars to ensure our events go off without a hitch,” she explains.

Though she has a background working in sales in finance, the events business is where her heart is. “Over the years, the passion for nightlife won over the day job and now my career time in front of the computer equals the amount of time on my pedometer, running the floor during large events,” says Andrea. Non Plus Ultra’s community events are always a blast, and a lot of that is because of Andrea’s hard work and dedication.

Meet Dar:

“Always be patient … One day, everything you’ve done will make sense.”

Dar has been working in the events industry since 2010, starting out working as a bartender in the nightlife and events world. She began working with Non Plus Ultra in 2014 as a bartender at their first venue activation at Pier 70. After four years she became the production manager at their venue, the San Francisco Mint.

Though being a production manager is a lot of fun, it’s also a lot of work. Dar says that her real-life superpower is her ability to juggle multiple tasks and jobs, which comes in handy when working in this industry. But even with all of the different jobs she has to handle, being a part of Non Plus Ultra certainly has its perks. When asked about what the best part of this job is, Dar said it’s “that I get to be involved in so many events [and] that every activation is cool to see when it comes to life from layouts to event day. Being involved in the events world is a perk all around.”

 Meet Erin:

“Life is pretty chaotic, but we never run out of laughs which is an amazing feeling.”

Erin has been with Non Plus Ultra for about 11 years, starting off as a bartender at Jones, and then working her way up to being the sales manager of the Palace Of Fine Arts. She’s married and has two sons, who are five and seven years old. As busy as she is, Erin does a fantastic job of juggling work and family. When asked what motivates her, Erin said that it’s “work and work family.”

There are a lot of benefits to working at Non Plus Ultra, but according to Erin, one of the best parts is all the connections she has made. “Non Plus Ultra does a wide variety of events and it’s amazing having things come up and being so connected that the impossible is made possible,” she says. Erin thrives in a hectic environment. When asked about what she loves most about herself, she said “I love that I can work really well under stress. I am quick at solutions and being active and not reactive.” This business may be stressful, but Erin handles it with ease.

Meet Jenn:

“Take a moment to enjoy the present.”

Jenn, who is the assistant to the founder and president Jordan Langer, has been with Non Plus Ultra since last fall. When she heard about an opening at the company, she knew that this was the job she wanted, so she went for it. “I knew my friend and former coworker was currently at an awesome company doing amazing things,” she says. “When he let me know there would possibly be an opening, I jumped at the opportunity.”

Jenn is a pro when it comes to time management, and she is their go-to person when it comes to keeping things organized and running on schedule. She loves her job at Non Plus Ultra, and they love having her around. “I am so grateful for the opportunity and for NPU taking a chance on me,” she explains. “I have always wanted to be a personal assistant and I feel very fortunate to be a part of this company.” Jenn is kept very busy; no two workdays are alike for her. “Every day is different for me, but that’s just one of the reasons why my job is so great.” As long as Jenn is here, the team can all rest assured that business will continue to run smoothly.

Meet Lea:

"Don’t panic, you’ll get there one day."

Since December 2018, Lea has been a part of NPU’s marketing department. She spends her workdays thinking of ways to help the company flourish. Her main focus may be marketing, but she wears a lot of different hats. From creating unique marketing campaigns to helping the team become more organized and efficient, Lea makes sure NPU is operating like a well-oiled machine.

Though NPU is a great company to work for, it keeps Lea and the team extremely busy. “Everyone here is truly unbelievable in everything that they do,” she says. “From the events we’ve thrown to the clients we’ve worked with, we’ve seen it all. It may be difficult at times, but when you have a team like this behind each event, it’s all worth it.”

Meet Leanne:

“Network. Talk to absolutely everyone. With practice, you become more comfortable, but it's so important to step outside your comfort zone to grow both personally and professionally.”

Leanne is an HR leader with over twelve years of experience leading people operations teams in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is also the founder and CEO of an HR software company, Remunerati. Leanne lends her HR expertise to help Non Plus Ultra grow and scale. She is also on the board of Project Wreckless—Non Plus Ultra’s nonprofit partner organization—a capacity development program for at-risk youth centered around the restoration of classic cars. She has two little boys and two dogs, and she loves her “crazy chaotic life.”

When it comes to accomplishments, Leanne has a ton, but her biggest accomplishment is bringing her HR software, Remunerati, and Non Plus Ultra together to benefit everyone who works for their company. “I’m proud to be able to partner with NPU to pioneer our software so that employees are rewarded in a way that is meaningful for them,” she says. She also believes in the power of networking and putting yourself out there. “The more people you talk to, the more doors open,” she adds. “You never know what is going to come out of a conversation. It’s very easy to play it safe, but when you put yourself out there, you realize some pretty cool stuff.”

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When it comes to amazing workplaces, Non Plus Ultra is the best of the best. From the sweet parties they throw to their amazing community events, they always get stuff done and do it in style. Sometimes things get hectic, and they don’t always see eye-to-eye, but at the end of the day, we’re all able to sit back and truly enjoy something that we’ve all put a lot of work into. This may seem like a lot to handle every day, but it’s what they do at NPU and they love it.

Take a peek at C&C’s SF Conference and the incredible set up that Non Plus Ultra helped to cultivate.

Photo: Courtesy of Create & Cultivate