Who’s the Boss? The Power of Two at McAteer Meeting Management

At a recent program, one of the team members looked at Bethany and me and asked, “So…who’s the boss?”

The short answer? We both are. The long answer? It depends on which side of the house you’re in.

We often compare our partnership to the restaurant world. Every great restaurant has two essential parts: the front of house and the back of house. Each plays a critical role in creating an exceptional experience, and one can’t succeed without the other.

Bethany: The Front of House
Bethany is our front of house. She’s the face you see when you walk in—the energy, the creativity, the connection. Whether she’s onsite running a program, welcoming guests, or managing the client-facing side of planning, she brings warmth, style, and structure to every detail. She knows how to make people feel seen and appreciated, all while ensuring the entire event runs seamlessly in real time.

Kelly: The Back of House
I’m the back of house. My world is the systems, logistics, and structure that make everything tick behind the scenes. Think of it as the kitchen—where the timing, ingredients, and precision all come together so the front of house can deliver a flawless experience. From operational workflows to technology, budgeting, and process design, my focus is on ensuring that our clients’ programs are as effortless behind the curtain as they appear from the audience.

Together, we’re Strategy and Spark—two halves of the same whole. The magic happens where our worlds meet: where creativity meets process, vision meets logistics, and relationships meet results.

So who’s the boss? The truth is, leadership doesn’t always mean hierarchy. Sometimes it means partnership. And that’s exactly how we like it.

Cheers,

Kelly