Our mission

At the heart of every great community exists a simple, powerful idea: we’re more likely to succeed when we feel connected to one another. We work with partners to help build strategies that don't just engage people, but try to unite them, with the hope of creating positive change. These three core values serve as the foundation of our mission at Gather & Grow Experiences:

  • Community: We are dedicated to building a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging and shared purpose.

  • Collaboration: We champion teamwork, recognizing that the best ideas emerge when diverse talents and perspectives are united.

  • Creativity: We try to foster an atmosphere that encourages curiosity and empowers out-of-the-box thinking, leading to inspiring ideas and solutions.

For more information, email us at: info@gg-exp.com

An outdoor gathering of people sitting on blankets and chairs, facing a stage in front of a red building with a playground to the right and bicycles parked in the foreground, under a blue sky.

What we do

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We understand that in a digital world, face-to-face gatherings are more important than ever for building relationships and sparking new ideas. With over 50 years of combined experience bringing people together, we want to assist in creating a plan to succeed, making the process feel a bit less daunting. Where we can help:

  • Provide strategies for organizations that want to create impactful experiences.

  • Develop themes and programming for organizations looking to drive timely and relevant engagement.

  • Research and recruit speakers for organizations that want to produce meaningful and memorable discussions.

Who we are

A middle-aged man with short brown hair, wearing a light purple dress shirt smiling against a dark blue background.

Hugh Forrest

A transformative leader in the global events industry, Hugh Forrest dedicated more than three decades of his life to building South by Southwest (SXSW) into one of the world's most influential gatherings of technology, innovation and culture. Over the course of his 30+ year tenure at SXSW, Hugh was honored as "Austinite of the Year" by the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce (in 2012) and was also awarded as "Austin Entrepreneur of the Year" by Ernst & Young (in 2014).

His commitment to diversity and inclusion was likewise recognized when Hugh received the Diversity Champion of the Year award from the Austin Black Business Journal in June 2021. Austin Mayor Steve Adler also honored him with a key to the city in January 2023. In addition to SXSW, Hugh served as the co-organizer of the Austin Reggae Festival for more than 30 years. This event raised more than one million dollars to help the Central Texas Food Bank feed hungry families in the Lone Star State.

Kenyon College, his alma mater, bestowed him with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2018, acknowledging his significant impact on arts, culture, and education.

Co-Founder

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Monica Sack

For 16 years, Monica has been a driving force at South by Southwest, where she focused on building strong, connected communities. Her work advocating for diversity has underscored a core belief: celebrating different perspectives is key to creating unique, lasting communities. With a strong background in program development, she has a proven history of collaborating with experts across diverse industries. Her core skills in event planning, budgeting, and communication are the foundation for executing complex projects and achieving organizational goals. 

When not bring people together, Monica loves supporting her beloved Portland Trail Blazers, immersing herself into a great book, and sampling food carts in different cities.

Co-Founder