Sadiqa Smith-Ford 

I’m an NYC-based event producer with 15+ years of experience bringing people together through meaningful, well-executed experiences.

I’ve always loved the combination of creativity and logistics that goes into a great event. I enjoy figuring out how all the pieces come together, from the big-picture vision to the smallest details that make a guest feel welcomed and cared for. For me, it’s not just about making an event run smoothly. It’s about how people experience it.

My career has taken me through a lot of different environments. I spent more than 11 years with NYC Parks, where I grew from recreation and operations roles into leadership positions overseeing staff, programs, and events across the city. I later launched my own event planning business, producing everything from weddings and corporate events to fashion shows, book launches, restaurant campaigns, and multi-day conferences.

Today, I’m the Senior Manager of Special Events at Hope for New York, where I produce everything from intimate gatherings for major donors and partners to large-scale fundraising benefits. I’m involved throughout the process, from developing the concept and shaping the experience to managing vendors, production, hospitality, and everything that happens onsite.

I also love the storytelling side of events. I work closely with communications and marketing teams to create video, visual content, and other pieces that help bring an event’s story to life beyond the room.

I’m known for being calm when things get busy, paying attention to the details, and bringing a collaborative energy to the people I work with. Most of all, I care about creating experiences that feel thoughtful, personal, and memorable.