Meet The Team

A ‘mover and groover’ in Manchester, London and Ibiza, Penni is the driving force behind Connect In’s ever-increasing client list. As Co-founder and Director, her strength lies in business development, client liaison and drinking wine!

As a well-respected personality within the housing and event industries, Penni’s breadth of knowledge spans over 20 years. A powerful advocate for women, she is the founder of the prestigious Women in Housing awards and an Ambassador for the Girls Out Loud Foundation and charity. Penni never switches off and is always thinking of new ways to adapt and change the direction of events – now more than ever, she has helped reshape ConnectIn into the virtual online event specialists they are today.

Whatever her brief, Penni is passionate about event delivery, her persuasive skills, creativity and incredible work rate means she can deliver fantastic result for clients every time and her ability to secure impressive amounts of sponsorship are well-renowned.

On a personal level, Penni is well-loved for her warm, bubbly and personable nature, balanced with true professionalism; she gets the best out of everyone she works with.

Penni says:

“Creative flair, glamour and a little bit of Prosecco, are all I need to bring ideas to life – the possibilities of virtual events are quite literally endless!”

Before Co-founding ConnectIn with Penni back in 2009, David’s could be found organising and promoting successful themed club nights across Cheshire and Birmingham throughout the 1990’s.

A change of pace saw David enter the ‘real world’ and head up the events division of a North West publishing house prior to establishing ConnectIn with Penni.

David’s faultless organisational skills and his ability to ‘make things happen’ are invaluable to ConnectIn and its clients. With previous experience of working for a bank, David is naturally the ‘money man’, managing both clients and Connect In’s budgets with pin-point accuracy.

That keen eye for detail doesn’t end with the finances, David also oversees all of the design, development and delivery within Connect In’s portfolio of events. Along with Penni, David has been one half of the driving force behind turning ConnectIn virtual. From the minute you choose ConnectIn to run your virtual event, David is there to help guide, prompt and conjure your every request!

David says:

“When I was younger, I always wanted to be a ‘rock star or a Grand Prix driver’, so now every event I design has to be memorable, and as special as it can be for our clients – making their dreams come true!”

Jordan’s a grafter, even from the age of 11 when he was working five days a week in his father’s restaurant, followed by his 15 year’s spent in the hospitality industry – including Assistant Hospitality Manager at the Manchester Arena.

He is immensely driven to succeed and doesn’t stop until a client’s visions are turned into reality. Jordan loves doing what he does, turning people’s dreams into a reality – that most certainly shows in his quality of work. Jordan’s client management ability has been a real driving force behind ConnectIn’s new digital offering.

Jordan says:

“I would much rather work 16 hours a day giving 100% than working eight hours and giving only half the effort! Our new digital approach has its challenges, but I love a challenge - just because we can’t see the audience doesn’t mean they aren’t there!”

After completing her first degree in Event Management, Jess studied a master’s degree in Advertising & Marketing at the University of Leeds – hosting and attending events throughout her five years at university.
A love for dance music sparked her passion for events and festivals – attending events across Europe in Leeds, Manchester, Barcelona, Ibiza and more! During her time at university Jess worked in promotion, networking and hospitality roles for various student club nights.
Since joining the company, Jess has successfully delivered a wide range of events, including brand activations, festivals, conferences, festive parties, networking events, and more, showcasing her versatility and expertise in event management.
Previously a restorative approach ambassador during her education, she is a people person who loves working with people of all backgrounds – always doing everything with a smile!
Jess says: ‘I believe that the possibilities within events are endless and that is the beauty of our industry. Transforming ideas on paper into a live reality is something that I will never lose love for.'

Andy is a dynamic and innovative events management professional with a unique blend of expertise in law, marketing, and audio-visual event production. Holding both a Bachelor's degree in Law and a Master's degree in Law and Marketing, Andy combines a robust analytical background with creative flair and strategic insight.

Before transitioning into events management, Andy gained valuable experience as an Audio-Visual Technician, where he discovered a passion for the technical aspects of lights, sound, and video. This role honed his skills in bringing complex ideas to life and working collaboratively in the events sector with like-minded individuals.

In his current role, Andy applies his wide-ranging background to operations at Connect In to ensure all the tiny parts are running smoothly. His work allows him to harness his creativity, leverage his technical and admin expertise, and collaborate with the team to ensure we are delivering outstanding events to all of our clients. In his spare time, you will find Andy rock climbing or attending events which he enjoys in a professional and recreational capacity.

With an impressive background in the design/creative industry, Simon started out in web design, over eight years ago. Moving through the design industry by working in kitchen design, packaging and graphic design, he has managed to work for a number of high-profile brands such as, Halfords, Adidas, Tesco and Suzuki.

Simon joined Connect In eight years ago and has never looked back since. Simon’s skill set is vast including typography, visualisation, print, software design and communications – making Simon an invaluable member of the ConnectIn team.

Simon says:

“Design has always been a massive part of my life, when I was younger, I used to draw pictures and send them to big blue-chip companies looking for a response and advice on how to progress. To be doing what I’m doing now – it’s a dream come true!

Andrea has been with Connect In Events for the last ten years. She met Penni and David at a previous employers shared offices and has stuck with them since! Andrea has grown with the company seeing their expansion of clients and memorable moments.

In Andrea's spare time she enjoys walking the dog, spending time with her family and attending gigs - Especially Rock! In fact, Andrea and David share a common love of the Foo Fighters.

Andrea says:

"I would not be able to do my job without a sense of humour! Thankfully I have one!

Zara has worked in the hospitality industry since the age of 14, progressing through various job roles, and has spent 22 years in the events industry. Her experience spans from weddings to festivals, and from roles such as customer service manager to production.
Zara studied Performing Arts Management at the University of Manchester, Warrington Campus, which laid the foundation for her skill set. This education provided her with a deep understanding of the intricacies of event planning and production, including staffing policies, health and safety, and licensing and permits.
Throughout her career, Zara has had the privilege of working in over 12 countries around the world. Her overseas work includes creating and delivering one of the largest sports tours in Lloret de Mar, organizing trips for university students to some of Europe’s top cities, and working for a large tour operator hosting weekly events and excursions.
Eventually deciding to settle in the UK, Zara transitioned into the wedding industry, where she developed new skills in venue dressing, floristry, and attention to fine details. In addition to weddings, she continues to manage and staff large festivals across the UK. Her work in event spaces and wedding venues over the past eight years has equipped her with a strong understanding of venue limitations and the ability to manage client expectations while ensuring their vision comes to life.
Zara has a deep passion for both music and people, two elements that are essential to creating fantastic events that bring people closer together.