ADL Regional Board Member and National Associate Commissioner Gareth Heyman shares his passions for event planning in his role as the “Wizard Of All Things” as well as travel, family and the mission of the Anti-Defamation League.
How did you first become involved in ADL? How are you involved now?
My ADL roots run deep. From my early childhood, I remember my mother’s involvement with ADL. I remember her coming home and talking about the things she was working on. Fast forward a number of years to when my wife Betsy was involved with ADL in the late 1990s. When she retired from her board seat, she nominated me. I had heard first-hand from her what the Mountain States Region was engaged in and decided to jump in to do my part and help make a difference. I was instantly hooked by the cause and the leadership: Bruce Debosky then and Scott Levin now and their tremendous teams.
Amongst other things I have been active in the No Place for Hate® Campaign, which now – more than ever – is relevant to exposing and educating our youth about differences and instilling a sense of inclusion and respect throughout schools. Additionally, this year I was nominated to be an Associate National Commissioner of ADL.
This past year, Betsy and I were humbled to be honored by ADL at the ArtWorks event at Exdo, which supported No Place for Hate®, as well as ADL’s other civil justice initiatives.
What do you do in your professional life?
As the Wizard Of All Things, I co-founded a global event planning company based here in Denver. We help plan meetings, conferences, incentive trips and product launches, as well as single and multi-day events. We also are engaged in bringing groups to major world sporting events such as the Superbowl, World Series Baseball, Masters, Olympics, World Cup Soccer, Formula1 Racing and many others. We also help many not-for-profits facilitate their fundraising events. Locally recognized clients include ADL, The Colorado Woman’s Foundation, Bridge Project, Clayton Early Learning Centers, JCC, JFS and Hospice of Metro Denver, to name a few.
I love my job. I get to meet and work with fantastic people and have a tremendous diversity of clients. I am fortunate to travel with them to some of the farthest reaches of the world.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A psychiatrist. I grew up watching the Bob Newhart show and thought I would be good at listening to other people’s psychological problems and offering solutions. In college I got a different perspective of the show and soon realized I had my own problems!
Where were you born? From where do your ancestors hail?
I was born in Milwaukee, grew up in Chicago, got in trouble in New Jersey and came to Denver for college.
My mom’s side of the family came from Russia and Mom was born in Milwaukee. Dad’s family was originally in Poland before moving to Berlin where he was born and survived the Holocaust.
What’s your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving. It’s the holiday Betsy and I host. Family, friends and anyone needing a comfortable place to hang out and be surrounded by an abundance of food, warmth, football games, beverages, no drama, no conflicting religion or political beliefs come together. It’s a genuine time to step back and be grateful for how fortunate we are.
What’s your favorite food?
Argentinian beef. And anything a friend or family member makes for me. Of course, I love cooking too and would be happy to help.
What are you reading?
My emails and Rolling Stone magazine when I get the chance.
What’s a special place you have visited?
The world is an amazing place. I love traveling with my family and for work and constantly seeing new things.
Recently, my family and I had the incredible opportunity to visit Tanzania and Rwanda. We went on safari and the whole focus of the trip was being with the animals. In Rwanda, the mountain gorillas are endangered. There are only about 700 left and they are in a tri-country area called Volcano National Park that borders Rwanda, Uganda and the Congo. We trekked for hours through very dense brush with machetes paving the way to see the gorillas. We got so close that they brushed up against us. It was surreal. They have 97% of our DNA, so you’re looking at your past – or your future – depending on how you see it.
As a connection to the work that we do at ADL, Rwanda went through its own Holocaust-type experience in which a million people were executed in one hundred days in 1994. We went to the genocide museum there which was very well done and very disturbing. The country experienced such a tragedy. There isn’t a person we met that wasn’t affected by that, and that’s in our lifetime. So when we say “never again,” we need to heed the words because it has happened again, and is happening again.
I also love Italy, Rio, Mendoza, the mountains of Colorado, but at the end, I love being home.
What’s one thing every person should know or experience?
They should know how to say please and thank you in the native language of everywhere they travel.
I’m not sure if everyone should experience it, but one of my greatest positive life changers was being very sick, and then getting well. It puts into proper check all the things and – of course – people, that are really important.
What teacher or class stands out to you the most in your education and why?
My high school Man and Mythology teacher: Jerry Cetrulo. He got to know me the best of any of my teachers and helped guide me on my college search. He didn’t suggest any schools but rather planted the Colorado seed in my head. I listened to his advice and came out here sight unseen. The foundations of my life were planted based on that recommendation.
Where can we find you when you’re not working?
Entertaining friends and family or in the mountains. The mountains help me regain control. I eat, bike, ride, meet with friends, go white water rafting, and enjoy life. We’ve chosen to live here and we’re so incredibly fortunate to have this beauty all around us.
What would be impossible for you to give up?
Friendship and family. It’s the simple things in life that are the most important: the people around us, family, friends and the support I have around me. You give when you’re able and you take when you need.
If you had to teach something, what would you teach?
Wine tasting and wine pairing. Although, my favorite wine is whatever’s in the glass in front of me.
Tell me a story that immediately pops into your mind that was a defining or significant moment for you?
The birth of my son. We love our parents, we love our spouse, we love our family and friends, but having a child takes something to a level that you didn’t even know existed before. So quickly, so much love channels to that being and it’s a miracle.
Why do you choose to make a financial investment in ADL?
If I don’t, who will? ADL is such a needed cause. There are so many good causes out there and people get passionate about health, education, welfare of children and what have you, but protecting our freedoms and ensuring justice for everyone are important underpinnings for the decisions that affect our day to day life as well as future generations. If we don’t stand up for the things that ADL supports and protects, then shame on us. We have to make sure that it never happens again. Give big and give often.
Complete this sentence: For me, the ADL is …
… the passionate gem behind the things that are important in our lives.