EVENTS & MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Forward/Miller was originally founded in 1994 to assist non-profits and others with sepcialized event planning and management. Over the course of time, it has evolved into offering a broader range of services. Whether strengthening and extending an organizational brand or capturing an individual's style for a small affair, one could reply on us to consult on all aspects of the planning of an event. We've consulted and counseled clients on possible venues, invitations, caterers, lighting, decor, programming, and music. In the course of these. Chas Miller has worked on, been a part of, and produced over 500 events and programs -- everything from lectures, to cocktail receptions, weddings, funerals, Gala dinners and even dog shows!
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
.
SUMMER SOLISTICE COCKTAILS
at the Chinese Tea House overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the grounds of Marble House in Newport, Rhode Island.
Friends gathered for drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and the surprise toast / announcement of a wedding taking place moments before their arrival.
Decor design by Chas Miller.
| |
 |
| Tablecloths from Spoonflower in California | Flowers from Waters Edge, Newport |
|
|
 |
| Hosts awaiting arrival of guests... |
|
| |
|
 |
| Special cookies created by Geneva Baking Company in Illinois. Thank you to our various vendors for helping to create a memorable event: Russell Morin Catering, Waters Edge Florists, Etsy / Paper Lantern for silver fluted vases, Peter Silvia Photography, Sentinel Limousine, Roderick Luther Music, Spoonflower for tablecloths, Zazzle for napkins, SBS Group Ltd. for invitation cards. And of course the Preservation Society of Newport County for hosting us. |
|
|
 |
| Birch Coffey created an original watercolor of a Ginger Jar featuring the Chinese Tea House. This image was used on invitation cards, napkins and even a special cookie. |
|
|
 |
| Gift bags with cookies ready to go... |
|
|
|
|
 |
| Marble House |
|
|
|
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
A Night at a Museum...
.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
.
Location: Newport Art Museum's John N. A. Griswold House, originally designed by Richard Morris Hunt and completed in 1864.
| | |
Occasion: Visit by Tim Knox, Director of the Ftizwilliam Museum at Cambridge University. Update 2018: Tim Knox has been appointed to head the Royal Trust Collection.
|
 |
| Table set for 14 guests. Flowers by Paul Erkhart of Broadway Floral. |
|
|
 |
| Place card designs by Birch Coffey; Calligraphy by Judith Ness |
|
|
 |
| Catering by Russell Morin |
|
|
Decor design by Chas Miller. Placecard design by artist Birchfield Coffey with Calligraphy by Judith Ness; Tableclothes from Wildflower Linens; Catering by Russell Morin; Vases from Etsy via HannahPlusJosh; Flowers from..Broadway Floral Design/Paul Matthews.
It is with gratitude to the Newport Art Museum and staff for hosting our evening.
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
.
HOLIDAY DINNER
at the
PROVIDENCE ART CLUB
.
Decor design by Birch Coffey with Chas Miller
| |
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
 |
| Photo: Barbara Kinney |
|
| July 31, 2010
The press has labeled it. . . .
The Wedding of the Decade
or
The Wedding of the Century
or even
The Wedding of the Millennium
Chas Miller and Birch Coffey served as the Owners Representatives at the property assisting, working over the course of the months ahead - then the two weeks of set-up - and during the events, for this beautifully executed and lovely gathering of family and friends.
|
 |
| The facade of Astor Courts on the evening of the wedding rehearsal |
|
|
 |
| Photo from AP - Aerial shot. The large white-roof structure is a special purpose built tent building and complex to hold the 600+ guests. |
|
|
 |
| The view from the front lawn of the Hudson River and the Catskills on the evening of the rehearsal. |
|
|
|
ASTOR COURTS - Rhinebeck NY
Featured on the Front Page of the HOME Section of The New York Times.
|
Chas Miller started consulting with longtime friends on planning for events while they undertake a complex historic preservation project of a famed Hudson River building designed by Stanford White and constructed 1902-1904 for John Jacob Astor IV. This amazing building includes America's first indoor swimming pool and a enclosed red-clay tennis just off the Main Hall. It formerly also inlcuded squash courts, a bowling alley and a shooting range.
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
SIR JOHN SOANE'S MUSEUM FOUNDATION
Chas A. Miller III, Executive Director
2005 to 2018 | New York, New York
|
 |
| The Union Club, New York: The Duke of Devonshire in Conversation with artist Jacob van der Beugel on a permanent installation at Chatsworth. This was part of THE GREAT COLLECTORS series of talks sponsored by the Soane Foundation. |
|
|
Over the period of 2005 to 2018, while working with Sir John Soane's Museum Foundation, Chas helped to produce more than 150 lectures/events/receptions in New York City and around the country, produced 39 patrons trips to Europe, Turkey, Argentina, Cuba and Japan, and organized 12 Gala Dinners highlighting the work of 24 great honorees. Below are 4 images with links to further details on some of these activities.
|
 |
| Over the years, the Soane Foundation has hosted an amazing aray of speakers like Philippe de Montebello, Barry Bergdoll and many others. |
|
|
 |
| One of the most glamorous spaces in the world, the Rainbow Room glows for a Soane Foundation Gala Dinner. The Soane held eight dinners there. Chas and Forward/Miller had also organized dinners there for Global Green USA, The Olana Partnership and others. |
|
|
|
SIR JOHN SOANE'S MUSEUM FOUNDATION
ANNUAL GALA DINNERS
Here are some pictures of one of my favorite's that was held at 583 PARK and featured a huge wall projection. For more on the Soane, please go to SoaneFoundation.org
|
 |
| 2013 Gala at 583 PARK |
|
|
 |
| 2013 dramatic wall projection of J.M. Gandy image |
|
|
 |
| Part of the original larger image - this was used as the wall projection in 2013 |
|
|
SOANE GALA HONOREES & SPECIAL GUESTS 2017 to 2005:
2017 - David Chipperfield, David Chipperfield Architects | 2017 - Amy Meyers, Director of the Yale Center for British Art | 2016 - Thomas Phifer - Thomas Phifer and Partners | 2016 - Michael Bierut of Pentagram | 2015 - Annabelle Selldorf - Selldorf Architects | 2015 - Charles Jencks | 2015 - Thomas Heatherwick - Heatherwick Studio | 2014 - David Adjaye - Adjaye Associates | 2014 - Phyllis Lambert - Founder, Canadian Center for Architecture (CCA) | 2013 - Norman Foster, Lord Foster of Thames Bank OM - Foster and Partners | 2013 - The Frank Lloyd Wright Archives Partnership with Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library at Columbia University and The Museum of Modern Art | 2012 - Diller Scofidio + Renfro with Architects and Designers Elizabeth Diller, Ricardo Scofidio, Charles Renfro | 2012 - Michael Bruno, Founder of 1stdibs | 2011 - Allan Greenberg - Allan Greenberg Architects | 2011 - A salute on the 20th Anniversary to the Founders of the Soane Foundation in the United States, past Board and Advisors | 2010 - A. Eugene Kohn - Kohn Pedersen Fox Architects | 2010 - Susan Weber, Founder and Director of the Bard Graduate Center | 2010 - Yale University Press accepted by John Donatich | 2009 - Jaquelin T. Robertson - Cooper Robertson Architects | 2009 - Rizzoli International Publications accepted by Charles Miers and David Morton | 2008 - Robert A. M. Stern - Robert A. M. Stern Architects | 2008 - The Monacelli Press accepted by Gianfranco Monacelli | 2007 - Richard H. Driehaus | 2007 - David Macaulay (author and illustrator) | 2005 - Viscount David Linley, Special Guest and Speaker. Other Special UK Guests each year were the Directors of the Soane Museum: Bruce Boucher, Helen Dorey, Tim Knox; Soane Museum Chairmen and Trustees: Guy Elliott, Richard Griffiths. Molly Borthwick, Adlerman Alison Gowman, Lady Orna Turner.
|
 |
| SOANE FOUNDATIONS HONORS are presented each year at the annual Gala Dinner. Left image: Honoree David Adjaye (R) with Presenters Adam Lerner and Thelma Golden; Image right: Thomas Heatherwick and Annabelle Selldorf. Click on the image to go to a Soane Foundation page on gala honorees. |
|
|
 |
| 2010 |
|
|
The Soane Foundation's Annual Gala Dinner Dance. Here are the amazing three-dimensional invitation covers designed by Robert Van Nutt.
|
 |
| 2009 |
|
|
 |
| 2012 |
|
|
 |
| 2011 |
|
|
 |
| 2013 |
|
|
 |
| 2016 |
|
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
|
Here are a selection images from some of the 250+ events Chas Miller helped coordinate while serving as Senior Consultant from 2004 to 2008.
|
 |
| Low Memorial Library of Columbia University is the site of many prestigous events. |
|
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
.
.
BREAKFAST in NEW YORK
LUNCH in LONDON
DINNER in HONG KONG
The Global Launch in September 2006 of THE COLUMBIA CAMPAIGN with simulaneous events in three cities and connected by inneractive satelite. The campaign goal was to raise $4 billion dollars - which was achieved!
| |
|
As part of an amazing team working for months to pull together this global multifaceted event... by late August with just weeks to go before 29 September, it was decided that I should do site visits to finalize many of the details for the dinner in HONG KONG and the lunch in LONDON.
Thus in the middle of dealing with details details details, I headed off flying to San Francisco to connect to HONG KONG. Then from there after 2 nights, I touched down in Bangkok, changed planes in Bahrain, and arrived in LONDON for 3 nights, before heading home to JFK.
|
 |
| HONG KONG - By day it is one tower amongst many, the Conrad Hotel at night is a beacon of light. |
|
|
 |
| HONG KONG - the old Star Ferry Terminal in Kowloon, since demolished... looks toward Hong Kong Island. |
|
|
 |
| HONG KONG - While staying there, besides ultra hummid weather and rains, we also had an earthquake... thankfully no damage. |
|
|
|
 |
| NEW YORK - Command Central - a $6 million plus trailer for the satelite, video and audio was located in Wein Courtyard adjacent to Jerome Greene Hall. At the command of the AV and Prodcution was Jeffrey A. Szmulewicz, Director of Columbia's Center for Biomedical / AV Services. |
|
|
 |
| NEW YORK - Set up underway... |
|
|
|
|
 |
| Ready and waiting... |
|
|
 |
| NEW YORK live with Trustee Chair William V. Campbell... and with LONDON soon to join on screen left and HONG KONG llive on screen right. |
|
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
ENGAGE. DEBATE. CELEBRATE.
The Columbia Alumni Association gathers alumni, faculty, world leaders and great thinkers for a three-day weekend of discussion and celebration for the European launch of the Columbia Alumni Association.
WHO ARE WE? A CAA Forum on Globalization, Arts and Media featured Saturday day-time sessions with: Kofi Annan, Carol Becker, Lee C. Bollinger, Susan Fuhrman, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (regrettably, she had to cancel just days before), Nicholas Lemann, Michael Oreskes, Jeffrey Sachs, Richard Sambrook, Joseph Stiglitz.
| |
Attendees came from 30 countries to join together in Paris for this first global gathering.
This Paris event was held one-year from the date of the launch of THE COLUMBIA CAMPAIGN.
|
|
The organizing team for this amazing gathering was numerous... however two need to be singled out: Karen A. Sendler, my leader and comrade on all aspects of this event - and a colleague I first met four-years ago related to my very first assignment for Columbia (the dinner with HRH Duke of York, Prince Andrew, celebrating the end of Columbia's 250th Anniversary Celebration). We worked under the direction of Eric J. Furda, Vice President, University Development and Alumni Relations. It was an pleasure to work with them and all the members of the Columbia Alumni Association team, plus the Office of Presidential and University Events, and our Paris team members with Publicis Consultants and Publicis Events. Also working tirelessly in Paris on our behalf was Christophe Knox, President of the Columbia Club of France and Julien Regnault, Vice President of the Club.
|
 |
| SATURDAY - La Bourse, also known as Palais Brongniart, was completed in 1825 and served for many years as the stock exchange. While it still functions as the headquarters for Euronext... the main portions of the building now serve as a conference center. This was the perfect venue for our Saturday daytime events and luncheon. |
|
|
 |
| 600 seats waiting for guests... |
|
|
 |
| .. not my best shot... but action on the stage. |
|
|
| FRIDAY - the day before the CAA Forum was an afternoon of events at Columbia's Reid Hall and that night the festivities got off to a grand start with six cocktail receptions around town for alumni of various schools plus a Paris Host Committee Cocktail that was hosted in the Penthouse and Garden Terrace of Publicis, the French consulting firm we'd worked with. Their headquarters building on the Avenue des Champs Elysees has the best view of the spectacular moment, the Arc de Triomphe.
|
|
|
 |
| The welcome carpet is out for us at the Grande Galerie. |
|
| SATURDAY NIGHT - Over 700 alumni and friends gathered at Le Grande Galerie de l'Evolution which is adjacent to the famed Jardin des Plantes and is all part of Le Museum National D'Histoire. The building was originally constructed for the Exposition Universelle of 1889 - the same year the Effel Tower was completed to be the centerpiece of the expo.
|
 |
| An interior shot during a walk-thru. |
|
|
.
.
.
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
|
 |
| A long central bar divides the Low Rotunda in half, with cocktails on this side, and then dinner tables and stage for panel dicussion on the other side. |
|
|
NEW YORK - Columbia hosted a 3-day conference on "Goverance, Dispute Settlement and Developing Countries" with the opening night Gala Dinner & Discussion at Low Memorial Library as part of the 10th Year Anniversary Celebration of the World Trade Organization.
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
 |
| WOW - what an amazing look for the exterior of Low Memorial Library - 30 November 2006. Photo credit: photographer unknown to me... |
|
| .
.
Columbia University
What an amazing event was held as a collaborative evening with The Metropolitan Opera to salute the new production,
THE FIRST EMPEROR
|
 |
| Daytime roll out of the red carpet. |
|
|
 |
| 10am it sure doesn't look like a party. Amazing how in 8 hours, transformations take place! |
|
|
 |
| Lanterns ready for hanging. |
|
|
 |
| In the space designer Marc Wilson mounted three tall stands with a wagon-wheel like structure at the top for the hanging of the lanterns. |
|
|
 |
| Daylight doesn't do them justice. |
|
|
 |
| Another professional WOW shot. Lighting by FROST LIGHTING. Photographer unknown to me... |
|
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
 |
| The interior of Low Memorial Library designed by the firm of McKim Mead & White. |
|
| WORLD LEADERS FORUM:
Columbia University in the City of New York - where I served as Senior Events Consultant since 2004 to 2008. Pictures from that first year with the World Leaders Forum. Heads of state and foreign ministers are invited annually to speak to students, faculty and friends while they are in NYC attnending the United Nations General Assemby. That year we had 9 leaders over the course of a week. I coordinated a reception for the President Tarja Halonen of the Republic of Finland, a reception for the President Aleksander Kwaśniewski of the Republic of Poland, a seated lunch for the President Pervez Musharraf and First Lady of Pakistan, a reception for the President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela (who had cancled 30 minutes prior to the start of his talk due to a ongoing meeting at the UN...), a reception for the President Jalal Talabani of Iraq, and a reception for the President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of the Sierra Leone.
|
 |
| A classically elegant table set for the luncheon honoring President Pervez Musharraf and the First Lady of Pakistan. Ice tea was the featured drink as wine wasn't appropriate for our guests. |
|
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
A few other events at Columbia . . .
|
 |
| HRH Prince Andew addresses the dinner audience at the close of the C250 Celebration - commemorating Columbia's 250th Anniversary of the founding of King's College which became Columbia after the American revolution. |
|
|
 |
| Presentation cakes by Glorious Food. |
|
|
 |
| The Rotunda of Low Memorial Library is prepared for a taping of ABC's The People Speak. |
|
|
 |
| Moderator: Geroge Stephanopoulos with panelists Dan Senor, former spokesman for the U.S. in Iraq, Chilean Ambassador to the United Nations Heraldo Munoz, Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, along with Columbia President Lee C. Bollinger and UN Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth. |
|
|
 |
| Swifty's Catering Director Jay Jolly outside Low on his cell following up on details. |
|
|
 |
| Like much of the campus, the President's House was designed by famed architectural firm McKim Mead and White. |
|
|
 |
| At the President's Holiday Party - Qimmah Saafir, Buff Kavelman, Natasha Lambropoulos and . . . |
|
|
 |
| The Rotunda at Low set for a big reception. The catering was orchestraed by David Castle of Sonnier & Castle. |
|
|
 |
| Another day, another event - plates awaiting dressing before a lunch. |
|
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
FORWARD/MILLER LLC
.
formerly FORWARD MILLER & COMPANY LTD.
|
The Olana Partnership
celebrates the
40th Anniversary
of saving the historic home, studio and property of 19th century landscape painter Frederic Edwin Church... and the creation as one of the premier historic sites open to the public.
The evening was held at the famed Rainbow Room with table decor orchestrated by JODY HARRIS in colaboration with Chas Miller.
|
 |
| The view south from the 65th Floor of the GE Building of Rochefeller Center towards the Empire State Building. |
|
|
 |
| The rooms glows awaiting guests. |
|
|
 |
| Low silver votive holders reflect the candle light beautifully off the elegant tall square'ish silver containers holding seasonal red apples and roses. Thank you Jody - she was challenged when the wrong silver containers had been delivered, these being 3 inches bigger than planned. When you x3 inches by all the tables, that takes a lot more flowers and apples... but good planning won out - and they were spectucular for this event! |
|
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
.
.
A Summer Wedding in Connecticut
A 10-month process of consulting and discussions during the planning stages to final preparations . . .
|
 |
| A beautiful bride... |
|
|
 |
| Preparations begin two days before... |
|
|
 |
| always amazing as it comes together! |
|
|
 |
| Colors used were taupes, blues, creams and whites. Here, hand calligraphed table seating cards on an outdoor recieivng table with gauze ribbons to hold in place in case of a breeze. |
|
|
 |
| Simple beautiful country arrangements adorn the dinner tables. |
|
| |
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
THE CHRONICLE OF AN EVENT:
One of the most dramatic and amazing events of my career was held at Gotham Hall.
| |
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
TAILS IN NEED
Tails In Need was founded in 2000 for the express purpose of promoting mixed-breed dogs and their adoption as pets. The yearly focus was to raise awareness of mixed-breeds through the GREAT AMERICAN MUTT SHOW. Over the course of three-years, major shows were put on in New York City with satelite shows in New Jersey, Maryland and Chicago.
Sadly the economic climate was not great for corporate sponsorships and given the fact that Tails In Need did not provide direct funding for shelters or related programs, the organization started to fade. In the last year, we developed a promising format of an online GREAT AMERICAN MUTT CONTEST with over 195,000 visitors visiting the contest web site during the course of the six month event. The winner was announced that year in December 2004 -- Toby, a wonderful blind dog stole the contest.
|
 |
| Toby - Winner GREAT AMERICAN MUTT of 2004! |
|
|
|
 |
| Lucky from California was runner-up with 34% of the vote. |
|
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
|
| |
The table in the Great Hall at The Metropolitan Club in New York City with 350 plus votives provide a dramatic focal point.
|
Some of the many organizations and clients that we have worked with: American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter | American Federation of Arts | American Museum of Fly Fishing | American Academy in Rome | Astor Courts, LLC | Atlantic Salmon Federation | Birch Coffey Design Associates | Columbia University in the City of New York | Columbia-Greene Hospital Foundation & Columbia Memorial Hospital | Details Magazine | Finmeccanica & The Instituto E Museo Di Storia Della Scienza | Giorgio Armani Corporation & Emporio Armani | Global Green USA | Green Guerillas | Gunn Memorial Library and Museum & The Washington Connecticut Antiques Show | Havana Heritage Foundation | Hudson Opera House | Institute of Historical Research, University of London | International Foundation for the Canadian Center for Architecture | London Symphony Orchestra American Foundation | Lower East Side Tenement Museum | Museum of Modern Art | Museum Travel Alliance, a division of Arrangements Abroad | New York School of Interior Design | New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Center | Partnership with Children | Phillips Auctioneers / LVMH | Riverkeeper | Royal Institute of British Architects Trust | Russian Arts Foundation & Russian National Orchestra | Settlement Housing Fund | Sir John Soane’s Museum Foundation | Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum | Tails In Need, Inc. & The Great American Mutt Show | The New York Botanical Garden | The Frick Collection | The Advertising Council | The New York Public Library | The Horticultural Society of New York | The Olana Partnership | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | The Drawing Center | United States Equestrian Team | Visiting Nurse Service Of New York | Wildlife Conservation Society.
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________
.
~ ~ ~
|
|
