Who We Are
Core Values
At AOO Events, we believe in the power of immersive live experiences. We believe in the emotion of design. And we believe in the strategy that it takes to bring a brand story to life with excitement.
At our core is a deep commitment to professionalism and fairness. We work without compromise to deliver the highest quality of every detail. We are forward thinking, global and collaborative. We are your next creative agency.
#thisisaoo
What We Do
AOO leads the way in customized event design and production. Our inspirational foundation is built on popular culture, architecture, lifestyle and fashion as the tools we use to tell your brand story in a new and engaging way to create award-winning, personalized experiences.
- Custom Events
- Immersive Design
- Live Show Direction + Production
- Stage Design
- Entertainment Management + Procurement
- Technical Support
- Large-Scale Management + Logistics
- Destination Management
- Brand Strategy
- Creative Services + In-House Floral Design
Social Events – Corporate Events – Charitable Events
AOO Events is a multi-faceted creative agency. Founded in 1989 by David Merrell, AOO has produced award-winning live event design and show productions across America and the globe. Our goal with each event is to convey your message through beautiful, immersive design that makes a lasting connection with your audience. We do this for corporate meetings, marketing events, movie premieres, private parties, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and bar and bat mitzvah celebrations. We work throughout the United States from Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Santa Barbara to New York, Florida and Washington, D.C. in addition to numerous international destinations.
CEO/Creative Director
Since its inception in 1989, David E. Merrell, CEO & Creative Director of AOO Events, has taken the event industry by storm. With a name synonymous with cutting-edge and innovative event design and production concepts, Merrell has transformed the market and captivated audiences worldwide.
For over 25 years it has been David’s philosophy that “All special events truly demand a customized approach in order to fully achieve the client’s vision and purpose.” It is this vision, passion, and dedication, to each and every client that has inevitably led David E. Merrell and AOO Events, to become one of the most sought-after producers with a growing list of Fortune 500 and international corporations for product launches, corporate events, celebrity-attended fundraisers, and intimate weddings.
A pioneer of his time, Merrell and AOO Events have perfected the art of creating and designing that “wow” moment for each venture they pursue. David’s inspiration and eye for design has been recognized and praised by clients and colleagues alike, which have amounted to being awarded numerous honors, in a multitude of categories, including Best Event Décor, Best Entertainment Concept and Execution, Best Corporate Event, Best Social Event, Best Wedding, Best Association Event, and Best Non-profit Event. This diverse list of awards speaks volumes about the far-reaching talent and capabilities of David E. Merrell and the team he’s assembled at AOO Events.
Personally, David has been bestowed “Designer of the Year” by Event Solutions magazine and was awarded the prestigious Crystal SITE Award. Recent accolades include the 2017 Klaus Inkamp Lifetime Achievement Award awarded by the International Live Events Association (ILEA) and the 2019 Steve Kemble Leadership Award awarded at The Special Event 2019 global conference by the Steve Kemble Leadership Foundation.
David’s keen understanding into design and production, coupled with AOO Events continued success throughout the years has solidified Merrell’s status as an event aficionado in the industry. As such, David is frequently invited to contribute articles to professional publications as well as speak at national and international conferences on business, design and event branding and marketing. David has also served on numerous industry boards. Until recently, he was on the ILEA (formerly ISES) board as president of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter. Currently he sits on the Advisory Board of the top industry publications BizBash and Event Solutions and on the board The Wedding and Event Institute, a premier online educational entity.
Continuously leading the market in a forward direction with authoritative momentum, David E. Merrell and AOO Events can respectively be considered a driving force in today’s event industry.
COO
Mark utilizes 30 years of professional event experience to partner in managing and operating AOO Events. Having occupied almost every niche of the special events industry, Mark has a unique talent for getting to the source of any challenge and quickly implementing the solution.
With a know how for operations and management, Mark understands that the keystones of successful execution require detailed planning and decisive problem solving capabilities. He has spent much of his time perfecting systems and procedures specifically geared toward special events. Assembling and honing a professional team has been Mark’s focus and his leadership is paramount in pumping the oil that keeps the AOO machine running.
Director of Design / Producer
A background in interior design gives Ruben Gomez a unique style to the dynamic spaces he designs and produces at AOO Events. An education at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) and at the Interior Design Institute trained his creative eye for space, color, and form which was then honed further working for several top home interior design firms, celebrities and some of the most luxurious properties in the world. With his continued education at USC, Ruben directed his sights on marketing and brand activation exposing his creativity to the experiential marketing realm of the industry.
Before coming to AOO, Ruben was VP of Creative Services with Dressed Inc., a luxury interior design firm and before that, working within the experiential marketing industry as a conceptual marketing guru for various prominent firms. Ruben worked within the creative arts industry to form a full-service entertainment production and interior design firm. Continually watching the latest developments in fashion, interior design and architecture, he is forging a new style for event design today.
Lead Floral Designer
Born and raised in Orange County, CA, to a Latin-American family, Anil Pacheco is visionary floral /event designer known for his one of a kind arrangements and innovative design. After graduating high school in Garden Grove, Anil embarked on becoming a teacher. During his college days, he worked full-time in a bucket shop, which is where he began to realize his true passion was art. Anil decided he would change course and pursue his dream of becoming a full-time floral and event designer.
Anil gained experience working on several high-profile events in the entertainment industry. He began to work with some of the industry’s most renowned floral decorators, including Mark’s Garden. This is where he developed a holistic perspective of design and became inspired to create arrangements that would not only stay true to his client’s vision but also reflect the myriad of new ideas he gained from working on major productions. Anil also won the hearts of many viewers as a contestant on Logo TV’s The Arrangement, a high-end floral design competition.
Most recently, Anil’s versatility can be seen at AOO Events, where he is the Creative Director of AOO’s in-house floral studio, AOO Floral. With an eye for what’s trending and an emerging voice in forward-thinking design, Anil consistently creates cutting-edge products that set him apart as an artist who truly understands the industry’s rapid development and modern aesthetic.
Production Manager
Erick’s role as Production Manager is the perfect fit for him and for AOO. With an entrepreneurial approach to all new projects coming his way, Erick’s process is efficient, creative and always on target.
Erick is the producer’s direct link to the warehouse for all custom-built items. He communicates the designer’s vision to his team of carpenters and craftsmen to ensure that all projects are built to specification on time, and on budget.
Juggling duties and hectic schedules is second nature to Erick. He manages multiple on-site installation and strike crews with an attitude that inspires and empowers his team.
Event Producer
A German native, Jaka graduated from European Business College Hamburg, University of Applied Sciences, where she attained her Bachelor of Arts in International Tourism & Event Management. In 2012, she traveled from Hamburg to California to study and intern under AOO Events. After returning to Germany to complete her education, Jaka requested an extended year-long internship with AOO. Recognizing that her level of enthusiasm, commitment and devotion to the industry was irreplaceable, AOO jumped at the chance to have her back on the team.
Jaka has an international flair and worldly knowledge, currently learning and expanding her understanding of the special events industry directly under AOO’s Creative Director. She has an attention to detail that is enviable and her talents are a vital contribution to the team.
Event Producer
Anna’s years of experience in the entertainment and tourism industry, working through the ranks, sparked her passion and enthusiasm for event and entertainment production. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation, Parks and Tourism with a focus on event management from San Francisco State University. Her education plus years of experience have turned into a successful career in special events that now includes being an event producer at AOO Events.
Named as one of Special Events magazine’s 25 Young Event Pros to Watch, Anna challenges herself with new experiences, learning new skills and collecting knowledge that she uses to create memorable experiences for her clients. With great critical thinking abilities, a commitment to excellence and incredible work ethic, Anna is a positive addition to AOO’s design and production team.
Executive Producer
Kelly Melo is a logistics powerhouse, capable of managing and executing multiple projects simultaneously with extreme precision. As Executive Producer, Kelly lends her expertise to the team at AOO Events Inc., where planning events from concept to execution is her specialty.
Over the last 20 years, Kelly has been involved with a wide variety of clients and projects working in both corporate and social event production. Kelly takes the time to understand her client’s culture and their message. She works alongside them to deliver an experience that is beyond expectation, whether it is an intimate social event or a large corporate meeting.
Kelly earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, concentration in Management, from California State University, Los Angeles. She also graduated with honors from Loyola Marymount University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, concentration in Marketing. Kelly’s business acumen and love for the event industry provide a solid foundation upon which to extend her talents in the realm of experiential event design and production.
