McLane Employee Appreciation Dinner | Argosy Cruise, Seattle

Some events just feel different the moment you arrive.

McLane’s annual employee appreciation dinner this year was one of those. It wasn’t just a company event—it felt like a genuine pause to recognize people, step away from the day-to-day, and enjoy being together.

This year’s celebration took place on an Argosy Cruise in Seattle, which set the tone right away. Being out on the water, with the skyline in the background and that slower pace you get on a boat, created a completely different kind of atmosphere than a typical banquet or conference space.

A Setting That Changes Everything

As guests boarded and settled in, you could feel the shift. People relaxed. Conversations started easily. There’s something about being on the water that softens everything a bit.

Throughout the evening, there were moments of laughter, reconnecting, and just enjoying being in the same space without the usual pressures of work. It felt well-earned.

Recognizing the People Behind the Work

Nancy Eisenhart made this night happen after months of her planning and hard work!

Her team made gift bags for each guest which had a fun game to play: deck of branded cards, dice set, pencil and paper.

One of the most meaningful parts of the evening was the awards. Quality branded shirts and beautiful silver belt buckles were presented.

Employees were recognized for safety, hours, and years of service—things that don’t always get highlighted in day-to-day operations but matter deeply to a company’s success.

These weren’t rushed moments. You could tell they were important. People were paying attention. There was real pride in the room—both from those being recognized and from their peers.

Those are the moments that stick.

The Details That Elevated the Night

Dinner was catered by Green Apple Events & Catering out of Redmond, owned by sisters Cheryl Seaton and Kris Brown. The food, presentation, and overall experience felt thoughtful and well-executed—exactly what you want for an event like this.

Nothing felt overdone, but everything felt considered.

A Company With History

McLane has been around for a long time—founded in 1894—and has grown into one of the largest distributors in the country. They serve convenience stores, mass merchants, and restaurants across the U.S., with more than 80 distribution centers and over 25,000 employees.

They’re also a Berkshire Hathaway company, which speaks to their scale—but what stood out more at this event was the focus on people.

Events like this show how a company chooses to show up for its team.

What Stood Out to Me

What I noticed most wasn’t just the setting or the production of the event—it was how comfortable people were.

There wasn’t that stiff, overly formal feeling that some corporate events have. People were engaged. Present. Enjoying themselves.

That’s not something you can force. It comes from culture.

Why Events Like This Are Worth Documenting

This is the kind of event that lives beyond the night itself.

For companies, these moments become:

• Part of internal culture

• A way to recognize and retain employees

• A reflection of leadership and values

• Content that can be used for marketing, recruiting and brand presence

  
  

But only if they’re captured well.

There’s a big difference between having photos of an event and having images that actually reflect what it felt like to be there.

The same goes for video—especially now. Short-form clips, recap videos, even internal highlight reels all help extend the life of an event like this.

Closing

It was an honor to be there and document the evening as it unfolded.

Not just the awards or the big moments—but the in-between ones. The conversations, the reactions, the way people showed up for each other.

Those are the things that tell the real story.

And Sage & Soul can be there for your event also! SO much time, energy and expense is poured in to your event - be sure to have professional photography and videography to use later!