All Aboard: DFW NACE’s “The NACE Express” Pulled Into Fort Worth in Full Color
Written by Christina MacMeeken, DFW NACE Communications Committee
If there’s one thing DFW NACE consistently does well, it’s creating experiences that feel thoughtful from top to bottom. And May’s “All Aboard: The NACE Express” event at Ashton Depot was exactly that.
From the moment guests stepped inside the historic venue, it was clear this wasn’t going to be just another networking dinner. The entire evening felt immersive, creative, and incredibly intentional. Every detail tied seamlessly back to the event’s theme and educational focus, creating an experience that was both visually inspiring and genuinely engaging for attendees.
With more than 70 event professionals gathered together, the energy in the room was undeniable. Cocktail hour buzzed with conversation, laughter, reconnecting, and plenty of admiration for the bold pops of color woven throughout the evening. Guests fully embraced the interactive dress code moment by arriving in the colors they feel most confident wearing, instantly turning the room itself into part of the experience.
And honestly? It worked beautifully.
A Night Centered Around “The Power of Color”
The evening’s featured speaker, Rebecca Reid of Colorpolitan, led an educational session titled The Power of Color, diving into how color impacts everything from branding and perception to confidence, communication, and even sales.
One of the most memorable parts of the presentation was how interactive it became. As Rebecca discussed different colors and their effects, guests wearing those shades were invited to stand, creating a real-time visual example for the room. It kept attendees engaged, sparked conversation throughout the evening, and gave everyone a practical, easy-to-understand way to connect with the material.
The educational portion struck a really nice balance between informative and fun, which honestly fits the spirit of DFW NACE events so well. It wasn’t just about sitting quietly through a presentation. It was collaborative, visual, energetic, and designed to get people interacting with both the content and each other.
Vendors Fully Committed to the Theme
One of the standout parts of the evening was seeing how intentionally the vendor team embraced the concept. Every corner of the event reinforced the colorful, creative atmosphere Rebecca’s session centered around.
From vibrant linens and décor to watercolor-inspired artistic touches, custom lipstick color matching experiences, and immersive activations throughout cocktail hour, the event truly felt cohesive from start to finish.
A huge shoutout goes to the incredible sponsor team that helped bring “The NACE Express” to life:
Athans Audio Visual for audio visual support
Chic Coffee Events for the always-popular coffee cart experience
DFW 360 Booths for photo booth fun throughout the evening
DJ Jason Esquire for keeping the energy high all night long
Gnivol Events for the beautiful centerpieces and room decor
JP Storyworks for videography coverage documenting the fun
Lightly Photography for capturing the evening beautifully as always
Lip Service Makeup for the custom lipstick color matching activation guests loved
Lyons Paperie for perfectly themed menus and signage
Makerz Home for creative live painting during the event
The Ashton Depot for hosting the evening with incredible catering, service, and atmosphere
Raffles That Had Everyone Paying Attention
As always, the raffle portion of the evening brought a ton of excitement to close out the event. And honestly, this month’s prizes were stacked.
Guests had the opportunity to win:
A professional color analysis session to discover their perfect palette from Colorpolitian
A $250 dining experience at Truluck's
An incredible VIP getaway package from Choctaw Casino & Resort including a luxury stay, spa services, steakhouse dinner, and concert tickets
The reactions during the raffle drawings alone were worth sticking around for.
More Than Networking
What continues to make DFW NACE events stand out is that they never feel transactional. They feel collaborative. Welcoming. Creative. Like a room full of people who genuinely want to see each other succeed.
Whether you’re a longtime member or someone considering attending for the first time, events like this are such a strong reminder of the talent, innovation, and community that exists within the DFW events industry.
If you’ve been curious about becoming involved with DFW NACE or attending a future event, this is your sign to hop aboard.
For membership questions or to learn more about the benefits of joining this incredible community, reach out to the Director of Membership at:
We can’t wait to see where the next stop on The NACE Express takes us.
View the photo gallery HERE.