Detroit cultivated

Since opening in May 2016, Detroit Cultivated has planned hundreds of events. Collectively, our team has decades of experience in the event industry. While our focus is largely on Metro Detroit, we jump at the opportunity to work in new and far-off locations. Though our objectives vary — from working on an intimate 10-person dinner party to a 900-person gala — our approach is always the same: to design an event that transports guests “to a temporary, alternative world” that will “only exist once,” as perfectly summarized in one of our favorite books, The Art Of Gathering. How beautiful a thought to consider? How inspiring to rise to meet such an ideal?

Our Team

Haley Lertola

Founder & Creative Director of Events

Rachel Bourgault

Event Producer

As the Event Producer, I thrive on managing a symphony of chaos — I am able to see all of the moving parts and how they work in unison to create an exceptional experience for guests. I love working with all of our vendors, who excel at what they do, to ensure everything runs smoothly and no detail is missed. My creativity and practicality combine to keep our projects moving forward in a client-focused way.

I am what is known as a highly sensitive person — noticing subtleties comes naturally to me. You know that feeling you get when you walk into a party and something is not quite right? Maybe the music is just a little too loud, lights are a little too bright, or the scent of the candles is competing with that perfect meal. I live and breathe these details, and as a perfectionist at heart I am naturally compelled to set it right. I had countless opportunities to start putting this into practice growing up in a household that was centered around entertaining, and my absolute love of creating special memories by gathering grew from there. Twelve years ago, I landed in the events industry and was instantly aligned with the work. Working in the industry and witnessing firsthand how wasteful events can be drove me to learn about food justice and sustainability issues. Creating a space where my work would combine my love of gathering, my passion of design and my desire to push forward sustainable practices was my motivation for starting Detroit Cultivated.

I am here to serve those who value what I bring to the table. By working together, I hope to encourage sustainability in our industry and facilitate creative collaboration in our community.