As the senior events manager at George Mason University’s Mason Square, Kenneth (Kenny) Darby is known as the one who can do it all. He has been a vital part of Mason Square events since 2017 and has worked as senior events manager for the past five years. In their letters of support, his colleagues emphasized his ability to seamlessly manage complex high-profile events with precision and care, and his unwavering commitment, empathy, and attention to detail.
“As an outstanding leader and colleague, Kenny consistently enriches the Mason Square community with his positive contributions, supporting event clients to bring their vision to a reality,” said Sara Hawes, director of Operations for Mason Square administration. “His unwavering dedication to his responsibilities, coupled with the empathy and attention he extends to clients, colleagues, supervisors, and students sets a commendable example for all those who have the opportunity to interact with him.”
Mercedes Allsop, executive assistant to the Dean's Office in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School, said, “Kenny’s dedication not only enhances our campus environment but also sets a commendable standard for others to aspire to, truly making him a deserving candidate for this recognition. “His ability to manage high-profile events with a calm, professional demeanor ensures that each event is executed flawlessly.”
Alison Price, director of operations and the Law and Economics Center at Antonin Scalia Law School, highlighted Kenny’s skill with high-profile clients. “Kenny is the role model for how customer service should be provided at this university,” she said.
“Kenny is the ‘go-to’ individual when having an event at Mason Square. From beginning to end, I trust him to ensure that our events go smoothly,” said Una Murphy, director of donor relations in the Office of University Advancement and Alumni Relations. “He is friendly, assured, professional, inquisitive, caring and incredibly intuitive. I completely trust Kenny's judgement when it comes to a successful event.”
Colleagues have come to rely on Darby for his expertise. “Kenny has become an invaluable asset at Mason Square,” said Frank Strike, vice president of Facilities. “He provides excellent customer service, and his attention to detail allows him to seamlessly integrate multiple complex tasks to deliver an exceptional experience to all stakeholders. His dedication and commitment to excellence is an inspiration to his colleagues and enhances Mason's reputation.”
How did you come to Mason:
I was hired as an event coordinator to help support events on the Arlington Campus. They were looking for a talented individual that had event experience and A/V knowledge, so I applied.
Best day on the job:
Every day is a good day on the job, but the best day was when I got hired.
What do you like best about working at Mason:
The people I work with and those I collaborate with. This community is very close, and I appreciate each of the relationships that I have built.
What do you like to do when you’re not working:
That's a hard question. I enjoy quiet time. My days are busy when I'm at work and when I'm not at work, so the quiet times are the best times for me.