What BlackOak Technical Productions does

BlackOak Technical Productions is a Chicago-based full-service event production company that delivers technical production, media production, creative direction, and wedding production services for live, hybrid, and virtual events. The company originated in 2012 as the lighting division of Kehoe Designs and was launched as a distinct public brand in 2018, operating under the Kehoe Designs family of brands alongside The Geraghty venue and Floral Exhibits. Its technical capabilities span lighting, audio, video, staging, streaming, and emerging technologies for events ranging from 20 to 15,000 attendees, supplemented by integrated media production services including scripting, motion graphics, animation, and drone footage. The company serves enterprise B2B clients—corporations, event agencies, and nonprofits—with a documented roster including Carhartt, Google Cloud, ALDI, Strategic Hotels & Resorts, INDIGO AG, Amazon x Rivian, Panini America, Choose Chicago, and Baird/Strategas, alongside secondary segments in social celebrations and weddings.

The business operates on a project-based professional services model with quote-driven pricing scoped to event requirements. Go-to-market is executed through a dedicated field sales team (Sales and Design Manager, Business Development Lead, Director of Business Development) targeting enterprise clients, event agencies, and independent planners, with demand generation supported by a portfolio-driven website, case studies, blog content, and social media presence across Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The company maintains offices in Chicago (headquarters) and Milwaukee, with documented national execution capability and limited international reach (first Toronto event in 2017). Leadership includes Managing Director Adam McCarthy (theater/scenic design background) and President Tom Kehoe (founder of parent Kehoe Designs, 1995). Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is privately held with no external funding rounds.

Name

BlackOak Technical Productions

Legal name

BlackOak Technical Productions

Website

https://blackoak.tech

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BlackOak Technical Productions is a Chicago-based full-service event production company delivering technical production, media production, creative direction, and wedding production services for enterprise conferences, corporate events, galas, and weddings across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Staging, Scenic & Set Fabrication (Stages, Backdrops, Scenic Builds) (THAHAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management (THAHACAM)

Keywords

• Technical event production
• Lighting and audio design
• Media production services
• Creative direction events
• Live event production

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Event Production Services: BlackOak generates revenue through project-based professional services for technical production, media production, creative direction, and wedding production. Services are scoped and priced based on event requirements, with estimates and proposals provided based on client needs. The company operates on a quote-based model where pricing varies by event size, complexity, duration, and technical requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BlackOak Technical Productions is a full-service technical event production company delivering lighting, audio, video, staging, producing, streaming, and emerging-technology production for meetings, conferences, galas, experiential activations, weddings, and hybrid or virtual events. It also provides integrated media production (scripting, graphics, animation, drone footage) and creative direction, with production capacity spanning events from 20 to 15,000+ attendees.

Product overview

BlackOak Technical Productions is a full-service event production company offering four core service areas: Technical Production (lighting, audio, video, staging, streaming, and emerging technologies), Media Production (scripting, graphics, animation, drone footage), Creative Direction (event design, video display, soundscapes), and Wedding Production (lighting and audio). These services support various event types including conferences and meetings, corporate events, galas, and social celebrations. The company operates as part of the Kehoe Designs portfolio of brands, which also includes Kehoe Designs (floral and event design), The Geraghty (event venue), and Floral Exhibits (floral arrangements).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Technical Production Full-service technical production including lighting, audio, video, staging, producing, streaming, and emerging technologies for meetings, conferences, galas, and experiential activations ranging from 20 to 15,000 attendees.
• Media Production Full-service media production integrated into event production, including scripting and storyboarding, digital and presentation graphics, animation and motion graphics, drone footage, pre-recording, and video editing services.
• Creative Direction Creative process encompassing media production, lighting design, innovative video display, and soundscapes to transform events into immersive experiences with dynamic environments.
• Wedding Production Lighting and audio production services for weddings and celebrations, including lighting design, pinspotting, uplighting, dance floor lighting, and ambient room lighting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gala clients have raised $425,000+ against original goal of $250,000 (Anti-Cruelty Society event)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Kehoe DesignsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and founding brand of the Kehoe Designs family of brands. Founded by Tom Kehoe in 1995, Kehoe Designs is a full-service design firm of 230+ employees specializing in luxury weddings, corporate and social events. BlackOak launched as distinct brand in 2018 under this umbrella. Kehoe Designs provides decorative design, florals, and venue services (The Geraghty) that complement BlackOak's technical production capabilities.
• The GeraghtycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSophisticated 25,000 sq. ft. venue in Pilsen, Chicago. BlackOak serves as the in-house AV provider for events at The Geraghty. The venue is part of the Kehoe Designs family of brands and hosts many BlackOak-produced events including galas, corporate events, and weddings.
• Floral ExhibitsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister brand within the Kehoe Designs family specializing in signature floral arrangements. Complements BlackOak's technical production services for comprehensive event experiences.
• HangarFour CreativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative agency partner for INDIGO AG brand relaunch event at Chicago Board of Trade Building. BlackOak led technical execution while HangarFour provided creative direction for the event.
• Kaleidoscope Vue ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEvent planning partner credited in Strategic Hotels & Resorts case study. Provided planning services alongside BlackOak's production and Kehoe Designs' design for the Miami conference.
• Temple House MiamiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Strategic Hotels & Resorts Awards Gala. Fully projection-mapped venue that BlackOak collaborated with to deliver custom content and choreographed performances.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• PRG (Production Resource Group):
• Freeman: Freeman is a global experiential brand experience agency providing AV production, event design, digital, and logistics for trade shows, conferences, and corporate events — overlaps with BlackOak on enterprise conference/event production, but operates at significantly broader scale with exhibit and trade show capabilities.
• Encore Global: Encore Global (formerly PSAV) is the largest provider of event technology and venue services in North America, serving hotels, convention centers, and corporate clients with audiovisual, staging, and production support — directly comparable to BlackOak's core AV/staging/lighting offering but at vastly larger scale and integrated venue partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BlackOakTechnicalProductions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackoak-tech
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackoak.tech
• Xx.com/blackoak_tech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BlackOak Technical Productions