Our Story
Arterra
Event Gallery
Vision and Mission.
Our Vision is to be the premier space in which to hold events in Lawrence. We truly want every event to be a work of art, going above and beyond the expectations of our client and their guests. We strive to accomplish this through excellence. Excellence in service, space and amenities.
From the planning process through the orchestration and management of your event, we offer a professional and personable experience. World class service has resulted in almost universal 5-star ratings. If we do not excel at service, then we have failed in our mission.
Vaulted ceilings, expansive picture windows, beautiful, yet natural gardens give the impression of rustic modernism. Excellence is achieved through beauty, simplicity and elegance marrying to provide a warm and inviting ambience.
And then there are the “little” things, the conscience attention to details. Food prepared from scratch. Personalized table settings and centerpieces. Frequent communication. These are the kind of things that set us apart.
Values.
We believe that life is about relationships. We believe in the inherit value and dignity of all persons. As such, we welcome everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, political persuasion, economic or social status.
Employees are recognized as the heart of our business. We believe in our employees and include them in all major decisions. We demand a lot from them, but we also give them the opportunity to be the best they can be. After all, without great employees, we cannot provide excellent service.
Our clients are our life and blood. We live for you. We get to know you and what your dream event looks like. Our sole desire is to give you the most outstanding event experience possible.
We do not live in a vacuum. We live in a community. Our employees, our clients are all part of this community. As such, we believe it is our responsibility to support and give back to our community at every opportunity we have. We offer our time, food and services to local organizations, such as Just Food, Heartland Community Health Center and many others. We locally source our food when we can. We are committed to good environmental stewardship, including recycling and composting.
From the planning process through the orchestration and management of your event, we offer a professional and personable experience. World class service has resulted in almost universal 5-star ratings. If we do not excel at service, then we have failed in our mission.
Wayne and Jude McDaniel, Founders.
“Starting around 2010, we would drive past this beautiful building, which was previously occupied by Pachamama’s. At this point, it had been vacant for a few years and was starting to deteriorate, which I thought was a shame. I thought about buying it for our business, McDaniel Knutson Financial Partners (link to website), but it did not conform well to that use. Then, one day, Jude mentioned it would be a great place to hold a wedding. The light went off! A vision was born!”
Hester Black, Executive Director.
“In 2017 I become the director of operations, managing the staff and coordinating all events for Arterra. Today, I have the great honor of being the Executive Director, booking and planning all events as well as overseeing all operations. My position brings me tremendous joy and satisfaction as I get to facilitate some of the most special moments in the lives of my clients. I take pride in my ability to connect with all personalities and be attentive to the details that make each client’s experience unique, providing memories that last a lifetime. “