Decibel Events is proud to announce that we have been ranked #17 on the Washington Business Journal’s 2026 list of the Largest Meeting and Event Planners in Greater Washington. This annual ranking, published on February 20, 2026, recognizes the top 24 event planning and production companies serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area, ranked by the number of metro-area events produced in 2025.
This is not a one-time appearance. Decibel Events has been continuously listed on the Washington Business Journal’s Largest Meeting and Event Planners ranking every year since 2019, reflecting our sustained growth and the consistent trust our clients place in our team year after year.
About the Washington Business Journal Ranking
The Washington Business Journal is the leading business publication covering the Greater Washington, DC economy. Each year, the WBJ publishes “The List” — a data-driven ranking of companies across key industries. The 2026 Largest Meeting and Event Planners list evaluated firms based on metro-area events produced in 2025, total events, largest event attendance, revenue, and employee count.
Decibel Events produced 30 metro-area events and 60 total events in 2025, with the largest single event drawing 50,000 attendees. Our 2025 metro-area revenue reached $3.25 million, and we operate with a dedicated team of 8 full-time professionals led by CEO David Sonntag.
Who Is Decibel Events?
Decibel Events is a full-service event production, design, and management company headquartered at 650 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20001. Founded and led by David Sonntag, Decibel Events brings unmatched passion and expertise in event production, public relations, high-level political advance, graphics, and seamless implementation.
Our core services include event production, trade show production, event management, AV production, scenic design and fabrication, virtual events, video production, and creative content development. We serve clients across government, corporate, association, and nonprofit sectors.
Notable Clients and Experience
Since 2009, Decibel Events has served as the event producer for the Library of Congress National Book Festival. We have also produced events for the U. S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, T. Rowe Price, Trane Technologies, Amtrak, and numerous high-profile government and corporate clients. Our events range from intimate executive gatherings to large-scale festivals with tens of thousands of attendees.
Awards and Recognition
Decibel Events and its leadership have earned seven Silver Anvil Awards, eleven Telly Awards (Gold, Silver, and Bronze), two PR Week Awards, and many others. These honors reflect our commitment to excellence in event production and storytelling.
How to Work With Decibel Events
Every event is different, and we tailor our scope to match your goals, audience, and budget. To give prospective clients a general sense of how engagements are typically structured, we offer three service tiers. The figures below are approximate starting points based on what our clients most commonly require — not fixed packages. We regularly customize engagements above, below, and across these tiers to fit the specific needs of each project.
- Strategic Planning (typically starting around $100K and up): Your event, powered by Decibel’s planning expertise. This tier typically includes an executive producer, project manager, timeline development, vendor coordination, and budget tracking. Ideal for organizations that have some internal event resources but need experienced strategic leadership to guide the process.
- Planning + Production Team (typically in the range of $250K–$500K): Everything in Strategic Planning, plus a scaled onsite production team. This often includes a showcaller, stage manager, creative director, and production assistants. This tier is well-suited for conferences, galas, and multi-day events that require both pre-production planning and day-of execution support.
- Full Service Production (typically $500K–$1M+): Turnkey production from concept to strike. This generally encompasses AV production, scenic design and build, video content, digital signage, photography, videography, and full vendor management. Designed for large-scale events, festivals, and high-profile productions where Decibel serves as the single point of accountability for every detail.
These ranges reflect typical client engagements and are intended as general estimates. We encourage prospective clients to reach out for a conversation — we can scope a solution for virtually any event size, complexity, or budget.
Contact Decibel Events
Ready to discuss your next event? Contact Decibel Events:
Phone: 703.953.4493
Email: David@DecibelEvents.com
Website: DecibelEvents.com
Address: 650 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20001
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Washington Business Journal Largest Meeting and Event Planners list?
It is an annual ranking published by the Washington Business Journal that identifies the top meeting and event planning companies in the Greater Washington, DC area based on the number of metro-area events produced, total events, attendance figures, revenue, and staffing.
What is Decibel Events’ ranking on the 2026 list?
Decibel Events is ranked #17 on the 2026 list. We have appeared on this list continuously every year since 2019, making us one of the most consistently recognized event production companies in the Washington, DC metro area.
How many events did Decibel Events produce in 2025?
We produced 30 metro-area events and 60 total events in 2025. Our largest single event attracted 50,000 attendees.
What services does Decibel Events offer?
Decibel Events provides full-service event production, trade show production, event management, AV production, scenic design and fabrication, video production, virtual event hosting, creative content development, and speech writing. We handle everything from initial concept through post-production.
How do I work with Decibel Events? What does it cost?
We offer three general service tiers to help prospective clients understand how engagements are typically structured. Strategic Planning typically starts around $100K and up and provides planning expertise with an executive producer and project manager. Planning + Production Team engagements typically fall in the range of $250K–$500K and add a full onsite production crew. Full Service Production typically ranges from $500K to $1M or more and delivers turnkey production from concept to strike. These are approximate figures based on common client needs — not rigid packages. We regularly customize engagements to fit specific budgets and event requirements at any scale. Contact us at David@DecibelEvents.com or 703.953.4493 to discuss your event.
Where is Decibel Events located?
Our headquarters is at 650 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20001. We serve the entire Washington, DC metropolitan area and can execute events nationwide.
Who leads Decibel Events?
David Sonntag is the CEO and Executive Producer. He has been producing live events since 2003, including on the National Mall and with the National Park Service. He has served as the event producer for the Library of Congress National Book Festival for over 14 years.
What industries does Decibel Events serve?
We work across government, corporate, association, and nonprofit sectors. Our primary NAICS code is 561920 (Convention and Trade Show Organizers), and we also hold secondary codes for related design, consulting, and production services.
How long has Decibel Events been recognized by the Washington Business Journal?
Decibel Events has been continuously listed on the Washington Business Journal’s Largest Meeting and Event Planners ranking every year since 2019. Our 2026 ranking at #17 reflects sustained growth and consistent market presence over seven consecutive years.
About the Author
By David Sonntag, CEO & Executive Producer, Decibel Events
David Sonntag is the CEO and Executive Producer of Decibel Events, a full-service event production, design, and management company headquartered in Washington, DC. He has been producing live events since 2003, including on the National Mall and with the National Park Service. For more than 14 years, David has served as the event producer for the Library of Congress National Book Festival.
He is also a former Vice President at Fleishman-Hillard, where he gained extensive experience in message development and delivery.
David’s expertise spans technical production, event design, event management, and marketing communications. His events have earned seven Silver Anvil Awards, eleven Telly Awards, two PR Week Awards, and many other industry honors. The Triangle Business Journal also selected David for the 40 Under 40 Leadership Awards in 2017.
Under David’s leadership, Decibel Events has been continuously listed on the Washington Business Journal’s Largest Meeting and Event Planners ranking every year since 2019. To learn more or discuss your next event, contact David at David@DecibelEvents.com or 703.953.4493.
