Networking events, especially around major industry conferences, offer some of the most productive environments for hiring events. With the ability to tap into event attendance data or session participation as a means for pre-qualifying potential hires (or employers), smart businesses know that headcount goals can be reached with maximal ROI on marketing spend – with the right software to support your efforts.
However, there are notable landmines that can impact event success; the logistics of coordinating both vendor and attendee needs and goals, facilitating effective networking, and maximizing limited time to make connections are just a few examples. That’s why finding event software that can automate most or all of these processes can be a game changer for networking event success.
Recently, RSVPify sat down with Landon Cheben (Founder of BreakTurn), to learn how the company leverages RSVPify to host industry-leading networking and hiring events annually, centered around the national RTA Convention, a major aviation conference.
BreakTurn helps service members transition from military life to careers in aviation.
Through career education, mentorship, and direct connections to airlines and aerospace employers, BreakTurn serves as a bridge between highly trained veterans and the commercial aviation industry.
Founded by a team of veterans, BreakTurn has grown into a leading voice in the military-to-aviation space. Each year, the organization hosts its flagship event — a large-scale mixer preceding the national RTA Convention — bringing together thousands of aviation professionals, employers, and transitioning service members for networking, recruiting, and community building.
As the BreakTurn Mixer exploded in popularity — drawing nearly 1,000 registrants — the team faced new operational and data challenges:
“We had 972 RSVPs and about 70 percent showed up. That’s a lot of people to get through the door quickly.” — Landon Cheben, BreakTurn
Manual check-ins at the venue were no longer feasible. The team needed a digital system that could handle hundreds of arrivals in minutes without long lines or lost entries.
Event sponsors — who funded food, drinks, and venue space — wanted proof of value. They needed more than attendance counts; they wanted analytics showing where attendees came from, how they heard about the event, and which channels drove the most engagement.
BreakTurn’s mission extended beyond hosting an event — it was about helping veterans land jobs. The team wanted a system to collect detailed attendee data (flight hours, certifications, military status) that could be shared with employers for pre-event outreach.
BreakTurn adopted RSVPify as its end-to-end event management platform and quickly unlocked four powerful advantages.
RSVPify’s customizable registration forms allowed BreakTurn to collect detailed attendee information — including branch of service, flight experience, career goals, and desired employer categories.
“We’re able to chart when people RSVP and overlay that with our marketing campaigns. When we posted on social media, we saw a 12 percent spike in registrations.”
These insights provided a clear correlation between marketing efforts and attendance surges — data that sponsors could see and trust.
The team used RSVPify’s QR code check-in system to manage door flow.
“We had three team members scanning QR codes with their phones. It was simple and kept the lines moving smoothly.”
What once required manual sign-ins became an efficient, data-driven entry process, enhancing both guest experience and professionalism.
BreakTurn leveraged RSVPify’s export features to provide sponsors with clean, sortable datasets of attendees — including flight hours, certifications, and geographic location.
“Our sponsors get an Excel file they can sort by experience level or location. We’re essentially generating soft leads for them.”
Sponsors could now measure engagement and ROI directly from the event, transforming their investment into actionable recruitment opportunities.
With built-in tracking and communication tools, BreakTurn reached record engagement rates:
90 % email open rate among the pilot and mechanic audience.
Integrated communication flows (“week-prior, day-prior, hour-prior” emails) ensured attendees had their QR codes ready.
Post-event email campaigns added hundreds of qualified contacts to BreakTurn’s marketing list.
| Metric | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Total RSVPs | 972 |
| Attendance Rate | ≈ 70 % ( ~700 attendees ) |
| Email Open Rate | 90 % |
| Social Engagement Spike | + 12 % RSVP increase after social posts |
| Sponsor Reach | 20 % of entire conference audience |
| Check-In Time | Cut by > 50 % vs previous events |
Beyond the numbers, RSVPify allowed BreakTurn to scale its event while keeping the personal, mission-driven experience that defined its brand.
“Our efficiency for getting people in the door — upwards of 700 people — was unmatched. Sponsors and attendees loved it.” — Landon Cheben
Mission Alignment: RSVPify enabled BreakTurn to deliver on its mission — helping veterans connect with employers while showcasing data-backed value to sponsors.
Data Transparency: Automated exports and reporting gave sponsors quantifiable ROI metrics that elevated sponsorship retention.
Operational Efficiency: QR-based check-in and custom emails simplified a complex event into a smooth experience for both guests and staff.
Growth Enablement: With the ability to handle 1,000 registrants and counting, RSVPify has become a cornerstone for BreakTurn’s expanding event calendar.
“We’ve gotten great compliments on RSVPify — from attendees and sponsors alike. The check-in process was seamless, and we’ll definitely be using it again next year.”
Are you looking for powerful and scaleable event software that keeps the tools of control and customization in your hands? Curious to learn more about our full feature suite, including advanced branding options, event check-in support, event communications tools, and more?
Contact our Sales team to book a demo and learn more about features, pricing tiers, and tools specifically designed for users hosting frequent corporate events.
RSVPify is proud to partner with hundreds of companies like BreakTurn from around the world, to help them continue to host meaningful and unique event experiences that foster human connection. We’re excited to meet you and help tailor a solution to fit your organization.
Adam Hausman co-founded RSVPify in 2013 and has been passionate about event tech and ticketing software ever since. Also founder of Greenlight Growth Marketing, he holds degrees from Indiana University (BA English/Psychology 2008) and the University of Illinois-Chicago (M.Ed. Secondary Education 2012). He lives in Maine with his wife, 2 kids, and 2 annoying cats.
Adam Hausman