What I saw at the National Ball

Nikos Katsikanis - June 30, 2026

Being at the National Ball gave me a clearer view of how the tools I built were used on the night, and why the work felt personal.

Nikos Katsikanis with Dr Mark Clark at the National Ball

I was invited to the AGCRAAcronymAdjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association. I use AGCRA to mean the professional association behind the Adjutant General’s Corps community and its National Ball. National Ball after working with the team for over two and a half years. I wanted to experience the event properly, not only see it through tasks, tickets, messages, and deployments.

I was told it is the second-biggest military ball in the United States, which made seeing everything come together in person feel even more significant.

That made the trip more useful than I expected. I saw the event-planning, floor-planning, ticket-checking, and website tools I have developed being used in live action.

It is one thing to build a ticket-checking flow, a floor plan, or an event page from a desk. It is another thing to stand there, talk to people checking in with their phones, speak to the staff scanning tickets, and ask them about the experience.

It was also great to see people finding their seats through the in-house floor plan tool I developed with the event team.

Floor plan editor showing National Ball table layout and ticket check-in status — The floor plan tool while planning the room layout.

The National Ball room with tables laid out for the evening — The room once the plan turned into the real event layout.

A medal I did not expect

I also received a Bronze Horatio Gates medal from Dr Mark Clark, the President.

I did not travel expecting that. Receiving the medal made the trip feel more personal, and I appreciated it a lot.

Group photo in front of the Adjutant General's Corps National Ball backdrop — The group photo around the National Ball backdrop.

Nikos Katsikanis receiving the Bronze Horatio Gates medal from Dr Mark Clark — Receiving the Bronze Horatio Gates medal from Dr Mark Clark.

Nikos Katsikanis standing with Shannon Tyus during the National Ball — With Shannon Tyus during the event.

Nikos Katsikanis with James Galluzzo during the National Ball trip — With James Galluzzo, Vice President for Events.

A short view of the room during the evening.

The event space from the back of the room.

The saxophone performance during the evening.

Friends first, business colleagues second

The best part of the trip was being around a group of passionate volunteers who I treat as friends first and business colleagues second.

That is probably why the work has stayed interesting for me. The relationship is not just tickets, calls, and deliverables. It is people I enjoy helping, and people who care deeply about the association and the events they run.

What I took away

I left with more context about the event and more appreciation for the people running it.

It was good to see the National Ball in person, spend time with people I have worked with for so long, and be reminded that the work is connected to real friendships and real experiences.