The Cornerstone League wrapped up their annual Impact event with a high-energy celebration at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock. For their evening fundraiser, the Let’s Get Wild Foundation Bash, they leaned into the resort’s bold, safari-inspired aesthetic to create a theme that felt fun, immersive, and on-brand for the space.
This was my final stop after photographing five different corporate events in just over a month. Each one had its own vibe, but this one stood out for how it combined color, movement, and mission. They raised a TON of money for their non-profit arm, The Cornerstone Foundation (more on that below!). This was my first time working corporate events at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock, but their space, layout, and services did not dissapoint. The tl:dr is that while the Kalahari’s themed environment gave the event its visual flair, the Cornerstone League and it’s fantastic and energetic attendees brought the rest.
Understanding the Brand Behind the Event
The Cornerstone League is a regional trade association that advocates on behalf of credit unions across essentially most of the south central US, including Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Their role is to strengthen and support the credit union movement through legislative advocacy, compliance support, education, and professional development. They act as a central resource for credit unions of all sizes, helping them stay competitive, informed, and member-focused in an evolving financial landscape and they had hired me to photograph their annual convention, where they talk about policy changes, regulations and have breakout sessions
The Cornerstone Foundation operates as the charitable arm of the League. While the League focuses on advocacy and industry growth, the Foundation is all about community impact. It provides grants for financial education initiatives, disaster relief funds, and training scholarships for credit union professionals. Their goal is to expand the reach of credit unions beyond financial services, ensuring they can uplift their communities in meaningful and lasting ways. During the annual Cornerstone Impact event, the Foundation hosts several fundraisers, including a golf tournament and a themed gala, to support its community-focused programs.
The Cornerstone Foundation approached their annual gala event with a clear goal: they wanted it to feel different from a standard fundraising gala. The tone was intentionally relaxed and welcoming, everyone wore safari or animal themed prints, and there was an emphasis on creating space for genuine connection and lots of continued networking. The themed details, including animal print accents, custom cocktails, and a life-sized human run, fundraising forward Hungry Hungry Hippos game, were chosen to reflect that intention. While the Cornerstone League may have been my first expo without wild animals in a few weeks, it still, somehow, had wild animals!
Why the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock Works for Corporate Events
With the Austin Convention Center closed for expansion, planners are looking for venues that can handle large-scale events without feeling generic. The Kalahari Resort in Round Rock offers that mix of scale and personality. It was originally designed as a family destination, complete with one of the country’s largest indoor waterparks, but the property also includes flexible event space, on-site lodging, and multiple dining options, which makes it a practical and unexpected choice for corporate gatherings.
Its immersive theming adds built-in visual interest, which reduces the need for heavy décor. The resort can support everything from multi-day conferences to single-evening galas, and the event staff knows how to work with corporate teams to customize each space. For out-of-town guests, it is about a 30-minute drive from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. For local teams, it is a straightforward trip up I-35.
Round Rock has grown rapidly over the past two decades. Once known mostly for its namesake rock crossing along Brushy Creek and its Chisholm Trail history, it is now home to a strong business and tech community. It still has the accessibility and ease of a smaller city, but its proximity to Austin gives it a strategic edge for companies that want to host professional events without going deep into the downtown core.
Final Thoughts on Cornerstone Impact 2025
Cornerstone Impact 2025 was my final corporate event of the spring season, and it wrapped things up on a high note. The team brought in two standout keynote speakers who delivered real value to attendees, and the crowd showed up ready to engage.
Day one opened with digital leadership expert Erik Qualman, who set the tone with a fast-moving and highly relevant talk. He covered how to stay focused in a world that demands constant attention, how to stop confusing busy with productive, and why progress beats perfection.
To close out the event, Traci Brown delivered a completely different kind of keynote that had people both laughing and taking notes. She is a body-language expert who specializes in deception detection, and her Fraud Spotting System gave attendees a new way to think about trust, communication, and how to read a room. She also used Lance Armstrong as a case study in public dishonesty, which got a reaction but landed the point.
As with every event I photograph, my focus here was on showing people in motion and in conversation. That includes hallway networking, breakout sessions where ideas are actually exchanged, and keynote moments that resonate. My goal is not to check boxes. It is to help organizers tell a visual story that proves their programming has impact.
If your team is planning corporate events at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock and you want photography that captures how it felt, not just what happened, get in touch. I work with organizations that value connection, clarity, and strong visual storytelling. Let’s talk about how I can support your next event.
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