Chyka Keebaugh - The Big Group

Chyka Keebaugh and husband Bruce are the founders and sole directors of The Big Group, a catering and events management firm which they started together in 1990 on a whim to travel the world. That travel bug has never ceased, nor has their passion and dedication for the hospitality industry as a whole as well as their company The Big Group. They both remain actively involved in all aspects of the company on a daily basis.

The Big Group’s started with a small retail outlet named Provencale. This outlet was a pioneer in the retail provedore market. Not only was the concept designed by Chyka Keebaugh bringing something fresh and new to the café scene, so too was the choice of location, away from the main busy strip of High St, Armadale. Irrespective of challenges, with solid marketing, Provencale proved to be very successful.

The initial research and development for the retail concept was driven by ideas gleaned from overseas visits. Provencale was to be unique, fresh and contemporary in beautiful surroundings. Exceptional customer service was to be paramount and staff members chosen for their skills and experience were to be provided training during the induction phase to ensure flawless product knowledge.

Bruce and Chyka’s ambitions for Provencale were to include streamlined operations. The latter proved pivotal in Provencale’s 10 year success and became the basis of the successful structure that The Big Group employs in its catering arm to this day.

The Big Group company culture has remained consistent, "a big group of creative individuals sourcing culinary solutions". As a group, the company brings together energy, enthusiasm, dedication, creativity and passion with an underlying sense of always honouring client requests.

Creativity is at the cornerstone of The Big Group ethos, as a result, Chyka Keebaugh launched a new company in 2007 called The Design Depot.

The Design Depot, is the in-house design firm that carries out the operation of all event styling and provides a constant resource to The Big Group sales executives along with an event decorative hire and consultancy service for all aspects of the industry.