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Darren Randle, 30, owner, Houston Tents and Events, Houston
His title is “owner,” and Randle owns every aspect of his rental business. “There’s days I’m on the computer doing orders/paperwork for 16 hours, and others where I’m driving the trucks for deliveries, loading equipment for the next day’s jobs, or washing/prepping tents for the upcoming busy weekend,” he says.
He describes his business philosophy in one word: integrity. “I take pride every day when I ‘turn the lights off’ that I genuinely did the right thing by the customer/client as well as my employees. Whether that be making a customer happy from a financial standpoint or treating my staff fairly, I would rather be known as the company that made ends meet for 50 years than the company that was a multi-million-dollar business, but there was low employee morale, terrible reviews online and through word of mouth, etc. I treat every customer or event with the same level of respect regardless if they partner with us for $100,000 worth of business or one backyard-party customer pickup every year for $100.”
Although he is fully committed to his company for the foreseeable future, Randle has a dream “retirement.” Turning to his experience with big-time sporting events and festivals, “I’d be with my wife and kids in a foreign country for two months managing load-in/out at the World Cup facilities. That’s my dream job in our special events industry.”
Melinda Y. Reese, 35, co-founder, Huckleberry Hospitality, Austin, Texas
After spending more than a decade working in events, sales and marketing for nationally recognized brands, Reese co-founded Huckleberry Hospitality, a full-service events and catering company focusing on sustainability. She relies on her creativity, analytical and communication skills, and organization chops to “confidently make decisions so my clients don’t have to,” she explains, “allowing them the opportunity to enjoy their event.”
Details mean a lot, she says. “I truly enjoy the little things, paying meticulous attention to program planning and on-site execution of event activities, partnering closely with clients each step of the way.”
But she has a big dream job. Watching the Olympic Games “was a household religion in my family,” she says, adding, “it is my dream to run the production on one of the elements of the Olympic Games. I love how they put an emphasis on teamwork, collaboration and unity on a large scale. A production lead for an event at the Olympics plays a critical role, and successfully producing an event at the Olympics is the ‘worthy dragon’ I would like to slay in my career.”
Elizabeth Sheils, 34, co-founder, Rock Paper Coin, Portland, Ore.
Sheils and her sister-in-law love their wedding planning business—Bridal Bliss—but not what they see as its outdated technologies. “Many small to medium-sized businesses were unable to have access to contract and invoice platforms without paying high subscriptions and processing fees,” she explains.
To solve the problem, the pair launched Rock Paper Coin—an online platform designed to bring wedding planners, couples and vendors into one system. “By allowing these businesses to come under one platform to process contracts and payment, Rock Paper Coin takes the burden off working with the suppliers to save people time and money,” she explains.
If Sheils sounds busy juggling both companies, she is. “Starting my own business was a dream for many years,” she says. “I feel lucky to be on this journey. Although it’s been bumpy, it’s been rewarding.”
Lauren Smith, 34, senior production designer, Bellwether, Tempe, Ariz.
Smith supports the work of this boutique production company by designing stages, structures and environments for corporate events, ranging from hundreds to thousands of attendees.
“As senior production designer, I work with creative directors, producers, technical directors, vendors and clients to deliver effective designs within the project scope and budget. My process begins with preliminary ground plans and concept sketches before building a simple 3-D model for pricing estimates” she explains. “After a series of revisions to refine the client’s vision and needs, I create a few photorealistic renderings or other visualization products as needed. “
In the industry for just over six years, she has overseen nearly 100 projects, her favorites being those that are “minimal, bold and showcase the latest LED tech,” she says.
She sees today’s COVID crisis as an opportunity. “I’m ready to put my research and skills to the test as we move forward into the unknown,” she explains. “The limitless design potential of virtual events will be the ultimate playground for my creativity. I look forward to dreaming up engaging branded fantasy worlds without the physical or budgetary limitations of traditional live events.”
Amaia P. Stecker, 36, managing partner, Pilar and Co., Alexandria, Va.
Company founder Stecker brings a unique resume to her event firm. She earned master’s degrees in both government and business administration while working full-time in the U.S. Senate. She and her team now produce a wide variety of events for corporate, nonprofit and social organizations, approaching events “holistically, with an eye for detail and a passion for making the experience purposeful,” she says.
She sees part of her role as “challenging” her clients. “I challenge organizations to provide meaningful connections and tangible takeaways for their end users,” Stecker says. “Authenticity and real connection are created when attendees have an experience that cannot be replicated.”
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And tradition? Not for her. “I refuse to do things the way they have always been done. What are the needs of the attendee, and how are they being met? I use design thinking to create the architecture of my events, giving them an achievable purpose.”
