Crafting Events with Purpose

My journey into event planning didn’t start with a dream of organizing glamorous galas or massive corporate conferences. It began in 1998 with a small, yet important, task: planning quarterly meetings for a National Operations Team in Las Vegas. At first glance, it might not seem like much, but these events lit a spark in me. I quickly realized that I loved the challenge of bringing people together, coordinating moving parts, and watching as everything unfolded smoothly—a spark that ultimately ignited my passion for event planning and project management.

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As my curiosity for planning grew, so did my desire to explore the world. This led me to one of the most transformative experiences of my life: moving to a small hill tribe in Thailand. I found myself in a remote village, where I was the only Caucasian living there at the time, and only the fourth foreigner to ever visit. Immersing myself in this tight-knit community was as humbling as it was inspiring.

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It was here that I discovered a new way to make an impact. I founded a non-profit organization to support local hill tribe schools, helping them navigate the complex process of qualifying for additional government funding. Planning fundraising events became a natural part of my mission, and I soon found myself orchestrating everything from community events to elegant galas around the world. One of the most exciting ventures involved partnering with celebrity chefs in Los Angeles to host events that raised significant funds for the cause. Those were moments of true joy—seeing the tangible effects of these events on the lives of the children we were helping.

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But, as much as I loved Thailand and the deep connections I made there, home began to call me back. I was homesick in a way I hadn’t anticipated. So, I returned to the U.S., unsure of what was next, but confident that my love for event planning would guide me forward.

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Once back, I joined an events agency and found myself working on the registration team for some of the largest corporate events I could have imagined—gatherings of 5,000, 10,000, and even up to 60,000 attendees. It was a new kind of challenge, but one that pushed me to grow even further as a project manager. Managing the complexities of registration on such large-scale events while ensuring that each attendee felt cared for, engaged, and valued was no small feat. These experiences taught me how to balance the grand vision of an event with the smallest details, ensuring that everything aligned to create an unforgettable experience.

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Despite the excitement of large corporate events, I couldn’t ignore the pullback to non-profit work. My heart has always been with causes that make a difference in people’s lives. Most recently, I’ve been working for a global non-profit, planning events around the world—from scientific gatherings across Africa to prestigious awards ceremonies in New York. This work has allowed me to combine my corporate expertise with my deep desire to create meaningful, inclusive, and culturally respectful events that bring people together for a greater cause.

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For me, event registration planning isn’t just a job—it’s a way to build bridges between people, cultures, and ideas. Whether I’m organizing registration for a small gathering or a corporate event for thousands, I approach each project with the same passion and dedication to creating meaningful, inclusive, and culturally respectful experiences. From Thailand to Las Vegas, from corporate boardrooms to remote villages, every event I’ve been part of has shaped who I am today. As I continue to work on events around the globe, I remain committed to delivering impactful moments that inspire and connect people from all walks of life.