The Beginning and Evolution

So.....a bunch of friends I know have started blogs about their lives. For me, meeting planning is pretty much a gigantic chunk of what I eat,breathe and live for each day. That and my son Brady and husband Damon of course but.....my job has become a major part of my life and so therefore I have decided to start a blog about being a meeting planner and my day to day life as I know it being a planner and the craziness that ensues being in this insane business.

So...the beginning. Let me dust off this little 11 year brain from the start of my career as a meeting and event coordinator.

I was fresh out of college 1999. Business degree in Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin. I was set right? Wrong.........

I secured a job at Dell since I could not find ANYTHING else after many interviews with PR companies, meeting and event companies etc. I even interviewed for the Bush re-election campaign doing promotions and events!!! My father may have passed out if I got that job. I was attempting to stay in Austin as the love of my life...one day to be husband and wonderful father..still had one more year at UT. Anyways, I took the job at Dell doing sales and after 4 months I was done. I started looking in Houston where my family lives and low and behold the perfect opportunity came to be for a Junior Event Planner position with my current financial and insurance company. They do retirement planning for non profit organizations for schools hospitals and government agencies. I got the inside on the job from my mom who ALWAYS has my back. Thanks Mom!!! She knows everyone in Houston! I interviewed got the job and was IN LOVE!!! You would not believe that working late hours through the night, travelling, dealing with ridiculous requests, cross checking excel sheets against one to another multiple times, bleeding from your fingernails because you have stuffed one to many conference packets and name badges would be rewarding but it is! I moved up in a short couple years to meeting planner, senior meeting planner in 2003 then when my boss decided to take a job with another part of the company I was promoted to manager of the department in 2005. I recently was promoted to director of the department in 2011 which was such a great accomplishment for me and one of my long time goals I had set out for myself. Well....that is how I got here and a short rendition of where I am today but there are lots more to tell over the years and current stories to share so stay tuned......I am looking forward to sharing my stories!

To close...here is a pic that really showcases the real life of a meeting planner. Hospitality Desk, laptop, and hotel pool perfectly positioned right in front of you out the doors......I was lucky here...I rarely get to even see the pool. : )