It probably makes sense that as a learning and development professional, I am also a life-long learner.
I recently learned while reading The Referral Of A Lifetime by Tim Templeton, that I approach new relationships from a Business/Relational style. Meaning, I tend toward business first, but place great value on relationships as well.
It also occurred to me that I approach my blog and most correspondence in the same way. So, today I’m switching it up. And I’m giving you a little insight into why I do what I do.
This is me, Sheri. I’m a travel lover, nomadic soul and a rolling stone. A vegetarian for over 30 years, I tend to have more compassion for animals than people – they have no voice. The beach is my happy place. Add a hammock and an ocean breeze, and I’m in pure bliss.
I am passionate about helping women of all ages grow in business, life, career and joy. This passion has manifested itself throughout my life in many ways. And always at the very core has been an underlying love of producing meaningful and transformational events that bring people together.
My first events:
I was about 8 years old when I hosted my first event. A backyard Muscular Dystrophy Carnival fundraiser. I ordered my kit and started gathering the neighborhood kids to help and to attend. I set up game stations around my backyard and canvased the neighborhood with flyers to let everyone know that THIS was the place to be. It was my first, and certainly not my last.
By high school I was organizing girl’s outings, class parties (some of which I got in big trouble for) and other fundraising events.
In my college sorority, I held the office of Social Chair – planning parties and philanthropic events. And of course, all of my friend’s bachelorette parties, showers and baby showers along the way.
My college internship led me back to the Muscular Dystrophy Association where I co-created a community event to kick-off the annual Bike-A-Thon fundraiser. We brought together city leaders, local celebrities and local radio for tricycle races on a track running through a popular bar. The event brought attention to the Bike-A-Thon and the start of the fundraising drive.
During my junior year of high school one of my best friends said to me as we were preparing for a party at her house, “I think you should be a party planner, it’s your calling.” Little did I know 15 years later that’s exactly what I would be doing and getting paid for it.
It Becomes a Career
My career in training and development has led me to designing not only world class educational programs and events but also the celebrations and parties that come along with planning national conferences, awards programs and training sessions.
I have organized and choreographed a flash mob. Facilitated experiential leadership programs with blindfolded CEOs. Trained service company dispatchers inside the body of a DC10 aircraft. Hosted improvisational storytelling on the beach. Conceived and launched a women’s expo. I’ve designed curriculum for dozens of training programs for industries as varied as a retail diamond company and plumbing.
And still, nearly 50 years after that first event my passion remains for creating experiences that change lives and businesses.
My personal brand promise: Never satisfied with ordinary.
Making It My Own
After nearly 2 decades of creating both live and virtual trainings and events for corporations and associations I made a difficult decision. I left a job I loved, working with people I loved to start my own business. I had accomplished so much and had done what I had come to do. It was time to get back to my true passion, working with women entrepreneurs in a way that is authentic to me. Truth, I no longer wanted to serve the agenda of others, but rather my own personal mission that had been carrying with me since my high school days.
Today
I’m a producer. I help business leaders, educators and entrepreneurs design and deliver high value virtual programs that have lasting impact. The leaders work with know how hard it is to deliver a high quality experience without help in the wings. They want a virtual event producer to manage the backend so they can relax focus on delivering content and taking care of attendees. They also recognize that having a professional producer by their side elevates their brand and business. Cool side-effect!
When I think back to that first Muscular Dystrophy carnival, I can see that girl. She was a little bossy. She knew what she wanted the kids to experience and how important the event was. It had to be perfect. She hasn’t changed all that much. She just has a few more tools and a lot more wisdom.
