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Dear Readers:

Welcome to the first interview in my new Friday Spotlight Series. This series was started in the spirit of sharing and community, and I look forward to hearing all of your wonderful feedback. Note: Today, I am highlighting Renee Jones, the founder of  Beautiful Purpose Events, a premier event  planning company based in Miami, FL.

Preston

PB: Renee, it is so nice to speak with you. I loved your website and knew you would be a great person to profile in my first post. Let’s just jump right in, shall we? I love hearing each person’s story, tell us when you discovered that working in events was your passion?

RJ: As a child, I enjoyed helping my mother with holiday parties, birthdays, and graduations. Later, I always found myself working in positions where I would have to plan events, programs, galas, conferences, etc. I found so much enjoyment in getting people together that I decided to do it as a business. I was a new mother in graduate school who was sitting on the computer at home and I started to think of what I truly wanted to do in life. I decided to go for it and start my own business. To make a long story short, I took this challenge. Here I am, four years later, blessed with a successful event planning company called Beautiful Purpose Events, named after our daughter, Isabella Nia. Isabella meaning Beautiful and Nia meaning Purpose. Maybe one day it will be her company.

PB: What a gorgeous name!  You mentioned that you just started your company four years ago and were in graduate school. What were you doing for work until then?

RJ:  I did events, galas, training and development for corporate law firms. It was after getting my M.B.A that I decided to take the plunge and start my own company.

PB: That takes courage, I love it! Will you share your biggest event success so far with us?

RJ: In the beginning, most of my clients were family members. Then I acquired a client from a referral which was a truly commercial undertaking. I planned and executed a 100-person wedding with a staff of two–myself and another person. I worked with the couple an entire year suggesting vendors, devising a production schedule, and  innovating the entire ceremony. I was so scared the day of the wedding, I didn’t think I could pull it off but to my surprise, the event was an ultimate success and my clients were thrilled with the quality of service we provided. It was a huge turning point for me because it was that very event that I knew I could really make my dreams come true and become a successful event planner. That was an awesome feeling, and every day since I have endeavored to recreate those same emotions of satisfaction in my clientele that proved themselves in that first successful event. One of my favorite quotes by Maya Angelou sums it all up for me: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

 PB: That is so inspiring and so important for new planners to read. I believe that each of us have something unique and special to offer clients, what do you feel sets you apart?

RJ: From the centerpieces to the cocktails in each guest’s hand, I believe small details are what differentiate events and each represent an opportunity to deliver to those entrusting their dreams to me. Secondly, a lot of my clients have complimented me on my organization, which I believe is the true key to a successful event. Errors are inevitable, but it is all about how you recover. If  you’re organized and reconciled to learning from mishaps, you’re halfway there. Lastly, I pride myself in really making a connection with my clients. I feel that I can better understand their wants and needs if we develop a personal connection. Plus it makes the planning process that more enjoyable.  My company mission is to provide quality services to all of our clients and develop long standing and personal relationships to ensure longevity and growth within the business. The motto of Beautiful Purpose Events  is “be beautiful and live purposefully”, meaning live a life that you can find beauty in all that you do, and most importantly live a life that has meaning and purpose. We want all of our clients to embody the “BPE Life.”

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