What do you enjoy most about working with our clients?
Being able to see them grow! It’s always amazing to see how much joy people have in those “ah-ha” moments of learning something new and using that to help them meet their goals.
How long have you been in the FEC industry and in what roles?
Wow, I can’t believe it has been 13 years since I started in the entertainment business. My first “real” job was with the Albuquerque Isotopes baseball club in 2004 working in media and community relations. After a few season there, I moved to the casino industry doing marketing and special events. In the fall of 2006 I joined the FEC industry with iT’Z Family, Food & Fun. I joined their team at their first location in Albuquerque as their party and front of house manager. After a year in Albuquerque, I moved back home to Houston to help them open their second and largest location, again as the party and front of house manager. During my time there, I gained heaps of operational knowledge stepping in for temporary roles in the kitchen, game room, and store manager. I spent the next five years at iT’Z in Houston and assisted in opening their next three locations. I’m proud to have built a million dollar a year birthday party program at iT’Z Houston. I’ve been the Director of Marketing for TrainerTainment the past five years.
What is the most significant thing you have learned working in the FEC industry?
I think the most significant thing I have learned working in the FEC industry is that we have really important roles. From leadership to a team member, every role is important. It doesn’t matter if you are a party host creating a special memory for a five-year-old, a person in the dish pit making sure each person gets clean dishes, or a manager leading your team to greatness. We touch so many lives on a daily basis and that’s pretty special!
Which of our core values resonates with you the most?
For me, our core value of intentional learning is super important to me. I have always had a desire to learn and with marketing constantly evolving and changing, I get to keep up with the times. Learning doesn’t only benefit us. We also share the things we learn with our clients.
What country or place would you tell every person they must visit before they die?
This one is really hard for me. We have done so much traveling and seen so many amazing things, it’s hard to narrow it down. The first I would say is go to India and see the Taj Mahal. Most people think India is really dirty and all you see is poor. Yes, you do see that in pocket areas but it is really an amazing country. The food, the history, the people, and there’s a lot of green space, too. Seeing the Taj Mahal has been on my bucket list since I was a teen. It was even more amazing in person than I imagined! It literally took my breath away and I was just overcome by emotion. Don’t let negative misconceptions of India deter you from going to this amazing country.
Who was your favorite artist or group when you were growing up?
Mariah Carey. I was obsessed and had her Emotions cassette. I would play it over and over and sing at the top of my lungs in my room. Who am I kidding? I still like to do that today!
