Presenter: ASHLEY STALVEY - Wedding and Banquet Coordinator, Athens Country Club
“Planning Memorable and Successful Events”
This presentation will focus on ways to set yourself up for success with regard to events, both large and small, and how to make short lead times work for you. Budget challenges will be addressed, and ways to make those budget challenges become a creative impetus rather than a hindrance. Any questions or event-specific anecdotes are welcome from the audience, as we can discuss ways to solve specific problems and raise the bar for your own future events.
Presenter's BIO:
ASHLEY STALVEY - March 15, 2014 marked the 12th anniversary of Ashley’s first experience with event planning, an "Ides of March" party at the home of a family friend. From that day on, Ashley was hooked and sought out opportunities to stay involved with event planning throughout college and aimed to create a career in the industry.
Through internships at Athens Regional in the Special Projects Department, Hallie Jane’s Catering, the Athens-Clarke County Government in the Public Information Office, and Mercury Art Works, as well as a leadership role in the UGA English Department’s Student Advisory Council planning social events and fundraisers for English majors, Ashley found that every event planned throughout the different outlets had one thing in common: they all needed one person who had a creative vision as well as attention to detail to pull it all together.
After graduating from UGA in 2006, Ashley stayed on at Mercury Art Works working with the owners and artists to plan, execute, and even cater exhibit openings, private parties, and events to celebrate local and visiting artists, writers, and musicians. Ashley became the Vice President of the Athens Area Arts Council, organizing membership drives, fundraisers, and events to promote the inaugural You, Me, and the Bus campaign and ribbon cutting events for that project, which continues successfully today.
In the Fall of 2006, Ashley joined Athens Country Club as the Special Events Coordinator, eventually taking on Banquets and Weddings. In her spare time, Ashley has planned fundraisers, corporate events and weddings locally, as well as destinations such as Charleston and Philadelphia.
Though the nuts and bolts of events can sometimes become formulaic, Ashley most enjoys the people who rely on her for advice and guidance, and the guests who attend each event, as they bring the inspiration and enthusiasm that make each event unique.
Ashley lives in Athens with her husband and two-year-old son, and tries not to make his birthday parties too over the top (though she and her husband have differing opinions on what a ‘simple’ party is).
NOTE: This course has been approved for HRCI Credits.
