From the Desk of Mary
Event Manager - Entrepreneur - Adventurer
To achieve greatness, you can't be afraid to take risks. In November 2005, my best friend, Beverly Bogerty, and I took this to heart. We decided to take a leap of faith and pursue our dream of launching an event management company. We quit our cushiony jobs in sunny California and moved to the East Coast to start anew. On January 1, 2006, we officially opened the doors to Occasions, Inc. in the Washington DC area, near the support of our family and friends. Since then, it's been truly a wild ride with sweat, tears, laughter… and I haven't looked back.
I must admit, we didn't know as much as we thought about entrepreneurship or running a business. At the time, our mission was simply to plan exciting and successful events. We had our Master's in Event Management, our Certified Meeting Professional designation, years of experience working in the industry, and most importantly, passion. So, how hard could it be?
We thought this venture would be a piece of cake. We were very wrong. Yes, Beverly and I were expert event planners, but we were not versed in operating a business. We had rude awakenings when clients did not magically appear at our doorstep, and when we had to spend hours on administrative and accounting tasks. Beverly and I quickly learned the value of a strong back office support team in running a successful business. Occasions, Inc. is now proud to have a fantastic accountant, trusted lawyer, and savvy banker.
Navigating the world of entrepreneurship is a never-ending journey, and it includes many pitfalls, failures, and unforeseen circumstances. Yet, perseverance and passion helped my team and I learn from every mistake in order to build Occasions, Inc. into a prosperous company serving dozens of clients in a variety of industries. When Beverly had to leave the company to pursue other opportunities, I faced another hurdle in managing the company on my own. If I knew back then what I know now, the road would have been easier, but I wouldn't trade the experiences for anything - they taught me about myself just as much as the business world.
As the journey continues, I would love to bring you along for the ride. Occasions, Inc. has many projects and new experiences on the horizon, and we’re ready for future growth and community connections. I would love to hear from my readers as they navigate their own journeys, whether already on the path or just starting out. Together, we can share and learn.
Please make sure to follow Occasions, Inc. on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. We look forward to growing with you!