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From the Desk of Mary

Event Manager - Entrepreneur - Adventurer

A Leap of Faith | Blog

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.

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Eventful News

Define the purpose and format
Pay sufficient attention to planning
Draft your budget taking into account unforeseeable situations
The devil is in the details
Check the location and have a plan B
Allocate responsibilities
Tell your audience about the event
Pay attention to service
Carry out a final check 24 hours before the event
Ask for feedback

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Successful Occasions

Occasions, Inc. has been passionate about perfect events for over 13 years. Through thick and thin, OI never stops aiming for excellence. One of our many success stories happened within a short 24 hours.

The Embassy of Iraq was hosting a press event and reception in 2006 to mark the celebrated repatriation of the statue of Entemena to the Iraqi Government. The statue was the oldest known representation of an ancient Iraqi king and had been stolen from the Iraqi National Museum in 2003, yet was recovered in 2006 by the Department of Homeland Security. The recovery of the statue of Entemena was deemed one of Interpol’s most significant recoveries.

Embassy of Iraq Entemena Repatriation Press Event | View Case Study

Occasions, Inc. had less than 24 hours to plan and coordinate this very high-level press event, which was attended by international press and high-level U.S. and Iraqi government officials. Though the event was small at about 50 people, it still required fast-paced and highly detailed planning, including tight security measures and coordination with the U.S. Secret Service.

Utilizing OI’s vast network of quality vendors, OI personnel were able to pull together the necessary event services, which included menu design and catering, audiovisual services (video recording and media feed), decor and equipment rental, and onsite management. OI successfully executed this critical event within the narrow timeframe and the client’s budget, all while adhering to strict regulations.

Though all events are special, OI is often the most proud to pull off the seemingly impossible ones!

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Community Activity

OI exhibited during The George Washington University Black Alumni Reunion Weekend last month at The Black Market, a marketplace showcasing black businesses.

CEO Mary L. Windham, CMP, MTA also took the opportunity to promote entrepreneurship with the younger crowd by bringing her 13 year old mentee to exhibit with her.

George Mason University Black Alumni Reunion Weekend

Team Spotlight

This spring we celebrate LaShawn Rogers’s five year anniversary with Occasions, Inc. She’s become an invaluable asset to our team and we wouldn’t be the same without her.

Congratulations and thank you!