In The Spotlight with Lara Martynec: Event Planner

Event Planning is big business these days according to research conducted by Dr. Joe Goldblatt, CSEP (Certified Special Events Professional), as spending for special events worldwide is at $500 billion annually. Dr. Goldblatt’s research shows that profits in the industry continue to rise and profit margins have gone from 15% a few years ago to between 30 to 40 percent. So if you happen to be like Lara Martynec of Diaper Treats and absolutely love to plan, organize and set up events – you just might have found a lucrative profession!

But what IS event planning exactly? Special events can be broken down into the following categories:

~ Celebrations (fairs, parades, weddings, reunions, birthdays, anniversaries)

~ Education (conferences, meetings, graduations)

~ Promotions (product launches, political rallies, fashion shows)

~ Commemorations (memorials, civic events)

As you can see with this list, some of the events can be more business related and others more social. Lara likes to do party planning and recently launched into designing my author’s booth at a children’s book festival. So these skills of planning, organizing and setting up can go in many directions – you just need to be willing to launch into new areas.

Some people are just set up in such a way that they are able to clearly see how the overall picture and event should look like. Event planners will work within your budget to make sure that you get the party you envision without breaking the bank. Maybe you need to hire an event planner to organize your parent’s 50th Anniversary, or your best-friends baby shower. It is nice to find an individual who can step in and give these special occasions the attention to detail they deserve!

I know that Lara of Diaper Treats took the bull by the horn and did more for my booth at the children’s book festival than I ever could have done! It was so wonderful to sit back and let her do her magic. When I asked her why she decided to get into event planning she said “I decided to start a party planning business after hosing numerous events and realizing this was my passion. Coupled with consistent positive feedback from guests I had the courage to make party planning my life. I love planning events and parties as my creative outlet.” She says her husband and two boys are her biggest supporters and that she enjoys doing this type of work so much that it “feels less like work and more of an honor and a privilege to serve people with my creative gift. ” So next time you have to organize a big event – maybe check out your local event planners network or ask around for a good party planner so you can sit back and enjoy it yourself!