Her Story
About Lara
My journey in event planning began during my senior year at Florida State University in 2009, when I did an internship with the State Department that brought me to the U.S. Embassy Nassau. Working with the ambassador, they gave me my first event - an international conference to coordinate - and I remember it clear as day. It took off from there. After college, I moved to San Diego as a young person not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life, but I prayed about it and asked myself what makes me happy. The State Department experience had really pushed me to go into event planning, so I explored that path in California, doing mostly weddings and working under Liz Beck Events. She showed me the ropes, and I learned how different wedding planning is from government work - it's so emotional, dealing with someone's most important day of their life. Then I moved to Washington D.C., where I did more government event planning with the Federal Trade Commission and VA. I was lucky enough to do interagency work, which meant I got to work with so many different agencies including the White House, FEMA, and DOJ. After really hustling and bustling in D.C., my husband and I decided to travel the world - we got out of debt following Dave Ramsey's plan and saved up to make it happen, because we figured why wait until we're in our 80s. Now I'm back in Florida where I'm born and raised, and I'm the Assistant Director for Presidential and Advancement Events at Florida Atlantic University. Right now I'm handling all the events as a one-person team after it went from 4, to 3, to 2, to 1 - you're speaking to her right now. Every day is hustle and bustle, making sure every event logistic is on target, working with vendors, doing procurement, and then doing the grunt work of moving chairs and doing setup. People see me with my sneakers on, and then for a split second I change in the bathroom and I'm ready to work the event. It's definitely a very non-glamorous field, but there are perks of seeing all your planning and grunt work coming together at the end and making a beautiful puzzle. I'm so happy to do what I love doing - many people don't follow their passion, and I can't imagine not doing what you're called to do in life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lara
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my faith. This is God, because I'm still here - I'm still lateral, as the Gen Zs say. I have no idea how people do it without God. My faith brings me to work every day. I mean, it's pretty impressive - I pat myself on the back, but I know it's God. Going from a four-person team to a one-person team, my faith is what keeps me going.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
In my 20s, without children, I was sat down by a lady who had children and was trying to do it all - working full-time and being a mom. I remember clear as day, she told me: You're in your 20s, you don't have children. This is your time to hustle, this is your time to really go above and beyond and work as hard as you can. She was telling me that this whole 'have it all' thing for women is very hard on ourselves when we do become mothers and try to have that family. I always remember that, and I did that as much as I could. That's when my husband and I took a little break before children and traveled the world. I always remember what she said, because now in my 30s, I do see that it's very hard to try and do it all. You have to have that balance, but it's very hard to obtain.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Faith is the most important value to me - I have no idea how people do it without God. My faith brings me to work every day and keeps me going. I also deeply value following your passion and doing what you're called to do in life. I can't imagine not doing what God has called me to do, and I really feel pain for everyone who doesn't get to follow their passion. I appreciate every day that I'm so lucky to do what I love and just enjoy it, because life is so short. Beyond the glitz and glamour, what matters to me is bringing community together and giving people experiences - that's what life is all about.
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