Stephanie D. Williams

Building an Event Management Agency Through Relationships, Innovation & Adaptability

My success as an event professional and consultant comes down to three interconnected principles: authentic relationships, continuous learning, and the courage to adapt in a rapidly evolving industry. From the beginning of my career, I've prioritized building genuine relationships over transactional interactions. I treat every client and strategic partner with the same intentionality—showing up fully present, listening deeply to understand their true event goals and business objectives, and investing in long-term partnerships that extend far beyond individual conferences or retreats. This relationship-centered approach has transformed one-time event clients into multi-year strategic partners who trust ELC with their most important corporate events, annual conferences, and executive leadership retreats.

I've also committed to being a perpetual student of the event management industry. I actively pursue professional certifications in event planning and event technology, stay curious about emerging event trends, and continuously refine my event planning strategies and client communication approaches. The event industry landscape is always evolving—whether it's mastering new event technology platforms virtual and hybrid events, or understanding how wellness integration and cultural authenticity can transform attendee experiences and improve event engagement metrics.

Finally, I've learned to welcome industry disruption as opportunity rather than obstacle. When the COVID-19 pandemic completely disrupted the live events industry in 2020, I reimagined what was possible for my event planning business—quickly leaning into mastering the lead role for virtual event productions and hybrid conference solutions, developing new sponsorship revenue models for clients, and expanding ELC's services into strategic consulting and PR. Success as an event professional has required the flexibility to evolve with industry changes and the courage to meet clients exactly where they need strategic support, even when that means stepping outside traditional event planning services.

"It's not about the logistics—it's about the people."

Early in my career, a mentor told me that events aren't really about logistics—they're about people. That advice shifted everything for me. I stopped approaching projects as tasks to execute and started seeing them as opportunities to create meaningful connections. Every conference, every retreat, every brand activation is ultimately a collection of human experiences.

My advice to young women entering the hospality industry as caterers and event planners is to follow your passion and embrace what you love doing. The industry is fast-paced and challenging, however when you bring unique creativity, focused dedication, and authenticity to the work, it becomes incredibly rewarding. I highly recommend focusing on continous learning on every aspect of the of your role to be the most valuable team member, build strong long lasting relationships, and always staying curious to trends and educational opportunities—your enthusiasm and commitment will set you apart.

The biggest challenges currently is navigating tight budgets and managing expectations. In-person events are becoming more frequent as venues become increasingly expensive and many community spaces have closed, there's a real gap in the market—especially for small-medium enterprises, nonprofits, and local organizations seeking quality venues without premium price tags. My team noticed this need clearly in popular destinations and decided to act on it. We're currently developing strategies to serve rural destinations for luxury retreats. It's exciting to combine everything I believe in: listening to what clients actually need, creating accessible solutions, and building sustainable businesses that give back. The professionals thriving right now are those who identify unmet needs and have the vision to fill them.

The values that guide me in both my work and personal life are integrity, creativity, and service to others. Every day, I strive to approach my work with intentionality, even while navigating the challenges of today’s economy, and to create experiences that leave a meaningful impact. I’m especially passionate about mentoring young professionals in the hospitality industry, helping them build confidence, develop their skills, and discover their own path to success.