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MY WHY
“Do you like what you do? You’re really good at it!”
— asked by a corporate meeting guest
"Yes! Well, actually I LOVE what I do!"
I enjoy planning events because I am able to express my creativity and I love the challenge of taking an idea, developing a plan and design around that idea and successfully putting that plan into action. Event planning for me is a form of service…I am able to use my talents and gifts to uplift others. My goal is to present myself and my business in a way that demonstrates excellence in everything I do.
I have a passion for other people’s enjoyment. It is very fulfilling to see someone’s vision or message get delivered in a way that exceeds their initial thinking and expectations, which is what I always strive for…to blow your mind and have you saying “WOW, that was the best event I've ever attended”.
As you can see...I LOVE EVENTS!
FUN FACTS
Wife | Mommy | Corporate Event Professional | Entrepreneur | Sweets Addict
1. Inspiration: Pinterest, Instagram, Home Goods
2. Style Crushes: Beyonce, Solange, J Lo, Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton
3. Favorite Flowers: Pink orchids, White Roses, and White Calla Lillies
4. Interests: Entertaining, Traveling, Shopping, Wine Tasting, Connecting People, Sweets
5. Small Town Girl: I was born in Rockford, IL and raised in South Beloit, IL where I graduated from high school with a tight-knit class of 35.
6. Love for Chicago: The big city/small town feeling, the food, “Summertime Chi” (all three months of it...ha!) and that many opportunities offered (career, things to do, entrepreneurship, etc.)
7. Professional modeling experience: runway, print, and television with features in national advertisements in various magazines (People, Restaurant, Hype Hair, Essence, Chicago Red Eye, etc.), CBS and NBC TV fashion segments and cover model of a local magazine.
INSIDER SERIES
By Collaborate Staff, August 4, 2014
In this episode of our Insider Series, Latoya McCreary, CMP, talks about trends she’s seeing in the industry, specifically the need to make a business case for the meetings and trade shows she plans. “Our CEO wants to understand the feedback…and see the event history,” she says. Her organization, Insurance Auto Auctions, produces more than 100 annual events, and one of her key initiatives right now is creating a strategic meetings management event manual that details all the elements of the planning program. “I don’t want us to miss any steps.”
1-ON-1 INTERVIEW
How I got here: I have a marketing degree and started my professional career in marketing. Each of my marketing roles also had event planning responsibilities (trade shows, sales meetings, customer appreciation events, etc.). Ever since planning student events in college, I’ve always had a passion for planning events. However, it was difficult to get into the events industry without solid event experience at a company. In between jobs, I created an event planning company not only to fulfill a passion but to also get experience. In 2010, I was hired as a marketing project manager and three years later I was asked to manage all of the company’s 80 annual events based on the experience and knowledge I gained from my event business, desire to grow in the meeting and event industry and my demonstrated ability to handle a large volume of challenging projects. I was the company’s first internal event manager and managed client receptions, internal strategy meetings, trade shows and an annual three-day, client incentive conference.
Why I enjoy planning events: I am able to express my creativity and I love the challenge of taking an idea, developing a plan and design around that idea and successfully putting that plan into action. Event planning for me is a form of service. I am able to use my talents and gifts to uplift others. My goal is to present and my business and myself in a way that demonstrates excellence in everything I do.
I have a passion for other people’s enjoyment. It is very fulfilling to see someone’s vision or message get delivered in a way that exceeds their initial thinking and expectations, which is what I always strive for…to blow your mind and have you saying “WOW, that was the best event I've ever attended”.
What I do outside of work: Outside of my day-to-day meeting planning career, I plan networking events for event professionals, women entrepreneurs and fashion creatives. I also plan celebrations and fashion events. I sell handmade, custom confetti poppers through my Etsy shop and enjoy home entertaining, traveling and dining.
Who I look up to: I really admire my husband, Brandon. He encourages, motivates and challenges me to be better every single day. I admire his business savvy, drive, ambition, leadership and desire to help others.
One thing most people don’t know about me: I have a background as a runway, print and commercial model. I have been featured in TV fashion segments and various advertisements that have been published in national hair, beauty, lifestyle, restaurant and travel magazines.
The one thing I can’t travel without: My iPad! It’s my all-in-one device that allows me to quickly open up important files, images, notes, etc., give a quick presentation if needed, take notes or capture any necessary photos.
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
~ Maya Angelou
