We were lucky to catch up with Lisa Gebhardt Taylor recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lisa, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I am the product of two very talented and kind humans. My dad has been a self-employed architect for the majority of my life, raising me from a young age to be a Renaissance Woman. He modeled not only hard work, but precision, tenacity, and productivity – at home and at work. My mom is an artist; a creative and compassionate soul who also did the hardest job of all: being an amazing mother. She passed down her organizational skills, kindness and patience, and shaped the way that I take care of people – professionally and personally.
My first job was working medical records at my doctor’s office, and eventually becoming a Receptionist, where I learned how to effectively manage my time and interact in a professional setting. In college, I learned how to manage people by leading my sorority as the Vice President of our Chapter. In my first professional event planning position, I learned everything else and perfected my efficiency even further through experience.
Work ethic comes from trial and error. It’s simple to learn what you did wrong and/or what you could better. The hard part is actually the preparation and time to do the task properly the next time. The hard part is holding yourself (and others) accountable. I learned all of this because while I despise wasting time, I despise doing things half-assed even more.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
“I’m an Event Planner, which means I live in a crazy fantasy world with unrealistic expectations. Thank you for understanding.” I have that on a shirt somewhere that I friend got me : ) This means I’m also a therapist, a mediator, an educator, a babysitter, a personal assistant, a hostage negotiator, and quite honestly, an all-encompassing magician.
Event planning is not for the faint of heart – it’s vast, time-consuming and stressful. It’s also fun, innovative, and can be very rewarding, but you must wear many hats. I love being able to work with such a variety of clients, vendors, and venues. I love that I can use my creativity and color outside the lines without pushback. I love pulling a teeny-tiny details out of a client and using it in a unique way at their event that surprises even them! I love taking a very basic idea and bringing it to life. I love seeing people smiling and dancing, and enjoying every moment without judgement. Most of all, I love that I can gift these things to my clients by planning an experience they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives.
I service all types of events from baby showers to corporate galas and every event is different, which is what makes event planning special. No matter what type of event it is or the goal, it deserves full attention to ensure success. My brand follows this sentiment: everyone deserves love, and everyone deserves to be listened to. Templates are helpful, but people are not templates and events should be the same. I treat every person AND every event with respect.
My husband is also an Officiant for anyone seeking a fun-loving, witty and thoughtful person to make their marriage legal! He’s a wonderful writer and takes the time to meet with couples to really put a personal touch on their ceremony. Fun fact: he actually wrote our own entire ceremony!
In addition to my planning services, I’m also managing a private penthouse in Detroit for smaller scale events.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Time Management/Balance
2. Communication/Delegation
3. Flexibility/Adaptability
To anyone interested in the Hospitality world, the best learning experience is in the field. You don’t need a degree or any specific training, those can be learned at any time, any where. Critical thinking and problem-solving are the most important pieces to the puzzle. Change is inevitable in events and we ALWAYS have a Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D. The ability to work well with others and communicate properly goes hand-in-hand with this. We cannot help if we don’t know the issue! Honesty and transparency will get you a long way. And lastly, you have to care. You have to be passionate and vulnerable, and push yourself through difficult situations. Take every opportunity to learn and immerse yourself in your craft. Otherwise, it’s just a hobby.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My favorite events all share one thing in common: the client was open-minded and they trusted me whole-heartedly. These events are also my favorite because they are unique. Whether it’s the client themselves, or myself coming up with innovative ways to honor classic traditions, the best events are personal and memorable for that reason. I value individualism and believe that we all have distinctive fingerprints for a reason. I love working with folks who allow me to tell their own personal story through the guise of an event!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lgeventdesigns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lgeventdesign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LGeventdesign/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-gebhardt-410904a/
- Other: https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/wedding-planners/lg-event-design
https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/lg-event-design-ann-arbor-mi-1024771
Image Credits
J. Milhouse
Jermme
Brian Weitzel Photography
Melanie Reyes Photograpy
Benjamin David Photography
JLB Wedding Photography
Robyn and Finch
Jesse D. Green Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
