We recently connected with Katy Martin and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Katy, 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 believe my strong work ethic stems from a combination of personal values, family influence, and professional experiences. Growing up, my entire large Serbian family instilled in me the importance of dedication and perseverance. They always emphasized that hard work and integrity are key to achieving any goal.
Additionally, my early work experiences taught me the value of responsibility and commitment. For instance, during my first job, I had a mentor who demonstrated exceptional work ethic and professionalism. Observing their dedication and the respect they earned from colleagues inspired me to adopt similar principles in my own work.
Moreover, I am driven by a personal desire to excel and continuously improve. I set clear goals for myself and hold myself accountable to high standards. This internal motivation ensures that I remain focused and diligent, even when faced with challenges.
Overall, my work ethic is a blend of the values I was raised with, the lessons I’ve learned from mentors, and my own commitment to personal and professional growth.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been the Proud owner of Coastal Coordinating for 16 proud years now. Anyone who meets me will tell you how much I love event and wedding planning – It is truly my calling and passion. I started my company out of the blue and honestly on accident when a friend reached out to hire me to plan their friend’s wedding. I had been a planner for 6 years before I started Coastal Coordinating while working for the Marriott Football Hall of Fame (Yes, I helped plan an event for John Madden and Warren Moon). I have also worked as A Director of Catering for Hilton and at a Private Venue in St Augustine, Florida. When my Friend reached out, I was working for Corporate America in a Human Resources role and had planned to explore that field more, but fate had another plan for me. When my friend reached out, I referred a few other great planners, but they wanted me to do the wedding for them so long story short within a year after the florist and venue found out I was on the wedding they started to refer me more and more and that is how I started my business. In the first year we did over 40 events and now we do 10x that on average as a company. We are able to give great service on each and every event due to the wonderful planners I have on the team.
Here are some personal, fun facts about me:
-My favorite part of a wedding day is bustling the dress!
-My husband and I celebrated our wedding reception dinner unexpectedly at Waffle House due to COVID – But honestly, it was truly the best and I wouldn’t change one thing about it!
-I am obsessed with pool floats, (you should see my patio), I just love them all. I think if I could take all my calls in the pool on my float, life would be complete.
-I have two pups that I love more than anything, Hank and Lucy.
-I am a bonus mom to the best girl ever named Marlee. This is probably one of my greatest accomplishments that I never saw coming.
-I really love to take chances and go out on a whim. Life is short and I plan to make the best of it! I always try to live life with the glass half-full.
-I love love love the color PINK!!
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?
Reflecting on my journey, three key qualities and skills have been particularly impactful: resilience, effective communication, and continuous learning.
Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks and persist through challenges has been crucial. Resilience has allowed me to stay focused and motivated, even when things didn’t go as planned.
For those early in their journey, I recommend embracing challenges as opportunities to grow. Building resilience involves maintaining a positive mindset, seeking support from mentors or peers, and learning from each experience.
Effective Communication: Clear and effective communication has been essential in building relationships, conveying ideas, and collaborating with others. Whether it’s through writing, speaking, or listening, strong communication skills can open many doors. Plus always being true and personable.
To develop this skill, practice active listening, seek feedback on your communication style, and engage in public speaking or writing opportunities to refine your abilities.
Continuous Learning: Staying curious and committed to learning has helped me adapt to new situations and stay relevant in my field. This involves not only acquiring new knowledge but also being open to feedback and willing to unlearn outdated practices.
For those starting out, I suggest setting aside time for regular learning, whether through formal education, online courses, or reading. Additionally, seek out diverse perspectives and experiences to broaden your understanding.
Advice for Developing These Qualities and Skills:
Resilience: Start by setting small, achievable goals and gradually increase their difficulty. Celebrate your successes and learn from your failures. Surround yourself with supportive people who encourage and challenge you.
Effective Communication: Join groups or clubs that focus on communication skills, such as Networking groups in your field. Locally I love Marry Me Tampa Bay and SWEL.
Practice writing regularly, whether it’s journaling, blogging, or professional writing. Engage in active listening exercises to improve your ability to understand and respond to others.
Continuous Learning: Make learning a habit by dedicating time each day or week to it. Use resources like online courses, books, podcasts, and webinars. Stay curious and ask questions, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone to explore new areas.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Over the past 12 months, my biggest area of growth as a wedding planner has been in investing in updating my systems and relationship management. This improvement has significantly impacted my ability to deliver personalized and stress-free experiences for my clients.
Updating my systems has significantly contributed to my growth in several key ways:
Increased Efficiency: By modernizing my systems, I’ve been able to streamline workflows and automate routine tasks. This has freed up valuable time and resources, allowing me to focus on more strategic and creative aspects of my work. Honestly taking the time to make sure everything is updated and what we currently need was a lifesaver.
Improved Client Experience: Enhanced systems have enabled me to provide a more seamless and personalized experience for my clients. Now that we have a shared file system which each client, I can quickly access client information, track progress, and respond more efficiently. This has led to higher client satisfaction and stronger relationships.
Enhanced Collaboration: Modern systems have facilitated better collaboration with my team and vendors. Cloud-based platforms and communication tools have made it easier to share information, coordinate tasks, and work together in real-time, regardless of location. This has improved overall productivity and ensured that everyone is on the same page.
Scalability: As my business grows, having updated systems in place has made it easier to scale operations. Modern systems are more flexible and can adapt to changing needs, allowing me to expand my services and take on more clients without compromising on quality.
Overall, updating my systems has been a game-changer, enabling me to operate more efficiently, deliver better service, and make smarter decisions
Also, Expanding Vendor Networks: I’ve also invested time in expanding my network of trusted vendors. Building strong relationships with a diverse range of vendors has enabled me to offer more options and flexibility to my clients. This network expansion has been crucial in ensuring that I can meet the unique needs and preferences of each couple.
Advice for Aspiring Wedding Planners:
Prioritize Communication: Develop strong communication skills and make it a priority to keep your clients informed and involved. Regular updates and open lines of communication can prevent misunderstandings and build trust.
Embrace Technology: Utilize technology to your advantage. Explore project management tools and apps that can help you stay organized and efficient. These tools can also enhance collaboration with clients and vendors.
Network Strategically: Invest time in building and maintaining relationships with vendors. Attend industry events, join professional groups, and actively seek out opportunities to connect with new vendors. A strong network can provide valuable resources and support.
It all takes time but is so worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coastalcoordinating.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coastalcoordinating/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coastalcoordinating/
- Other: Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@coastalcoordinating
Image Credits
Amber Yonkers
Kourtney Kaiser
Tori Huff – Taken By Tori
Lifelong Photography
Ashley Izquierdo
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
