Thank you for your interest in H.E.R.O. Event Services! I look forward to helping you plan your event on the Monterey Peninsula.
Since you will be entrusting me with your event - an experience that can’t be replaced - I thought I’d share a little more about myself…
My journey in hospitality began at a small inn in Pacific Grove, California. I was 17 years old, fresh out of high school and had not yet decided what I wanted to do in life. I found an ad in the local newspaper (yes, hard print!) for a Front Desk / Reservations Agent position which piqued my interest because the qualifications required for the role included some of my natural talents of being Organized, Reliable and Detail-Oriented.
But above all, I have a genuine
Spirit of Hospitality and Passion for Helping People.
So, I applied and was quickly hired! It was my first “grown-up” job and after working in that role for only a short time, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in the Hospitality Industry. I loved meeting guests traveling into town from so many different parts of the world, and I especially loved helping them make their visit more convenient, comfortable, enjoyable, Meaningful and Memorable.
I earned an AA in Hospitality Management while working full-time in hotels. I took on a full class schedule while working 40+ hours (sometimes 7 days) a week. I was hungry to learn as much as I could about the overall operation of a hotel, and often went beyond of the parameters of my job description to Enhance Guests’ Experiences in any way I could (this actually got me into trouble with my Supervisors from time to time!).
Over the span of about 20 years, I gained experience in various hotel departments. These different roles in Guest Services, Reservations, Sales, and Catering allowed me to work at an array of local properties - all ranging in different service types, sizes, and ownership / management (family-owned versus corporate).
In addition to hotels, I also ventured into working at special event venues, restaurants and See Monterey. With these organizations, I held various roles including the management of Marketing, Social Media, Retail Sales, Tradeshow Logistics and of course, Meeting and Event Planning. I was also heavily involved with the structuring of the sales/catering departments for a few local Start-up’s.
During the 2020 shutdown while I was furloughed for several months then officially laid-off from my full-time position as a Hotel Sales Manager, I studied for and passed the Certified Meeting Professional exam, achieving my CMP designation from the Events Industry Council. A couple of years later I received my IATAN (International Airlines Travel Agent Network) credentials, which validates my expertise as an Accredited Travel Agent.
I was born and raised on the Monterey Peninsula and I truly love it here. My appreciation for our little neck of the woods (and ocean) grows more and more each time I learn about a new establishment, or get acquainted with local professionals, or when I simply pause for a moment to take in all the Scenic Beauty.
I’m a mother of two amazing girls and four super fun furbabies (two cats and two dogs). Some of my personal interests include food, music, art and nature - no wonder why I’ve stayed on the Peninsula my whole life!
H.E.R.O. came to fruition simply because I want to help people with my natural talents. When I was thinking about what to name my business in the very early stages of development, I wanted it to reflect the quality of service that I can confidently deliver - not because I’m trying to sell anything, but because it’s a part of who I am. I brainstormed a bunch of fitting descriptions, circled the most essential key words, then “H.E.R.O.” was born.
I frequently worked with clients who needed more help than what I could provide in my roles at the hotel/restaurant level - sometimes they wanted assistance with offsite activities, gifting for their attendees, or even the initial research of not only finding the right venues and vendors for their event, but gathering all the prices and information needed to make their decisions.
On the other hand, I also found that sometimes it’s challenging for hotel/restaurant professionals to execute an event when working with a client who is inexperienced in event planning. It’s no fault of the client’s, since usually this person is tasked to take on the planning of an event in addition to what they “normally do” in their day-to-day lives.
Even the savviest of folks still need to spend A LOT OF TIME out of their busy schedules when planning out all the logistics and details of an event.
I’ve worked with many clients who were so stressed during the planning phase of their event that they didn’t get to actually enjoy the event when it was taking place, or at least not as much as they could have.
This is where H.E.R.O. (and I) come in! With my Unique Experience and Skillset, I’m a great liaison for all involved - including clients, attendees, venues and vendors.
H.E.R.O. is the link that will hold all your event components together.
My well-rounded background and knowledge of the hospitality, events and travel industries - along with the local tips and insights I can provide - will help you Make the Most out of Your Event!
I appreciate the opportunity to work with you and do what I’m passionate about, but more importantly, to simplify your event planning process so you can focus more on the true purpose of your visit and…
Make Meaningful Memories on the Monterey Peninsula!
Sunny Regards,
