One year ago in January, I packed up my belongings and, like so many before me, headed west to seek my fortune. I drove from Denver to Las Vegas with a car full of clothes and my computer. The rest of my things? Packed into three U-pods and shipped to Nevada.
Why Vegas? Because it’s the Mecca of events in America, and the city matches my vibe with all the glitz, glam, and sunshine!
My goal for 2024 was to BLOSSOM in the Nevada desert. To keep my goal top of mind, I chose a flowering cactus as a visual reminder of what I was striving for.
After three months of a grueling job hunt, I found Imprint and was thrilled to start as an Event Producer on April 8!
The best part of working at Imprint? The energy. Being surrounded by smart, bright, and talented event professionals has been nothing short of inspiring. Add to that our incredible clients, venue contacts, and vendors, and it’s been a dream come true.
One of the first events I produced was for Hilton at the Paris Hotel. It was there that I noticed our client, Benjamin Bope, had the CMP designation after his name. Soon, I began spotting that same designation among colleagues and event contacts.
In this year of transformation, I wanted to become the best version of myself. In July, I sat down with Kim Lefebvre to discuss my goals for the rest of the year. That’s when I proposed pursuing the CMP designation—a certification I felt would elevate my professional growth.
Imprint’s support was incredible. They helped pay for the application process, books, and test. (Thank you, Imprint!! <3)
The application process was intense. I had to document my career history and submit proof of continuing education. I wasn’t sure which conferences and classes from the past five years would count. Thankfully, all my continuing education was approved, and I even exceeded the required hours.
On November 22, I received notice that my application was approved! I bought the textbooks and had them shipped to my parents’ house for Thanksgiving.
Life became a whirlwind. Between visiting family and friends, executing three Fidelity holiday parties, attending our incredible work retreat, closing out fall events, kicking off TruGreen, and studying for the CMP test—my schedule was packed.
I studied wherever I could: in hotels, on planes, even on the beach in Cabo.
I scheduled my CMP test for Saturday, December 21, in St. George, UT, strategically planned on my drive back home to Colorado for Christmas. The test was four hours long in a proctored facility.
When I reached the end, I took a deep breath before hitting the submit button. Andrea Mihelich, who also has her CMP, had told me the results would be instant. I clicked submit, and there it was—I passed!
Walking out of that testing center, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude for all the change I’d undergone in 2024. I learned that sometimes, it takes big changes to truly BLOSSOM.
My goal for 2025 is to SOAR—both professionally and personally. My visual representation for this year? An eagle flying over the Grand Canyon.
Thanks to a domino effect sparked during our retreat, I’ve decided to pursue my private pilot’s license this year. I can’t wait to see what unfolds in my second year in Las Vegas.
What big changes are you making this year to BLOSSOM or SOAR? Share your goals below!