Elizabeth Lenzi Wertz
Owner & Founder | Maraschino Events, LLC
What is your title and position at your current company?
I am the owner and founder (and CEO, CFO, COO, secretary, janitor...you name it!) of Maraschino Events, LLC.
What does your company do? How is it different than others like it?
What does your company do? How is it different than others like it?
Maraschino Events offers full service event planning and consultation - from complete planning and coordination of large scale corporate events to assisting clients in finding great local vendors for small parties, and everything in between. My services are all completely customizable based on the client's needs. I primarily work in fund raisers, corporate events, events for small businesses such as open houses, and private parties such as birthday parties, holiday parties, etc.
I find my niche in "going local". My goal is for 100% of my events to be supplied by local vendors, and it has been wonderful to find such a variety of great local people and
places to work with. There is always a new local vendor coming out of the woodwork!
How many years have you been in the industry?
places to work with. There is always a new local vendor coming out of the woodwork!
How many years have you been in the industry?
About three years.
What was your very first job?
What was your very first job?
My very first event was the Winter Indy Tweetup, an INDYCAR- and social media-based fan event that I planned with a friend of mine. After a lot of hard work and coordination, we pulled off a two day event complete with welcome party, exclusive tour of the legendary basement at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, go kart grand prix, and a farewell dinner with plenty of prizes and giveaways. We had over 50 guests from as far away as California and Canada in town just for the event, and it was even featured on WRTV 6. After that, I started planning more and more and began to work toward making event planning more than just an on-the-side job!
What lead you in into the event industry?
Like many planners, I have always enjoyed hosting parties and organizing people and events. There's something about that combination of detail, creativity, and challenge that just clicks with me.
After my first event, my friend and I planned a similar event in May for the 500, traveled to INDYCAR races around the country hosting smaller similar events, and the Winter Indy Tweetup became a growing annual event. My friend went on to start her own PR and marketing firm, and I began to volunteer my growing event planning portfolio of skills to help some local organizations in planning their own events. After a while, I started considering making this passion an actual career and, after a lot of thought, I officially launched Maraschino Events in June 2011.
Why did you decide to join ISES?
Why did you decide to join ISES?
I've been to a few ISES events before as a guest, and I really enjoyed them. It was great to be able to network with others in the local event industry, which is a bit harder to do otherwise given everyone's busy schedules. I feel I can learn a lot not only from the people there, but also in the topics discussed.
What are you looking to gain out of our ISES membership and how can we help you achieve that?
What are you looking to gain out of our ISES membership and how can we help you achieve that?
As a relatively new business, my main goals are to learn and network. I look forward to talking to other event professionals to see not only what I can learn from them, but also in how we can work together. I'd love to be able to network more, both in person at events and online through social media or other forums.
What is your most memorable event? Why?
I will always have a special place in my heart for the Winter Indy Tweetup. It's been fun to see it grow into an annual event that INDYCAR fans look forward to attending. One guest from the most recent WIT came up as the event was winding down for the day and told me that the experience made him and other guests feel like they were VIPs in the sport. Bottom line: creating unforgettable experiences is why I do this!
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
What is your most memorable event? Why?
I will always have a special place in my heart for the Winter Indy Tweetup. It's been fun to see it grow into an annual event that INDYCAR fans look forward to attending. One guest from the most recent WIT came up as the event was winding down for the day and told me that the experience made him and other guests feel like they were VIPs in the sport. Bottom line: creating unforgettable experiences is why I do this!
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I also work as a NICU nurse. After getting a degree in neurobiology from Purdue and going back to school for my nursing degree, I have worked night shift full time in a NICU of a large local hospital for about two years now. I have recently gone part time at the hospital in order to help grow Maraschino Events, and I couldn't be more excited to be able to have two great jobs that I truly enjoy.
If you were not in the event industry, what would be your dream job?
This is my dream job, and I'm so excited and thankful to be able to pursue it!
Elizabeth (@MaraschinoEvent) does a terrific job organizing events! Close attention to detail and working closely with the client make her events a success!
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