DFW NACE

12 Things Successful People Do Differently

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:32:55 +0000

I recently came across a blog spot that I believe offers great insight and perspective on many different areas of life. We often forget that we do haves lives outside of our events. One of the many different blog entries that I stuck out to me was “12 Things Successful People Do Differently”. I hope that it helps you become more successful in either your personal or professional life. For the entire article feel free to visit www.marcandangel.com

12 Things Successful People Do Differently

1. Create and pursue S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Successful people are objective. They have realistic targets in mind. They know what they are looking for and why they are fighting for it.

S.M.A.R.T. goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.

When you identify S.M.A.R.T. goals that are truly important to you, you become motivated to figure out ways to attain them. You develop the necessary attitude, abilities, and skills. You can achieve almost any goal you set if you plan your steps wisely and establish a time frame that allows you to carry out those steps. Goals that once seemed far away and out of reach eventually move closer and become attainable, not because your goals shrink, but because you grow and expand to match them.

2. They take decisive and immediate action.

Sadly, very few people ever live to become the success story they dream about. And there’s one simple reason why:

They never take action!

The acquisition of knowledge doesn’t mean you’re growing. Growing happens when what you know changes how you live. So many people live in a complete daze. Actually, they don’t ‘live.’ They simply ‘get by’ because they never take the necessary action to make things happen – to seek their dreams.

It doesn’t matter if you have a genius IQ and a PhD in Quantum Physics, you can’t change anything or make any sort of real-world progress without taking action. There’s a huge difference between knowing how to do something and actually doing it. Knowledge and intelligence are both useless without action. It’s as simple as that.

3. They focus on being productive, not being busy.

In his book, The 4-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferris says, “Slow down and remember this: Most things make no difference. Being busy is often a form of mental laziness – lazy thinking and indiscriminate action.” This is Ferris’ way of saying “work smarter, not harder,” which happens to be one of the most prevalent modern day personal development clichés. But like most clichés, there’s a great deal of truth to it, and few people actually adhere to it.

Just take a quick look around. The busy outnumber the productive by a wide margin.

Busy people are rushing all over the place, and running late half of the time. They’re heading to work, conferences, meetings, social engagements, etc. They barely have enough free time for family get-togethers and they rarely get enough sleep. Yet, business emails are shooting out of their smart phones like machine gun bullets, and their daily planner is jammed to the brim with obligations.

Their busy schedule gives them an elevated sense of importance. But it’s all an illusion. They’re like hamsters running on a wheel.

The solution: Slow down. Breathe. Review your commitments and goals. Put first things first. Do one thing at a time. Start now. Take a short break in two hours. Repeat.

4. They make logical, informed decisions.

Sometimes we do things that are permanently foolish simply because we are temporarily upset or excited.

Although emotional ‘gut instincts’ are effective in certain fleeting situations, when it comes to generating long-term, sustained growth in any area of life, emotional decisions often lead a person astray. Decisions driven by heavy emotion typically contain minimal amounts of conscious thought, and are primarily based on momentary feelings instead of mindful awareness.

The best advice here is simple: Don’t let your emotions trump your intelligence. Slow down and think things through before you make any life-changing decisions.

5. They avoid the trap of trying to make things perfect.

Many of us are perfectionists in our own right. We set high bars for ourselves and put our best foot forward. We dedicate copious amounts of time and attention to our work to maintain our high personal standards. Our passion for excellence drives us to run the extra mile, never stopping, never relenting. And this dedication towards perfection undoubtedly helps us achieve results… So long as we don’t get carried away.

But what happens when we do get carried away with perfectionism?

We become disgruntled and discouraged when we fail to meet the (impossibly high) standards we set for ourselves, making us reluctant to take on new challenges or even finish tasks we’ve already started. Our insistence on dotting every ‘I’ and crossing every ‘T’ breeds inefficiency, causing major delays, stress overload and subpar results.

Remember, the real world doesn’t reward perfectionists. It rewards people who get things done. And the only way to get things done is to be imperfect 99% of the time.

6. They work outside of their comfort zone.

The number one thing we persistently see holding smart people back is their own reluctance to accept an opportunity simply because they don’t think they’re ready. In other words, they feel uncomfortable and believe they require additional knowledge, skill, experience, etc. before they can aptly partake in the opportunity. Sadly, this is the kind of thinking that stifles personal growth and success.

The truth is nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow emotionally and intellectually. They force us to stretch ourselves and our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first. And when we don’t feel comfortable, we don’t feel ready.

Significant moments of opportunity for personal growth and success will come and go throughout your lifetime. If you are looking to make positive changes and new breakthroughs in your life, you will need to embrace these moments of opportunity even though you will never feel 100% ready for them.

7. They keep things simple.

Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. Here in the 21st century, where information moves at the speed of light and opportunities for innovation seem endless, we have an abundant array of choices when it comes to designing our lives and careers. But sadly, an abundance of choice often leads to complication, confusion and inaction.

The solution is to simplify. If you’re selling a product line, keep it simple. And if you’re trying to make a decision about something in your life, don’t waste all your time evaluating every last detail of every possible option. Choose something that you think will work and give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, learn what you can from the experience, choose something else and keep pressing forward.

8. They focus on making small, continuous improvements.

Henry Ford once said, “Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small pieces.” The same concept configured as a question: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time. This philosophy holds true for achieving your biggest goals. Making small, positive changes – eating a little healthier, exercising a little, creating some small productive habits, for example – is an amazing way to get excited about life and slowly reach the level of success you aspire to.

And if you start small, you don’t need a lot of motivation to get started either. The simple act of getting started and doing something will give you the momentum you need, and soon you’ll find yourself in a positive spiral of changes – one building on the other.

9. They measure and track their progress.

Successful people are not only working in their job/business, they are also working on it. They step back and assess their progress regularly. They track themselves against their goals and clearly know what needs to be done to excel and accelerate.

The proper approach is to figure out what your number one goal is and then track the things that directly relate to achieving that goal. Take some time right now to identify your number one goal, identify the most important things for you to keep track of, and then begin tracking them immediately. On a weekly basis, plug the numbers into a spreadsheet and use the data to create weekly or monthly trend graphs so you can visualize your progress. Then fine-tune your actions to get those trends to grow in your favor.

10. They maintain a positive outlook as they learn from their mistakes.

Successful people concentrate on the positives – they look for the silver lining in every situation. They know that it is their positivity that will take them to greatness. If you want to be successful, you need to have a positive outlook toward life. Life will test you again and again. If you give in to internal negativity, you will never be able to achieve the marks you have targeted.

11. They spend time with the right people.

Successful people associate with people who are likeminded, focused, and supportive. They socialize with people who create energy when they enter the room versus those who create energy when they leave. They reach out to connected, influential individuals who are right for their dreams and goals.

You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with. If you hang with the wrong people, they will negatively affect you. But if you hang with the right people, you will become far more capable and successful than you ever could have been alone.

12. They maintain balance in their life.

If you ask most people to summarize what they want out of life they’ll shout out a list of things like: ‘fall in love,’ ‘make money,’ ‘spend time with family,’ ‘find happiness,’ ‘achieve goals,’ etc. But sadly, a lot of people don’t balance their life properly to achieve these things.

When you let your work life (or social life, family life, etc.) consume you, and all your energy is focused in that area, it’s extremely easy to lose your balance. While drive and focus are important, if you’re going to get things done right, and be truly successful, you need to balance the various dimensions of your life.

2012 NACE Tabletop – Celebrity Judge

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:38:32 +0000

We are thrilled to announce that Sasha Souza will be this year’s celebrity judge in the 2012 Table Top Competition! Sasha is a premiere event designer and top innovator in the wedding industry. She is one of only a handful of wedding designers who have been named a Master Bridal Consultant, the highest designation given by the Association of Bridal Consultants. Souza is the recipient of numerous awards including the Special Events Magazine Gala Award winner for “Best Dining Tabletop Design”, Event Solutions Magazine “Designer of the Year” and three ISES Westie Awards and was named by Modern Bride magazine as a “Top 25 Trendsetters” in the wedding design industry. She has accepted the honor of serving as an Event Solutions Advisory Board member for 2011-2013 and is a regular contributor to Bridal Guide magazine. Souza is the perfect celebrity judge for this wonderful event and we couldn’t be happier to have her participation!

The theme is Color Me a Cure that goes along with Sasha Souza’s inspiration when planning her events to create the perfect energy for her client’s vision focusing on colors and pigments.

In addition, The Brides of North Texas will be the exclusive local wedding media sponsor.

Sponsorship and entry applications will be available on the DFW NACE website early June. We ask that all applications be returned no later than June 30^th, to ensure to be included in the lottery process to receive color for the competition.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Burns, Director of Fundraising at Jennifer@dfwnace.com

2012 April Member Spotlight – Cassandra Fine Catering

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:55:05 +0000

NACE DFW is honored to have so many talented and inspiring caterers as members. In order to get to know them better, we’ll spotlight our members to showcase their unique and individual talents.

President, Cassandra Tomassetti, originally from Shenfield, England, has been involved in Dallas’ social scene for many years. In 2010 she formed her talented team consisting of right hand man – Executive Chef Juan Garrido and Kim Jameson, her gal Friday to form a cutting edge, highly sought-after catering company.

New to the Design District, Cassandra Fine Catering thrives on the creative energy generated by creating custom menus. Menus only include seasonal fresh items; everything is made in house and from scratch. The staff is regarded as the most professional and polite in the city!

With this successful combination, Cassandra Fine Catering will be the toast of the town for many years to come!

As relative “newbies” in the catering world of Dallas Fort Worth, they had the honor last fall of catering a tea for Martha Stewart to commemorate her local book signing. Martha returned the favor with a mention in her blog of Cassandra and her team!

To tempt your taste buds, Cassandra Fine Catering offers many flavors of Fresh Fruit Lemonades as the seasons turn to Spring and Summer!

Enjoy their fantastic recipe for Watermelon Lemonade:

Fresh Watermelon, Seeded
Simple Syrup
Fresh Lemon Juice
Fresh Lime Juice

Blend and serve over ice!
This recipe can be also served with champagne, vodka or gin for adult libation!

2012-04 President’s Letter

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:38:44 +0000

There’s No Place Like NACE!

Chapter of the Year 2011 – that is the title that was given to the Dallas Fort Worth Chapter of NACE last year at the Experience Conference in Reno. We were awarded this prestigious honor in front of hundreds of NACE members from around the country. From there it was posted on Facebook, texts were sent, calls were made and I have no doubt that within hours every member of the DFW Chapter knew that we had been recognized as the strongest chapter in the nation. Those of us in attendance stood proudly on that stage so honored to be members of the DFW Chapter of NACE!

Today I stand proud, not because of an award won (although we do plan to win again this year), but because the members of this amazing chapter proved once again why we are considered to be one of the strongest chapters of NACE! As you know, this past month tornadoes struck the DFW area and unfortunately Cameron Fox, a long time NACE member and former board member, had the roof of his iEntertainment offices ripped off and the walls collapsed. Thankfully no one was hurt and very little of his equipment was destroyed but he had to quickly relocate and rebuild his offices. It was announced at the March chapter meeting and from there it was posted on Facebook, texts were sent and calls were made. Members reached out to Cameron, showed up at his offices to help, sent lunches and dinners and truly overwhelmed Cameron and his team with their generosity and willingness to help. I can’t even begin to list all those who reached out, volunteered and provided support and I certainly don’t want to forget anyone, but you know who you are, and I thank you! Thank you for proving what I already know, that the members of this chapter really are amazing. While his office isn’t totally back to normal, more was accomplished then he could have asked for and just the support and friendship you all showed meant more than he could ever express – although I know he will try.

The amazing response from this chapter’s membership is just another example of the spirit that the DFW Chapter has always had. To know that there is a group of people that are always there, just a phone call, an email or a drive away, when you need words of advice, encouragement, ideas or help, is such a powerful thing. The stories many of you could share of someone jumping in to help, often without being asked, is a testament to the friendships, partnerships and community that we have built in our industry here in Dallas/Fort Worth and within NACE. I encourage each of you to stop and thank one of your fellow NACE members at the next meeting, or better yet send a card (not just an email), call them, and have lunch with them or whatever you can do to let them know how much you appreciate them. Take the time to thank them for their ideas, support, referrals and friendship. We often assume others know how we feel, and how thankful we are, but do they? In this crazy busy world that we all get caught up in, a random act of kindness or expression of appreciation sometimes means more than you could ever realize.

To those of you considering joining NACE, I can without hesitation as the president, and as a member, tell you that it is worth every dollar you will spend, every moment you will volunteer and the return on your investment is far beyond the financial. Just ask Cameron! If the friendship, support and education isn’t enough… in May there is an amazing special that gives you a financial break too – $100 off a membership to any new members joining NACE. This only happens twice a year so take advantage now and become a member of what is truly a fantastic community of industry partners. There really is no place like NACE…especially the DFW Chapter of NACE!

2012-03 Newsletter: March Meeting Recap

admin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:47:29 +0000

Wow what a smokin’ night at the March DFW NACE meeting at Milestone Culinary Center. The night started off with some great networking, as we sampled a Smoked Bloody Mary and listened to a mariachi band provided by Encore Entertainment.

Members and guest were then asked to break into in 3 groups, designated by spices, peppers and condiments. The three different groups then went from room to room to be educated on different smoked foods. In the main culinary kitchen, they experienced how to make Smoked Salmon salad as demonstrated by Chef Marcos from the Milestone Culinary Center and how to properly smoke peppers, provided by Fresh Point.

In the instructional area of Milestone, the students and instructors of Remington College showed different uses for Peruvian Chilies including how chilies and chocolate can be combined. Then in the main room Chef Katie Kennedy with Legends Hospitality Management provided a decadent apple empanada with smoked caramel. Some of the group was lucky and received dessert first – what could be better than that.

To see photos from the March meeting check out the DFW Facebook page.

The highlight of the night was the Smoked Tomato Bisque from Chef Marcos, and many asked for the recipe which he generously provided below.

Smoked Tomato Bisque

Ingredients

Two 28-ounce cans whole tomatoes, drained of their juices

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon light brown sugar

1 cup chopped yellow onion

2 shallots, quartered

Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

2 tablespoons dry sherry

One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 to 2 cups vegetable stock

1/4 cup heavy cream

Procedure:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, combine the drained whole tomatoes, olive oil,onion and shallots, and toss to coat. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Place the vegetables on a silicone or parchment-lined baking sheet and roast until caramelized, about 30 minutes. Then quick smoke for 10 minutes.

Heat a soup pot over medium heat. Add the butter and cook until foaming. Add the crushed red pepper and garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Then add the sherry. Cook until all the liquid has evaporated and the alcohol has cooked off, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the roasted vegetables, crushed tomatoes and 1 cup vegetable stock. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 15 minutes.

Add the heavy cream and, using an immersion blender, puree the soup until uniform in texture. Add more vegetable stock to adjust the consistency to how you like it.

Many thanks to this month’s sponsors:

Encore Entertainment
Freedom Valet
FreshPoint
J&S Audio Visual
Legends
Milestone Culinary Center
Remington College
Thisbe Grace Photography

For more details about the March program, view the meeting Snapshot (where you’ll find another recipes)

2012-03 Newsletter: President’s Letter

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 07:42:23 +0000

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE, Wendy B. Timson, CPCE, CMP

The mission of NACE is “To provide catering and event professionals superior education, networking and resources to enhance career success and deliver excellence to clients.” At a National level NACE is working hard to provide you with educational opportunities including webinars and idea swaps. Have you taken part in one yet? For a full schedule CLICK HERE.

At a local level we are also constantly trying to provide you with fantastic networking and educational opportunities through our monthly meetings. The programs team is really working hard to plan some unique and interesting meetings for this year that you won’t want to miss so make sure the first Wednesday of every month is on your calendar (July is the 2^nd due to July 4^th) and remember that August is a Happy Hour and that we do not have a meeting in December.

In additional, the Education committee is gearing up to start a CPCE Study group for those of you interested in taking your CPCE. The exam is being given in Dallas on June 25^th as part of the Southwest Food Expo. If you are interested in taking the CPCE exam, more information is available on the NACE national website, or contact Natalie Storrs, Director of Education (natalie@dfwnace.com)

We are also working on some webinars on the local level that we will be debuting in the second half of the year. It is our hope that this will provide some additional educational opportunities for you our members, that may be more specific to your needs. If you have any topic suggestions or things you would like to learn more about send your suggestions to Natalie at the email address above and we will do our best to incorporate them into the schedule.

Another fantastic opportunity to spend four intense days interacting and learning from some of the best in the industry is during the Experience Conference. My memories of Experience 2011, held in Reno, include being inspired, meeting new people, and lots of learning. And, of course, I will never forget the Dallas Fort Worth chapter being called up to the stage as we took home six awards (including Chapter of the Year) and I took home the award for Best Off-Premise Event with a budget over $75,000. It was a fantastic night!

This year Experience 2012 will take place in the amazing city of New Orleans and it is sure to be one filled with inspiration, education and fun. Hopefully, Dallas will bring home some fantastic awards this year as well. The chapter will be entering into several categories again this year including Chapter of the Year. I encourage each of you to also consider submitting for the NACE National Awards this year. You can read about all the categories and criteria on the official NACE Awards site.

We would love to have as many members of the Dallas Fort Worth chapter attend the conference this year and that includes YOU!!! This year we are excited to once again be able to provide a scholarship for a full registration for one of our members. If you are interested in attending the Experience Conference in New Orleans and you and/or your company can pay for your own transportation and accommodations then we encourage you to apply. To do so, simply complete the Education Conference Scholarship Application. It is due back to me by Friday, April 27^th by 5:00pm. Apply now – we would love to have you attend!

2012-02 March Meeting Snapshot

admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:48:49 +0000

This month, we didn’t have a traditional “Snapshot” as you’ve seen at the past events, but a booklet about the event. We hope you enjoy it! (Simply click the photo below)

NACE DFW Meeting Registration, Cancellation & No Show Policy

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:06:00 +0000

Your DFW NACE board often receives questions about our policy on meeting registrations, cancellations, and what happens if you register but don’t attend a luncheon.

Sample RSVP Section from CVent Invitation

Each month you will receive an invitation to our monthly chapter meeting through a service called Cvent. If you can attend the program, we encourage you to register by clicking “Yes” and paying online. If you cannot attend the program you can simply respond by clicking “No”, which will keep you from receiving future emails about that specific monthly program. If you opt out completely then you will not receive any future meeting information, which we certainly do not want to happen.

Once you register to attend a monthly chapter meeting please note the following cancellation and no show policy:

Cancellations are allowed until 5pm the Friday before the meeting, and you will receive a full refund for the amount you paid. You can either cancel yourself through Cvent, or email Dionicia McCallum-Lucia at dionicia@dfwnace.com.
After Friday at 5pm, we submit the final guarantee to the venue and/or caterer and we are charged for you, whether you attend or not. Therefore, should you cancel after 5pm on Friday or no show to the meeting, any payments made will be considered non refundable.
If you miss a meeting that you RSVP’d for and did not pay online with a credit card please contact our Treasurer, Brooke Evans at Brooke@dfwnace.com or 214-454-4014. Payment can be submitted with a credit card through her or a check can be mailed to P.O. Box 12344, Dallas, TX 75225. We will pursue payment for all cancellations and no shows.

Please note that all cancellations must be submitted by email to Dionicia@dfwnace.com prior to 5pm the Friday before the event. No verbal Cancellations will be accepted.

Thank you for your cooperation,

The DFW NACE Board

2012-02 Newsletter: February Meeting Recap

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:01:26 +0000

For those that missed the February “Basic to Brilliant: Buffets and Display” meeting, you missed a meeting with lots of great décor. Shag Carpet transformed their warehouse using their own fabulous décor and props, with the help of linen and chairs from Ducky Bobs Event Specialists. We started the night off with food served from a chuckwagon by Chuckwagon Cuisine, and a taste of Mexico from On the Border Mexican Grill Catering.

When the red curtain was pulled back, guests were greeted with buffet style foods from Truluck’s, Catering by Larry, and Campisis. Diversified Media Group welcomed the attendees as they began to take their seats for a Q&A about past and future trends, showing slides of “Do’s and Dont’s” on the screen.

We would also like to thank our panelists for the evening:

Donna Koppenheffer Managing Director for Bring It On
Gary Peto President of Shag Carpet
Terry Shields. CPCE, CSEP Director of Catering Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
Chef with Catering by Larry.

We also had an opportunity to learn about our Fundraiser for 2012, benefiting the Carson Leslie Foundation.

And, to complete the evening, Shag Carpet invited us into the warehouse for wonderful desserts by MC Events and tours.

You can see all the action by clicking on our Facebook page or at (link for pics) thanks to Sil Azevedo Photography. We would like to thank Freedom Parkers and Metroplex Staffing for the great service provided that night.

TOTAL DONATION VALUE OF MEETING: $38,800.00! Thank you!

Venue and Decor: Shag Carpet, Gary Peto, Value $8500

Catering:
On the Border: Jessie Derogagis: 817-937-1966                                                     Appetizers           $2000
Trulucks Rebecca Wright 214-220-2401                                                                Soups                    $2000
Catering By Larry: Larry Goldstein: 469-733-2023                                               Small Entree        $5000
Chuckwagon Cuisine: Randy May: 469-774-0926                                                Small Entree        $4500
Campisi’s: Katy Palermo 214-500-4841                                                                  Small Entree       $4800
MC Events: Matthew Crowe 214-226-6132                                                            Desserts                $1500

Photography: Sil Azevedo Photography Value $1500

Rentals (linen, glassware, chairs, staging, coat racks):
Ducky Bob’s Event Specialists: Jay Cooper - 972 381 8000 Value $2000

Audio Visual:
Diversified Media Group: Marshal Leak - 214 282 8890 Value $4500Staffing: Metroplex Staffing – Amber Dickson 302690-0676 Value $1000

Valet: Freedom Park: Clayton Brennan: 817-312-0341 Donation $1500

2012-02 Newsletter: President’s Letter

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:37:25 +0000

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Why did you join NACE? What does NACE mean to you?

The NACE membership special for March provides you with three free months when you renew, no matter what your renewal date is. That means if you are set to expire in July of this year but renew in March, your membership will not be up again until November of 2013. In light of this great deal I thought I would share why I joined NACE, what it means to me and why I will always renew my membership to this amazing organization.

I remember attending my first NACE meeting in April of 2006, when I had no idea what NACE even was. Natalie Storrs, who had worked with me at American Airlines Training & Conference Center, changed jobs and so her membership was transferred to me and my boss told me to go (sound familiar?). I couldn’t tell you what the meeting was about but, I do remember being greeted warmly at the registration desk by Dana Carroll and Beth Berk. They introduced me around and everyone treated me so kindly that I came back the following month, just to see if it would be the same, and it was. So I kept coming back and over the next few months I got to know so many people and more importantly they got to know me. Then in January of 2007 I was laid off and in searching for a job, saw a posting at the Mansion on Turtle Creek (it wasn’t Rosewood Mansion yet). I thought, “Ok, I know Terry Shields from NACE but I am sure he wouldn’t hire me, someone coming from a no star property to a five star property.” Guess what – he did. Why? Terry knew me from NACE, asked others in NACE what they thought about me and then decided that I would be a good fit as I had the qualities they were looking for. I credit getting that job to my connections within NACE.

Then a few years back I heard through others in NACE that Kevin Brant was looking for someone at a new venue, Union Station. I remember asking Kevin about the position at the McKinney Dine Around in September of 2008, while walking in the rain. Kevin and I didn’t know each other well but he asked others in NACE and decided that I would be a good fit. A month later I was working for Wolfgang Puck Catering where I remain to this day, although I now have Kevin’s old job. I credit getting hired at WPC to my connections within NACE. It isn’t about the jobs though, although those certainly were a benefit, it is about the connections, the network of people who are more than business associates but true friends who had gotten to know me and respect me.

NACE is so much more than just an organization that meets once a month. It is group of amazing people who help each other, provide support, encouragement, and friendship. I attend every month because I get to see my friends! I get to interact with people who get this crazy, tiring, intense, fun industry that we all work in. No one else gets it like they do. No one understands why I put in the hours I do, that I really don’t make up the stories about the events and weddings I work and that people really make the most ridiculous requests (you can’t make this stuff up). No one else knows how to talk a bride out of a meltdown before she walks down the aisle, or how to stop a drunk groomsman from giving an embarrassing toast (darn those microphones that stop working). No one else is as sick of mashed potato bars as I am or knows the difference between a vegetarian, vegan and pescatarian. The members of this chapter get it and they offer advice, share ideas, educate, sympathize, and at the end of the day laugh about it all with me

So why did I join NACE? Because my boss told me to. Why will I always renew my membership and why do I make my membership a condition of employment? Because without this amazing group of friends from NACE, I know without hesitation that I would not be in the position I am in at Wolfgang Puck Catering, or the leader I am for this chapter or the person I am in life and that is priceless…but I will take the three free months in March by renewing and so should you!

All my best,

Wendy B. Timson, CPCE, CMP

President – DFW Chapter of NACE