We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Annie Davis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Annie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was one of the most important lessons you learned in school? Why did that lesson stick with you?

I was raised in Vermont which is fondly characterized for being a forward-thinking mecca, always several steps ahead of the current sociopolitical climate. We learned to sing songs like “Imagine” by John Lennon and “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell as part of our elementary school curriculum. We learned hands-on about our ecosystems and how to be mindful stewards, in addition to what every other child was learning across the country. What I still often come back to is seeing Normal Rockwell’s interpretive poster of the Golden Rule in my sixth-grade classroom every day, reading “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. This stuck with me my whole life.

In the event industry, which can be so emotionally driven, it is crucial to be able to see through the eyes of my clients and know that I am helping them plan a huge part of their life, whether it be a wedding or a business dinner. To know that it may be a once in a lifetime occasion that I am helping plan is humbling, and I have the Golden Rule ingrained in me to know how to best assist. Though we host about 200 private events a year, each one is unique, and I put my full effort and care into each as I would hope for the same service myself. Because I can be myself and connect with others how they like to connect, I always get to work with the absolute best clients!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am the Event Coordinator for The Flagstaff House Restaurant in Boulder, Colorado. The Flagstaff House has been a family-owned business for over 50 years and is known for its gorgeous views and awarded service, cuisine, and beverages. We offer fine dining with seasonal and local foods and have become a known event venue over the years for many of the reasons mentioned above.

I began working in a restaurant as a busser when I was 15 and haven’t taken a break from the food industry since. During my academic career at CU Boulder, I accepted a host position at The Flagstaff House which led to a position as the Event Coordinator a few years later. I am grateful to have a job in the event industry which also keeps me in the food industry. There is nothing more that I love than going out for a meal with friends!

There are many factors that set The Flagstaff House apart from restaurants and venues, but what I most often receive feedback on is how above and beyond our service goes. We are not only in food service, but also in hospitality, and we understand that many our guests are visiting to celebrate milestones in their lives. We strive to be memorable in service and offer inventive food and beverage experiences to match.

With hosting a private event at The Flagstaff House, our clients receive the benefit of 50 years of dining excellence with a remarkable setting on a mountain overlooking Boulder and the start of the Rockies. I work hands-on with each client from start to finish to create a memorable wedding, rehearsal dinner, birthday celebration or business event. I am extremely proud of the hard work I have put in to create successful events and am grateful to be aligned with The Flagstaff House family.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There is nothing more rewarding to me than receiving a cheek-to-cheek smile and a hug from a bride, groom, or parent of a newlywed at the end of a long wedding day. After putting in weeks, months, or years of planning and an 8 to 16-hour day on my feet, it is all worth it to know that I helped make someone’s wedding day exactly what they hoped for, or more.

The event industry can seem glamourous, but it is not easy – Business News Daily ranks being an Event Coordinator the 6th most stressful job out there. All I can hope for at the end of the day (aside from a flawless wedding because I am a perfectionist) is to know that a couple is happy, and they will walk out through our door with smiles on their faces.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Regarding weddings and social events, we receive most new client inquiries after they visit us on Instagram. Events are largely a visual experience, and people want to see what others have done for their weddings or what our food looks like before committing to our location.

I feel that Instagram is the best social outlet to express a food/event business’ voice and display what there is to offer. I am also behind our social media at The Flagstaff House and care deeply about the imagery we put out into the world, so I try to create a balance of food, weddings, wine, and happenings at our restaurant to appeal to a wide audience. If I can adequately share photos and messages on Instagram, then I can attract a perfect match for our venue.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.flagstaffhouse.com
• Instagram: @flagstaffhouse_restaurant
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flagstaffhouserestaurant/

Image Credits
Dylan Burr and Larsen Photo Co.