We recently connected with A’undie Specht and have shared our conversation below.

A’undie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Everyone has crazy stuff happen to them, but often small business owners and creatives, artists and others who are doing something off the beaten path are hit with things (positive or negative) that are so out there, so unpredictable and unexpected. Can you share a crazy story from your journey?

I was working with an Army bride and an Airforce groom for four years. Both kept having to come and go overseas for deployment. After four years they were both finally home for good and we were able to finish our planning for their big day.
At the big day, it was beyond moving like all the rest, but bride’s dad hired a bagpiper to come and play the Army and the Airforce themes for them. (Obviously I balled as it was so very moving.)

Fast forward a couple of months and the very same couple reached back out to me, (I am also a realtor), to help them relocate from the Carolinas to Omaha, NE. I was able to find them an amazing husband/wife combo that were both also military to assist them on finding them their dream home and work with them with a Veteran’s loan.
It was absolutely full circle for us. We planned their big day, executed their big day, flawlessly and then I helped assist them in occurring their dream home. My favorite story.

A’undie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am the Sales & Catering Manager for the Best Western Plus in Dubuque, Iowa. I have not always been here, however. I have been a GM and a Sales Director prior to coming here. My passion is helping people. When I decided to make a “path move”, not career, because my career is sales and marketing, but a path move, it was because there was a lack of “professional advice” in the wedding/event planning industry. Sure, there were/are amazing bridal shops, DJs, bakers, decorators and photographers, but there was not a lot of event planners.
I like to think that I take the extra steps that others do not. I make sure every little detail is planned out; everyone is on que and your event runs smoothly. I want to take all the stress, all the worry away from my clients. If they need a pep talk, you got it, if they need solid advice, I am here, if they are having family issues, let’s chat. There is nothing I have not seen, and you will never surprise me. I reassure my clients, I will hold their hand, I will help guild and be a force of nature. I aim to please and I want them to walk away from their event knowing it was the absolute best day of their life, that their guests were happy and people will talk about how great it was in the future.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I firmly believe that word of mouth is the number one way to build your clientele. When you are an event planner or a realtor, like myself, you need to prove that you have what it takes to build a solid career. You need to prove that you are able to serve the tough clients along with the easy ones by meeting their needs and greeting their expectations.
Then when you work with another realtor or vendor and it goes great, you make a connection. Once you form a connection, your world grows a little bit more. With each new client your world grows. Business cards are a must always. I hand them out like candy. I always have one me and will hand them out no matter where I am at or leave them on a table, give them to the drive through at a bank, literally everywhere.
Always be professional. There is fun and silly and having a great time if you are on your personal time, but there is always a level of professionalism as well.
In today’s day and age, you have to be on your game at all times, as there is always eyes and ears around you. Plus, it is just natural to me, and it is who I am.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Though I do not run my own team per say anymore, I do know what it takes to have a very successful one.
Dignity, high moral, appreciation for the little things, encouragement….these are all the key items to making a wonderfully successful team. I did not care if someone did not have experience in set up, bartending, serving, cleaning, working a front desk, food service, etc. That can all be taught. What I cared about is that my staff cared. That they dressed professionally and that they enjoyed coming to work. I am very confident that all my banquet staff over the years enjoyed coming to work and had fun doing it. I love watching all my staff interact with guests, have fun with the guests and enjoy their job while making amazing money.
Happiness=money in the banquet, event, sales and hospitality industry. If you are an energetic bartender, an eye for detail server and a plate wiping Chef to make your piece look like perfection, and a very friendly cool-headed front desk agent, you are going to do great.
Telling my staff that I appreciate them, I appreciate their hard work, letting them know I appreciate something they did for a guest, makes moral even better for them returning to work. Letting them know I am there for them, that they can bend my ear, and knowing that they have a great work environment to come to. This all helps make a great staff and it keeps your team working as a team. Teamwork makes the dream work.

Contact Info:

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