We were lucky to catch up with Katlyn Landes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Katlyn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Talk to us about building a team – did you hire quickly, how’d you recruit the first few team members? Any interesting lessons?

When I accepted the role of Event Manager at the Capen House, it was a team of one. It quickly became clear that I could not provide tours, book events, plan events, and execute them on my own. There were a lot of coming to terms moments, balancing acts, tears (unfortunately!) and relying on our Preferred Vendors to guide me through our busiest season.

The museum board approved hiring two Event Assistants, who would essentially become the face of (the next phase of) the Capen House. We are very fortunate to be located near the Rosen College of Hospitality and Event Management, the best in the country. Our hiring process looked conventional, but, despite my urgent need to hire help, I knew it would benefit me to wait for the right fits for our event venue. The Event Assistants are often the first contact you have with our venue, and are later the ones representing it during the event itself. This is an extraordinarily important role, not only for the venue’s image and reputation, but also for our vendor relationships, on-the-spot problem solving, event flow, and, most importantly, our client’s experience.

I was essentially a brand new Event Manager training brand new Event Assistants, so I made it very clear from the start that we’d be learning together. I wanted our office and team to be a collaborative space. Given that we most often work in weddings, things can often feel very high stakes with our clients. Our team needed to work seamlessly, and feel safe to voice any concerns, opinions, or ideas. Our mutual respect was earned, and I think that respect translated into our work performances. We were proud of our team, and the events that we helped create and execute.

We recently added new Event Assistants, and that same recruiting process applied to these new hires. The extra care taken to find the right candidates paid off; we receive consistently excellent feedback from vendors and clients alike, and we genuinely care about our work.

Katlyn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I first started in the event industry ten years ago, although that was not my career goal. I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Art History, specializing in Museum Studies. I began working as a Gallery Assistant at an art gallery in Richmond, Virginia, which was also available to rent as a wedding venue. I also began working as a Bridal Consultant part-time, which was instrumental in building my passion for weddings. So while I fell into the wedding industry by accident, I realized that I genuinely loved the work. I’ve been fortunate enough to marry both my art history background with my passion for weddings, now at the Capen House and Albin Polasek Museum in Winter Park, Florida.

Our non-profit is small, but this keeps our clients’ planning processes very personal. It’s a special time in their lives, and we don’t take that responsibility and involvement lightly. The Capen House offers event rentals, and partners with Preferred Vendors for catering, event rentals, as well as other local vendors for wedding planning, florals, music, photography, etc.

Our Events team consists of an Event Manager with ten years of industry experience, and three Event Assistants – one a graduate of Rosen College in Event Management, one a current student at Rosen College of Hospitality and Event Management, and the last, a Certified Wedding Planner. We work with intention, and that’s at the core of our organization’s values.

I think I am most proud of the care we take in building and fostering our network of Preferred Vendors. I was new to Florida when I accepted this role, so I was very much starting from scratch. The wedding industry here has been so encouraging and supportive, and really guided me in those first few months on my own! We work with vendors that align with our own vision and values, and it shows in the finished products. I have great working relationships with a lot of fantastic small businesses, creators, and artists in the industry. This cohesive work environment across businesses allows us to deliver a truly beautiful event. And on a personal level, you feel validated by your professional peers.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Our goal, as an organization, is to provide a spectacular wedding venue, guide you in your planning process, and assist in executing an exceptional event.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

I believe managing our team of Event Assistants is a privilege, and I do not overlook the responsibility that comes with this role. Ensuring our team members feel validated, appreciated, and respected, both professionally and personally, has helped us cultivate a healthy work environment. We trust each other, and we all work better together because of it.

Thank you notes, appreciation gifts, group networking events, and occasional team dinners are important to me. Making sure that my team is in good spirits first allows us to make sure that our clients are taken care of and receiving the best customer service and experience.

I also respect their professional growth beyond that of our venue one day, and I take pride in helping them make these connections and gain their industry experience at our organization.

We’re each instrumental to the functioning of the venue, so each of our contributions are appreciated.

Contact Info:

• Website: capenhouse.com
• Instagram: @capenhouse
• Facebook: @Capen House – Special Events Venue
• Linkedin: Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens

Image Credits
Amanda Arnold Photography Memories by Lindsey Photography Lauren K. Downing Photography