Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michelle Sanabria. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Michelle , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

Back in 2018, I was working as a Project Manager in the Healthcare field & I was presented with the opportunity to help a business partner with a wedding as a Day of Coordinator. Little did I know, he told the couple they were working with the #1 Coordinator in Orlando. That was terrifying, however, I rose to the challenge and had a near flawless wedding my first try. That’s when I realized this is what I was meant to do.

Michelle , 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?

My name is Michelle, I am the CEO & Founder of SMS Events! Events is something I have always been involved in & business development has been a passion of mine since I can remember. Although event planning came by chance, joining those two industries together has taken a life of its own through the SMS Brand. It is humbling to see our rapid growth throughout our first 5 years. Within our first year, myself & one assistant hosted approximately 60 Events to now having a team of 20 Coordinators & assistants averaging 200 Events per year.

We specialize in Day of Coordinating. Planning any event can be stressful, especially when it comes to the event day. With our Day of Coordinating package, we offer the best of both worlds for our clients. They have the opportunity to select their own vendors & gather all of the details but have the perk of handing over all of those details to their Coordinator and enjoying the months leading up to their event. Although our packages are titled “Day of Coordinating”, our clients have access to their Coordinators up to 60-Days out from their event. We also pride ourselves in client-based experience so we do offer support to our clients during their planning process as needed! We’ve paired our corporate-forged managerial skills with proven project management and planning strategies to coordinate the s*** out of your event.

SMS makes it possible for each client the thoroughly enjoy their event. Yes, you will get to eat dinner, you will get to mingle with your guests, have a cocktail and eat your cake too! No problem is too big and with our experience, we have gotten to the point where we can predict upcoming obstacles before they even arise. There’s no price tag to actually enjoying and remembering these milestones in your life. One of the things I really think sets our company & our team apart is I have purposefully instilled some of the project management skills and practices I learned from my project management position to the event industry, specifically when it comes to navigating changes. There is a science behind mitigating change that I feel our team handles very well.

I am really proud to have fostered an environment of creativity, inclusivity and have built genuine relationships internally amongst our team. We are a team of highly motivated and mission-driven coordinators that genuially care about our clients. Beyond our fun, quirky, impeccable vibes, we are ready to implement real time solutions to keep things flowing seamlessly with each project. Each of the SMS Coordinators have a set of unique skills that makes them a baddie on their own, so when our team comes together, there’s nothing we won’t be able to overcome.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

SMS Events started off as a side hustle and quickly became a force of its own. However, it was not my only source of employment. When I started SMS Events in 2018, I had a full-time position as a Project Manager for a Hospital organization. I was part of the team that opened new facilities and I would clock out from my full-time gig to clock in to do my event prep work – Working around the clock was not as dreading as it may seem as I was doing something I was passionate about & loved to do.

As the number of events quantified, I was faced with an extremely tough decision to make a choice. This was terrifying, as I had built a 13-year relationship with this organization while the world is facing COVID. After months of thinking about it, I finally made the decision to pursue my passion and build my business mid-2020. There was a huge weight off my shoulders, having the freedom to dedicate 100% of my time to the brand. I knew I had to set the brand up for success by achieving key milestones like creating a budget, executing a marketing strategy, and putting together a team.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

First and foremost is to put your team first. Empowering your team is also such a crucial factor to allow your team to be creative on their own. If you invest in your teams personal & professional growth, you are not only creating a sense of loyalty but you will make an impact on them that may last longer than their time at the company. The second thing is empowering your team to think big. This can be done by allowing them to come up with their own solutions by asking the tough questions and lead by example. I am a big believer in if I ask my team to do a task, not only have I done it but I have perfected it.

One of my favorite quotes is “People don’t know how much you know until they know how much you care” – Theodore Roosevelt

Contact Info:

• Website: https://smseventdesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smseventdesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smseventdesigns

Image Credits
Daylin Lavoy Photography