We were lucky to catch up with Tawnee Gomez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tawnee, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I always imagined working in a creative field but after graduating from FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) with a marketing degree I found myself entering the workforce during a recession. I eventually caved and landed a safe corporate job at UCSD where I worked my way up over the course of 13 years. About 5 years into that corporate job I was yearning for that creative lifestyle. My husband had started DJ’ing as a side job and was constantly being asked to DJ friends’ weddings. I would tag along and quickly become the go to for coordination. After coordinating a few weddings for fun a friend said “You should be a wedding planner!” The rest was history…I quickly went home that night in 2013 and started building and designing my own website! I contacted a few industry friends and let them know I was joining the scene and started planning multiple styled shoots. My first year as a wedding planner I designed and coordinated over 30 + weddings and styled shoots. I met so many amazing creatives along my journey. I fell in love with the people who were going for their dreams as artists and making a living. It pained me to see so many with such passion but no social media, website, or really any marketing to back them up. That’s when Girlboss En Route was born. Since I had a degree in marketing and built my own site I was destined to help others. Since then I have built over 4o+ websites for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and many non-profits. I ran both these companies on the side while also working at my corporate job for 13+ years. In 2022 I decided to grow my wedding planning portfolio and opened up a wedding and events venue called L1920 in Alpine CA, this allowed me to officially leave the corporate world and become a full time entrepreneur. L1920 will be celebrating its 2 year anniversary this coming February!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

In all my businesses I would say what sets us apart is US. Each brand is a true representation of who we are. For example…

Urban Shindigs is not your typical wedding planning company, hence the name. We bring outside of the box wedding and events to life and test the boundaries of traditional. We are also big on the idea of bringing LOVE alive in a room full of your closets friends and family which is the essence behind US. I do the planning and he does the DJ’ing. We are a husband and wife duo. As a designer I have an eye for mood… I am not afraid to bring the color black alive for a wedding.

Girlboss En Route is who I am. A Girlboss en route to her many business ventures, detours, and path. I take people along for the journey in hopes to inspire them to do the same. I walk my clients from beginning stages of business to functioning thriving empires. I buid websites for Rad people doing rad things! From creatives, non-profits, industrial, and beyond.

L1920 is a unique wedding & event venue that has so much character but is also a blank slate allowing you to bring your vision alive. We are located in Alpine CA the mountain town of San Diego. Our space gives a modern western vibe.

I am where I am today because of hard work, dedication to my clients, and grit. This has not been an easy journey, it’s been full of highs and lows. But overall rewarding in so many ways, being able to serve my clients to create the day of their dreams or help them launch their dream business is something I will never take for granted.

I have learned that challenges in business are just opportunities for growth. We can always learn from our mistakes and that is exactly what I have done and continue to do. The most important lesson I have learned is its OK to ask for help, and network, network, network!

I want people to know that when you work with me I will give 110%, I will always go above and beyond because thats just good business. Also to entrepreneurs or someone thinking about starting your own business… DO IT! Don’t overthink the details just start…but contact www.girlbossenroute.com first!

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

Network, network, network!

When I first started out I would constantly go to networking events and mix and mingle. This got my name out and face known. Word of mouth is the best form of marketing and gives the highest return on investment. In todays world networking is not only important in person but also through social media! If you’re not having conversations in your DM’s you are doing yourself a disservice. These are free platforms, be sure you’re investing your time wisely instead of just scrolling.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The BIBLE. Having an unwavering faith lead my business has brought so much peace and trust. God has reminded me that my gifted talents are here to serve others. My trust has grown tremendously because I have seen how he continues to provide for me. When doubts or worry creep in I am reminded of his promises. Being a business owner is not just about a good mindset, I can’t do it alone and he gets me through it all.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thisisurbanshindigs.com, www.l1920.com, www.girlbossenroute.com
• Instagram: @urbanshindigs @l1920__ @girlbossenroute
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/urban-shindigs-san-diego

Image Credits
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