Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Hello Again

I feel so ashamed that I have worked SO MANY amazing events this semester and haven't blogged about any of them. I truly have been inspired by all the people I have met, the events I have worked, and the experiences I have created this semester with Mathes and Co. but just not have had or taken the time to document them for you all. I will work backwards and highlight some of the events I have been a part of this semester.

I am working backwards because the most recent event I worked was for Guilt City celebrating their recent move to Dallas, and this event reminded me why I have chosen the fashion event industry. Everyday I miss New York City for its atmosphere and inspiration, but being a part of fashion events here in Dallas inspires me to keep reaching for my dreams of being back in NYC!

I am a long time fan of Gilt Group so when I heard they were coming to Dallas, I was ecstatic! That's right, I urge you to check out http://www.giltcity.com/dallas and sign up for the amazing Dallas experiences they will offer.

Anyway, the launch party was held at the Dallas Contemporary in the Design District, which was perfect venue because it is modern with concrete floors and open ceilings. Many of the attendees were from Dallas magazines and PR companies. Dallas's very own, Lucy Wrubel, kept the party going with her eclectic mix of tunes. Gilt put up a graffiti wall that was a large wall-size canvas that they asked attendees to write their favorite things about Dallas. The responses from that generated conversation and created laughs and will now be a perfect accessory to the Gilt Dallas office. Famous chef, Dean Fearing, attended and catered the event with fine passed appetizers. Pacuigo offered a sweet treat and a photobooth gave guests a chic way to document their time at the party.

Overall, the event brought the most chic and fashion forward from Dallas, New York City, and abroad. It was inspiring for me to see such an esteemed company come to Dallas, and I am excited to see how Guilt City brings new experiences to "Dallasites!"


Sunday, April 24, 2011

LinkedIn Final Project

LinkedIn Final Project

Michelle Grose

“How LinkedIn Enhances Business Professionals All Over the World”

I. Introduction

A. Myself

B. Why I wanted to explore LinkedIn, and why I support it

1. I joined LinkedIn last summer while I was interning in NYC

2. I learned about the importance of networking and the 6 degrees of separation through seminars

3. I wanted to keep track of all the contacts I was making so I joined

4. LinkedIn is another good way to follow up with contacts after meeting them

- You may not always trade contact info but you can find them on LinkedIn if you know their name and/or company

5. I have also used LinkedIn to search for new opportunities that I will discuss more in depth later on in the report

II. LinkedIn’s Company Background

A. How it started

1. LinkedIn had 5 founders- Reid Hoffman, Allen Blue, Konstantin Guericke, Eric Ly, Jean-Luc Vaillant

2. LinkedIn had a humble beginning in the living room of Reid Hoffman in 2002.

3. The site officially launched on May 5, 2003 with the founders initially inviting about 350 of their most important contacts to join, and by the end of the first month of operation, it had a total of 4,500 members in the site network.

B. LinkedIn Currently

1. LinkedIn is now the world’s largest professional network on the Internet with more than 100 million members in over 200 countries and territories.

2. Now, it headquarters out of Mountain View, Calif. And more than half of LinkedIn members are located outside of the US.

3. The company’s current management team is comprised of seasoned executives from companies like Yahoo, Google, Microsoft, TiVo, etc. The CEO is Jeff Weiner.

4. LinkedIn members now count executives from all 2010 Fortune 500 companies as it is a networking site really geared towards professionals.

C. Timeline

III. Why use LinkedIn?

A. LinkedIn coincides with the professional networking concept of 6 degrees of separation.

1. I learned about this last summer when I was doing my internship in NYC. It is the idea that you are somehow connected to everyone on the earth by 6 people.

2. LinkedIn shows you how you can be connected to someone through someone you already know.

3. For instance, I can be connected to the Editor in Chief of D Magazine through my boss at Mathes and Co. even though I have never met the Editor in Chief of D Magazine in person before. If I open that connection through my boss, then opportunities with the magazine can open up.

B. You should use LinkedIn because of all the unique features that you can’t find on Facebook and other social networking sites.

1. Marketing yourself- what people find when they look for you…

a. Professional profile that includes…

- Work & Intern experience, sing up to be in the company’s networks on LinkedIn

- Education experience, you can easily connect to others at the same school

- Upload your resume

- LinkedIn understands the importance of other digital ways of marketing yourself & it allows you to connect pages like twitter, your blog, & your website

- Friends, colleagues, coworkers, employers can write recommendations for you

2. What you find when you look for other people…

b. LinkedIn has live Newsfeed to stay up-to-date on your connections & companies

c. You can easily add connections by connecting LinkedIn with your email contacts & it will automatically connect them

d. Follow groups and companies- I am part of DBU alumni & Dream Careers Alumni so I see job postings and updated news

3. Other special LinkedIn Applications

a. Job Seeker- you can search for jobs by company, industry, skills, or connections

b. LinkedIn Today- gives members a customized way to follow the top trending news relevant to a particular industry based on their interests

c. Company Pages- allows companies another “website” so-to-speak where they can upload new products, services, testimonials, etc. for people to follow

d. Mobile Application- LinkedIn has a smartphone application where you can get live company feed sent right to your phone- I have it on my iPhone

IV. Success Stories

A. Personal

1. Brynn Bagot PR event with Bulgari

2. Speaking event with Christina Matheiu at Frisco Women’s Junior League College Night Event (Broadcast degree, Greek Sorority Pres)

B. Othes on press.linkedin.com/success-stories

V. Best Part: LinkedIn is FREE!!

A. Young professionals don’t need to pay much in today’s society with great marketing tools liked LinkedIn!

Bibliography

Background

http://press.linkedin.com/history/

http://press.linkedin.com/press_center/?id=216

http://press.linkedin.com/success-stories/

Monday, April 18, 2011

Network Computers

Pick a day and list how often in that day you come into contact with a computer, especially one that you think might be networked. We all have networked computers at work and at school, but where else do you see them being used?


On a normal business day, I am on a computer about 75% of the day. I use my laptop anytime I am at my apartment or in class and my work computer when I am at work. Both computers are run on a wireless network even though one is a laptop and the other is a stationary PC. Wireless networking is becoming increasingly popular, and you see those computers being used in many and most businesses. Computers are used in most modern businesses and the wireless networks are more and more convenient. For instance, many restaurants are enacting free "Wi-Fi" which is awesome for me because I love to go to coffee shops and restaurants to study.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Three Points Ranch Wedding

I have really been slacking on my events...sorry:(

This past weekend, I worked with my internship company, Mathes and Co. Events, to produce the Reese/Mitchell wedding. The wedding was in Marble Falls, TX, so it was in a sense a destination wedding. The ceremony and reception were held at Three Points Ranch in Round Mountain, TX.

The ranch was very unique in that it had some airstreams that were all decorated differently. One was the bride's room, one was the children's room, etc. We had country music band Two Tons of Steel playing to set the mood of the ranch. The florists, Bows-n-Arrows created arrangements that matched the theme  so perfectly. Everything else from the food and cake to the other entertainment was just perfect for the bride and groom that night.

The pictures pretty much explain it all!















Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Linked In

One of my favorite websites that has served me well over the past year since I joined is Linked In. Linked In is a website that is primarily for corporate networking. On Linked In you can create a profile where you can upload your resume, work experience, recommendation letters, and any other information that can influence your chances of landing a job. By connecting with people with similar interests and at similar companies, you can then connect with more people that could have an influence on your network.

I have a full profile that includes my past experiences, and I have already seen multiple benefits from connecting through Linked In. Last summer, I connected with Brynn Bagot PR and was able to work an event with her and her company. Another connection I made recently through Linked In is one with the Frisco Jr. Women's League. The coordinator for the Frisco Jr. Women's League saw my sorority experience and invited me to speak at their latest event. It was an honor to see that she trusted me to speak at her event based on what she saw on my Linked In profile.

I am a fan of Linked In because of the networks and connections that it can bring about!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Music Couture Fashion Show

Last night, I worked my first Fashion show with Dallas's very own, Jan Strimple! It was the "Music Couture Fashion Show" held at Caruth Auditorium at SMU. "Music Couture"... sounds so intriguing right?! It was really a creative concept. The Irving Symphony Orchestra played a two hour show, and the models walked in conjunction to their music. It really brought LIFE to the symphonic music!

I worked this show as a dresser and the show backstage ran very smoothly. Since it was a concert, the show was not fast-paced which gave the models time to get ready between each look without too much rushing.

Another unique feature of this show is that one of the models danced as an en point ballerina in her evening gown during one of the musical numbers. Her gown flowed about and looked exquisite as she danced across the runway. Another bold statement look was that of a rocker. The model was dressed in a black leather vest with a chain-metal vest that covered her entire torso. She wore thigh-high leather boots, chains on her pants and wrists, and her hair was big and bold. She played the part with fierceness and looked so hardcore!

Since I worked this show as a dresser, so I was backstage most of the show, but I did get to see the Grand Finale which was wonderful! The models were attired in couture evening gowns, adorned with sparkling jewels and extravagant feather boas, fans, and masks. Their hair matched their accessories as each model wore an art-deco styled head piece that blended as an extension of their hair. The music was just as dramatic as the looks!

It was a FANTASTIC show and such a good experience for me! I loved working with Jan Strimple and her team, and I look forward to working many more shows with them!

(I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to snap any pictures. I will be better at that next time.)

Monday, January 17, 2011

Snowflake Ball

On the night of December 5, 2011, my sorority at DBU, Alpha Delta Kappa, hosted our first annual "Snowflake Ball" at a very urban-style three-story event venue called "Off the Grid" in Dallas. It was a completely magical night, and I have never been more proud to be part of the production of an event! Not only was it an awesome event, we did it on a major budget which makes me feel even more successful. It was a Date Night so each of our member's invited a date of their choice to share a special night with! We had a total of 90 people come to dance the night away!


Off the Grid was perfect for our party size and needs
It had 3 stories and the top story had a breathtaking view of Dallas
Our theme was 1940s GLAM so all gowns were floor-length & in the primary color scheme of black, white, & red



  
    


  
                                                                                
  Centerpieces done by Mockingbird florist with white hydrangeas and frosted twigs & jewels
White full-feather centerpieces
Scrumptious finger foods appeased all appetites

Cupcakes baked by two of our very own members

Cupcake bar!
Bold Entertainment kept us dancing the whole night


DJ Brian and Social Director Lindsey Adams


Having a GREAT time:)
We crowned a King & Queen

The decor was PERFECT!














I am so proud to have shared such an unforgettable evening with my beautiful sisters!


 

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Internship Begins...

This past Fall semester, I attended and worked a number of wonderful events. Going to so many different events inspired me to start a blog that I can analyze and write about.  In fact, one event I went to was an art benefit auction where I met Katherine Mathes, owner of the Dallas event planning boutique Mathes and Co. She and her company planned the art benefit event, and I was so inspired by it's modern touches and fluidity.

I am an aspiring Event Producer and would like to eventually specialize in planning Fashion Events to combine my two passions in life. As a last semester Senior in college at Dallas Baptist University, I need to learn all that I can about the Event Planning industry, and I begin my journey as an intern with Mathes and Co. tomorrow!

This semester I am eager to learn the ins-and-outs of becoming a successful Event Producer (and I use the word "Producer" because events are productions that are planned and executed for people to enjoy!) I am so blessed to be with Mathes and Co. this semester, and I hope that you will join me as I begin my journey to launch my career! 

Mathes and Co.