Tell us about yourself and your background.
I have 26 years of experience in the Event Industry. I started my first company, Trade Show Executives, which is now known as TSE Staffing & Events. With just a $500 investment, I created marketing materials and distributed them to hundreds of exhibitors at the Apparel and Gift shows in Atlanta, GA. This effort paid off as my phone began ringing nonstop with requests for trade show staffing.
At that moment, I realized I had a promising business idea. Within 6 months TSE Staffing & Events was a nationwide event staffing company. Over the years, I consistently marketed TSE Staffing & Events to major companies and marketing agencies, while joining nationwide communities on social media to expand awareness and services. My experience spans nationwide tours, corporate meetings, sporting events, product launches, and collaboration with international event organizers and producers. We’ve built a strong reputation for exceptional event recruitment and planning.
What is it that you currently do?
I am currently focused on building and expanding ESPO Hub, an event industry marketplace that simplifies event hiring and planning. ESPO Hub is revolutionizing and simplifying event planning and hiring.
I’ve formed a revenue-sharing partnership with a talented team of IT developers and work alongside a creative marketing team to produce engaging social media content. As an entrepreneur, I find great fulfillment in seeing my ideas take shape and succeed. It is about creating a team!
Tell us about ESPO Hub.
ESPO Hub is an all-in-one event industry marketplace that connects event professionals across the nation. It includes Event Planners, Meeting Planners, Venues, Vendors, Suppliers, Talent, Brand Ambassadors, and Promotional Staff. The platform encourages networking and collaboration among event professionals. ESPO Hub reduces time and stress in event planning and hiring.
We also feature job and gig postings, along with event listings happening across the country. ESPO Hub operates on a minimal subscription model without charging agency or hiring fees, allowing professionals to connect, gain opportunities, and secure event jobs directly.
Where did you come up with the idea for ESPO Hub?
With 26 years of experience providing event staffing and planning through TSE Staffing & Events, I often faced challenges starting fresh in new states—recruiting staff, sourcing vendors, and finding additional planners and venues I was constantly starting over when developing a new event or meeting. For over a decade, I envisioned creating a marketplace for event professionals but was too busy managing, hiring, and planning over 150 events per month nationwide. The onset of COVID provided the downtime I needed to pursue this vision. That’s when ESPO Hub was born, representing Events | Suppliers | Planners | Opportunities.
How did you initially fund ESPO Hub?
I personally financed the development of ESPO Hub using my own funds and reinvest profits back into the business for continued growth. We’ve introduced paid subscription plans and are actively converting free users into paid subscribers as well as growing new users.
What has been your biggest success since launching?
ESPO Hub is a comprehensive platform that brings together all aspects of event planning and hiring in one place. It allows event professionals to connect, source event needs, and pay or receive payment directly. Job postings, current event listings, and marketing services are openly accessible, making the platform a hub for opportunities and collaboration. ESPO Hub reduces time and stress connecting event professionals together onto 1 event industry marketplace.
What has been your biggest success since launching?
Since its launch, ESPO Hub has rapidly grown to over 900 users, creating a vibrant community of event professionals. A highlight was presenting ESPO Hub and its features at the Event Planners Expo 2024 in NYC, introducing the platform to a wider audience. We are now implementing new features to enhance and bring more value to ESPO Hub and all our event professional users.
How did you initially attract users and gain traction?
Consistent content creation targeting event professionals and communities has been key. By producing creative and engaging posts across major social media platforms, we’ve been able to steadily increase exposure and attract users. We are now moving forward with monthly newsletters, and event checklists to provide more effective and efficient procedures and sourcing for event staff, event planners, and event suppliers. Staying engaged with the event industry community is a key factor.
How have you used social media to scale your business?
Social media has been instrumental in scaling ESPO Hub. We maintain an active presence on six platforms, posting daily content, engaging with users, and sharing live updates from events. By creating visually appealing and interactive content, we’ve successfully built brand awareness and user engagement.
What technology powers ESPO Hub, and how did you develop it?
We partnered with a skilled IT team to create a user-friendly marketplace tailored to event professionals. My experience in event management informed the design, ensuring that the platform addresses industry needs efficiently. With features like location-based searches, favorites lists, and customizable tools for different event types, ESPO Hub simplifies event planning and hiring. We are continually enhancing the platform with new tools and features.
What is the future of the event planning industry?
The global event industry is a multi-billion-dollar market, projected to grow to $1.76 trillion within the next five years. Events, meetings, and virtual gatherings will continue to expand as people seek meaningful connections and experiences. ESPO Hub aims to scale globally, providing a central marketplace for planners, organizers, event staff, and suppliers.
What are your growth plans for the next five years?
We plan to integrate AI features into ESPO Hub, expand partnerships with convention facilities and large event producers, and enhance sourcing capabilities for national and global events. Our goal is to simplify event planning, reduce costs, and support the career growth of event professionals worldwide.
How can readers find out more about you and ESPO Hub?
Visit our website: https://www.ESPOHub.com
Or connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Meta, Threads, YouTube, and other major platforms. We post daily content to stay connected with our audience and share updates about our growing community.
