A Q&A WITH KALYN NEWPORT
Kalyn grew up in a small town in East Tennessee before moving to Knoxville for six years. Once she accepted a position with Infinity Hospitality, she made her way to Nashville. She knew this would be the perfect fit for her, and we couldn't agree more!
So what sparked her interest in event planning?
"I got into event planning at The University of Tennessee through several years of an internship with the UT Department of Conferences and Non-Credit programs," Kalyn told us.
After graduation, she accepted a full-time position at UT Conferences as a Conference Specialist. During her time in Knoxville, she gained experience in the event industry and truly discovered her love for planning events of all types and sizes.
When Kalyn has some free time, she loves to dip into her creative abilities and paint. If she's not planning an event or painting away, you can probably find her sipping on a cocktail at Rosemary & Beauty Queen or eating a killer piece of pizza at Five Points Pizza.
Read on to learn more about Kalyn for May's Employee Spotlight.
How long have you been a planner?
I have been in the hospitality industry since 2012 where I began working at a local brewery in Knoxville and Event Staff at UT Conferences.
I have been a planner for four years. I was a planner with UT for two years and have been a planner with Infinity since August of 2018. This year marks 2 years [with IH]!
Where do you draw inspiration from?
I feel most inspired traveling to new countries and sightseeing!
My daily Instagram feed is mostly filled with posts from creative professionals. I love to see refreshing and unique designs that people are coming up with. There's always something new and inspiring.
How do you stay on top of everything? Any organizational tips or tricks?
I am such a note taker! I write down everything and I LIVE in my planner.
What themes or unique details have been your favorite from one of your events?
I love a good earthy tone or monochromatic color palette.
If you could give one piece of advice to couples planning a wedding, what would it be?
Planning a wedding can be stressful, time consuming, and a lot of hard work. Leave it to a professional team who has planned and executed hundreds of weddings. Your event team is here to marry your vision with our expertise. We will map out your special day, provide all resources and connections with trusted vendors, which will save you time, expense, and stress in the long run.
What are some of the challenges you face when planning an event, and how do you overcome them?
Having one too many people making decisions in the planning process. It's so important to establish one main point of contact at the beginning of planning. It is great to have a full support system and team working together to plan a successful event, but to avoid any miscommunication you should determine one person to be the ultimate decision maker.
What is one of your favorite memories from one of your events?
I am a Tennessee Volunteer fan, through and through. One of my favorite memories about a Saturday wedding in the fall was when a bride and groom rallied the crowd to sing Rocky Top for their send-off.
What’s your favorite part about your job?
I never stop learning! Being surrounded by an amazing group of creative professionals that push each other to be better, try new things, and think outside of the box is so refreshing.
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