Category Archives: CSEP

Jan 29
1

Meet our backers! Josie Littlepage – Cosmopolitan Events

By | CSEP, ISES, kickstarter, mentor POV | No Comments

We spoke to another one of our amazing backers from The Apprentice Program Kickstarter campaign – Josie Littlepage, CSEP – Owner and producer at Cosmopolitan Events.

Josie believes in The Apprentice Program. She’s helping us achieve our mission, while using her time more efficiently and helping her company become more profitable.

We’re on a mission to revolutionize the events industry: We want to STOP horrible internships.

With over two decades experience of planning and producing events, Josie has a passion for creating beautiful and lasting memories. She has also dedicated many years on the board of the International Special Events Society – St. Louis chapter, where she has held several positions including Chapter President.

We discover what she’s learned as Owner of an event planning firm, her best life hack tips and what the biggest reason was she decided to support The Apprentice Program by The Simplifiers!

josie littlepage cosmopolitan events

“I believe in Mary and have seen how her ideas have grown and flourished…” ~ Josie Littlepage, CSEP – Cosmopolitan Events, St. Louis, MO

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Jan 28
2

Meet our backers! Erica Prewett – A Big To Do Event

By | CSEP, ISES, kickstarter, mentor POV | One Comment

Today, we talk to one of our backers from the Kickstarter campaign – Erica Prewett, CSEP – CEO of A Big To Do Event and current 2015-16 chapter president for the International Special Events Society, Atlanta chapter.

By supporting our campaign, Erica is joining us on our mission to revolutionize intern training:

We want to STOP horrible internships, for mentors and interns alike!

She’s been in the business of creating live events since 1999.  Organizations such as IBM, AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, United Way of Mississippi as well as hundreds of brides and families have experienced stress-free weddings, social and corporate events because of this Checklist Queen.

We find out her best life hacks, insider tips for planning events and she will reveal the biggest reason she decided to back The Apprentice Program by The Simplifiers!

erica prewett A Big to Do Event

“I believe that the more of us support each other, the best ideas will come to fruition.” ~Erica Prewett, CSEP – A Big to Do Event, Atlanta, GA

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Aug 13
0

Mary Listed as Top 25 Young Event Pros to Watch

By | CSEP, ISES, mentoring | One Comment

special-events-mag-201507covernolabelportraitMary Baird-Wilcock, CSEP, Founder and CEO of The Simplifiers, is among the top 25 young special event professionals globally to watch in 2015, according to Special Events magazine. Baird-Wilcock, age 37, relocated the headquarters of her events business from Austin, Texas to the Creative Quarter in Nottingham, England last summer 2014 and most recently participated in the Next Business Generation (NBG) accelerator in spring 2015, winning “Best Pitch Presentation.”

“Every year, the Advisory Board of Special Events singles out 25 young event professionals, saluting their brains, talent and vision. Do you want to see what the future of special events will look like? Look right here,” says Lisa Hurley, editor of Special Events magazine.

The magazine recognizes Baird-Wilcock for her work “as an event planner, producing memorable event experiences that positively impact the world and as a mentor, teaching others the insider tips on how to become superhero event producers and see the details that most overlook.” Baird-Wilcock tops the list among young professionals from major cities such as New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, Canada and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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May 06
1

My Journey as a Mentor in the Events Industry

By | CSEP, eLearning, ISES, mentoring, VIP Summer Class of 2015, working with interns | 2 Comments

mbwHello, my name is Mary Baird-Wilcock, CSEP, Founder and CEO of The Simplifiers.  For those whom I haven’t met yet, howdy, hi, lovely to meet you!  My journey as a mentor in the events industry has been nothing sort of an epic global adventure, truly.

You see, I launched The Simplifiers back in 2003, as a full-service event planning company, based in Austin, Texas…in my pajamas, in my home office, as you do.  Spinning off from my 7+ years of experience working in commercial radio, producing large-scale concerts and community events, I decided to follow the way of my entrepreneurial parents and start my own small business.

It was my dream, after all… 

…planning events with passionate clients and amazing vendor partners who value my knack at staying super organized, always under budget and cultivating a collaborative, fun experience in the event design process.  Plus, I finally found a profession that truly APPRECIATED my attention to detail! (all the OCD gals in the crowd, holla!)

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