Behind The Veil

Season is back with a vengeance!  So are the long hours that come with it.  From working with existing clients, to onboarding new clients, to finding clients at all... It can all become overwhelming.Our guest today: Carissa Kruse / Carissa Cruse WeddingsCarissa is a wedding industry maven and a marketing and conversion strategist.  She works with overworked wedding professionals to increase their profitability and cut their workload in half, using her Endless Engagement Methos.  They can have long term success with scrambling to get couples while getting lost in the weddings of running their business.Support the showBehind The Veil Crew:Host: Keith Willard www.keithwillardevents.com www.instagram.com/keithwillard Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

Writing, and then speaking, wedding vows can be a stressful experience.  What happens if you can't figure out how you feel, or fear speaking in front of an audience.  It is already a high stress day, and now add this to the whole experience.Our guest today is Tanya PushkineTanya Pushkine was born and raised in Brussels, Belgium to an American-born musical conductor and German/Belgian painter. Upon moving to the USA, she was soon accepted to The Juilliard School’s Drama Division. Immediately upon graduation, Tanya was selected to play Mozart’s wife in Amadeus on Broadway, followed by roles on television, stage, and film in both Europe and the US.After a successful 10-year career, and the birth of two children, Tanya changed paths entirely and joined the corporate world with leading roles at LVMH, Sephora, L’Oréal, Barnes & Noble, Clarins, and Nestle Skin Health. From being a Cultural Director to running Public Relations and Corporate Philanthropy departments for luxury brands, Tanya was fortunate to work closely with Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Naomi Watts, Eva Mendez, John Legend, and many more. As a global communications and brand strategist, she conceived, directed, and produced major initiatives, events, and philanthropic programs.Never letting go of her acting chops, she kept actively using the skills to coach leaders on public speaking and presentations…. until the wedding universe became her calling.Tanya had been helping friends and family with their vows and toasts for years. Her own second wedding prompted her to become a professional wedding "vow whisperer." She made the bold decision to leave the corporate world and make her way essentially creating a new category in the wedding business.Tanya’s business, The Vow Whisperer, is a service whereby Tanya coins herself as a producer and creator of epic wedding ceremony experiences. She helps couples write their vows but in their own words. She is not the writer but brings out everything from anecdotes, memories, obstacles, incredible moments, intentions for the future, and much more, and collaboratively willcraft the vows using the person’s own words. Additionally, Tanya coaches on public speaking—the delivery of the vows, which includes enunciation, voice projection, making eye contact while reading off a vow book, poise, confidence, body language, and all the tips and tricks to make it a perfect presentation of the most intimate part of a ceremony. Tanya officiates, and offers ceremony planning, as well as coaching family members and friends who want to officiate. She also works with wedding parties on speeches and toasts.Tanya is based in New York City with her husband, has two children, and works globally in several languages. She is currently on the board of the New York Chapter of WIPA.Support the showBehind The Veil Crew:Host: Keith Willard www.keithwillardevents.com www.instagram.com/keithwillard Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

AV is needed at every single wedding.  For most, they will reach out to a DJ or entertainment company when needing to book a sound system or music.  What should you know before you start reaching out? A little knowledge can save you big money!Our Guest today: Damon RussellDamon has been in the wedding industry since 2003 and likes to think that he is a pioneer. In 2007, wireless LED technology did not exist so he Macgyvered” LEDs to provide wireless lighting on the shores of Bimini island. Damon is also the owner of COMPLETE media, who also provided, what he likes to believe, was the first Live Stream event back in 2009.  Damon has created incredible lighting and AV experiences for countless weddings and has worked with companies like T-Mobile, Jaguar, NACE, ILEA, McDonalds, BET, Tony Robbins, The History Channel and HGTV.  Complete Media is the most requested wedding and event service company in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach Florida and North America. By offering multiple services, such as DJ, up lighting, wedding video, event and wedding photography, customized monograms and of course photo booth, we keep our pricing affordable without sacrificing quality. Complete Media has serviced thousands of weddings and events in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach Florida. So when it comes to our DJs, up lighting, wedding videography, wedding photography, monogram and photo booths we can confidently say we know how to give you not only that you want but also exceed your expectations.Support the showBehind The Veil Crew:Host: Keith Willard www.keithwillardevents.com www.instagram.com/keithwillard Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

This week we speak to the founder of Heritage Park Hospitality Group.  The company behind the management of some of the most sought after locations in the Florida Keys.Doug Barrow is the founder of Heritage Park Hospitality Group, a full service boutique management and investment group with a vision for the future of hotel stays and travel. He has always shared an eye for detail and a passion for the hospitality industry, bringing creativity and innovative ways of thinking to the small boutique hotel market. With over 25 years in the industry, he has built his experience from grassroots and humble beginnings.His early career started in operations with major brands such as Hyatt, Marriot, and Starwood Hotels and later in his career, he worked directly for larger management firms. More recently, his passion and focus have been on independent collections that reserve a unique place in the market and attractive ambiance to travelers who are looking for a hotel experience, not just a room.He has extensive experience overseeing developments and renovations to distressed or underperforming properties. He has become a trusted advisor to many hotel owners looking for more creativity and opportunities to maximize their assets in their markets. He was recognized as Orlando Business Journal’s Top 40 under 40 business professionals in 2014 and has been a guest speaker for UCF Rosen Hospitality school. Most recently, his company was a recipient of Travel Weekly’s Magellan Award which recognized the Elements Collection, a hospitality site focused on offering intimate wedding experiences for couples and their guests in the Florida Keys.Support the showBehind The Veil Crew:Host: Keith Willard www.keithwillardevents.com www.instagram.com/keithwillard Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

Finding the right photographer is a daunting process.  Especially since they are going to be in your personal space on your wedding day.  What should you be asking, and how do you know if they are telling the truth?Our guest: Bonnie Sindelar Bonnie lives in Nebraska and is the founder of two companies: Genesis Photography and Happily Ever Photo. She founded Genesis Photography 9 years ago, and while she's shot almost every portrait genre over the years, (including weddings), she specializes in family and maternity portraits with the incorporation of drone photography. Two years ago, Bonnie also created Happily Ever Photo, which is an online directory for US portrait photographers of all genres. The directory is unique in many ways, but one of the distinctive features is that it only lists photographers who are charging rates that could produce a liveable wage. Her goal with this directory is to support and promote professional photographers while also helping clients find their perfect photographer using multiple unique filtering options.Support the showBehind The Veil Crew:Host: Keith Willard www.keithwillardevents.com www.instagram.com/keithwillard Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

When planning a wedding, couples and vendors, do not typically want to dive into legalities.  But in this day and age, it is more important than ever to protect yourself, as the couple and as the vendor.Our guest today is both a successful planner and a lawyer!  Leah Weinberg is well known throughout the industry as a true event professional, but recently Leah has decided to go back to her roots in law practice.  Taking her vast experience in the wedding planning world and combining it with the letter of the law.  Leah Weinberg – co-founder of Oduberg Law, LLP and co-owner of contract template shop Legally Set – is an attorney, a recovering wedding planner, and the author of The Wedding Roller Coaster.After nearly a decade in the wedding industry as the owner of Color Pop Events, a New York City-based wedding planning company, Leah is returning to her roots as an attorney to assist her former colleagues in the events industry, along with other entrepreneurs and business owners.Her work and insights have been published online and in print with Vogue, the New York Times, People, CNN, CNBC, Bravo, Martha Stewart, and The Knot, among others.A WeddingPro Educator with The Knot + WeddingWire since 2020, Leah travels throughout the country sharing insight with her peers regionally, as well as at national conferences such as Alt Summit, NACE Experience, and The Special Event.Support the showBehind The Veil Crew:Host: Keith Willard www.keithwillardevents.com www.instagram.com/keithwillard Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

In the event industry, planners are always looking for what is new, now and next.  Except when it comes to technology.  For many, the tried and true way is better than trying to figure out how to work with new programs and software.  Our guest today is Nora Shiels - the creator and co-owner of Rock Paper Coin.  RPC  is an online software system designed specifically for planners to help organize their proposals, invoices, and for payment.  Since its inception three years ago, RPC has grown to encompass so much more.Nora is a self described technophobe. So how does a wedding planner technophobe go from doing it the old way to creating a whole new software?  And what advice can she give others ready to make the leap that will ultimately make them more efficient. Support the showBehind The Veil Crew:Host: Keith Willard www.keithwillardevents.com www.instagram.com/keithwillard Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

As a wedding planner, sometimes it is really difficult to put in writing what we actually do.  From finding the venue, to hiring the vendors, and event a nod to being a physcologist, a good wedding planner can make it feel effortless...but a bad wedding planner can make it feel like a nightmare.  So what make a good wedding planner, and what questions should you be asking to ensure you are working with a true pro?Our guest this week: Marley MajcherMarley Majcher is the CEO of The Party Goddess!, a nationally acclaimed full-service event planning and catering company. From understated elegance to rock star fabulous, Majcher is known for creating the most talked about parties of the year for a client list ranging from top-tier businesses to A-list celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Sofia Vergara and Britney Spears. As The Profit Goddess!, Marley is also quickly establishing herself as one of the best resources for small business owners and entrepreneurs out there. She is a top business coach in Los Angeles, and the author of But Are You Making Any Money?, a witty and lauded business guide praised by Forbes as "a great how-to book for any entrepreneur."Majcher is the party planning and entrepreneurial expert people turn to for all things entertaining. Her popular savvy and business sense have earned her appearances on various outlets and shows including “Fox and Friends,” Fox Business, MSNBC, “Extra,” “Good Day LA,” Bravo, E!, MTV, HGTV, FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC and The Wedding Channel.For a hands-free experience, ask Alexa to play the latest podcast episode of Behind The Veil with Keith Willard. The BEHIND THE VEIL Show is the winner of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Telly Award for best online unscripted series, and the NACE One Award for Innovator of The Year.Support the showBehind The Veil Crew:Host: Keith Willard www.keithwillardevents.com www.instagram.com/keithwillard Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

Everyone has heard the term Master Of Ceremonies.  Visions of a Bob Barker on Price is Right may come to mind.  But what is a Masters of Ceremonies?  And as more and more weddings start redefining their own rules, do they really need one?Our Guest: Artem LomazArtem Lomaz: Wedding & Event MC. Artem Lomaz: Artem Lomaz has been continuously redefining the role of the wedding and event Master of Ceremonies. Whether accompanying a DJ or band, the award-winning MC - honored twice as "Entertainer of the Year'' in his career - is known to industry insiders as a meticulous performer with a refined presentation style and personalized methodology that captures the spirit and character of each of his clients’ events. Artem ultimately helps bring wedding and event storyboards to life, anywhere in the world!Artem is strictly a Master of Ceremonies (MC), not to be confused with DJs and/or band leaders who take on the role. Artem is also a big hip-hop fan (specifically 90's and early 2000's).For a hands-free experience, ask Alexa to play the latest podcast episode of Behind The Veil with Keith Willard. The BEHIND THE VEIL Show is the winner of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Telly Award for best online unscripted series, and the NACE One Award for Innovator of The Year.Support the showBehind The Veil Crew:Host: Keith Willard www.keithwillardevents.com www.instagram.com/keithwillard Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

Having a conversation about budgets can be hugely stressful, especially when talking about budgets for a wedding.  So how do you do that while keeping the joy in planning?Our Guest today is Rachel DurciRachel Durci is a Financial Wellness Coach and the Founder of Effortless Budgeting. She is passionate about supporting individuals and couples on reaching their financial goals through coaching, education and encouragement. Her mission is to empower couples to feel comfortable having meaningful money conversations with each other, and to empower individuals to feel confident in their financial decisions. She understands that talking about money is something that makes most of us anxious. She wants to empower others to share their money story, because sharing can lead to gaining the confidence needed to reach financial success. She offers individual and couples coaching sessions as well as corporate presentations.For a hands-free experience, ask Alexa to play the latest podcast episode of Behind The Veil with Keith Willard. The BEHIND THE VEIL Show is the winner of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Telly Award for best online unscripted series, and the NACE One Award for Innovator of The Year.Support the showBehind The Veil Crew:Host: Keith Willard www.keithwillardevents.com www.instagram.com/keithwillard Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci