Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawanna “Swan” Lee.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I got to where I am today with passion, prayer, persistence and a little bit of God’s favor.
I have the opportunity to do what I love and be paid for it. I am an event planner and production manager in Dallas, TX. I am a native of Illinois who relocated to Dallas, Texas eight years ago and fell in love with the DFW area. I have always had a love for managing events ever since I could remember.
My work in the industry began from humble beginnings as a child by helping my mother organize the yearly fashion and talent show in my hometown. That love grew in college as I worked with organizations at the University of Illinois. I later began volunteering to coordinate and plan mass productions for a Fortune 500 company in Dallas where I was employed.
Throughout that time, I also volunteered to prepare friends and family events for free. One particular month, I had seven events on my calendar, including traveling to the yearly fashion and talent show which grew into a city-sponsored event. That was the moment I knew I could turn my passion into a career.
Over the last decade, my event planning and production adventures have led me to manage events in Dallas, Chicago, Houston, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Atlanta, and New York to name a few.
In the spring of 2018, I officially relaunched my own independent company, Swan7 Productions, LLC. I pride myself in being a single source solution for event planning and production management.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth road? Does that exist? Despite the bumps in the road and struggles, I am eternally grateful for my path. One of my struggles happened at the height of relaunching my business last summer; I hit a serious roadblock.
I ruptured my Achilles tendon and could not walk for a couple of months. I was determined not to let my business slow down. I knew I had to effectively handle existing business and grow the brand, name, and reputation of excellence. I had to find a new route to work smarter and not physically harder.
I learned to perfect team management skills, hiring and trusting talent, forecasting, and the importance of social media. I was also able to strengthen my bonds with key business partners during the process as a result. I wouldn’t trade that lesson for the world!
Swan 7 Productions – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I have developed my business services into “7 Points of Service” that include: 1). Weddings. 2). Private Parties 3). Corporate Events 4). Non-Profit Events 5). Show Production 6). Entertainment Brand Management and 7). Event Business Consulting.
Swan 7 Productions specializes in designing and managing premier events that raise your brand and drive more in-depth relationships with your audience. We provide timely communications and collaborations with vendors and key stakeholders to ensure that we produce an experience that is on-time and on-budget.
Because of my wide range of experience working and skill to understand the business of event planning, I create a one-of-kind event experience that my clients love. What sets Swan 7 apart from the rest is simple: “Your dream is our inspiration.”
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I am very proud of the relationships that I am building in Dallas. The key to creating the best experience for our clients is having a genuine connection to give them peace of mind.
The same type of care that I put into my customer relationships I invest into my vendor relationships. I’ve built relationships with some of the best vendors to ensure events are graceful, timeless and elegant.
My proudest moments are watching my vendor friends collaborate on price, schedule, and planning to create amazing experiences for our clients that would not have happened if we didn’t have the relationship.
We strive to see each other succeed, they are indeed the best in the business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.swan7productions.com
- Phone: 972-885-9645
- Email: info@swan7productions.com
- Instagram: swan724
- Facebook: @Swan7Productions
Image Credit:
Sandra Lynch Photography, Daniel Smiley/Silver Rush Photography, D. Lacy Photography, Next Level Entertainment
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