Today we’d like to introduce you to Bri Crum.
Hi Bri , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been drawn to storytelling, creativity, and creating experiences that make people feel something. My career actually started in event planning and fashion — I worked as a fashion consultant for cabi, a clothing line, and my mom and I owned an event planning company called Divine Celebrations, both based in California, before I later launched my own PR and marketing agency, PLAN B PR, focused on lifestyle, hospitality, and culture brands.
From there, I moved into television, creating and hosting two entertainment segments called The Weekend Insider and Social Radar with weekly appearances on Good Morning Texas and The Broadcast, before later creating and hosting a show called Inside Entertainment, which aired three times weekly throughout Texas.
Over the years, I’ve worn a lot of hats — publicist, sales consultant, TV host, creative director, social media strategist, and fashion editor — but the common thread has always been building brands through storytelling and connection. I’ve always loved finding what makes a brand, experience, or person special and figuring out how to bring that to life in a way that truly resonates with people.
Today, I assist our team at EVELYN with marketing, branding, and social media, while also serving as an ambassador for brands such as Rent the Runway and Cariloha. My partner, Todd, and his business partner own several restaurant concepts, but EVELYN is the project closest to my heart.
A huge part of my role now focuses on brand identity, events, partnerships, social media, and guest experience. I love creating spaces that feel immersive and memorable — places people genuinely want to celebrate in and talk about afterward. Looking back, every chapter of my career has built on the one before it, and hospitality has become the perfect combination of everything I love most: storytelling, connection, creativity, and experience.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all — and honestly, I think every chapter of my career has come with its own learning curve. One of the biggest challenges has been navigating industries that are constantly evolving. From PR and television to social media and hospitality, I’ve had to continuously adapt, reinvent myself, and learn new ways to connect with people and build brands.
Early on, especially when you’re trying to establish yourself, you tend to say yes to everything. You take clients because you need the income, want the exposure, or because they seem like the “ideal” client on paper. But sometimes those relationships aren’t the right fit, and they can completely drain your creativity and energy. Learning that not every opportunity is worth sacrificing your peace, your time, or your family life for was a huge lesson for me.
As a single mom during parts of my career journey, I really had to come to terms with the fact that my time with my daughter mattered more than chasing every opportunity or saying yes to every project. At the same time, I also know there were many moments when I didn’t choose balance because I was trying to make ends meet, build something for our future, and survive the pressure that comes with starting over and proving yourself. A lot of those lessons honestly came in hindsight.
That was hard because when you’re building something, there’s always pressure to keep pushing, proving yourself, and growing. But looking back, those experiences taught me the importance of boundaries, trusting my instincts, and building a career that actually aligns with the life I want.
I also believe in being honest about the fact that life isn’t always perfect behind the scenes. Mental health and anxiety are things I’ve navigated throughout my life, and I think it’s important for people to know they’re not alone in that. Especially in industries centered around social media and appearances, there can be so much pressure to seem like you always have everything together. I think there’s strength in authenticity and in allowing people to see that you can still be growing, creating, building, and showing up even during difficult seasons.
There have also been so many moments where I’ve had to remind myself to stay focused and tune out the outside noise. In creative industries and hospitality, especially, there will always be competitors, criticism, jealousy, and people judging you without really knowing who you are or what you’re carrying behind the scenes. I’ve learned that if you spend too much time focusing on that, it can completely distract you from your purpose. So I’ve had to learn to keep my head down, stay focused on my brand and my goals, and just keep going.
Hospitality in particular is incredibly rewarding, but it’s also demanding. Restaurants are living, breathing businesses with long hours, constant problem-solving, and so many moving parts behind the scenes that people never see. Social media has added another layer to that because the industry moves so quickly now, and there’s constant pressure to stay creative, relevant, and visible.
I think those challenges shaped me the most. And honestly, I’m incredibly grateful for them. They made me more resilient, more intentional, and more confident in who I am and what I bring to the table.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What I do has evolved so much over the years, but at the core of it, I specialize in storytelling, marketing, and creating experiences that make people feel connected. My background spans PR, television, fashion, marketing, hospitality, and social media, so I’ve always approached brands from an emotional and experiential perspective rather than a traditional marketing one.
Today, a huge part of my focus is helping build the brand identity, marketing, partnerships, guest experience, and social media presence for EVELYN. I also work with brands as an ambassador and content creator, but what I really love is creating a feeling around a brand — something people want to be part of, photograph, talk about, and come back to.
One thing that really sets me apart is that I truly, to my core, believe in a grassroots approach to marketing and brand building. I believe the strongest brands are built through authentic connection, community, consistency, and genuine relationships — not just through paid advertising or perfectly curated campaigns. I care deeply about interacting with people, responding to guests, celebrating milestones, and making brands feel personal rather than corporate. Especially in hospitality, people can feel authenticity, and I think that matters more now than ever.
I also care deeply about our employees and truly see them as family. Without them, EVELYN would be nothing. Acknowledging their hard work, highlighting their service, encouraging their growth, and simply being there for them is incredibly important to me. Honestly, watching how hard they work and seeing their dedication makes me want to be a better person myself. I never want anyone on our team to feel “less than” anyone else. I’ve always believed we are all equal, regardless of title or role, and that leadership starts with humility and respect.
I feel the exact same way about our guests. Without people trusting us with their celebrations, dinners, birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones, we wouldn’t be successful. Showing genuine appreciation, maintaining communication, celebrating people, and acknowledging them in meaningful ways is what keeps them coming back. It’s often the little things that leave the biggest impact.
At the end of the day, I wholeheartedly believe in having a servant attitude. And to me, that isn’t weakness — it’s one of the most powerful qualities a person can have. People may forget what you sold them, but they will always remember how you made them feel.
What I’m most proud of is creating experiences and environments where people feel seen, celebrated, and connected — whether that’s our team, our guests, or the community surrounding the brand. To me, that’s what hospitality is really about.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
At the end of the day, I want to build things that bring people together. Experiences, spaces, and moments where people feel connected, celebrated, and like they truly belong.
What matters most to me is people and how they feel. Whether it’s our guests, our employees, my family, or the people I work with creatively, I want people to feel seen, valued, appreciated, and inspired when they leave an interaction with me.
Hospitality has become such a natural extension of everything I’ve done throughout my career because restaurants are really about storytelling too — from the design and music to the atmosphere, service, food, and overall experience. At its core, hospitality is about connection, and connection has always been the common thread throughout every chapter of my career.
I’ve worked in fashion, PR, television, social media, and hospitality — completely different worlds on the surface — but the principles have always been the same. It’s never just about the service, the product, or the transaction. It’s about how you make people feel. The brands and businesses that truly last are the ones that create genuine relationships and emotional connection.
Social media has also become a major part of what I do, especially creating organic, community-driven content that helps build real relationships with guests and followers. I genuinely love making people feel like they belong. Whether online or in person, that sense of connection matters deeply to me.
I also care deeply about creating a positive culture for our team. I never want people to feel like they’re “just staff” or beneath anyone else. I truly believe leadership starts with humility, kindness, and service. To me, a servant attitude is one of the most powerful things a person can have because people will always remember how you made them feel.
As a mom, I also value balance and being present. Success means very little if you lose yourself or the people you love in the process. Over time, I’ve learned that creating a meaningful life matters more than simply chasing achievement.
I want to create experiences that leave people feeling connected long after the moment is over. To me, hospitality isn’t just a job title or an industry. It’s a value. It’s about how you make people feel.
And honestly, I think that’s what people remember most. They may forget the transaction, but they’ll never forget the relationship.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://evelyndallastx.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricrum?igsh=MThubXRwemcwd3NsNQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bricrum?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/evelyndallastx?igsh=cXk5enc2Z3E1aHdt&utm_source=qr
