Chicks helping chicks: it’s the philosophy of our group. And, without the assistance of these fabulous female entrepreneurs, we would be up chick creek! Thank you, ladies, for all the time you spend pecking away at our biz-e projects.
Rachel J. Coleman is the president and founder of Happily Ever After Events, Inc. Originally from Tampa, Florida, Rachel earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Flagler College. Her interest in event planning started in college, where she honed her planning skills by coordinating all of the seasonal parties and outreach marketing events for a student apartment community. After planning her own wedding in 2008, Rachel’s passion for the event-planning process was defined, and plans for her own business started forming.
Her company, Happily Ever After Events, Inc. is committed to creating memorable perfection for your special day and prides itself on being innovative and trend-setting in the event-planning industry. The core focus of Happily Ever After Events is to make sure each client is satisfied with their experience and event turn out. In 2008-2009, Rachel hosted several fundraising events to help raise more than $10,000 for the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk (and will be doing the same in 2010). She has planned several different types of events such as: weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, holiday parties, milestone birthdays, class reunions, meetings, launch parties, and more! She is a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants and the International Association of Wedding and Event Professionals. She is currently completing the Certificate Program at University of South Florida in Meeting & Event Planning.
Rachel is also committed to several charities and organizations, and their event planning, throughout the Tampa Bay area, including biz-e-chicks; The Junior League of Tampa; The All Children’s Hospital Evening Guild; The Susan G. Komen Suncoast affiliate; and Brides Against Breast Cancer. In 2009, she co-founded a local nonprofit organization, High Hopes in High Heels, that helps women foster personal and professional growth by networking, volunteering and connecting with the local community through charity functions and fundraising.
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Zekeshem is one of the rare Florida natives, and has lived in Tampa her entire life. While her love of travel has taken her across and out of the country, she will always be a Tampa girl at heart, and is happy to call it home.
Zekeshem always knew she had to do something creative for a living... figuring out what that thing was has led her on quite a journey! Interests and pursuits throughout her life included drawing, painting, photography, video editing, theatre (both onstage and backstage), writing, and anything to do with horses. (Well that last one pretty much faded away after the single-digit years, but prior to that she was certain she would own a horse farm one day!) On her sixteenth birthday, Zekeshem's mother gave her an old 35mm Minolta film camera. Using her younger sister as her main practice subject and model over the next several years resulted in two things: her sister is the most patient model on the planet, and Zekeshem discovered a true love and talent for the art of photography.
After high school, Zekeshem attained a degree in commercial art and then went to work at Bay News 9 for the next eight years. She took a two year leave from the station to concentrate on a Theatre Arts degree, searching for that one creative thing that would be more than just a job in life, but a fulfilling career. Unfortunately, there aren't many jobs in theatre that pay very well! Back working at the TV station, Zekeshem knew there was something bigger awaiting her and struggled to put a finger on it. While many people throughout the years had asked her why she didn't start her own photography business, her answer had always been, "I can't." Thankfully, with enough support and encouragement from family and friends, and with much prayer and consideration, Zekeshem grew the courage to stop saying, "I can't," and step out on a leap of faith with the words, "I'll try!" And in October of 2007, Blue Lane Photography became an official business.
Zekeshem has been completely self-employed since March of 2008, and couldn't be happier. The struggles and heartaches have been outnumbered and outshone by the triumphs and rewards along the way. Shooting mainly weddings and portraits, Zekeshem feels blessed to be able to call many of her clients friends now...and that's her biggest reward!
While balancing work with a personal life can be difficult, when she has time Zekeshem enjoys hiking on the Appalachian trail, reading, visiting new countries, swing dancing, lying in hammocks, spending obscene amounts of time wandering around craft stores, trying to get into running (again), and laughing with friends over coffee or good food. Her main goal is just to enjoy life to the fullest and make the most of each moment! Her favorite quote: "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end." Ursula K. LeGuin.
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Holly Clark is principal and creative director for her own design firm, Candour, a multi-disciplinary boutique design firm offering innovative and informed solution tools that support the endeavors of corporate, enterprise and non-profit organizations. Her design solutions emphasize intelligence-based design and sound strategic thinking through stand-out design work.
As principal and creative director, Holly's capabilities include branding, print design, as well as web and interactive work. She has a vast knowledge in the fields of branding and identity design, as well as marketing and advertising. Her multi-disciplinary experience creates engaging and highly-resolved communication solutions that increase her clients market visibility, and ultimately a return on their investment. Her role in the creative process is varied, as she works directly with the client in managing account and client needs throughout the entire creative process through development of proposals, concepting artwork and graphic direction, critiques, as well as providing polished final deliverables. Although Holly may handle many small single projects, often her work is a campaign or event with many deliverables spanning multiple mediums.
Holly holds a BAA degree from Central Michigan University's College of Communication and Fine Arts, as well as a post-graduate credential from The Polishing Center; a Grand Rapids, MI based portfolio and creative development center. She continues to immerse herself in design-related organizations such as AD 2 Tampa Bay where she holds positions as Communications Director and Executive Producer of AdCast. She is also highly involved in AAF 4th District events, as well as the Ocala Chamber of Commerce Marketing Task Force committee.
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