Meet Brenda C. Sullivan | Event Planning & Coordination

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brenda C. Sullivan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brenda C., every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
My background has been in service within the nonprofit sector for close to 20 years. I loved every aspect of planning events, from charity banquets and fundraisers to volunteer appreciation ceremonies and community-based events. I moved across the country months prior to COVID and with everything shutting down, I was not able to find work with a local nonprofit organization. Not working was tough for me as I greatly missed the work I was used to but luckily, I discovered there was a big market in Arizona for weddings and large-scale community events. I decided to do some freelance work to make sure I liked the more personal side of event planning and fell in love with weddings! I launched my own event management business in Spring 2022 with primary focus on weddings but I cannot leave my love for nonprofits so I manage at least 2 community events per year.

What should our readers know about your business?

I’ve established an event management business focusing on removing the common stressors of event planning so the host(s) can actually enjoy their events for once! Often times we get so caught up on the smallest details that we forget to slow down and enjoy what was planned. I’ll admit, I’m slightly guilty of this for my own personal events and I see it with my wedding clients as well. This idea of wanting everything to be perfect when in reality our guests just love being part of our lives and celebrations. Handing over the execution of an important event is a huge responsibility and one that should be taken seriously by anyone doing this type of work. Clients rely on event planners and coordinators to handle everything from start to finish and this type of work has to be something you love to do, or you won’t be successful.

I personally enjoy the intense organization of tons of details coming together into one big day! I always feel very excited to see how people are able to enjoy it all with their loved ones. I didn’t create this business out of my own personal wedding experience, it was driven from my love of helping others. I’m feeling very grateful it has been a smooth process for me to date. Have I made mistakes? Definitely! They have thankfully been minor details and nothing to create issues for anyone and I always focus on being open and transparent with my clients.

When it comes to working with fellow vendors, I’ve learned to champion for those who don’t treat me as competition and recognize that collaborations are vital to our success in this industry. I’m also a huge supporter of all couples in love and never hesitate to advocate for couples who may face discrimination. I believe everyone is entitled to celebrate their love equally and only hope for the best experience with their wedding day. Also, in an effort to remain connected to my local community, I offer a Give Back Pledge; donating a percentage of proceeds from full rate contracts to local nonprofit organizations. Lastly, as a military Veteran, I offer a service discount to fellow Veterans and first responders. This is what I believe sets me apart from other small businesses in the events space.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am pretty outgoing and love to explore new places! I’m in the east valley and I tend to try out as many mom and pop shops as possible out here but taking into account the amazingness of the valley, I can list out some of my favorite places in Phoenix as well. I love easy walks outside to start out the day and highly recommend the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert followed by brunch at Broken Yolk Cafe in Chandler. Nothing wrong with a spicy bloody mary in the morning to kick off the day! I’m a huge fan of murals and there is some incredible artwork to see in the Gilbert Heritage District as well as in downtown Phoenix. Definitely shop at the many local artisan boutique shops for souvenirs in Phoenix. For some caffeine boosts plus sweets, checkout Birdhaus Coffee Bar, Tres Leches Cafe and Sweet Desert Cafe. Phoenix also has some incredible Latin foods, try Cocina Madrigal and Mariscos Playa Hermosa. Perhaps there is an event or two, going to Walter Where? House would be a great experience. Plan a group outing with the Scottsdale Tractor for some late-night dancing and try one of the many awesome local breweries! For relaxing down time, book a stay at one of the many beautiful resorts and spas to hangout poolside. Way too many awesome resorts here to choose from but a top choice is Fairmont Princess in Scottsdale.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I constantly post about vendor partners, my “power pack”, who work closely with me in the events industry. I encourage new small businesses starting out to build out their vendor network as partnerships and collaborations have proven to be my path to success. It can be a tough market to establish yourself in as it is very saturated in Arizona. One particular group that has helped me grow and scale successfully has been an online network called All Things Wedding – Arizona managed by one of my favorite partner DJs, Gilbert Jacinto of Genuine DJ Entertainment. Emphasis on *one* of many as I have some INCREDIBLE partner DJs, such as DJ Vital – a fellow Veteran, who have both directly contributed to my growth in this space. I’m so grateful for all my vendor partners, thank you!

Website: https://www.cancinocreative.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cancinocreative/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-c-sullivan-3a5744256

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cancinocreative

Other: Veteran owned and operated businesses in Arizona: https://www.azheroesforhire.com/cancino-creative?fbclid=IwAR2x3WbvZiobPFrvUK0vZgsrocqtY9IrAHZ8da8Gj9qKOxNv3MfLgeZ6dOI&fs=e&s=cl&fs=e&s=cl

Image Credits
ModShots Photo Booth Company Go All in Media