Meet Karen May | Event Design Expert

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen May and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I realized life was too short to spend my time making money for other people and doing nothing to better the world. I now have the freedom to choose the industry I want to operate in, as well as the services I want to offer, give my time to who I want to and well “Do It My Way”. I was not driven by money I never have been but rather by a desire to create a better world for those who need help, and the money I now make helps support that. Supporting community, non-profits, and other social efforts by giving back to my community has changed my life.
Giving gets under your skin in the best possible way …I like to dedicate time to helping those less fortunate who need our help and resources. The event industry is a generous industry and with our connections and reach the rewards I’ve gained from helping others have made my success all that much sweeter. You know that feeling – the warm, fuzzy one you get when you give a gift? Turns out, it’s good for your health and your heart. A growing body of research shows that giving a gift, as well as volunteering or donating to charities, has a positive impact on your physical and mental health and can contribute to a longer life. Cheers to a longer life!

I now have the flexibility to determine when and how I work. I can inaugurate systems and schedules that are adapted to my preferences and are most effective for me. Ultimately, building my own company allowed me to pursue my passions and ideals with greater independence and control. With this flexibility, I have been able to help, give back, and contribute to my passions of working with Seniors, Helping our Veterans, Human Trafficking, and my 1st love Animal Rescue.

Working with such groups as:
Forever Loved Animal Rescue, Arizona Small Animal Rescue Maricopa Animal Control, National Mill Dog Rescue
The Foundation for Senior Living this year alone adopted 90 Seniors and is providing their Christmas.
We ran an entire event to help get a WWll Memorial built
Made a few final wishes come true for two WWll Veterans before they passed
Scottsdale Beat the Heat water program for Seniors
We as a team volunteer every year at St Mary’s Food Bank for Thanksgiving
And we rescue every dog we can and find them their furever homes

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Working with some well-established events has been a fantastic experience, but I knew I wanted to work somewhere I could have more creative control. I introduced Scottsdale Private Event Venues and Scottsdale Hangar Parties in 2016 after becoming bored stiff working in Ballrooms my hashtag is #NoMoreBallrooms. I am incredibly proud of my dream to be able to offer a blank canvas or the full package, as many of our clients alter the space to meet their needs. It starts with the customer understanding them, their goals, personality, humor, vibe, and background; then, it is about the result. Admittedly 75% of my clients are unsure of what they want. So, I get to be very creative, which is one of my favorite things about what we do – I am very involved in the design, decor, and overall look of the events that I organize. During the season, it’s nonstop, and never a dull moment! It’s also the time when you get to see all of your hard work come to life and my client’s dreams come to reality, which is always the most incredible feeling. Every day is entirely different, which is why this job is so much fun.

We know not being in a ballroom inspires people; we know when the meeting is over, you can connect, laugh, share, and collaborate. Hard to do when you are sitting at a schoolie table 50’ deep looking at a 25’ screen. We pride ourselves on our commitment to helping our clients achieve their vision. I’m inspired by…Creative Thinkers and My work inspiration have no division from my own inspiration, those who will not take no in positively impacting people’s lives. I believe anything can be achieved through hard work and dedication. I believe in creating my own path. I believe my life is an incredible gift. I believe in always trusting your gut. It is the best guide and wisest advisor. I used to think it was necessary to conform to what other people thought about me. The day I realized it wasn’t was the day I became free.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Being a born and raised Arizona Native and being in the tourism industry I struggle with this whole favorite spot as we have so many unbelievable things to do and see. Coach House the Rusty Spur and Handle Bar J’s are three of my favorite bars! My favorite place to take out-of-towners is a Hummer Tour with Stellar Adventures ask for JJ.

Old Town Scottsdale has always been among the most vibrant and unique urban downtown centers in the American Southwest. Its streets are home to world-class art galleries, museums, restaurants, and retail shops … and when the sun goes down you don’t have to because of the exciting nightlife.

Canal Convergence continues to showcase captivating light-based public art and programming that reflects the event’s themes from both the past and present.

An Evening Of Scotches At Westin Kierland, Scottsdale Fashion Square – Best people watching ever, Scottsdale’s Mcdowell Sonoran Preserve, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, Scottsdale Museum Of Contemporary Art, Wonderspaces Arizona, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum Of The West, Musical Instrument Museum, Kayak the Lower Salt River and see the wild horses, Hike the Sonoran Desert, Walk through a butterfly wonderland

I can not even start with our restaurants we would be here all day!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
HSMAI was one of the first associations I belonged to when I moved back to Arizona. I joined in 1990 and have been involved ever since. “What I love about HSMAI-AZ is the friendships and the networking. I have made so many great professional contacts, they have become an integral part of my life”. The support of the community they have created is phenomenal. The way they support their community is 2nd to none. I chaired every committee at one time, or another am a Past President, and served on the International board for two years. In 2010 I was honored with their top award HSMAI’s Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

The 250-member Arizona Chapter was established in 1968 and is the second largest chapter in the U.S. Additionally, the Arizona Chapter is not only the most award-winning Chapter in the Americas but was most recently honored as the 2019 International “Chapter of the Year.”

The HSMAI Foundation provides resources to elevate the overall caliber and performance of sales, marketing, and revenue management professionals in the global hospitality industry by driving initiatives that will attract new talent, develop emerging talent, and engage existing talent.

Website: https://spevevents.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenmay/

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScottsdalePrivateEventVenues

Other: https://spevevents.com/experience-has-taught-us-well/