Melissa Jakes, CEO & Founder of Rescue Event Planning, a Washington DC-based boutique event planning firm to influencers, organizations, and corporations. During her career, she has been the right-hand event guru behind some of the most epic weddings, conferences, summits, event productions, baby showers, birthday parties, and other amazing events.
Her clients have given her the prestigious title of “The Olivia Pope Events”. Now that most live events are pivoting to an online/virtual format during the pandemic, Melissa’s expertise in online event planning is a hot commodity. According to Melissa, she enjoys and takes great pride in her event planning process.“Honestly, providing clients with a great experience during the event process is truly why I love my business.”
In addition to Live And Online Event Planning Services, Melissa and her company Rescue Event Planning also provides several course offerings on various topics related to event planning and entrepreneurship. She gives “Mompreneurs” the tools and services to balance career, business ownership, and management with family. Melissa has spoken to several events such as Facebook Boost events, conducted workshops at universities and small businesses. Rescue Event Planning has been featured in several publications and podcasts; Event Planner Association podcast, Rent My Wedding Magazine 2019 and 2020, Morgan State University, iHeart radio, CEO Blog Nation, BET Influencer, Event Planner Expo 2020, and recently named Best Planner of the East 2020.
She provides entrepreneurs with special tools to combat what she calls “FWD” (Fear, Worry, Doubt) obstacles to break through and become successful owners. She also provides potential professional event planners and every day novices with the tools to create epic events on their own. This includes offering an event planning template, tips & tricks not just for live events, but also for the new world online event formats, and business planning and social media management services.
Tell us about who you are and what you do.
Melissa Jakes, CEO + Founder of Rescue Event Planning, a Washington DC-based boutique event planning firm to influencers, organizations, and corporations. During her career, she has been the right-hand event guru behind some of the most epic weddings, conferences, summits, event productions, baby showers, birthday parties, and other amazing events.
Tell us how you created this brand and what was the sole idea behind it.
In 2015, My husband pushed me to start my business, while I was already doing event planning for free. He saw the vision of how my talent could blossom into a successful business. The sole idea was to produce epic, flawless and successful events. Since 2015, we have grown quickly starting with 3 to 4 events a year and increasing to over 30 events a year.
Go in detail and tell us about how your brand works. You may keep this from the audience’s perspective.
We help entrepreneurs build their business through hosting live and now virtual events. We handle all of the backend work of the events and ensure each client’s brand is represented in a fabulous way that increases their sales and brand recognition.
What is your giveaway idea through this interview? Highlight something that may interest the readers on a one to one basis.
Remember that starting and running a business is not easy and I’ve been an entrepreneur for 6 years and I am still learning how to do it and do it afraid. I also provide entrepreneurs with special tools to combat what I call “FWD” (Fear, Worry, Doubt) obstacles, in order to break through and become successful owners. I provide potential professional event planners and every day novices with the tools to create epic events on their own. This includes offering an event planning template, tips & tricks not just for live events, but also for the new world online event formats, business planning, and social media management services.
Explain the challenges you went through while you were working on brand creation. What are the challenges you go through on an everyday basis?
Working 9 to 5, raising a daughter, being a wife, building a business, and studying to get my master’s degree was not the easiest thing to do, however, it was the push I needed to continue to create a successful brand and gain clientele. I was told that I would never get to 6 figures running an event planning business but I am proof that that is a false statement and I am currently making my way to 7 figures.
How do you manage your finances through the services you offer. Any fundings etc received?
During the Pandemic, we had to pivot from in-person events to virtual events for current clients and to gain new ones. In the beginning, most people did not think virtual events were going to last, however around May, there was a massive increase of virtual event inquiries and Rescue has been busy helping non-profits, small businesses, and entrepreneurs host their virtual event with ease while still bringing in income during a global pandemic.
Tell us your future vision about the brand. How far do you want to take it? What is your dream about taking it to the next level?
Rescue ™ Event Planning is now publicly trademarked and will continue to grow and work on major productions, we want to be the event planning firm in the DMV area and soon the east coast. The next level for Rescue ™ Event Planning is to be able to employ full-time event planners to manage various contracts across the region.
What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?
The main reasons I have gone this far is due to having faith in God, strategic planning every year with a business coach, and joining a community that will support you in your journey and encourages you to keep pushing.
Get in touch with Rescue Event Planning on
Facebook: @rescueeventplanning
Instagram: rescue_events
Website: rescueeventplanning.com