Beginning of an End or a New Beginning?

Healthcare has been my passion and life since College. I always loved all things biology and helping others.  While going to school full time, I worked part time at Lucien's Manor in South Jersey. That was my life almost every Friday through Sunday, with occasional weekday parties after classes. I started working part time at Lucien's when I was 16 and started out as a bus person, working my way all the way up to a Maitre'd- and killing it if I must say so myself! Lol I am a stickler for timelines, but also able to adapt when curveballs come flying! Being there every weekend, I would meet so many vendors and see so many different styles of decor, and it would have me dreaming about my own wedding day all the time.  It was an atmosphere I loved being in for sure.

Over the years, I continued to expand my healthcare career from medical billing and coding to Medical Assisting, allowing me to have the opportunity to manage a Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Office for Dr. William Miller.  I was the medical assistant and office manager for his practice in Voorhees for over 7 years and then the last 3 in which a new owner had taken over, so he could deservedly retire.  Being a part of so many patients' lives over that time and their experience within the office was something that I will always be grateful for; I have made many friendships along the way.  Many of those friendships continued even after my employment ended. While there, I repeatedly went back to Lucien's and ran weddings, as it had always been a big part of my life. To be honest as a mother of 3 at that point, it was also a good way to earn extra income.  There came a time when I had to choose time over money because my Full-time job was getting busier, and I was losing my weekends with my family to working weddings and parties. I left Lucien's but that love for the industry never left me.

Time for a change....

Over the last year and a half, I started to think of how I could get back into the event industry I love so much and make my own imprint.  My only thought- Start My Own Business and be my own Boss!  It sounded scary, yet exciting. I watched my dad start his own business years before and work so hard to make it the reputable Audio Visual and Production Company it is today. I then saw my sister take the leap and dive into Photography ( RaeBird Photography) because she had a gift she loved to do.  It was MY TURN.  After about a year of deteriorating mental health that only a few had seen at my job at the time, I had to go.  With Integrity, Confidence, and Support, I left my managerial job and took some time to figure out what my next step was.  I started working for my dad's AV Production Company (KD Productions) and realized- this is where I need to be, this makes me happy. I need to take my extensive experience in events and my customer service skills and make something big for myself.... Fall of 2023, JPC Event Coordination was Formed.  From there, it has been only holding my chin up and pushing forward. There have been mental and emotional setbacks but what I am consistently gaining is something I wouldn't trade for anything.

***Has there been a turning point in your life or career that pushed you to make a life-changing decision? Did it work out for you? Feel free to share your experience below with JPC***