Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbi Andrews.
Hi Debbi, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
To be honest, it all started by helping my mom with Jewish holidays. From planning to shopping and then cooking and setting up, not knowing it then, but this was event planning 101.
I am second generation event planner; my mom started as an admin and as time progressed they changed her new earned title to Event Planner. If you think about it, Event/Meeting Planners didn’t really exist till about 50 years ago. Most were admins or volunteers that handled the event planning aspect of weddings, celebration, or business dinners. I do love how the industry has morphed into what it is now.
I have always loved food and beverage…either cooking or eating out, it’s always been my thing. What I didn’t know when I was younger was my love for sales, the whole selling aspect wasn’t really what I was looking for until I became a server during college, then my whole world changed. The connection between my love of food and beverage and the ability to lead my guests to an amazing meal equated to success in the way of higher check average thus higher tips and repeat guests. Once I made this connection, and whole new world opened!
I realized with my business degree background that I could substantially increase my net income by just selling each table one to two additional items thus the Sales career was launched.
Fast forward a few years, I was working in a small hotel during college where not only did I do kitchen prep for the events but I also set up and served the events. For these events, I had to learn the ends and outs of BEOs (banquet event orders) and timing; two hugest pieces I still use today 30+ years later.
Fast forward about 10 years, at this point, my mom was a full time planner and we talked every night about “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of what she was experiencing with her events. At this time, I was beginning my career in hotel catering sales but listening to her explain about what happened vs what was supposed to happened really sharpened my skills about what planners really need and I became that…a very competent catering sales manager who knew how to lead/sell the guests into not only the perfect menu, perfect decor, and perfect space but a timeline that worked for both their needs and ours.
So where am I now, I merged both worlds into one. I am the Sales & Events Manager at one the largest and definitely the most delicious restaurant on International Drive, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The event world is always changing and flowing, I have had my share of jobs. Some better than others but I always learned one new skill that I have complied into who I am now. Economic situations has definitely impacted some job changes…2001, 2009, and then Covid all caused the event/hospitality world to shatter temporarily…good thing, most of us don’t know how to stay down…we fight back!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Sales & Event Planner for a high-end restaurant. I have been in the industry in Orlando for over 21 years and I know for being dependable and helping cultivating connections of vendors to planners. I had a networking company call Party Planners Network for 6 years. We met once a month for lunch, started with 6 of us and at our last meeting, we had 85! What sets me apart from others..I hope my passion for the industry, the love of my peers, and the hopes of the next generation.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Dependability
Honesty
Durability
Warm
Open minded
Open to change
Mentor
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbi_m_andrews?igsh=MW9pMHduNzRpYTcy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18tUtAWdGy/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiandrews1?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
Image Credits
Mary Fosky
Miles DJ Productions
Jacob Orlando
