Meet Kaitlin McKenna of Uppercut Events and Consulting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaitlin McKenna.

Kaitlin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My parents met on a blind date, fast forward many years later I graced them with my presence. Growing up I was a professional figure skater; I loved the ice because it was a place I could create, perform and entertain. The rink where I trained would host the members every Friday night for dinner, I think this is where I first learned to love big events. It was everything from all the members being dressed up, gathering, mixing and mingling. Fabulous food being served, endless wine, lots of laughter and fond memories. I was so young back then but those memories are clear as day.

I ended up going to school for education, eventually graduating with my masters and began teaching high school English/Literature. Naturally, I needed to pay for school, so I started working as a cocktail waitress (well before I was legal to drink), then shifted to the bar and loved it. It felt like I was on the ice again, entertaining my guests every night and truly creating an experience. Thus far in my career, I have opened almost 10 different spaces, from a 5 star hotel, swanky cocktail driven bars to cute cafes. Creating cocktail programs and event coordinating became something that went hand in hand when opening all of these spaces; I loved these aspects of the business and was happened to be very good at it. I thought “we might be on to something here…”

Eventually I wanted to break out of my role and grow, after much searching I was not finding a great place to start anew, so I threw caution to the wind and opened my own Event/ Consulting business, Uppercut Events and Consulting/ I am Kaitlin McKenna. I am almost through my first year, it has been a blur but an incredible learning experience. I have learned so much about business and building a brand in this one year, I cannot wait to start next year. First up, a YouTube channel teaching home hack cocktail 101 (still love teaching!) and then interviewing my past clients and mentors as to drive business to the people who have supported me so much this past year.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If you describe smooth as driving down an unpaved road without shocks on your car on ice smooth, then yes. I figured out really quickly a couple things: do not bargain shop for web design. Get to know your potential clients before you sign them, you do not see eye to eye with everyone and as the owner need to exercise good judgment when it comes creating a long term business relationship versus immediate money. Be smart and organized with your money so you can avoid making decisions under duress. If possible keep a P/T job, the first year may not lead to mega millions because there are so many expenses. Have a good finance person in your corner, along with someone who is a social media hack if you do not have a budget for PR yet. Millennials are so good with this stuff. Join a networking group like BNI or your local Young Professionals chapter, it’s all about who you know and you need the practice of pitching yourself and business every single day. It is worth the investment.

Try your best to balance your time, specifically for yourself. I burned out 5 months in and was a shell of a human. I had to stop spreading myself so thin and accept that not everyone moves at my speed and stressing out about it was utterly useless. Just accept that you are not giving up, it is not an option.

Please tell us about Uppercut Events and Consulting / I am Kaitlin McKenna.
Uppercut Events and Consulting falls under the umbrella brand, I Am Kaitlin McKenna. Uppercut provides event solutions for corporate business, small to medium size restaurants. Essentially, you can outsource your event needs to us, this saves clients money and burden of maintaining someone on staff full time in the office. An admin is not an event planner! This has proven to be very efficient for my clients since there are quiet periods during the year, especially summer. We love weddings, we offer project management for weddings as well. My last large event was a trade show which I partner with a local magazine on and we crushed it! We are starting to plan our next trade show for 2019, we are shooting for 1,000 attendees!

The consulting portion of the business goes back to my roots, education. I love teaching, so it seemed like a natural step to help people open successful restaurants. We offer consulting too soon to be restaurateurs, ensuring that they get off on the right foot and are walking toward success. From the concept, finding commercial space, implementing IT services, menu creation, hiring and training of staff , we help business put out fires before they are even lit. I am not sure if I am really “know for anything yet”, I am still new! But I do know that I have lots of happy, repeat clients. However, what I am most proud of is my new project, “Team Find the Cause”. I partnered with a breast cancer non-profit, Find the Cause, and we are creating athletic events which will fund raise all year for this truly amazing cause. My YouTube channel will set me apart from the pack! Stay tuned for that one!

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I grew up above a funeral home, my father was an undertaker. I know…it’s different. It was a great space for a solid game of hide and go seek or freeze tag. I got immense pleasure out of luring my friends down to the funeral home, pushing them into a closet or restroom, barricading the door and turning all the lights out. Some of them did not share my love of a good haunted house or an excellent scare. I am confident that their parents did not appreciate it either.

Contact Info:

• Address: Kaitlin McKenna
  Uppercut Events and Consulting/ I Am Kaitlin McKenna
• Website: uppercutevents.com
• Phone: 978-335-3445
• Email: kmckenna@uppercutec.com
• Instagram: IamKaitlinMcKenna
• Facebook: Uppercut Events@ IamKaitlinMcKenna

Image Credit:
Asha Waterhouse

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