Today we’d like to introduce you to Patricia Neal-Stinson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My company initially started in 2004. In 2016, I stepped out on faith and left my Information Technology career of twenty-eight years to pursue my passion full-time in Event Management. We rebranded our company to SynPant Eprises Events Group, LLC dba SEEvents Group, LLC.
I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Lincoln University (MO). Interestingly, my position in the Information Technology field required me to be the technical manager for a successful software company’s technical conference. This is where my passion for event management was ignited.
With the guidance of Mr. Jesse Hill, Jr., SynPant Enterprises Events was established in 2004. The name changed to SynPant Eprises Events in 2005. SynPant’s first corporate client was Sanderson Industries 40th Anniversary Gala for 650 guests. Mr. Sanderson entrusted us with the task of planning the entire event from beginning to end. In 2006, SynPant added transportation, incentives, and tours to the services offered. Now we are a full-fledged travel agency as well!
“Be a Guest at Your Own Event!”
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
After leaving “corporate,” our first challenge was figuring out how to market our company. I was on the track walking one day and ran into a well-known veteran Atlanta event planner and communications specialist Sonjia Young, who told me social media was the key. She gave me the best two valuable words, “social media,” to reach more people (potential clients) than I could ever meet via networking or cold calling. We had to do some brainstorming before we could market our business on social media, I had to rebrand my company, transforming our legacy name (SynPant Eprises Events) into a shorter name (SEEvents) and updating our logo and website. We also created social media pages on Facebook business, LinkedIn, and Twitter. We moved on to creating our marketing collaterals (business cards, brochures, and postcards). I attended different networking events and
became a member of various event associations which helped to market our company. I secured a well-known marketing strategist Lee Ashby-Watts, who challenged me to get out of my comfort zone, critiqued our brand,
created an event service survey, created an online marketing page, and recommended us having a company open house to showcase our event service expertise.
We were successful with our SEE, Touch, and Taste open house collaborating with other vendors to participate and our guests of 100+.
We gained business. We are now on Instagram and visible on all social media platforms mentioned earlier with online marketing. Stay tuned tonSEEvents growth.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about SEEvents – what should we know?
SEEvents Group, LLC is an event management, production, and travel company based in Atlanta, GA; however, we can plan, manage, and execute your event anywhere in the USA and the Caribbean. We operate on the basis of three tenets: creativity, passion, and execution. Corporate and Social events are our specialty. We offer a wide variety of services that go above and beyond event planning and production and extend to team building, incentives, transportation, and group tours. We also offer group travel (air, cruises, hotel, transportation, and excursions). The SEEvents planning experts listen to you. We customize for you. We’ve built a reputation as the business of choice for stellar customer service, creative events, and going the extra mile. We ensure that the vision you have for your event becomes a reality that exceeds your expectations. With us, “You’ll Be a Guest at Your Own Event!”
SEEvents is a member of Meeting Professional International and is a Certified Women Owned-Business.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
All praises go to God. Luke: 12:48, To whom much is given, much is required.
My mother played an instrumental role while on earth and in spirit now.
Mr. Jesse Hill, Jr. (retired CEO of Atlanta Life Insurance Co.) played a significant role in getting my business started. After being part of the planning committee for Mr. and Mrs. Hill’s fundraiser in 2004, I called him and shared my news of wanting to start my own event planning business. He requested me to schedule a meeting to go over my finances. During this meeting, I had to be open about my monthly income, bills, and retirement. Once he reviewed my finances, he gave me the okay to start my business. He played a major role in my first corporate event for Sanderson
Industries 40th Anniversary with 650 guests. He secured the honorable Ambassador Andrew Young, Mayor Shirley Franklin, and Valerie Jackson to be the honorary chairpersons. The legendary Theresa Hightower was our entertainment and news anchor Amanda Davis was the mistress of ceremony.
My daughter Syntara Tyler has been with me from the beginning to now. She makes me feel like I can jump off a building and land safely. My husband Rev. Dr. Michael D. Stinson is involved in the business, he supported my decision to leave “corporate” in 2016. I can count on
him for encouragement and constructive criticism.
Others who have and continues to support me are my sisters (Hilda & Constance), my aunt (Mary), my niece (Tan), Bishop Dr. Barbara King, friends, family, and the SEE team.
What were you like growing up? Personality wise, interest wise, etc.
During my childhood, I remember my mother working two or three jobs to support our family after separating from my father. The job (passion) she kept was as a beautician, her entrepreneur spirit. My mother instilled in her four living children (two deceased in a home fire) that family was important. Her mother died when she was 12 years old. My early years were spent with my grandfather, aunts, uncles, and cousins (just because we could and every holiday).
I start running track in the ninth grade. I ran cross-country and track in high school and college. I remember track being a key part in
building my confidence and disciplining me for my future. I also worked a summer job at fourteen at a health clinic and at Steak and Shake as a waitress throughout high school. Education was important to my mother. All of her girls graduated from college. My brother was six credits shy of a college degree before he passed.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 404 271 9281
- Email: patricia@seeventsgroup.com
Image Credit:
RIU Hotel Ocho Rios, Georgia Piedmont Technical College
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