Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Ellamae.
Michelle, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started working in the events industry after high school, interning for a prestigious event production company while attending college at Pepperdine University. After university, I was offered a full-time position as the CEO’s executive assistant and I was thrilled to take the position. In total, I worked eight years for this organization and it was the most educational years of my life (in terms of event planning). I eventually worked my way up to being the Line Producer, a role I had once dreamed of achieving in my early 20s. However, after years of working in the Hollywood events industry, I became hungry for change and developed a curiosity for redirecting my talents to more directly do good.
I decided to quit my job with no clear vision of what was ahead and left to travel Europe for a couple of weeks. During my time sipping aperol spritzes in Mallorca, I realized I still wanted to produce events but in benefit of social good organizations who are fighting to create a better world. I wanted to be involved in the best way I knew how to fight global injustices, inequality, and hatred. I launched Ellamae Productions in July 2019- our mission is to share our client’s stories and generate profit through thoughtfully curated events so that they can further expand their reach in communities most in need.
Has it been a smooth road?
I have definitely had my share of entrepreneurial challenges but I’ve enjoyed the learning process and doing things I’ve never done before. My background was mostly event production so I’m very comfortable with managing budgets, negotiating with vendors, creating detailed timelines, hospitality, etc. but marketing and client acquisition was a new beast. I had to learn how to best target my desired clientele, generate brand awareness and create a loyal following all while keeping profit in mind. I have fortunately had incredible mentors guide me so the process has been less challenging than if I were independently making decisions.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Ellamae Productions story. Tell us more about the business.
Ellamae Productions has two divisions- one division focused on bringing dream weddings to life and another division focused on collaborating with social good organizations, specifically those promoting equal education, female empowerment, and ending human trafficking. We care about the ‘why’ behind our client’s visions and goals, and we fully invest in bringing their stories to life and cleverly communicating it to guests.
In addition to our ‘do good’ manifesto, we care that our events do not harm Mother Earth. We suggest sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives/options to our clients where possible, and we always ask the question of ‘how can we pay it forward’.
I am the beating heart behind EP, and I am proud of our humble yet luxury, white glove hospitality which is evident in our process and designs.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In regard to weddings, I’ve loved the progress society has made with embracing LGBTQ marriages and I look forward to seeing more acceptance universally for all cultures.
In regard to social good events, I see them becoming more conversational rather than lecture-based and incorporating more technological advances as we continue to transform in this digital age.
Overall, I definitely see a big shift in the way waste is handled and processed after events. Events can be extremely damaging to the environment (overproduction, excess use of water, etc.) and many event producers are taking action to create sustainable, eco-friendly solutions to process trash, recyclables, compost, and reusables after events. I hope the sustainable approach to event production becomes a norm in our industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ellamaeproductions.org
- Phone: 626-382-9665
- Email: ellamaeproductions@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellamaeproductions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellamaeproductions/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ellamae-productions-santa-monica
Image Credit:
Traci Giles, Noah Sink, Jack Vu
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
