Inspiring Conversations with Carissa Jackson of C x C Events

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carissa Jackson.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I got started in events long before realizing it was something I could grow into a career. My mother always likes to say she let me plan too many parties growing up. Which definitely contributed to it, my family did a nice amount of entertaining, hosting celebrations and holidays at our home. But, what also contributed to events being my long-term career was assisting with a Juneteenth Parade and Celebration in Kansas City all throughout high school and college. I literally worked my way up over the years on that event. First year helping with the street vendors, the next year leading and guiding the 3 mile parade along the route, and the next few years mc’ing the celebration that took place at the end of the parade. I didn’t realize it then, but it very much contributed to my passion for events, it was something I truly looked forward to every summer.

Moving into the college years, I attended and graduated from Arizona State University. Although I switched from a BA in Mechanical Engineering (I love a fast car) to a BA Communications and Certificate in Special Event Management, it helped me to be methodical and logical in my approach to all things. After I made the switch to majoring in Communications, I wasn’t 100% sure about solely pursuing events, so I interned for PR firm. I gained early age social media skills that summer through managing various businesses Twitters and Facebook pages. Who knew years later social media would be key in marketing strategy! But, after this internship I had a friend who was launching an apparel company who I offered to do social media for. This lasted for about nine months, and I moved on and decided to finally pursue event planning. The next two summers, I had event-related internships, Event Intern Manager for the Nike Tournament of Champions and Arizona Spa Girls Summer Spaaa Series Event Intern. These were great, and in addition to the certification I received in Special Event Management, helped me to see it was something I could do full time.

After graduating, I got a job at an entertainment venue booking activities, food and beverage, and spaces for corporate, team buildings, and social events. But, that friend I’d done social media for in college called me up and needed assistance on the side with a short film premiere. ‘Liberate’ by Dom Flagg owner of I Am Root Co. I said of course, would love to assist, and we went on to host an intimate and upscale screening with performances by local poets. Six months later, he said hey ‘I’d like to do an art and poetry event, can you help?’. And from there, we started doing art and poetry, fashion shows, live music, open mics and more events in the Phoenix metro area. And although I relocated to Los Angeles in 2016, Dom has kept me involved with the company and helped me to become co-owner of I Am Root.

Since moving to Los Angeles, I’ve had the opportunity to work on festivals like the Soul Beach Music Festival in Aruba and nonprofit events such as the American Cancer Societys California Spirit Gala. But also for design vendors that cater to top Los Angeles event companies, and brands like Adidas and PacSun who partner to put on the Adicolor Street Fair, and food and beverage events like Effervesence a champagne and sparkling wine celebration. And for the past three years, I’ve gained more corporate event experience working for Wella Company, a professional beauty company that owns brands like OPI, Clairol, and Wella. Here my experience has been expanded even more, working on tradeshows, regional and national hair shows, digital events, holiday events, and national sales meetings.

Now it hasn’t been easy to grow in this field, with a lot of opportunity in LA comes a lot of competition. But with every experience and position I’ve been blessed with, I’ve definitely built upon the previous, gained and grew. Even with there for sure always being something challenging through the event process, it’s rewarding to overcome the challenges. They’re eye-opening and a chance for a new learning opportunity so you know how to handle it the next time.

In the next phase of my life, I recently celebrated turning 29, I’m beginning to set my sights on helping others plan their social and celebratory moments through CxC Events (Concepts by Carissa). In doing this, it feels like I’m coming full circle, coming back to social events that contributed to my initial intrigue turned into passion of bringing people together for a good time. The milestone birthday parties, holiday parties, the Sweet Sixteens, house warmings, super bowl parties. The enjoyable and special moments in life that can be transformed from a ‘party’ to an event that is cherished by all in attendance and memorable. These are the type of events I’ll be looking to assist with through either consulting, coordinating, or CEO’ing as I like to call it.

Alright, 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?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road, but I truly believe everything happens for a reason. Although I loved Phoenix and had a great part of my life there, the events industry was smaller, and I sometimes feel that I took too long to move to Los Angeles. But everything happens for a reason, THEN, when I did decide to look at jobs and moving to LA, I had a job offer that fell through. After multiple interviews and asking me to quit my current job before making me an offer, they decided they didn’t want to hire anyone from a competitor! But I pushed through and asked my sister if it was still ok for me to stay with her until I got on my feet. So I took a risk that paid off and moved to LA without a job. But as mentioned before, everything happens for a reason, and I would have been pigeonholing myself into a very small segment of the event industry had that job not fell through.

The other challenging part is just the millennial struggle of ‘I have to have experience to get experience’. But, doing gigs on the side of my full time when I wasn’t getting the exact experience I needed and wanted was very helpful for me. I’ve let Dom at I Am Root know many times that being able to work for I Am Root has greatly contributed to my experience and resume that I bring to the table.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about C x C Events?
C x C Events (Concepts by Carissa) is my events startup on the side of my corporate work. Aiming to service social events, but with capability of also servicing corporate and experiential events.

C x C Events provides consulting, coordinating, or CEO’ing (all in support of event from beginning to end). Aiming to provide bespoke service based on client needs.

What sets C x C apart from others is the level of professionalism and experience that I bring. And also that the vendors or venues I work with, I’ve either worked for them or personally experienced their service before and know they’re top level.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud of getting it going. It’s been on my heart for a while and a long-term goal to have my own company. So getting the logo together, the social media page, etc. is a step in the right direction for me. Especially already working events full time, it feels good to go the extra step and spend the additional time to build my own.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory are road trips all across the country. Driving from Kansas City to the south, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia. Or to the west coast, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland. We had a van with a bed and mini television, and I remember watching all my vhs’ that I’d packed, and especially 101 Dalmations when it was contributing to my ‘I want to be a fashion designer’ phase.

Even as an adult, it’s been nice to slow down from time to time to take trips with my parents. Riding for hours on end listening to oldies like Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Aretha, The O’Jays. Or listening to comedy shows on the satellite radio. And then being without cell service at times and having to find non-technological things to fill the 18-hour drive like talking, writing, or reading, There was something really special about all of those trips and moments that I’ll always cherish and remember.

Contact Info:

• Email: conceptscarissa@gmail.com
• Website: https://conceptsxcarissa.wixsite.com/events
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cxcevents/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cxceventss/