Highly regarded for her event planning skills and business acumen, Kristen brings a lifelong passion for event planning to her work. She joins the team as Director of Business Development and Events. She previously has worked as the Director of Special Events at the Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac and as a Party and Events Coordinator at Canton Township Leisure Services.

A high school English class changed Kristen Porchia’s life.

“I’d been teaching a two-week class on punctuation. Suddenly I looked up and realized that there had to be something more to life.”

After some soul searching, Kristen realized what she loved to do – and changed up her degree to make it happen.

“I started taking classes on PR and events. When I thought about it, it made perfect sense. I’d planned all the philanthropy events for my sorority. I’d even planned all the homecoming events in high school! Event planning isn’t just a job for me. It’s something I love to do.”

Stepping right into a party and events coordination role after graduation, she developed a taste for even larger-scale event planning.

“I love the creative side of it – and the sheer joy it brings to people. My goal has always been to share that with as many people as possible.”

She quickly stepped up her game with a challenging Director of Special Events role at the Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac. The Crofoot’s three venues promptly began booking out each weekend – going from hosting just the occasional event to more than 250 a year.

“I loved being a part of the Crofoot’s growth. But there are only 52 Fridays and Saturdays in a year, and I was always hungry for more.”

While at the Crofoot she crossed paths with Todd Lloyd of Chair Covers & Linens and Mark Ephraim of Top That! Event, and her interest in both companies was piqued.

Little wonder she leapt at the chance to take on the role of Director of Business Development and Events – a position created just for her.

Kristen be working as a brand ambassador for both companies, along with designing events and co-ordinating speaking engagements around the country.

It’s a role with huge breadth, and she’s visibly excited about the almost unlimited opportunity to develop her skills and tailor the role to her personal interests and skills.

“There’s so much scope to work with events of all types and sizes – and across all sorts of venues. I really love that I have the opportunity to do that little bit more.”

Although, let’s face it: that little bit more is bound to prove quite a lot more.

After all, it’s no coincidence that Kristen has back-to-back Event Professional of the Year awards to her name – along with a slew of other accolades. She admits to always pushing herself to learn new things and expand her skills.

“I’m always learning – and I’m always coming up with new and creative ways to express myself. I like to stay busy and challenge myself.”

And she has some impressive ways of doing so, including an on-going commitment to reading half of the New York Times bestseller list every year.

“It’s definitely an experience! I’ll be reading a crime thriller one week and a history book full of footnotes the next.”

If that’s not enough, she redecorates and renovates her home with the changing seasons, proudly doing everything with her own two hands.

“I love hands-on activities – especially boating. We live on the lake, and my boyfriend and I take our chubby pug dog – dressed in his doggy life vest – out for a spin in our vintage boat whenever we get the chance.”

But even on the water, event planning isn’t far from her mind.

“I’ve hosted an event next to the water, actually, but not on the water – yet. It’s definitely a career goal of mine!”

Suddenly, that high school punctuation class seems like a distant memory.