27. Standing Together As One Voice To Protect The Events Industry with Illinois Events Coalition
b"About Illinois Events Coalition:\\nThe Illinois Events Coalition was founded by Ali Phillips of Engaging Events by Ali, Collin Pierson of Collin Pierson Photography, and Michelle Durpetti of Michelle Durpetti events. They are supported by over 200 businesses who employ hundreds of dedicated, career event professionals.\\nTheir coalition represents the thousands of wedding and event businesses located throughout the city of Chicago and Illinois who have been severely affected by the necessary public health mandates impacting businesses during this pandemic.\\nThey are a diverse collection of creatives that include women, minorities, and LGBT business owners, dedicated to providing services to our fellow citizens.\\nThe special events industry responsible\\xa0for producing the City's weddings, galas and corporate events is, at its core, a constellation of small businesses.\\nThough these small businesses produce\\xa0vast amounts of revenue for the City, we do so without the collective resources of many\\xa0of our partner service industries, like hotels, which benefit from larger government relations budgets.\\nGet to know our guests:\\nAli Phillips is the Chief Wedding Orchestrator of Engaging Events by Ali, Inc and is truly a leader in the wedding industry. She has been named one of the Top Chicago\\xa0Wedding Planners\\xa0in the Chicago Magazine and was selected by the Editor of Brides Magazine as one of Chicago\\u2019s favorite wedding planners. She has also been named\\xa0Best Wedding Consultant in Chicago by The Knot Magazine multiple times. Ali Phillips is also one of the founding members of the Illinois Events Coalition. Ali Phillips serves a board member of WIPA and is a certified Professional Bridal Consultant\\u2122 with the Association of Bridal Consultants. She a dedicated self-starter who is goal-oriented, has a professional and positive attitude, and takes a proactive approach to everything she does. You can find Ali in her free time on her boat on Lake Michigan, cycling at Soul Cycle and traveling the world in search of the perfect sunset.\\nMichelle Durpetti earned the title \\u201cOne of the Country\\u2019s Top 50 Planners in 2018, was named \\u201cWoman of Style\\u201d in 2017, was selected as a \\u201cBride\\u2019s Choice\\u201d winner on Wedding Wire in 2013, and \\u201cBest of\\u201d wedding planner by The Knot in 2014.\\xa0Since the inception of Michelle Durpetti Events in 2008, Michelle has planned and produced over 350 weddings and events including some of Chicago\\u2019s most notable, celeb-studded events.\\xa0At almost the 12 year marker with MDE, Michelle still loves designing events and working closely with couples to help bring their unique and ideal wedding vision to life. She balances her time between MDE and being a managing partner in her family\\u2019s business here in Chicago while also being a competitive amateur equestrian and volunteering her time with various charitable organizations.\\nColin Pierson is an international-award winning wedding bridal fashion & editorial photographer and educator based in Chicago, Illinois. Combining his unique past in photojournalism, sports, and fashion photography, he created a style that is both candid and dramatic. Collin is dedicated to a personalized approach with all of his clients; reflected in the images he captures of their life-defining moments. When he is not shooting, he is an educator to other photographers at workshops, conventions and conferences around the world.\\nTo learn more about our guests and Ilinois Events Coalition:\\nFollow Ilinois Events:\\nInstagram | Facebook | Twitter | Website\\nHashtags: #saveillinoisevents #facesbehindevents"