Meet Shemeika Arogbonlo of SHE Rocks Events

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shemeika Arogbonlo.

Shemeika, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Hello Beautiful People! I am SheMeika, the SHE behind SHE Rocks Events and I am honored to share my story with you all! I’m an East Texas gal (Tyler, Texas to be exact) who has grown very fond of the big city of Houston, as I’ve been here since 2005.

I have always planned events for people but never considered it as a career until I had the opportunity to plan my wedding in 2007. I have always had a thing for details & logistics so I really enjoyed planning my big day up until the wedding day when I realized there was no one to orchestrate the plans. Who was coordinating the event? Who would tell the vendors what was next on the itinerary? I knew there was no possible way that I could be the Bride and Coordinator at the same time. After experiencing that, I knew that I could not let another Bride or Client have an event and not have someone there to guide them along the way!

I officially started my business in 2009 under the name “Sugar & Spice Event Planners. When I started, I didn’t know how to run a business or even what kind of client(s) I was looking for. All I wanted was to do events and make them look pretty. So that went on for about 4 years as I continued to “manage” my business until I decided to go back to school and get my Masters in School Counseling at Lamar University. At the same time, I found out I was pregnant with my 2nd son so I made the decision to let my 1st business go because it was too much to take on at that time (that’s what I told myself).

When I graduated in 2015, I started to get that “itch” again for event planning but I knew that I didn’t want to go into it the same way. I wanted a new approach and some knowledge of how to run a business effectively. So I changed my name to SHE Rocks Events because first, I wanted something that would incorporate me (my name) and how I look at every event. My first year (2016) was all about learning I attended any and every event or conference that was tailored for event planners. I also attended networking events and have met many wonderful event planners and “Friendors” in the industry.

Thankfully, I’ve also had the opportunity to work with many great new and repeat clients that helped our business flourish and successfully execute over 30 events last year. As I’ve moved into my 2nd year in the business, I have a better understanding of how to run my business, personal, and professional life all at the same time. You asked the question of “how I got to where I am today?”. Like I tell everyone that I meet, “I just do it! If it wasn’t for God on my side and my family/friend support system, I couldn’t be writing nor telling my story right now. In this business, you must have tough skin and be ready for anything that comes your way.

There were many sleepless nights, frustrations, trial and errors, and tribulations, but I somehow, with God, I kept standing and moving forward because I was determined to make this name/brand be known. I am confident that He has great plans for SHE Rocks Events and I am ready to continue this ride and see where He is going to take us!

Great, 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?
Oh no… Being an entrepreneur is not easy, nor has this 2 year journey been smooth sailing. With everyone job you have, comes challenges. For me, I faced many!

One obstacle I faced was how to set Business Boundaries while juggling being a Mom, Wife, Teacher, and Boss at the same time, just to name a few. As I mentioned before, I was just excited to get clients when I started. I didn’t have a set price that reflected the work I was putting in, and I was allowing my clients to contact me with no time constraints, etc. I knew it was important to make time for my family and friends despite my career and/or business and I had to learn that the hard way! I was missing special moments of my loved ones so I had to make an adjustment and set the boundaries that would provide a balance all around.

I set business hours that clients could reach me to avoid the late night, weekend calls. On the weekends (if I do not have any event planned), I strategically plan out how my week is going to run (social media post, meeting clients, visiting venues, etc.). I have created a “Do, Doing, and Done” board where I add all the things that I need to do (personally and professionally). From that list, I focus on the priority list, breaking them down into smaller task until all the items are finished. I also have a calendar that I live by faith to keep me on track with events and other important dates. In this industry, every planner needs an accountability partner.

Well, I have 2 (personal and professional) that help to keep me accountable of my plans that I set. So far it has been working out well and has helped me to stay focused on what it priority! Another obstacle I faced was finding the perfect team. I found myself doing a lot of work in the beginning but I knew I needed assistance with the load of events that I was getting. I would ask close friends and family members to donate their time and it helped for a bit, but I knew that I needed a team. When I found 5 other individuals that loved event planning as much as me, I was overjoyed.

It was not only helpful because we could to bounce ideas off each other, but they were there to help with making phone calls, send out invitations, run errands, and take on other roles when needed and lack of supervision. Last year I lost my Dad unexpectedly and at the same time, I had to two big weddings approaching. I questioned how I would be able to successfully execute their days with a heavy heart and so many other things going on in my personal life. Without any hesitation, my Assistants stepped up and took care of it for me until I returned!

I am truly thankful for them all because they put the Rocks in SHE Rocks Events and I couldn’t have done it without them!

Please tell us about SHE Rocks Events.
SHE Rocks Events is a Houston based event planning firm that specializes in “Turning Events into EXTRAordinary Celebrations” from Kid & Adult Birthday Parties, Milestone Parties, Wedding Ceremonies & Receptions, Graduations, Baby Showers, and much, much more! We enjoy creating unique events that fit the client’s personality, style, vision, and most importantly, budget.

With over 10 years experience in event design, planning, and coordinating, we are dedicated to orchestrating events that are as flawless as they are amazing. We are known for paying close attention to detail and thinking outside of the box. We know that every client we receive has a story to tell and we want to incorporate it, one detail at a time.

What I am proud of most at this very moment is finally seeing the fruits of my labor. It was many times that I questioned and second guessed myself. As I mentioned earlier, this road is not a smooth one, but I am thankful for the clients and Friendors that God has blessed me with. Every event has helped me to grow both personally and professionally and I am glad that I still have great relationships with them and meet up with them outside of this business life. As I say all the time, once you join the SRE Family, we will remain connected and support them in all their celebrations or special moments!

As an Event Planner, it is important for us to do our best because our clients are depending on us to relieve stress and ensure that their events run as smoothly as possible. That is why customer service is a big thing for me, and one thing that I believe sets my company apart. My SRE Team and I, do our best to listen to our client’s needs and concerns, always make sure we reach out to them within 24-48 hours when they contact us and if an issue arrives, we make sure to remain professional and be an Advocate for them at all times.

We love knowing that we’ve played an essential part in helping our clients’ dreams come true, not by a coincidence, but as a result of professional planning, superior customer service, and execution!

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory was taking a family road trip to Mexico & Padre Island. We didn’t have a lot when I was growing up. We were a typical middle-class family of 7 (Yes, 2 brothers, 2 sisters, myself and my parents) and our parents worked hard to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. Vacations to us were visiting our cousins and grandparents (I have a big family on both sides) for the weekend, but when our parents took us outside of the state for the first time, it was so special!

We had so much fun just being together as a family, as there was never a dull moment. We would jumping on the beds in the hotel, enjoyed our Happy Meals from McDonald’s, and enjoying sightseeing. That is why creating special moments that one can remember is big for me. Family is important to me and my husband and I strive to create those moments with our two boys just as my parents did for us!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sherocksevents.com
• Phone: 281-766-9838
• Email: meika@sherocksevents.com

Image Credit:
Shronica Monique Photography, RM Foto (CJ Martin), George Street Photo & Video, Ronnie Bliss Photography, 56 Grizzly Media, Catherine Sanders Photography

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