Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtley Cook.
Courtley, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up as a child, I always loved planning and decorating parties. My parents did a lot of entertaining when I was young, so helping my mom plan and decorate her parties came natural to me. I was always the one who did all the decorating for Christmas; hanging the ornaments on the tree or assisting my parents with the Christmas decorations outside.
However, it wasn’t until I was planning my daughter’s 3rd Minnie Mouse themed birthday party that I really realized how much I enjoyed planning and designing events. It had been a passion of mine for many years that I placed on the back burner because I was busy working a 9-5 in Corporate America. My husband and I would have conversations often about me pursuing my passion full-time; however, the opportunity never presented itself. So, when the job market slowed, I began to look for other opportunities in the Oil and Gas field, which to my surprise, none came.
I then told myself, Courtley, it’s now or never. You have the choice to continue to work as an employee, or you can pursue your passion, and become an employer; so, in September of 2017, while sitting in my bedroom, my husband and I took a leap of faith, and opened our own company, A Step Above The Rest Events. We made a post on Facebook announcing we were starting our event design company and were open for business.
To our surprise, a few days later, calls started coming in. A business colleague of mine reached out to me, asking if we could help plan her daughters Sweet 16 Birthday Party that was in two weeks. We were excited about the opportunity, and up for the challenge, so we said yes! We were actually so excited that we accepted and planned two events the same day! To say we were tired was an understatement, but both events turned out successful, and we were on our way!
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?
Not as easy, as we imagined it would be. We’ve certainly had our fair share of challenges along the way.
Coming from an Engineering background in the Oil & Gas Field, to the Event Industry was very new to me, and although I had managed many projects in my career, The Wedding and Events Industry was totally different. I had to attend classes and workshops to get specialized training and certifications in this field, so I could meet and understand the needs of my clients. It was like going back to school all over again learning a new trade.
The event industry changes rapidly, so keeping up with the latest trends was necessary to stay relevant in such a competitive field. One day a design would be hot, a few months later it’s not, so just keeping up with the trends, was a lot.
I would say one our biggest challenges we faced along the way, was identifying our target audience, marketing to our ideal client, and getting clientele that matched our brand. I’ve had many sleepless nights, trying to figure this process out. Once we got this process down, we were good to go and on our way.
Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
A Step Above The Rest Events is an Award Winning Wedding Planning and Event Design Company. We specialize in creating unforgettable experiences for our clients. We plan, design and coordinate weddings, baby showers, bridal showers, gender reveals, birthday parties, social and corporate events to name a few.
We are known best for our professionalism, attention to detail, and exceptional customer service. We strive to give our clients an experience. We believe that Every Event tells A Story, and we want to help our clients tell theirs.
As a business owner, I am most proud of our growth. In our first two years of being in business, we received the 2019 Best of the Best Vendor Award by Rent Your Wedding Magazine and received the 2019 Couples Choice Award by Wedding Wire. We were so elated to be recognized for our hard work and dedication we provide to our clients. This type of recognition and praise, really makes me feel good. It’s totally awesome when you love what you do, and are being recognized for it.
What sets us apart from others in the industry is the experience we create for our clients. We take a proactive approach in exceeding our client’s expectations by going “A Step Above The Rest” to give them the “WOW Factor.” Our level of professionalism, attention to detail, and the relationships we form with our clients is superb. Our goal is to get to know our clients and build a foundation of trust so that we create an event that is tailored exclusively for them. We want our clients to understand we are here for them throughout their entire planning process. We work hard, so they don’t have to. We go above and beyond to meet and exceed their expectations.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Faith and Integrity. These are the most important qualities to possess on both a personal and professional level in my opinion. Faith without works is dead, and I strive to be a woman of integrity daily. It is by faith, that we are still growing, and will continue to grow. Keeping God in the midst of our business has blessed us tremendously. Our best is yet to come!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1400 Broadfield Blvd. Suite 200
Houston, Texas 77084 - Website: www.asarevents.com
- Phone: 281-616-5848
- Email: info@asarevents.com
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