New Biz Offers A Plan For All OccasionsJennifer Garr and Melanie Wilhite have taken their years of experience in corporate meeting and event planning and turned it into a new business based in Kosciusko County but capable of a worldwide scope.
Both Garr and Wilhite worked for major orthopedic companies for many years before deciding to form their own LLC at the first of this year.
Born was Elysian and Champagne Jam.
Elysian serves as the corporate meeting and event planning end of the business, while Champagne Jam is geared more toward social events as well as meeting planning.
While Garr and Wilhite both have years of experience, 49 combined, they also have a designation that only 13,000 people worldwide have.
They are both certified meeting professionals.
To become a CMP, one must complete a nationally recognized certification program while also completing an extensive exam.
Elysian can help businesses with board meetings, sales, seminars, conventions, training, leadership-award ceremonies and banquets.
With their past experience and expertise, Elysian is capable, said Garr, of handling worldwide events for corporations.
The company has already done work with some Chicago-based companies.
Champagne Jam is capable of handling weddings, graduations, reunions, birthdays, holiday, theme parties, team building, charity events and more.
And they are already getting asked to help with upcoming high school and college graduation parties.
"We look to bring elegance to an event," said Garr. "We're professional and know the challenges involved with planning an event."
They said they ensure style, class as well as elegance to any event they are involved in.
They've already gained praise from people like former Zimmer President and CEO Ray Elliott for their services.
"Jennifer and Melanie did an exceptional job of organizing and executing internal and external meetings," said Elliott in a statement. "Many of which were large and complicated from a logistics point of view and often in difficult locations. They never failed (not even once) and delivered flawless execution."
Garr and Wilhite said their biggest bread-and-butter service they offer is in contract negotiations and they've been "pounding the pavement" to garner more business.
While they are capable of planning an event as big as a wedding from start to finish, Garr and Wilhite also offer a la carte services for things like decorations, flowers, transportation and more.
For more information on Elysian, visit www.elysianmeetings.com
For more information on Champagne Jam, visit www.champagnejamevents.com
To contact Garr by phone, call 574-265-1083, or Wilhite at 574-527-4777.
