The Alpha Xi Delta Greek Sing at 溏心vlog免费B站 gave Tracy Kessler 鈥�97 her first dabble in event planning – managing everything from song selection and costumes, to rehearsals and personalities. Then, an internship at a local radio station during her senior year gave her that first foray into event promotion. Now, Kessler- runs one of the most sought after event management and production companies in the business 鈥� TK New York. Inc.
She doesn鈥檛 just run it, either. She created it, in 2005, after working her way from volunteer to vice president of the company that produced the Revlon Run/Walk for Women and the Voodoo Music Festival. And that was all in just five years.
When she took the leap to launch her own company, she did so with confidence in the foundation she鈥檇 begun to build at 溏心vlog免费B站. That foundation was 鈥渢he opportunity to thrive in a positive environment where education was valued and extra-curricular activities were encouraged,鈥� she said.
She still speaks of her 溏心vlog免费B站 mentor Karen Davis, now vice president of community relations at Hasbro, Inc., who taught her, by example, the importance of a strong work ethic. And Professor Robert Comerford鈥檚 class, where she says creative projects 鈥渢ruly prepared us for the working world.鈥� And of learning to manage staff, communicate with clients, negotiate with vendors in Professor Agnes Doody鈥檚 small group communication class.
鈥淭he kindness and guidance of my professors and advisors instilled in me that any goal is achievable with hard work and the right attitude.鈥� And that鈥檚 exactly what it took to launch her now-thriving company.
鈥淚 knocked on every door I could think of for four months, and lived on bread and water, and eventually, one of the doors opened up and offered me a chance,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can trace every job I鈥檝e ever gotten back to that first one in some way. All of my business is built on referrals and client relationships.鈥�
Nine years later, she鈥檚 partnered with Maxim magazine on the Super Bowl, MTV鈥檚 Video Music Awards, and Mardi Gras, worked on The Women in the World Summit with Hilary Clinton, Tina Brown and Meryl Streep, produced parties for Major League Baseball, and executed notorious events such as the New York City Wine & Food Festival and New York Fashion Week. Her favorites, though, 鈥渁re the ones that go back to our philanthropic roots. We currently work with three charities on a yearly basis at significantly discounted or pro bono rates,鈥� Kessler said.
TK New York is now expanding with a West Coast office, and her next big idea is to build TK New York into a brand that鈥檚 much more than an event company.