Connie Amos-Parsons
"Phenomenal Business Woman"
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Copa: Where are you from?
Connie: I was born and raised in beautiful, scenic Central, VA. I always had a desire to attend college, and I graduated from the University of Maryland College Park, with a B.S. in Business Management and a Major in Human Resources. After a few years working as a Team Leader and Management Analyst, I returned to pursue a Masters Certificate in the Leadership Development Program for Managers, at Johns Hopkins University and received a 4.0 GPA. In March 2023, I finally realized my educational goal of attaining a MBA Welch Honors Distinguished degree at Jack Welch Management Institute, and I am incredibly happy that I persevered and received a Summa Cum Laude 4.0 GPA. |
Map of Virginia
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Copa: Please tell us about what degree program you have recently completed and why?
Connie: I chose to pursue a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) because I have a passion for business management and I am the Founder, Owner/Chief Executive Officer for my small business, At Your Service Events Planner LLC – Travel Experts and Events, for 16 years. I made the decision during the beginning of the pandemic when we shut down for three months from March – June 2020. It was a very somber time and I saw an ad from Jack Welch Management Institute on social media, it appealed to me, and I applied the same day. I was accepted the next day and had two weeks to prepare and started April 6, 2020. It was such an amazing journey for me. I had outstanding professors, awesome global leaders as classmates, and the experience was challenging. I started goal setting at the beginning, and disciplined myself by developing a strict schedule, which I adhered to 90% of the time. |
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Copa: At what time did you decide to become an entrepreneur?
Connie: It was a dream deferred. I was working full time in the Federal Government as a Senior Management Analyst, Team Leader, and Project Manager PMP, and did not have the time to pursue entrepreneurship. However, I started researching the industry that I wanted to work in—event planning—and prepared for a second career. It was 2007, and I wrote a business plan, created the business name, hired a graphic artist to create my logo, and self-funded by investing money from my 401K in my business for the first two years before I became profitable. The word to define investing your own money without external help or without capital is called bootstrapping, and that was the way I wanted to launch my business, without needing to borrow money.
Connie: It was a dream deferred. I was working full time in the Federal Government as a Senior Management Analyst, Team Leader, and Project Manager PMP, and did not have the time to pursue entrepreneurship. However, I started researching the industry that I wanted to work in—event planning—and prepared for a second career. It was 2007, and I wrote a business plan, created the business name, hired a graphic artist to create my logo, and self-funded by investing money from my 401K in my business for the first two years before I became profitable. The word to define investing your own money without external help or without capital is called bootstrapping, and that was the way I wanted to launch my business, without needing to borrow money.
Copa: How is the event planning business after the COVID 19 Pandemic?
Connie: The event planning industry has rebounded after the COVID-19 pandemic and we are planning our 5th Phenomenal Women Walking in Our Purpose Conference in 2024, and welcome customers to contact us for your next Event or Conference, and Destination Weddings, Honeymoons or Vacations. We will be delighted to help you. Contact Connie or Caren at [email protected] or 434.944.1077 Cell or Text. |
Copa: Please tell our readers about each one of your businesses.
Connie: I have owned my travel and event planning business since 2007. We currently serve DMV, VA, and beyond and we have thrived. I have a small, committed, customer-centric, knowledgeable team in VA, MD, and NYC. At Your Service Events Planner LLC – Travel Experts and Events has over 100 5 star reviews on Google, Wedding Wire, The Knot, Facebook, and our former website, www.ayseventsplanner.com. Our current website is https://ayseventsplannerandtravel.com. We also are an award-winning business in all three brands—Wedding Wire Couples Choice Awards, Best Event Planner, and Best Travel Agent for a Honeymoon, 2021 and 2022. Second, I am a two-time Author and my first book is “Peaks, Valleys, and Overcoming the Odds: Stepping Out on Faith and Confidence,” written in 2017, and the second book is “How Did I Change My Life Today? 8 Steps To Success,” written in 2019. The first book is five stars on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kindle. Third, I am a global Speaker and have spoken on empowerment for women, motivation, inspiration, goal setting, focus, strategy, perseverance, time management, and success. My audiences have been by Zoom over 100,000 in India, Amsterdam, and in person in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos. My fourth business is I am a Travel Expert and that has been one of my passions for decades. I love booking my clients and my team “go the extra mile” to make sure they have an exceptional experience. We specialize in luxury included vacations, honeymoons, and destination weddings, and groups such as families, reunions, retreats, golf trips, and scuba diving. |
Copa: We also see that you have organized a trip with your travel business. What is the next destination?
Connie: Our next destination I am escorting is a group to Athens and Santorini, Greece in September 2023. In 2024, we have a group already requesting us to go to Hawaii and Curacao in May and September. Personally, I am traveling to Ocho Rios for a loyal client’s Retie the Knot at Sandals Ochi Resort, and to Puerto Rico with a large group of wedding professionals in the Association of Bridal Consultants. As I mentioned, I love to travel.
Connie: Our next destination I am escorting is a group to Athens and Santorini, Greece in September 2023. In 2024, we have a group already requesting us to go to Hawaii and Curacao in May and September. Personally, I am traveling to Ocho Rios for a loyal client’s Retie the Knot at Sandals Ochi Resort, and to Puerto Rico with a large group of wedding professionals in the Association of Bridal Consultants. As I mentioned, I love to travel.
Copa: In your first interview with us we had discussed you being an author. Please tell us about your book and what encouraged you to write it.
Connie: The one thing or message that I would like for my readers to walk away with
I will repeat what I have written in my book: “I wrote my first book to tell my story in hopes that it will inspire and motivate someone else. We don’t have to be victims of our circumstances. Instead, we can become overcomers, survivors, and victorious.” That is my Why? I speak and teach because I want to make a difference in this world, and I am by speaking on empowering, motivating, and inspiring women to walk in their God-given purpose and to be all that they can be to excel and succeed. We all have different talents but we can be great in our gift and be successful. Give back to the world, donate and help others who are less fortunate. I guarantee you that this act of kindness will make you a better person and you will feel good.
Connie: The one thing or message that I would like for my readers to walk away with
I will repeat what I have written in my book: “I wrote my first book to tell my story in hopes that it will inspire and motivate someone else. We don’t have to be victims of our circumstances. Instead, we can become overcomers, survivors, and victorious.” That is my Why? I speak and teach because I want to make a difference in this world, and I am by speaking on empowering, motivating, and inspiring women to walk in their God-given purpose and to be all that they can be to excel and succeed. We all have different talents but we can be great in our gift and be successful. Give back to the world, donate and help others who are less fortunate. I guarantee you that this act of kindness will make you a better person and you will feel good.
Copa: What does the future hold for Connie Amos-Parsons and her world of business?
Connie: I am seeking a senior level position in the private sector or Federal government in business. I want to use my education, experience, talents, skill set, and life-long learning to make a difference, and I know that I am capable and ready to enter the workforce again.
Connie: I am seeking a senior level position in the private sector or Federal government in business. I want to use my education, experience, talents, skill set, and life-long learning to make a difference, and I know that I am capable and ready to enter the workforce again.
