Kaitlyn Adams-Wenger looks out at the Peoria Civic Center’s quiet conference hall. Tables are not yet in place, the chatter of guests has not filled the air, clients have not arrived to meet with her-- only the sound of her own breathing can be heard.
In just one day, months or years of work will come to fruition before her eyes. At every turn, she will have to make sure everything runs smoothly.
For three years, Adams-Wenger has served as an event manager for the civic center, bringing client’s visions into reality. The Peoria Civic Center houses an arena, a ballroom, a theater, an exhibit hall and dozens of conference rooms. Their events range widely, from concerts to the Illinois Deer Hunter Exhibition; tasked with planning and executing these events is Adams-Wenger and her three colleagues.
Adams-Wenger explains the process of how an event becomes part of her workload.
“Once an event gets contracted, it gets passed on to the events team. We are basically the caretaker of it after that; we meet with a client, we arrange their timeline, figure out their set-ups, figure out their parking [or] any other kind of miscellaneous needs,” Adams-Wenger said.
As a health-science major at Bradley University, Adams-Wenger shares that “really nothing” in her education background led her to event management. She explains how interning at the Peoria Civic Center, helping to run the WinterFest event, opened the door for her to become a full-time member of the team.
“That was for about six months, and then that segued into a full time event management position,” Adams-Wenger said.
Interaction with clients, specifically those who express gratitude for her work, is what Adam-Wenger credits as being the most rewarding aspect of her job.
“Every so often you’ll have a client that is just so gratified and thankful for how awesome an event went, “ Adams-Wenger said. “When they show that outward respect and gratefulness to you, it just seals the deal.”
However, despite these pockets of gratitude, Adam-Wenger shares that the process of designing an event from scratch can still be difficult, as it does not provide “much of a sense of calm.”
“You’re always thinking. You go to sleep thinking about an event and you wake up thinking about an event. There’s not much of a sense of calm,” Adam-Wenger said.
Despite the lack of tranquility her job brings, Adam-Wenger enjoys the variety and challenge each workday brings.
“It’s not an eight to five job; no day is the same. Everyday is a challenge,” Adams-Wenger said.
For those interested in her career, Adams-Wenger would advise practicing involvement-- no matter where it is.
“Just practice being involved. Join a club or join a committee. Just try to start planting your feet in planning processes and project management,” Adams-Wenger said.
At the end of another event, Adams-Wenger stands in the same spot in the conference hall as she did earlier that morning. The guests have left, the chairs have been picked up, the floors have been swept. She turns off the lights.
Already planning the next event.
(This piece took second place at the sectional.)
