Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Bartz.
Hi Amanda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Wisconsinites our entire lives, my husband and I decided to move south to Austin after I received a job offer with a great team. Although I’m in the learning and development facet of HR and enjoy what I do, I have always had a love and passion for events (especially weddings). I came across Ashley Nicole Affair on Instagram and loved her work and the beautiful weddings she produced. I contacted her to see if she could use another addition to her team and, needless to say, I haven’t looked back since! Through COVID, two new fur babies, and a continuing growth in my day-to-day career, I keep taking on whatever opportunity I can with Ashley to continue my growth in the event planning and wedding industry. We’ll see where this road leads me, but for now, I’m enjoying the ride!
Alright, 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?
I’ve had my share of hardships growing up; divorced parents, family trauma, siblings lost to suicide. As hard as each event was, it has made me who I am today. We all face struggles and oftentimes they are the defining moments in our life. I choose happiness as often as possible, the positive mindset, looking for the brighter side in life and people alike. Therapy always helps, when you find the right one. And never give up. I’m continuing on my journey and will keep working towards my goals, no matter the hardships.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In my day job, I work in learning and organizational development, which I call the “fun side of HR”. We train, develop, consult, and engage the workforce rather than doing the hiring and firing. I have a passion for people and love working through problems and finding solutions. Employee engagement is my favorite area of the job from building and executing global surveys to gather feedback, to supporting spirit committees, leadership conferences, and everything in between to make employees feel heard, appreciated, and engaged.
This translates really well into event and wedding planning. I get to plan and execute one of the most important days in a couple’s life. Leading them through the overwhelming planning process, to guiding them and their family and friends through their big day while celebrating right alongside them. It’s all about supporting others, and giving them the opportunity to be completely engaged and present with their loved ones – leave the logistics and details to me!
What are your plans for the future?
I’m a determined and driven person, so I will always look for ways to keep growing and challenging myself; there’s always more to learn. We will see where I end up, but I wouldn’t be disappointed if I were able to do event planning full time, supporting my passion. In the more near future, my husband and I would love to purchase some land and build a comfortable home. All things in time!
