The Milestone Market Podcast: Recent Episodes
Abbey Brown
Did you recently get engaged? Did you go from untamed excitement to panic in the matter of hours? Are you ready to go from feeling overwhelmed and insecure about planning your big day to confidently outlining your wedding vision and enjoying every moment of the process? The Milestone Market podcast will help answer your questions and provide inspiring interviews that reminds you that you are not alone. Our conversations on the podcast will focus on celebrating the milestones in life including weddings, anniversaries and all of the triumphs and challenges in between. Join your host, Abbey Brown as she chats about tactical event planning tips, interviews industry professionals and shares real stories that inspire. Let’s party!
On Today’s episode, we are talking about all things financials with Aimee LaLiberte, owner of MyVirtualCFO. Aimee is a profit-first professional and ally to small business owners. Whether you are wanting tips on better managing your own money or looking for a full-service virtual CFO - Aimee has your financial needs covered. Let’s jump into this money, money, money conversation!
Today is a special day on the podcast because I am having a conversation with my mentor and the woman I aspire to be, Tara Dimick. Tara is the Chief Business Development Officer for Envista Credit Union and owner of TK Magazine. She is a powerhouse in business and do you want to know the best thing about her? She is passionate about bringing together other female business owners to support, encourage and create profitable businesses in the community. Yep, she's a rockstar. Let’s dive into our conversation and learn about how she is empowering business owners.
On today’s podcast we are chatting with Wendy Harms, Manager at HelmsBriscoe which is a 3rd party hotel negotiator for clients who need to reserve rooms for an event. Wendy acts as a liaison between you and the hotel negotiating contracts and taking the headache out of room blocks. My conversation with Wendy was truly inspiring as she shared how she started and navigated her business through the pandemic as well as a transparent look at negotiating options when working with hotels. This conversation was fascinating and really made me stop and think about the hotel industry during this season. I hope you take as much away from this conversation as I did. Let’s dive in!
I am so excited to introduce you to Kelli Higgins. Kelli is a real estate agent turned online design success through her business Elevated Agent. Through Elevated Agent, Kelli has taken her 10+ years of design & marketing experience and created the tools that other real estate agents need to take their business to the next level.
In both the event industry and real estate industry, we typically see business owners trading time for money. You work an event to get paid or sell a house to get paid. Kelli has found a way to create passive revenue streams to help elevate her business and she is here to share that process with us today.
To say I am excited about this topic and Kelli is an understatement. I hope through this episode, you gain the ideas and confidence you need to increase revenue in your business this year!
If you need some inspiration and motivation for your Tuesday, then keep on listening! I am so excited for today’s conversation with my friend, Bobby Santacroce, the owner of Bobby’s Food Co and other amazing small businesses. He is the friend, entrepreneur and support system that you want on your side as his passion for business is infectious and he is always willing to lend a hand to help push others in the industry to the next level.
Today we are chatting all about starting your own business, pivoting during the different seasons of a start up and building a team culture that you are proud of. I hope you enjoy this conversation with my friend Bobby.
I blame my obsession with all things brand and marketing on the one and only Sheila Ellis-Glasper. Sheila has been an integral part of developing both The Brownstone and Milestone Market brands. Sheila is on The Milestone Market podcast today to share some of her knowledge and expertise around building a brand that lasts. I am so excited for today’s episode and can’t wait to dive in.
I know Enneagrams are all the rage but have you ever heard of the Gallup Strengths Assessment? The Gallup Strengths Assessment is a behavioral assessment used by employers to identify prospective employee's unique strengths. Strengths are a combo of skills, knowledge, and talents.
My friend Kristen O’Shea is a Strengths coach and has dedicated her career to help employees and employers alike own their talents and better utilize them in the work environment. I am excited to dive in and learn all I can about maximizing our strengths.
Have you ever met someone who just captivates you? Someone you admire from a distance and then before you know it you are lucky enough to have their cell phone number saved in your phone and you create a true friendship?
Well, Dell Ann is this person to me. I met Dell Ann about 3 years ago when she her company put on a large scale event at The Brownstone. After working with her, and watching her team work…I was in awe and have since watched her move, scale and build multiple businesses. I am excited to have her on the show today to share with you a little bit about being a multi-passionate entrepreneur and some of the tips and tricks she has learned along the way.
On this episode of The Milestone Market podcast, I am chatting about a topic that is very near and dear to my heart... family business. Being born into a family of entrepreneurs and spending the last 5 years of my life running a business with my parents, I want to give you my 3 tips for working with your family and structuring your business for family & business success.
Today's podcast is a real treat! We have Lindsay Kooser back with us to discuss the strategies, tips and tricks for creating a brand on social media. She will teach us her top Instagram lessons and share her journey with launching a product online that compliments her wedding planning services. We dive into ALL of the details and this conversation might be my all time favorite conversation to date.
Has hiring a virtual assistant been on your to do list for years? Well, we have Taylor Daniels, the owner of It’s Tay LLC, a virtual assistant company focused on the wedding industry and helping professionals define their unique brand. On today's episode, she will share her journey on launching her business, describe why having a virtual assistant could be an asset to your team and advice on how to define your brand. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
I am frustrated. For a full year, we have had the audacity to group people into categories that in one word tells them if they are important or not absolutely necessary for this country to function.
During the year 2020 I have been working so extremely hard to prove the worth of my business and of myself as an entrepreneur. But when I look at the numbers...they tell me a different story...they tell me that love is essential...that the work we do in the wedding and event industry to bring people together does make a difference.
So in this episode, we are going to chat about just that!
Melanie truly epitomizes the talent and passion of event industry professionals that we have in our community. Melanie is the owner of Celebrations of the Heart, a wedding dress boutique located in Manhattan, KS. In our conversation, Melanie shares her background as well as tips and tricks for saying "yes to the dress!" I hope you enjoy this conversation with a seasoned and phenomenal entrepreneur as much as I did!
My golden birthday is coming up. I will be 30 on November 30th. I am not one who typically celebrates birthdays big. I mean, I will make every excuse to eat cake on multiple occasions this month but I do not typically throw big parties for myself. My husband on the other hand, LOVES any excuse to celebrate. He keeps me grounded and reminds me to celebrate all the big and small moments of life.
To be honest, it is hard to reflect back on the last 30 years as I feel like the year 2020 was all consuming and was the perfect year to challenge all I had learned for the last 29. In this episode, I am going to reflect on the 5 lessons learned and the 5 things I am incredibly excited about for the future. Here we go -
In this episode we are featuring Lauren Palmer the owner and lead designer of Peach Petals Floral Design. You will fall in love with Lauren's energy and passion for the industry as you listen to her journey and the lessons she has learned along the way. Tune in to hear more about Lauren's business and her tips for creating your Hallmark moment.
This episode is for our wedding professional community. It has been an interesting year to say the least and we are chatting with Kristina Dietrick & Allison Zerbe with HR Partners to gain insight on how to protect our businesses, retain great employees and prepare our businesses for the 2021 season. This is one of my favorite episodes with so much content and helpful advice! I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!
In this episode we are featuring Kayla Fellers & Kristina Rigstraw with Flashy Owl Photo Booth, the newest photo booth in the Topeka community. This mother-daughter duo are capturing memories that will last a lifetime. They launched their new venture during COVID and are dedicated to bringing the fun to your event. Tune in to learn more!
Hi Friends! This podcast goes out to all of my event professionals who are navigating this unique season. Today, I am interviewing Scott Martin of SSC CPAs and we are chatting all about how COVID has impacted our businesses and what to do to prepare for tax season and the next year. I wanted to share this with the entire community because I think it is important to be transparent with you about what your vendors are going through. The folks dedicated to serving you at your event have real businesses that support their families. We all want to provide discounts, refunds and serve you to the best of our ability but these times have impacted us in a huge way. I hope this provides you with some insight on the behind the scenes of our businesses as well as help you give a bit of grace to those serving you as we are truly doing the best we can and pivoting in all the ways to continue to grow this industry when the current state of the world is pushing back. Cheers to a behind the scenes in our business and a chat with an accountant!
In this episode we are going to feature Molly Harmon, my true friend and an absolute genius behind the camera. This selfless and generous creator creates true stories behind the camera and captures moments that couples and families will forever cherish. We are going to chat with Molly about her journey to photography as well as her tips and tricks to couples as they are planning out their perfect shots. Let’s dive into the conversation.
Hi Friends, I am thrilled to have Jeremiah Holcomb of the Refuge Christian Church on the show with me today. Jeremiah holds a special place in my heart not only because he is an exceptional entrepreneur, devoted to the church he has planted and grown since 2015, but also because he was one of the very first proposals and love stories that I remember growing up. Jeremiah is my cousin and married into my family 15 years ago. He and his wife Megan have been role models in our family and now he shares his love and knowledge with couples all around the area as they prepare for their forever.
In this episode we will discuss what premaritial classes are, why they might be helpful for you and your fiance as well as how to find the resources to get started.
Let’s dive on in!
Hey Friends, I am so excited to chat with you today about one of my all-time favorite parts of a wedding...the speeches. I hope you didn’t role your eyes or groan. I know that sometimes speeches can take forever and feel like they are delaying the dance party BUT...you guys...when you hear a good speech it will bring tears to your eyes, makes you laugh and makes your heart burst out of your chest.
Giving speeches is a huge honor and huge role so you want to be as prepared as possible when taking on the task. I have 5 quick tips to help you with getting started on your speech and I will be sharing a speech that I wrote for my bestie just a few months ago.
Today, I am excited for you to meet Stephanie, the founder of Adulting Financial. She is a personal financial coach with a knack for couples financial planning and a love for all things budgets...even wedding budgets! In our conversation, we cover everything from how to start the money conversation with your partner to navigating multiple bank accounts to what financial counseling entails. This is one money conversation you and your fiance will definitely want to tune in and take notes.
I'm excited to talk to you today about one of the most important steps in planning your big day. Wedding planning is fun...for the most part. There is cake tasting, wedding dress shopping, parties and then there are some of the tedious tasks like making a guest list. This important step of planning your big day comes easily to some but is also a huge headache to others.
Today I am going to provide you with 5 tips on starting, narrowing down and finalizing you wedding guest list...let’s get started.
Hey Friends, today on the podcast we are going to be chatting with Carlee Erickson, the owner of It’s a sweet treat day bakery. Carlee is daycare owner turned sugar genius who has taken her skills in business and baking to a whole new level. She has experience running a bakery storefront and is a master when it comes to all things wedding cake. I hope you enjoy this conversation and learn a bit more about the behind the scenes on that cake you cut on your big day!
Adding to the nuances of 2020...did you know that every major holiday in 2020 is falling on a Friday or weekend? Holiday weddings and celebrations are both exciting and have some extra stress associated with them. Whether you have always dreamed of a holiday celebration or if you were moved there due to the COVID-19 climate, as we head into a holiday weekend, I want to share 6 tips for planning a wedding day on a holiday.
On today's episode of The Milestone Market podcast we are featuring Jesyca Hope with Hope Communications Consulting. Jesyca is the self proclaimed XOXO Gossip Girl of weddings! She has lived in the wedding industry for years from catering to publishing her own wedding magazine. Our conversation jumps from topic to topic because let’s be real, when you are chatting with your girlfriend about weddings there is a lot to cover!
On today’s episode we are chatting with Jessica Mooneyham of AR workshop Lawrence. Jessica is an entrepreneur at heart and took a dining room room business model and turned into a franchise owner. Jessica provides amazing tips and tricks for all those DIY brides at heart. Let’s listen to our conversation.
These last few weeks have been a lot. It makes me laugh and feel a bit selfish when I think about 6 months ago and how I whined that there wasn’t a table available at my local coffee shop and now all I want is for this shop to have people in it so it stays open. Or how I wished that I didn’t have to spend an hour in the car each way and now I would do anything to fill up the gas tank and head down the highway. Or how just six months ago I had a vision for how I would spend the last year of my 20s. In this podcast we will be chatting about recasting my vision for the year and 3 tips to recast your vision for your wedding day.
If you are looking for a talent, beauty and brains all wrapped up into one...friends, I present to you Kelsey Hurd. Kelsey is a talented stylist in the Lawrence and Topeka area who has a passion for up-dos and skills that wow. This episode is packed with advice to get you and your hair ready for your big day. We tackle the question if dirty hair is really the way to go and what trends are currently her favorites...let’s get this party started.
On today's episode of The Milestone Market podcast we are featuring Troy Mott with Top City Entertainment. Troy has the most amazing story and when he is not mixing tunes and hosting the best celebrations, he is a milk man! Troy’s focus is on his couple’s and exceeding their expectations when it comes to their big day. Troy explains the difference between a DJ and Master of Ceremonies as well as tips and tricks to make your party stand out.
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Tune in!
If you would have told me just 5 years ago that I would host over 200 events a year and practically live in a barn...I would have thought you were crazy. Fast forward to the year 2020 where I own not one but two business in the wedding industry and am living through a worldwide pandemic. Life is crazy.
One of the most prevalent questions I get is asked is what advice would you give couples looking to book a wedding venue? I am going to share three pieces of advice as well as provide a little background on owning a wedding venue.
I don’t know about you but I could use a cold margarita, sun and a beach right about now. Our guest today is the perfect person to chat all things vacation and honeymoon. BreAnn Sullivan is a local travel agent. You may think, travel agent? I am planning on booking my honeymoon online...before you google all inclusive destinations, listen to Breann as she explains how a travel agent can assist you in your planning as well as save you if there are any hiccups during the journey. She is your advocate and teammate in getting your next vacation planned. I hope you enjoy this conversation and learn as much as I did.
On today's episode of The Milestone Market podcast we are featuring BriJoRae. Bri is not only a skilled photographer but also happens to be ordained! She can both perform ceremonies and capture your big day's most intimate details. Her creative capacity is second to none and I am thrilled to have her share stories from her long standing career. She focuses on serving her clients and showcasing their unique stories. In this episode, we cover the topic of elopments and the intimacy of smaller gatherings.
Hi friends, we are going on day 37 hour 13 and 35 seconds of being locked in my house with my handsome husband, 1 1/2 year old toddler and goldendoodle that seriously needs a diet. If you are listening to this real time, we are still sifting our way through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The other night, while Andrew and I were cooking dinner he looked at me and said...wouldn’t it stink if you were stuck in the house with someone you didn’t like? It got me thinking...yeah that would really stink. Honestly, why am I not tired of you yet? After pondering a bit I came up with a conclusion…we have still been prioritizing each other. Although our day to day may look a little different, we are compartmentalizing our tasks such as work, mom life, health etc just as we had before. We also are still making the time to date each other through it all. My advice, date your partner...every dang day. And with that, here are 6 dating ideas for dating your spouse through any situation...even a worldwide pandemic.
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a wedding planner and wedding coordinator? Have you pondered if their services are worth the financial investment? I am excited for you to meet Lindsay. She is the owner of Veil Events and is going to share her journey that led her to owning her own Wedding Coordination business. I hope you enjoy this conversation and gain a better perspective on this integral wedding industry role. Cheers!
Did you recently get engaged? Did you go from untamed excitement to panic in the matter of hours? Don’t worry friend, you are not alone. For most, this is the first time you are planning an event of this size, financial impact and meaning. On today’s podcast, I am going to cover the first 5 things you should do after that ring is put on your finger. Let’s get this party started!
I can't wait for you to meet Greg with Blowin Smoke Catering. Fun Fact about Greg, he used to by my junior high teacher. So not calling him My. Harmon feels very unnatural. Greg is a caterer in the Topeka area and in this interview he shares how attending a local class sparked his passion for BBQ and how his business and team has grown throughout the years. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Cheers!
I can't wait for you to meet my dear pal, Ariel. She is an amazing florist in the Topeka area and in this interview she shares how she got into the floral business, coaching tips for brides when thinking through their wedding day flowers, and dives into how she serves her clients. I hope you enjoy this conversation with a beautiful soul as much as I did. Cheers!
Welcome, welcome, welcome to The Milestone Market podcast. I am Abbey Brown - venue owner, toddler wrangler and cookie consumer. I want to thank you for spending your precious time pushing “play” and joining me on this new adventure.
In this episode we will explore 5 ways the event industry is getting creative during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as 5 ways couples can get creative in planning during this season.