A Turn of Events™

We had a great time on our interview with Forrest Derr about THE CORNER OFFICE WASN'T THE GOAL — IT WAS THE WARNING SIGN.

Forrest Derr is a Fractional COO, EOS Integrator, and founder of Derr Consulting. With more than 25 years as a second-in-command leader, he helps founders build better businesses through people, process, and structure. Known as "The Fractionator™," Forrest works with growing companies to reduce chaos, improve accountability, and help owners get their time back while building businesses that can scale.

Forrest shared a wealth of information about:

• what made him walk away from a corner office with a balcony overlooking downtown Fairhope;
• what did the moment feel like when he realized the title of President wasn't enough;
• what did he know that others didn't when he went from President of a telecom company to a landscaping operation;
• a moment where he realized he had been doing the same job the whole time — just under different roofs;
• when did you first recognize you were the jockey, not the horse when he describes founders as thoroughbred racehorses — powerful, fast, and dangerous without direction; and
• so much more!

Connect with Forrest Derr:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/forrestkderr/
• Website: https://derrconsulting.com/

Connect with Annette Naif:

• Website: www.naifproductions.com/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/naifproductions/
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/annettenaif/
• Event Planners Society Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/eventplannerssociety/

Cheers!

Annette

EVENT AND WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOP - If you are looking to start your own event or wedding planning business (without making costly mistakes), or have an event or wedding business you are struggling with and don't know how to turn things around, join us in the Event Planners Society FB Group where we will be announcing our next Workshop. You won't want to miss it!

EVENT CONSULTING - If you are looking to host a live, hybrid or virtual event and have no idea where to start or need help finding a great venue for your event, reach out to us to set up some time for a FREE consultation call at [email protected]. Happy to help!

We had a great time on our interview with Julie Comfort about THE COOKIE-CUTTER TRAP: LESSONS FROM 300 WEDDINGS ON WHAT TRULY MATTERS.

Julie Comfort is an experience designer, educator, and author of the forthcoming book Beyond Pretty. Julie teaches wedding planners and designers the invisible architecture behind the world’s most unforgettable events, and what separates a wedding that looks beautiful from one that people remember for the rest of their lives.

Julie shared a wealth of information about:

• what ‘experienced design’ actually means in practice and why it is different from what most planners are already doing;
• what ‘invisible luxury' means and how planners can deliver it without increasing client budgets;
• what having an actual framework changes for designing experiences;
• what the most surprising thing is wedding planners can borrow from the immersive theater, luxury hospitality, and museum design world;
• what the planners at the top of the new version of this industry are doing differently right now; and
• so much more!

Connect with Julie Comfort:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theexperientialwedding/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexperientialwedding
• Substack: https://designedforconnection.substack.com/
• Website: https://www.theexperientialwedding.com

Connect with Annette Naif:

• Website: www.naifproductions.com/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/naifproductions/
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/annettenaif/
• Event Planners Society Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/eventplannerssociety/

Cheers!

Annette

EVENT AND WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOP - If you are looking to start your own event or wedding planning business (without making costly mistakes), or have an event or wedding business you are struggling with and don't know how to turn things around, join us in the Event Planners Society FB Group where we will be announcing our next Workshop. You won't want to miss it!

EVENT CONSULTING - If you are looking to host a live, hybrid or virtual event and have no idea where to start or need help finding a great venue for your event, reach out to us to set up some time for a FREE consultation call at [email protected]. Happy to help!

We had a great time on our interview with Peggy Sullivan about ESCAPING TIME POVERTY.

Peggy Sullivan is self-proclaimed “busyness addict in recovery,” Peggy now empowers professionals to escape time poverty and focus on what truly matters. As the creator of the Performance by Design Framework, she provides actionable strategies that help people achieve more by doing less—boosting productivity, health, engagement, and connection. On average her frameworks result in recovering 5-7 hours back per week.

Peggy is a dynamic speaker, leadership strategist, and productivity expert with over 25 years of experience helping individuals and organizations drive meaningful, lasting change. She has held leadership roles at Fortune 100 and 500 companies, including BlueCross BlueShield and United Healthcare, Materion Advanced Materials, leading teams across Customer Experience, Marketing, Sales, Communications, and Operations.

Her approach is grounded in data-driven proprietary research, ensuring every solution is tested, measurable, and results-focused.

Known for her high-energy presence and relatable style, Peggy blends humor, storytelling, and research into engaging presentations that challenge outdated norms and inspire real transformation. Whether delivering a keynote, leading a workshop, or facilitating a leadership retreat, she creates space for reflection, insight, and action.

Peggy’s mission is simple but powerful: to help individuals and teams break the cycle of busyness and unlock a more intentional, fulfilling way of working and living.

Peggy shared a wealth of information about:

• what time poverty is;
• why Busyness is an addiction;
• what some of the data is on Time Poverty;
• what performance by design framework is;
• what other wakeup calls she had; and
• so much more!

Connect with Peggy Sullivan:

• Website: www.peggysullivanspeaker.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggyasullivan/
• Instagram: @peggysullivanspeaker
• Busy Barometer: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7342869/scoreplus

Connect with Annnette Naif:

• Website: www.naifproductions.com/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/naifproductions/
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/annettenaif/
• Event Planners Society Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/eventplannerssociety/

Cheers!

Annette

EVENT AND WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOP - If you are looking to start your own event or wedding planning business (without making costly mistakes), or have an event or wedding business you are struggling with and don't know how to turn things around, join us in the Event Planners Society FB Group where we will be announcing our next Workshop. You won't want to miss it!

EVENT CONSULTING - If you are looking to host a live, hybrid or virtual event and have no idea where to start or need help finding a great venue for your event, reach out to us to set up some time for a FREE consultation call at [email protected]. Happy to help!

We had a great time on our interview with Linda Hunt discussing THE MONEY CONVERSATION: HOW TO TALK ABOUT PRICING WITHOUT THE WOBBLE.

Linda Hunt is a Money Clarity Catalyst and Pricing Power Strategist, founder of SUMSOLUTIONS LLC, and author of The Money Conversation (releasing early 2026). She helps entrepreneurs anchor financial clarity, rebuild pricing power, and scale profitably—without burnout or doubt.

A former corporate leader and early pioneer in remote accounting services, Linda blends decades of financial and operational expertise with a deep understanding of how structure, clarity, and nervous system capacity shape sustainable success.

Through her Financial Clarity Framework and Pricing Power Rebuild™, she delivers the structure every business needs to stabilize overflow and multiply growth. Her work goes beyond spreadsheets—it’s about financial clarity, energetic alignment, and building businesses that honor boundaries while amplifying leadership

Linda shared a wealth of information about:

• why so many business owners and service professionals feel uneasy or hesitant when it comes to talking about their pricing;
• what the “wobble” is you see around money conversation, and how someone can recognize it in themselves;
• what a healthy way to respond is when a client pushes back on price or asks for a discount, without damaging the relationship;
• how our nervous system affects the way we talk about money;
• one simple way to prepare for a pricing conversation so it feels calm, clear, and collaborative; and
• so much more!

If you are not connected with me on my FB page, please connect at https://www.facebook.com/naifproductions or on LinkedIn @annettenaif.

Connect with Linda Hunt:

• Website: www.sumsolutions.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindaahunt
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/sumsolutions/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sumsolutionsllc

Checkout The Perfect Pricing Formula, a simple yet powerful framework that helps service-based founders and professionals price their work with clarity, confidence, and consistency—without the wobble.

It bridges the gap between your numbers and your nervous system, showing you how to structure your pricing around real capacity, energetic sustainability, and profit that supports growth.

This isn’t about charging what you’re “worth.” It’s about building pricing that honors your time, your expertise, and the transformation you deliver.

https://programs.sumsolutions.com/theperfectpricingformula

Connect with Annette Naif:

• Website: www.naifproductions.com/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/naifproductions/
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/annettenaif/
• Event Planners Society Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/eventplannerssociety/

Cheers!

Annette

EVENT AND WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOP - If you are looking to start your own event or wedding planning business (without making costly mistakes), or have an event or wedding business you are struggling with and don't know how to turn things around, join us in the Event Planners Society FB Group where we will be announcing our next Workshop. You won't want to miss it!

EVENT CONSULTING - If you are looking to host a live, hybrid or virtual event and have no idea where to start or need help finding a great venue for your event, reach out to us to set up some time for a FREE consultation call at [email protected]. Happy to help!

We had a great time on our interview with Zipporah Monique discussing LEADING WITH EMPATHY: HOW EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE CAN DRIVE BUSINESS SUCCESS.

Zipporah Monique is an executive coach, emotional intelligence consultant, and leadership speaker with over 11 years of invigorating leaders and high-performing professionals to adopt emotional and social learning to maximize their strengths to foster change. She uses Awareness, Analysis, Action, and Achievement to enhance the lives of her clients and their businesses in a healthy transformative way.

Zipporah shared a wealth of information about:

• Zipporah's definition of emotional intelligence, and how important it is in the workplace;
• how leaders can cultivate empathy and emotional intelligence in themselves, and how they can promote it in their teams;
• examples of how emotional intelligence has led to successful business outcomes, such as increased revenue or employee engagement;
• how leaders can use empathy to better understand their customers' needs and improve customer satisfaction;
• what some common challenges are that leaders might face when trying to lead with empathy, and how they can overcome these challenges;
• how leaders can use emotional intelligence to manage conflicts and difficult situations in the workplace; and
• so much more!

Connect with Zipporah Monique:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/zipporahmonique/

• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/zipporah-monique-67218497/

• Website: www.zipporahmonique.com/

• Reclaim Your Reign: An Emotional Intelligence Guide for Women: https://amzn.to/417rSEY

• Crowned: Unleashing the Queen Within: https://amzn.to/42BwHHT

Connect with Annette Naif:

• Website: www.naifproductions.com/​

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/naifproductions/

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/annettenaif/

• Event Planners Society Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/eventplannerssociety/

Cheers!

Annette

EVENT AND WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOP - If you are looking to start your own event or wedding planning business (without making costly mistakes), or have an event or wedding business you are struggling with and don't know how to turn things around, join us in the Event Planners Society FB Group where we will be announcing our next Workshop. You won't want to miss it!

EVENT CONSULTING - If you are looking to host a live, hybrid or virtual event and have no idea where to start or need help finding a great venue for your event, reach out to us to set up some time for a FREE consultation call at [email protected]. Happy to help!

We had a great time on our LIVE interview session with Stephanie LaFlora discussing MULTI-SIDED PLATFORM MANAGEMENT.

It took being rejected for service at five separate salons due to her 4C textured hair for Stephanie LaFlora to realize that something was terribly wrong with the beauty industry. Driven to solve the problems of her own customer experience and already a serial entrepreneur, storyteller, marketer, and creator, Stephanie founded Crownhunt to make life easier for people with curly hair while helping under-resourced entrepreneurs thrive.

Alongside her business partner and long-time friend, Ryan Holdeman, Stephanie has spent the last decade building multi-sided platforms and working with partners to develop new business models using her background in data-driven product development and strategy. To that end, Crownhunt is a digital marketplace for textured hair, built to help existing hair entrepreneurs reach the 65% of the population with textured hair and to get their products, services, and education to the right people, more effectively. While is a seriously driven entrepreneur, she’s also a troublemaker at heart and serious about having fun. When she’s not building her start-up, she’s often mentoring other aspiring women entrepreneurs by showing them that life is one big adventure worth betting on.

Stephanie shared a wealth of information about:

• What it's like to quit your job to start a business during a pandemic while pregnant;
• What advice would she would give to entrepreneurs considering the same leap;
• How an entrepreneur can build a business that honors diversity and culture;
• How an early-stage startup can get in front of investors and convince them to write a check;
• What the best ways are for a startup to succeed through crowdfunding;
• Why is hair such a big deal, particularly textured hair; and
• so much more!

Stephanie LaFlora

• Email: [email protected]

• Website: http://www.crownhunt.io/

• LI: /in/stephanielaflora/

• Instagram: @stephanielaflora

• Twitter: /mslaflora

Connect with Annette Naif:

• Website: https://www.naifproductions.com/​

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naifproducti...

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annettena...

• Event Planners Society Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/event...

If there is a topic you'd like us to discuss in the future, please don't hesitate to let us know. Hope you enjoy the video!

Cheers!

Annette

EVENT AND WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOP - If you are looking to start your own event or wedding planning business (without making costly mistakes), or have an event or wedding business you are struggling with and don't know how to turn things around, join us in the Event Planners Society FB Group where we will be announcing our next Workshop. You won't want to miss it!

EVENT CONSULTING - If you are looking to host a live, hybrid or virtual event and have no idea where to start or need help finding a great venue for your event, reach out to us to set up some time for a FREE consultation call at [email protected]. Happy to help!

We had a great time on our interview session with Annie McAllister talking about THE GUEST EXPERIENCE- MORE THAN JUST A PHOTO OP.

Annie brings a wealth of expertise with 14 years of dedicated experience in event production, positioning her as an invaluable asset to the 15|40 family. Her professional journey encompasses a diverse range of projects, from large-scale extravaganzas to intimate gatherings, making her a seasoned professional in the world of event management. Her comprehensive background spans the realms of broadcast, streaming, and music festivals, where she has demonstrated her prowess in overseeing projects at some of today's most coveted live events and premieres. Annie’s multifaceted skill set extends to various spaces, including conferences, award shows, fundraisers, experiential activations, brand launches, hospitality design, and large-scale live events.

In her role, Annie places a strong emphasis on overarching project management, design, and client relations, ensuring a seamless and exceptional experience for all stakeholders involved. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, she has cultivated enduring relationships in the industry. Her collaborative approach, strategic vision, and commitment to delivering unparalleled results have consistently elevated the experiences of both clients and attendees alike. Her dog, Benny and her cat, Pickle are both pretty neat too.

Annie shared a wealth of information about:

• how she would define a great Guest Experience;
• how to respond when a client asks for a ‘WOW’ moment;
• an example of a WOW experience;
• if there is a starting place of inspiration when building the concept of an event;
• which area of the Guest Experience is the most critical to get right; and
• so much more!

Connect with Annie McAllister:

• Website: https://www.1540productions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/15l40/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1540productions/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1540creative/featured
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/15-40-productions/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@1540creative
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/1540creative

Connect with Annette Naif:

• Website: https://www.naifproductions.com/​
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naifproductions
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annettenaif/
• Event Planners Society Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/eventplannerssociety

Cheers!

Annette

EVENT AND WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOP - If you are looking to start your own event or wedding planning business (without making costly mistakes), or have an event or wedding business you are struggling with and don't know how to turn things around, join us in the Event Planners Society FB Group where we will be announcing our next Workshop. You won't want to miss it!

EVENT CONSULTING - If you are looking to host a live, hybrid or virtual event and have no idea where to start or need help finding a great venue for your event, reach out to us to set up some time for a FREE consultation call at [email protected]. Happy to help!

We had a great time on our live interview session with John Dwyer talking about DIRECT RESPONSE MARKETING.

John Dwyer is the owner of the Institute Of Wow, a Direct Response Marketing Company that provides businesses with highly creative customer attraction concepts.

Known as “JD”, this guy is a marketing enigma, an ideas guru who thinks WAY outside the box. He’s also the guy who scored the massive marketing coup of convincing Jerry Seinfeld to promote a bank down-under!

JD will leave the audience spellbound with the “behind-the-scenes” story of how this deal was done & what it was like to work with Jerry Seinfeld for 3 years.

John shared a wealth of information about:

-what his business is & what services he provides to businesses;

-what “Direct-Response Marketing” is and what makes it different from general marketing strategies;

-what kind of businesses should consider “Direct-Response Marketing”;

-if there is a proven formula for “Direct-Response Marketing”;

-if there are specific industries that the “PROBLEM/SOLUTION” formula is more suitable for; and

-so much more!

If you are not connected with me on my FB page, please connect at https://www.facebook.com/naifproductions or on LinkedIn @annettenaif.

Connect with John Dwyer:

Website: https://theinstituteofwow.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/instituteofwow/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinstituteofwow

Connect with Annette Naif:

Website: https://www.naifproductions.com/​

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naifproductions/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annettenaif/

Event Planners Society Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/eventplannerssociety

Cheers!

Annette

We had a great time on our live interview session with Amanda Sherlip discussing PLANNING SUCCESSFUL NON-PROFIT AND SMALL BUSINESS EVENTS.

Amanda Sherlip is the Founder and Principal of Avant Grand Consulting and is the outgoing Executive Director with Hands Across the Sea. With two decades of experience spanning philanthropic leadership, entrepreneurship, and executive management, Amanda brings her multifaceted expertise to helping nonprofits, start-ups, and small businesses achieve transformative growth. She is known for her strategic acumen, creative problem-solving, and consistent ability to deliver meaningful outcomes.

Amanda shared a wealth of information about:

-what role board members play in helping to bring success to fundraising for events;

-how consultants work with board members to help them feel comfortable through the fundraising and network building process;

-what kind of goals to set for fundraisers;

-some ways events play into strategic planning and fundraising for a nonprofit;

-how events can make a difference in helping to achieve goals and increase revenue for a for-profit; and

-so much more!

If you are not connected with me on my FB page, please connect at https://www.facebook.com/naifproductions or on LinkedIn @annettenaif.

Connect with Amanda Sherlip:

Website: www.avantgrandconsulting.com

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/amandasherlip/

Connect with Annette Naif:

Website: https://www.naifproductions.com/​

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naifproductions/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annettenaif/

Event Planners Society Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/eventplannerssociety

Cheers!

Annette

Join me Thursday, October 16 at 1:00 PM EDT where I will interview Wendy Kay about CULTIVATING A CURATED CREATIVE TEAM.

Thriving on creating something from nothing, Wendy welcomes the creative challenge and complex logistics required to (literally) build an event from the ground up. From design conception to collaborating with the creative team and directing the day-of execution, Wendy respects each stage of the wedding planning process, considering the journey just as important as the destination.

A former television producer, Wendy transferred her talents from directing live TV to weddings. Over a decade since creating Birds of a Feather events, she continues to lean on her problem-resolving skills while remaining quick on her feet on event days.

Named a Top Wedding Planner and Event Designer by Martha Stewart Weddings and Best Wedding Planner in America by BRIDES, Wendy really is an “Idea Machine.” Whether cozy interiors, artful window displays, or wizardly worlds, Wendy uses her love of set design as inspiration to translate the stories of her clients through unexpected details.

Wendy's clients connect to her calm demeanor, sharp wit, and surprising knowledge of pop culture. A diplomatic straight shooter, she guides her clients through potentially sticky situations with transparency, tact, and, most importantly--humor.

Today, after 15 years of owning her own planning and design business, much of Wendy’s time is focused on educating other vendors on best business practices to transform their own businesses through honesty and “tough love”.

In my interview with Wendy, we will learn:

what it means to have a curated creative team;

what the key qualities are to look for in a wedding planner’s dream team;

how to balance artistic vision with logistical expertise when selecting team members;

how to create an environment where your event team feels inspired and motivated;

what role team chemistry plays in event success and how to cultivate it; and

so much more!

If you are not connected with me on my FB page, please connect at https://www.facebook.com/naifproductions or on LinkedIn @annettenaif.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Connect with Wendy Kay:

Website: www.birdsofafeatherevents.com

Instagram: @birdsofafeatherevents

Connect with Annette Naif:

Website: https://www.naifproductions.com/​

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naifproductions/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annettenaif/

Event Planners Society Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/eventplannerssociety

Cheers!

Annette