Black Meetings & Tourism - MAHOGANY JONES’ CAREER IS A CONSTELLATION OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Industry Briefs
MAHOGANY JONES’ CAREER IS A CONSTELLATION OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Mahogany Jones first started her journey in the events industry 20 years ago after founding Event Specialists Inc., one of Canada's premier event management firms. Since then, she and her team have worked with a variety of clients from non-profits to Fortune 500 companies both in Canada and the United States. She also sits on the boards of the Meeting professionals International and the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners. Her dedication to the field has been rewarded with several honors. She has been a nominee for both Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Royal Bank of Canada Women of Influence, was named Canada's Event Professional of the Year, and has received a number of other awards. Mahogany Jones first started her journey in the events industry 20 years ago after founding Event Specialists Inc., one of Canada’s premier event management firms. Since then, she and her team have worked with a variety of clients from non-profits to Fortune 500 companies both in Canada and the United States. She also sits on the boards of the Meeting professionals International and the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners. Her dedication to the field has been rewarded with several honors. She has been a nominee for both Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Royal Bank of Canada Women of Influence, was named Canada’s Event Professional of the Year, and has received a number of other awards. Jones’ interest in events came about from an unexpected place. When she was younger, it was a goal of hers to become a candy striper. On her 14th birthday she started volunteering at New Brunswick’s Saint John Regional Hospital. Those days of volunteering at hospital events like the Teddy Bear Fair and the Festival of Trees are what allowed her to realize she was passionate about events. “During my time at the hospital as a volunteer I was able to see the impact I could have through experiences designed to allow children to feel comfortable,” Jones said. “Although I went to school and graduated with a degree in kinesiology, my whole schooling was also spent doing jobs and events. It wasn't until a mentor of mine while I was working for the provincial government who told me that I could work in events as a living.” Making the switch to being an event planner wasn’t straightforward. According to Jones, the reason she started her own events company was because it was difficult to find a job in the industry. She sites external help as a reason she was able to overcome the challenges early in her career. “I was privileged that my government had a self employment program that gave a small salary for a year while you created and launched your business,” Jones said. “It also included training on developing a business plan, a marketing strategy, contracting vs hiring, and other courses. We also had the Black Business Initiative who provided even more training on creating a website, accounting for entrepreneurs, and proposal writing. Another tool Jones used to overcome the challenges of starting a business from scratch was being forward thinking. She has brought this mentality with her throughout her two decades of experience by thoughtfully implementing technology into her work in what she calls a ‘digital first mentality’. “I'm an event producer with a strong love of event technology,” Jones said. “I strongly believe that event tech is meant to enhance what we do but not lead the direction or vision. The tech works for us. We don't fit our events into the tech.” One thing that has shaped Jones that might be overlooked is how she draws from her personal life to be a better planner and businesswoman. “My children are a constant source of inspiration and joy. Aside from family values, my love of track and field and the values of a former athlete are something I value. The dedication, commitment, drive, resilience, and grit it takes to be an athlete is the closest, I feel, to entrepreneurs.”

Industry Briefs

MAHOGANY JONES’ CAREER IS A CONSTELLATION OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Mahogany Jones first started her journey in the events industry 20 years ago after founding Event Specialists Inc., one of Canada's premier event management firms. Since then, she and her team have worked with a variety of clients from non-profits to Fortune 500 companies both in Canada and the United States. She also sits on the boards of the Meeting professionals International and the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners.

Her dedication to the field has been rewarded with several honors. She has been a nominee for both Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Royal Bank of Canada Women of Influence, was named Canada's Event Professional of the Year, and has received a number of other awards.

Mahogany Jones first started her journey in the events industry 20 years ago after founding Event Specialists Inc., one of Canada’s premier event management firms. Since then, she and her team have worked with a variety of clients from non-profits to Fortune 500 companies both in Canada and the United States. She also sits on the boards of the Meeting professionals International and the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners.

Her dedication to the field has been rewarded with several honors. She has been a nominee for both Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Royal Bank of Canada Women of Influence, was named Canada’s Event Professional of the Year, and has received a number of other awards.

Jones’ interest in events came about from an unexpected place. When she was younger, it was a goal of hers to become a candy striper. On her 14th birthday she started volunteering at New Brunswick’s Saint John Regional Hospital. Those days of volunteering at hospital events like the Teddy Bear Fair and the Festival of Trees are what allowed her to realize she was passionate about events.

“During my time at the hospital as a volunteer I was able to see the impact I could have through experiences designed to allow children to feel comfortable,” Jones said. “Although I went to school and graduated with a degree in kinesiology, my whole schooling was also spent doing jobs and events. It wasn't until a mentor of mine while I was working for the provincial government who told me that I could work in events as a living.”

Making the switch to being an event planner wasn’t straightforward. According to Jones, the reason she started her own events company was because it was difficult to find a job in the industry. She sites external help as a reason she was able to overcome the challenges early in her career.

“I was privileged that my government had a self employment program that gave a small salary for a year while you created and launched your business,” Jones said. “It also included training on developing a business plan, a marketing strategy, contracting vs hiring, and other courses. We also had the Black Business Initiative who provided even more training on creating a website, accounting for entrepreneurs, and proposal writing.

Another tool Jones used to overcome the challenges of starting a business from scratch was being forward thinking. She has brought this mentality with her throughout her two decades of experience by thoughtfully implementing technology into her work in what she calls a ‘digital first mentality’.

“I'm an event producer with a strong love of event technology,” Jones said. “I strongly believe that event tech is meant to enhance what we do but not lead the direction or vision. The tech works for us. We don't fit our events into the tech.”

One thing that has shaped Jones that might be overlooked is how she draws from her personal life to be a better planner and businesswoman.

“My children are a constant source of inspiration and joy. Aside from family values, my love of track and field and the values of a former athlete are something I value. The dedication, commitment, drive, resilience, and grit it takes to be an athlete is the closest, I feel, to entrepreneurs.”