Starkey Entrepreneurial Woman Award!

A few weeks ago, I received a letter from Harrison & Moberly saying that I had been nominated for the Starkey Entrepreneurial Woman Award! 🙂 As part of the nomination process, each nominee was to submit up to two letters of recommendation for the award. I just had to share what both of these amazing women wrote, they made my day! 🙂 

Reference #1 – Jessica

Erin Hession was just supposed to be my wedding photographer. She was to be that person behind the camera who would archive the day’s events for my soon-to-be husband and me. Right off the bat I knew that something was different about Erin and that there would be much more to the story.

Not only did she capture my wedding day perfectly, she was there for us throughout the day when other issues arose that didn’t pertain to her “job”. She would handle these things that cropped up with professionalism, grace and that ever-present positive attitude of hers! People at our reception kept asking who our wedding planner was because not only did she take beautiful photos, she and her staff helped light candles that the bartenders forgot to light, poured wine, helped with our toasting glasses and even took a few photos with the disposable cameras we had placed on the tables which no one seemed to be using. She really helped make our day perfect and I can’t imagine how it would have gone without her there!

During my wedding, Erin noticed my best friend (who was my maid of honor) crying and inquired about her. At that time my best friend’s husband had just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Instead of the beautiful wedding she always dreamed of, she had a little courthouse wedding and her husband was in rehab, paralyzed after brain surgery, while she was watching me get married.

After my wedding we kept in touch and when I told her I was throwing my best friend a “surprise belated bridal shower” she did something so unpredictably wonderful I was just in awe. She offered to drive over 100 miles absolutely free of charge and take pictures for this surprise event because she just felt my friend deserved a memoir of her special day.

And it didn’t stop there! I lost 40 pounds and she took portraits of me for my husband’s Christmas present, she has also taken portraits for my sister’s maternity, baby shower and my nephew’s newborn pictures as well as 5 generation pictures for my mom with her grandmother who is 96, my sister, her son and our grandfather to capture such a wonderful time for us.

She is so warm, thoughtful, kind and so creative that I can’t imagine having someone else capture our memories. Throughout all of this she has also become a friend and I have a sneaking suspicion she has many other clients who feel the same way about her. She has this wonderful way about her that just makes you want her there for you. She displays the utmost professionalism and is always smiling and helping out like she is just part of the family.

Then disaster struck for us. My best friend was divorced by her husband after his recovery and within weeks was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer which had spread to her lymph nodes. She was about to undergo massive chemotherapy, radiation and mastectomy and was all alone, not only emotionally but financially.

Erin stepped in to help me start a fundraiser on her behalf. She was right in it with me emailing people she knew to inform them of the benefit raffle we were having and she even got reprimanded by her email provider because she sent out so many emails, literally thousands! She posted a story about my friend on her blog and to top it off, she donated the biggest prize of all, a photography package worth over $500 and donated her time and services to come to the dinner where I would reveal exactly what we had done for my best friend and she was there to capture those moments for us.

Through her extraordinary effort to help me, we had hundreds of emails with people wanting to donate items to raffle, people wanting to purchase entries and people offering prayers and support to my friend who so dearly needed people to help her through this. Even channel 6 news heard about us and wanted to interview me to help raise money and someone from as far away as Florida donated $250 anonymously just because of Erin’s beautiful story she had written on her blog. In just 2 weeks we made over $5500 on my friend’s behalf, simply amazing!

What she wrote brought tears to my eyes. As I read this exquisitely and thoughtfully crafted story she had written about my friend and why she so desperately needed help I realized just how amazing Erin is. What words could I even use? Creative, kind, caring, professional, ingenious, unique and selfless, just to name a few. She has a way of relating to people that makes her feel like your best friend or family member enjoying whatever the day’s events may be. 

Erin throws all of herself into her work…not because she just wants a profit, not just because it’s her job, not just to earn a living. Erin does her work because she loves it. She does this “job” because she loves witnessing those moments that only happen once, she is a part of people’s happiest memories.

Honestly, I believe it is simply because she loves people and feels blessed by being allowed to be the person they chose to capture the essence of their dreams coming true.

Erin is a role model for other professional business women and an amazing person. I truly believe she is the essence of what women entrepreneurs should strive to be, and really the type of person I think others wish they could be.

Thank you for considering her for this amazing and much deserved award.

Reference #2 – Keri – RBS Citizens Bank

As a current client of Erin’s, I was immediately impressed with her professionalism, sales ability, and also her strong business sense. She is the total package-her website is extremely informative, her meeting with me was full of so many ideas and suggestions I had never even thought of, and the little extras she did sealed the deal (what the weather should be like according to the farmer’s almanac, basing the entire day around the projected time of the sunset, etc). After our meeting, I knew that there was no one else I would want at my wedding to take my pictures. Her passion for what she does is obvious to everyone that meets her. 

Erin has so many clients; from large Indianapolis based companies to brides on a tight budget. She makes every client feel important and special. Whether it is for a large corporation year end party, or a small charity organization’s holiday party, she truly captures how special the event is to everyone. She also makes everyone feel beautiful, whether it is a recovering cancer patient taking engagement pictures or a bride who has just discovered her outdoor wedding is delayed because of a torrential downpour. 

The initial meeting was not only the first of many times Erin has impressed me. She has become a true friend who is a support system and a sounding board. I continue to be blown away by her entrepreneurial spirit. Not only has she continued to work steadily for her own business, but also arranging two bridal shows per year for wedding vendors, one in the winter and one in the summer. The shows give other small wedding businesses the chance to meet prospective customers; customers who appreciate Erin’s work and are looking for similar vendors with the same personal service Erin provides. 

Erin’s charitable contributions are also inspiring, whether it is making a donation for clean water in impoverished countries, to pet rescues, even helping start a fundraiser for one of her former clients diagnosed with breast cancer. When asked to help out, she doesn’t hesitate; she is more than willing to give of her time and of herself to help others. 

I am really blown away by how much her business matches the company I work for; she really dedicates her life to her business. Her energy and passion definitely fuels her company-whether it is brainstorming emails with a bride at 11:00pm, or an early morning appointment with another client. She always solicits her current and former clients for opinions on improving her own business and how they can improve theirs. Her ideas for expanding her business are so impressive, that you can’t wait for her to get started, because she will be the best at whatever she does.

Erin would be such a fantastic role model to your award and what it represents. She truly embodies the entrepreneur and is an inspiration to women small business owners everywhere. She has earned all of the success that has come her way!

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Thanks so much ladies!!!! You made my week! 🙂