As the ball drops on the new year, the opportunities rise for Elite Events Management Inc.

Leah Rosenthal | Hamilton, ON | January 13, 2012

Five, four, three, two, one ... Happy New Year! As the ball dropped this past New Years Eve 450 Hamiltonians rang in 2012 at the Hamilton Convention Centre at a circus theme soiree designed and run by Elite Events Management Inc.

This second annual New Year's Eve event was a mix between 1950s glam and the circus with a kissing booth, high top tent, cotton candy machines and acrobatic performances. The magical evening was all dreamed up by the two co-owners of Elite Events.

Established in 2009 by two McMaster graduates, Jennifer Mainse '09 (commerce), and Lindsay Marshall '08 (political science), Elite Events creates edgy, modern events with a classic touch.

Since beginning their friendship in high school, Mainse and Marshall have perfected the opposites attract theory when it comes to their business. Mainse utilizes her passion in the events industry by tying her financial knowledge to the creation of cost effective, seamless events and manages all operational aspects of the company.

Marshall, on the other hand, uses her post graduate certificate in public relations from Mohawk College to manage all public relations services and communications for the company while maintaining her creative streak and community outreach.

"We work so well together and rely on our individual skills to make Elite Events run smoothly. With my turn-key commerce degree from the DeGroote School of Business, I was prepared to start up the company from a strategic management point of view," says Mainse. "Our company has expanded and grown in the past three years and much of that is because of our education."

From the beginning, Elite Events set out to differentiate themselves from the competition. It isn't all about bows and ribbons and where to place the drink stations, say the co-owners. Elite Events plans and implements events of any size and budget and completely customizes each event, tailored specifically to their clients. They are dedicated to listening to what the client wants and then over delivering to make every clients' dream event come true.

From Hallmark to law firms, non-profit organizations to publicly traded companies, Elite Events has done it all with professionalism, style and flare while striving to break down barriers in the business world.

"We are two young females and we are determinded to break down preconceived notions about what women can do in the entreprenial business world. We invisioned an idea, created a strong business plan and hit the ground running," says Marshall. "And it is paying off. Elite Events is surpassing all of our expectations and this success proves that anything is possible if you are willing to work hard."

For more information on Elite Events visit http://www.eliteevents.ca/.