About Magnolia Collaborative

A small glimmer of Magnolia Collaborative began more than 30 years ago in a little southern town in Mississippi, where I worked for a caterer that excelled in the art of southern hospitality. I absolutely loved every experience, and reveled in the beauty of seeing those events come to life. The glimmer of a dream had begun. 

In 2001, my husband and 2 young daughters moved almost 900 miles away from my hometown. We added 3 more daughters, and 3 sons to our family. I delighted in the opportunity to plan parties and special events for my family, as well as many events for our church. I also had the opportunity to hone my organizational skills through different committees, directing VBS, and homeschooling 8 children, along with many other volunteer opportunities. While my dream for many years was to start a catering business, I came to the realization that event planning, rather than catering, was my passion. However, while the dream always remained, the timing never seemed quite right. 

In 2019, I was approached about a job with the PA Senate. While I turned down the full time position due to family logistics & responsibilities, I agreed to come on staff in a part time capacity. This position also involved event planning. While grant workshops and town halls didn’t encompass the type of events that I enjoyed, it did give me ample opportunity to learn more of the logistics involved with event planning. In the winter of 2024, I stepped down from my position with the PA Senate, realizing that it was no longer a good fit for our ever-changing family dynamics.  

Our family has continued to grow, with the addition of 3 son-in-laws, and 3 grandchildren. With that came the joy of helping to plan weddings and the collection of numerous event supplies, always with the idea that I would put them to use in the future when that small glimmer of a dream became a reality. 

I realized that the timing was finally right, and started working towards my official start. Magnolia is a nod to my Mississippi heritage and the beginning of my dream. Collaborative is for the many people, both clients and other vendors that it takes to bring a beautiful event to fruition. 

“Stay focused. Go after your dreams, and always keep moving towards your goals.”