Kaleena Guzman is no stranger to event planning. As a child, her father often planned community events and threw parties, and it seems like that skill runs in the family. Fresh off her stint as Red River Theatres' events coordinator, Guzman has opened her own event planning business, Kagem Chic Designs. Guzman does everything from consulting in the planning stages of an event or party to being the hands-on, on-site event coordinator for weddings, corporate functions, parties and more.
“I really like to design events,” Guzman said, “and make sure everybody is having a good time the whole time!”
Even the best-laid plans don't always go smoothly, and Guzman said that is where the thinking-on-your-feet disaster management skills of an event planner come in handy.
“If you get into that crisis mode,” Guzman said, “you have someone there that will stay calm and go in to Plan B.”
Guzman's areas of expertise are numerous, but she's had some experience, both personal and professional, in a field you might not even realize exists – proposal planning. She helped coordinate a proposal at Red River Theatres back in 2010, when a man proposed via a Muppets-themed video snuck into the previews before a film.
The video went viral; the proposal, of course, was a success. This is the kind of thing that takes careful planning and delicate sensibilities – both of which Guzman is well-versed in. Plus, looking to a professional to help plan a proposal instead of a friend or family member guarantees the most crucial part of a proposal – keeping it a secret.
“I'm not her friend, I'm not going to spill it to her – but I can think like she might think,” Guzman said. And she should know: Recently engaged herself, Guzman told us that her fiancee, dealing with the pressure of popping the question to a professional proposal planner, actually misfired on two attempts to ask for her hand before finally getting it right on the third try.
“If he'd hired someone to help him with his proposal, it would have been a lot easier!” Guzman laughed.
