Meet Carrie Mallozzi | Event Planner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carrie Mallozzi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carrie, how do you think about risk?
For nearly two-decades I was an outdoor educator and wilderness leader, so naturally I spent a significant amount of time evaluating risk. Being responsible for students’ physical and mental well-being either in remote areas or on campus at a boarding school took a significant commitment in exchange for tremendous rewards. Once my own kids reached elementary school, and I craved more time with my family, I began considering a change in careers. Understanding the nuances of taking risks is ultimately what allowed me to leap from a career in education to one in event planning. Risk analysis is all about weighing the costs and benefits. While I was proud of the impact I was making on young adults, at times it was at the expense of my own kids’ needs. I knew that leaving a steady career (one I had worked toward for 20 years), with a healthy salary and benefits would be risky. I weighed those risks with the benefits of spending more time with my family and having less stress in my life. When a friend mentioned she and her parents wererenovating a historic train depot into an event center and thought I would be the perfect wedding planner, I laughed. I had never considered being an event planner. But as my job became more stressful I began to recognize similarities between event and trip planning such as; logistics coordination, a love for working with people to reach a goal, and a need for transparency, efficiency, and strong communication. Additionally, I was noticing the increase in tourism in Leadville which, I discovered, was correlated to an explosion in the number of couples choosing Colorado as their wedding destination. So I began dreaming up my business, Stellar and Sage. The name of my business stemmed from my passion for the natural world with sage brush being prolific in the west and also a term synonymous with wisdom. I then turned to my love of birds. While pondering the perfect avian species to represent my business, a Steller’s Jay (a bird with a brilliant blue mohawk) flew by my window and I realized there was no better term to define how we imagine every great event- stellar! So I took the leap, and left my beloved career to start from scratch. It was scary and a little uncomfortable at first and then, just as I was beginning to feel forward momentum, COVID hit (five months into the start of my business). While this may seem devastating, I found ways to creatively and safely have smaller weddings and events and was grateful not to be navigating the educational system during that time (thank you to all the teachers and administrators that carried that burden). I was more available for my kids and felt empowered by helping couples navigate this tricky time. I also had more time to assist my community with food deliveries and launching an online auction to help businesses stay afloat. While the event industry has less inherent risk than rock climbing and backcountry skiing, I still continue to weigh the risks and rewards that come with planning an event. Helping my clients identify their priorities allows me to better manage costs and benefits so that, like my business name suggests, they are ensured to have a spectacular and thoughtful event surrounded by the people they love. Ultimately, leaving an established career to start all over from the bottom was the best decision I could have made for myself and my family.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Stay at the S.L.umber Yard at FREIGHT

Eat:
Order a charcuterie board from Tuck and Vittals at FREIGHT to be delivered to your room
Order a drink at Before & After
Eat on the rooftop of Treeline Kitchen
Grab drinks at the legendary Silver Dollar Saloon
Ski/hike up to the TN Pass Cookhouse for dinner or lunch

Adventure:
Paddle board Twin Lakes
Bike the Mineral Belt trail or mountain bike the Cloud City Wheelers trails
Nordic Ski or play golf at the Mount Massive Golf Course
Ride the Leadville Southern Railroad
Spend a day visiting local shops
Hike a 14er
Swim in Turquoise Lake
Downhill Ski at Ski Cooper
Tube at the TN Pass Nordic Center

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Nan and Dave Anderson had an incredible vision for FREIGHT. They saw an old dilapidated building in Leadville and wondered how they could apply their talents as historic architects to turn it into a beautiful space while honoring its rich history. Their daughter Elsa, believed and trusted me to be their in-house wedding planner. I am so privileged and honored to work with these three talented individuals.

Website: https://www.stellarandsage.com/

Instagram: stellarandsage

Facebook: Stellar and Sage

Other: freightleadville.com

Image Credits
Headshot- Taylor Jones Photography Piano- Jason Batch Photography Hazy Mountain Shot- Rose Groves (Matlai Photography) FREIGHT Ceremony- Catherine Eichel Photography Blonde blushing bride- Amanda Podesta Dramatic Mountain Shot- Catherine Eichel Photography Mountain and Dog- Taylor Jones Photography Dog licking lips- Matthew Speck Photography Burro photo- Catherine Eichel Photography