Meet Leslie Heins And Lisa Cook | Event Planners to Changemakers – Building a Thriving Nonprofit

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leslie Heins And Lisa Cook and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leslie Heins and Lisa Cook, how do you think about risk?
As two seasoned event planners for close to 40 years, (before there was even a category of event planning), we found ourselves cleaning forks at 2 AM after a hugely successful wedding. I turned to my partner Lisa and said, “I’m getting too old for this and she agreed, but at the time, we didn’t act on it. After a very successful year, we decided to reward ourselves with a week’s vacation at Canyon Ranch. While walking through a labyrinth maze, we stumbled upon a rock inscribed with the words “It’s never too late.” It peaked our interest so, we decided to attend a class with the same theme. I noticed Lisa’s wheels were turning. A few weeks later, she called me with an idea: “Let’s take a risk and start a nonprofit to give back.” After many discussions, we invited a group of diverse women to join us at the kitchen table, took the leap and embarked on this a journey. We knew nothing about building a nonprofit, so it became a master class in navigating the nonprofit world. Six years later, our nonprofit is thriving, with around 3,000 active members in our database.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In 1986, I knew Lisa had started an event planning business, so I called her and said, “If you ever need a partner, give me a call.” A few months later, the call came, and she invited me to join her as a partner in her company, Affair with Flair. We started with small events for friends and family, but as our reputation grew, we began receiving calls from people we didn’t know in the community.. After planning a few more various events, a vendor called us and said, “Ladies, this isn’t just a hobby anymore. You need to get a fax machine.” Our business steadily grew, and we began producing a range of events. What started with birthday parties and small private gatherings grew into a successful event planning company, producing everything from political and nonprofit events to large private sector events. We received numerous local awards from Colorado Expression magazine and were recognized in various publications nationwide. One of our proudest achievements was a wedding that won an international award for Best Wedding of 2016. We learned to navigate many challenges, from planning an event with the Secret Service to managing client expectations. Our resilience and attentive listening have earned us accolades for both our event planning and our nonprofit work. Together, we’ve made an amazing impact on the clients we served and now, the women that are involved with Lotus Network..

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When friends come to Denver, it’s so easy to show them the city. ! We love exploring Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater, especially if there is a concert they can see. Walking through the Denver Botanic Gardens is another great spot we love, especially in the summer! Walking around Larimer Square gives our friends a chance to experience the oldest and most historic block where they can shop and then grab lunch or dinner at Capital Grill or Osteria Marco.. The zoo is perfect for a kids who like to see animals from around the world. Union Station is another great site because they have fun trendy shops, restaurants, and bars. Also, if they like craft beer, Denver has great brewery tours. For outdoor lovers, hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park is breathtaking and they have trails for all skill levels. Also, watching a sports game is always a fun option. The Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Denver Nuggets, or Colorado Avalanche, are all number one teams in the country.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Lisa and I are proud Denver natives, deeply rooted with strong family values. We were both fortunate to have exceptional role models in our mothers. My mom, Sue Miller, who passed away in 2017, was a tireless advocate for breast cancer victims, starting a non-profit called, Sue Miller’s Day of Caring, making life better for women who have been affected by the disease.. Similarly, Lisa’s mom, Essie Perlmutter, a very accomplished artist, shared that same passion and dedication, serving on numerous nonprofit boards and continually giving back to the community. We saw firsthand the strength and resilience our mothers exhibited, building amazing reputations and striving to improve the world around them. With such inspiring role models, it was natural for us to follow in their footsteps. We also want to acknowledge our incredible husbands, who have supported us and stood by our side throughout our long event planning career in event planning and our journey with Lotus Network and the nonprofit world.

Website: https://lotusnetwork.org

Instagram: @lotusnetwork

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslieheins

Facebook: Lotus Network

Image Credits
Leslie Heins or Lisa Cook