Meet Willie Ripple

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

Hi Willie, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
I love to learn and when I decided on a career path of hospitality with a focus on event planning, I was committed to learning as much as I could. I recall sitting in the cafeteria my senior year of high school and classmates were talking about their SAT and ACT scores. My scores were average, but classmates told me I couldn’t go to college with those scores and would have to get a “job” or get married and become a mother. It’s amazing how words can affect someone for their entire life. I went to cosmetology school (following in the steps of most of my family), after my high school graduation and became a lead stylist, booked for six weeks out. I also did get married and had children. I knew when I walked out of the cafeteria that day that no matter what I did I would commit to being very good at it.

Education will always be very important to me. For me there are many ways I learn which includes reading, listening to podcasts, videos, classes/webinars/conferences. I prefer being in person instead of learning online. I also learn so much by scrolling through social media, though it’s easy to go on a bunny trail that leads you nowhere. My education focus is not just on event planning or business, its whenever my mind is questioning something, I go on my learning adventure.       

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Success for me took time, determination, focus, and patience. Success was not overnight but watering the seed of success and watching it grow was motivating for me to keep moving forward.

Early in my career I joined an industry association and I put a lot of “heart and soul” into being the best member I could be. It was important for me to learn from others and to give back my time. I joined the programs and education committee of this association and worked my way up the ranks to becoming VP and being on the board. I learned a lot and I made many valuable contacts. There were many challenges though during these four years and most of them stemmed from different opinions from other committee members. Some people just went through the motions of being on a committee, but they really didn’t care to be there and they didn’t offer any value. I recall my intuition telling me to go one direction for a theme of a very big event the year I became VP, though my team wanted to go another direction. As the leader I made the executive decision to follow my gut, take the “RISK” which later was confirmed to be the right path by a very well-known planner. I recall his words to me that it was important to take risks in event planning and not do the simple and easy, as it’s the only way to move my career forward. My brand is not a cookie cutter approach, each client’s events becomes unique, using my “secret sauce” formula.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
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. In your view what are some of the most fun, interesting, exciting people, places, or things to check out?

Just like working with a client I would be talking to my friend before their arrival to learn more about their goals for the trip. I have had family visit before that wanted to see the mountains but became frighted with the windy roads and no guard rails on the highways. I personally love Estes Park, Red Rocks and hiking so those are always my top choices as they bring me so much peace. One friend loves wolves and wanted to visit the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center which we did. I didn’t even know about this place, but it was quite interesting, and I learned so much.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Scotty O’ Brien and he has several companies, he is a true mover and shaker in Denver since moving here about two years ago.

Website: willierippleevents.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willierippleevents/

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/WillieRipple

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillRippleEvents

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/willie-ripple-events-denver

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC–0Y6BsjInidic3zGV14Vg

Image Credits
Ashleigh Wurzbach Photography, Allee Photography, StudioJK Photography, Linda Murri Photography, and Willie Ripple Events