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FEATURED ENTREPRENEURS
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"The Lord spoke to me through my mother and husband long before I started this endeavor, but it wasn't until
God spoke directly to me that I knew that this was for me."
By
Tamara Lazier
THE HBCU NETWORK:
Ily, thank you so much for joining us today to share your experience
as a business owner. Please tell us a little about yourself.
Ily J. Houston:
Certainly, I'm happy to be here. I am a 1996 graduate of Howard University's
School of Engineering, with a Bachelors degree in Systems and Computer Science.
After graduation I was a Software Engineer with Sprint in Reston, VA and at the
end of 1997 moved back home to Philadelphia, where I am now, to be a software consultant.
Of course, I have to mention my family who have provided so much support for me.
There's my husband who owns a real estate development company, my mother, and
younger brother, (age 22), my parents-in-law, my 2 sisters-in-law and 1
brother-in-law. One of my sisters-in-law graduated from Howard and my husband
attended another HBCU, Morgan State University.
THE HBCU NETWORK:
Please explain what your company, Event Solution Enterprises (ESE), is all about.
Ily J. Houston:
Event Solution Enterprises is a full-service event planning, personalized
stationery, and web design company. We specialize in total event planning
for small to mid-sized events, including weddings, parties, birthdays, reunions,
anniversaries and more.
THE HBCU NETWORK:
How was ESE born?
Ily J. Houston:
From the end of 1997 until August of 2001, I was a software/web consultant
and contractor with American Management Systems, IBM, and Devon Consulting,
where I traveled and worked for many of the Fortune 100 companies.
In August 2001, my contract ended with The Vanguard Group (mutual fund company)
and due to the economy and other things affecting the nation, it was a challenge
to find another contract. Since I had gotten married earlier that year (March 2001),
I was looking into doing some side work in the event planning business, just for fun.
In October of 2001, I began to look into the invitation and stationery business after
working with my mother for her 50th birthday celebration.
To make a long story short, I began Event Solution Enterprises (under a different name)
in October 2001. During this time, I was very actively looking for a new contract or
permanent software development/programming position, to no avail. In December I was
approached by a friend of my mother's about the business that she was starting and
about me doing her website. After long hours of research and discussion, I signed
my first independent website development contract and began working on her website.
I was also filling Christmas and New Years stationery holiday card orders for family
and friends. During this time I was also doing all of the official, legal business
registration and on January 29, 2002 (three days after my 27th birthday), Event
Solution Enterprises, LLC was born.
THE HBCU NETWORK:
Entrepreneurship is considered by many to be a risky venture. Once you started
ESE, did you ever consider going back to work fulltime at another company?
Ily J. Houston:
During the time I first launched ESE, I was still looking for a job; however,
my search began to have less and less priority as ESE was growing. Then one day
the Lord spoke to me and told me that He had blessed me with ESE. I finished up
my first website contract in March 2002, and at the same time was starting on my
own website to sell my personalized stationery and invitations on the web. I worked
long hours, more than I did when I was in "Corporate America", but I enjoyed every
minute of it. And on March 31, 2002, my one year wedding anniversary, I officially
launched Event Solution Enterprises, LLC on the World Wide Web.
THE HBCU NETWORK:
What's the best thing about being an entrepreneur?
Ily J. Houston:
Being self-employed has afforded me the opportunity to learn and grow more
than I could have ever imagined. As recently as a week and a half ago, I
turned down an excellent full-time job offer because I know that I am supposed to
be doing what I am doing. It's an indescribable freedom and a comfort to know that
I am doing the right thing. Besides, if I didn't give Event Solution Enterprises,
LLC 100% effort, I would never know how satisfying growing a business could be.
THE HBCU NETWORK:
Describe a day in the life of Event Solution Enterprises?
Ily J. Houston:
Each day, I answer a lot of e-mails. I've joined a lot of search engines, which
has generated a lot of positive feedback. I maintain my clients' websites, meet and
work with clients, place and fulfill invitation and stationery orders during the day.
My clients find me through the search engines I've joined, but especially
by word of mouth. I'm always telling everyone about my business and family
and friends have been great advertisers! I also work with event planners and
the wedding world. They help to promote ESE, as well.
THE HBCU NETWORK:
Before you started your company, had you ever considered becoming an
entrepreneur? What was your inspiration?
Ily J. Houston:
If you'd asked me a year ago, I never would have thought this is where
I would be. My mother and husband especially have been my inspiration.
I knew I could do it, and they encouraged it. Now that I'm here, I know
it's where I'm supposed to be.
THE HBCU NETWORK:
A little off tangent, but since we are The HBCU Network, I
have to ask, what was your most memorable college experience at Howard?
Ily J. Houston:
Probably when I pledged AKA and when I graduated, and just the people I met.
I loved the environment at Howard and the time I spent there, and my mom loved
me being there!
THE HBCU NETWORK:
What sets your company apart from other event planning companies?
Ily J. Houston:
I think it's a couple of things that I offer - especially customer service.
Because ESE is small, I can give one-on-one attention, and my products are
excellent. It's something that I didn't see when I was looking for my own
wedding. The same goes for Internet clients. They e-mail me regularly.
I've gotten good feedback from people I don't even know. Excellent service
and excellent products are what I provide.
of course.
THE HBCU NETWORK:
You mentioned being small, where do you see your business 5 years from now?
Do you want to remain somewhat small to maintain the personal experience?
Ily J. Houston:
I see myself opening a stationary retail store, just so I can have a larger
presence in the Philadelphia area. I can definitely see the business growing,
but not getting so big that I don't know what's going on with every aspect of
the business. I want to maintain the personal approach.
Also, I'm signing on with some corporate clients and I see that increasing
over the years. I want ESE to be the company they depend on for their
invitations to annual events, Christmas cards to clients, etc. I see ESE being
their sole supplier for stationery goods.
THE HBCU NETWORK:
Ily thank you, again for joining us. I'm sure our members will benefit from your story. Do you have any parting
words for the HBCU community and aspiring entrepreneurs?
Ily J. Houston:
If it's something that you think you can do - part of it is having a plan and
doing the research - go for it! If you feel strongly about it, you owe it to
yourself and the people who love you!
Visit Event Solution Enterprises today at
http://www.eventsolutionenterprises.com.
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