Episode 17 - Katie Kearn - Owner of Portland Event and Design & co-owner of Portland Catering Company

In this episode of The Realtor Who Wines, Rashelle Newmyer visits the stunning Chateau de Harpe in West Linn, Oregon. This venue evokes a European estate, making it an ideal setting for weddings and special events.  Rashelle is sipping Jackson Vineyard Rosé from Sherwood Hills Winery while having an honest, laughter-filled conversation with Portland, Oregon event powerhouse Katie Kern. 

Katie is the prime example of someone who wears many hats: owner of Portland Event and Design, co-owner of Portland Catering Company, venue manager at Chateau de Harpe and Bella Vita 360, volunteer, coach, and busy mom. Katie shares her journey from being a teenage catering lead at just sixteen to becoming the business owner and entrepreneur she is today. 

Katie shares how she built a career that isn’t just about beautiful weddings and Instagram-worthy details, but about people: the brides, grooms, vendors, and even the parents who sometimes need gentle reminders about what really matters.  Rashelle and Katie laugh about salsa stains on wedding dresses, pasta bars that save budgets (and outfits), and why social media perfection rarely matches real life.

Together, they open up about the unseen side of entrepreneurship: the countless hours, the quiet problem-solving, and the behind-the-scenes hustle that no one sees but everyone benefits from. Katie explains why being a planner is part logistics expert, part therapist, and why real success comes from listening first and always being willing to learn.

The conversation drifts from the elegance of Chateau de Harpe to the newly launched Sherwood Little League for girls softball. Katie talks about rolling up her sleeves, literally getting muddy, and discovering how hard it is to keep a field game-ready in Oregon weather. They reflect on the parents who give feedback without offering help, and the deep satisfaction of seeing girls play, laugh, and grow because someone decided to step up and volunteer.

Between sips and laughter, Rashelle and Katie discuss motherhood and what it means to show up fully: setting the phone down, being intentional with family time, and remembering that presence matters more than perfection. They share the moments of being underestimated, especially as women in leadership, and why sometimes the best answer is a smile paired with a firm, “Actually, no, thank you.”

By the end, it’s clear this conversation isn’t just about weddings or business, it’s about community, courage, and finding joy in messy, real life. It’s about how two five-foot-two moms coach basketball, run companies, and still make time for rosé-fueled honesty.  So pour yourself something good, settle in, and join Rashelle and Katie for an episode that’s funny, heartfelt, and refreshingly real.  

Thank you for listening! Connect and collaborate with Realtor Rashelle on any of her social media platform pages > https://linktr.ee/RealtorRashelle

Transcript

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Welcome to the Realtor Who Wines podcast. I'm Michelle Niemeyer, your hostess with the most as a student of life, a connector, a passionate wine enthusiast, and your local favorite guide. Join me as we explore the vibrant Pacific Northwest. Savor the finest wines and champion the spirit of entrepreneurship. Each episode, I'll sit down with inspiring guests, supporting business ownership and uncovering the stories that make this community unique. So grab a glass of wine, settle in, and let's embark on a journey of discovery and connection together. Cheers. Hi, everyone. Welcome back to the realtor who whines. I'm Rachelle Neumeyer, the realtor who wins. And today I'm with Katie Kern. And we are in this beautiful venue. And this is technically a West Linn address or Wilsonville, okay. We're in West Linn, Oregon, just on the cusp of where Wilsonville Muslin meets. So some people would probably think of it as Wilsonville. I think because, yeah, I think we're like, we're not we're kind of in like the trifecta, almost trifecta of like quality in Wilsonville, West Linn. Yeah. Well, like if you live on this road, you go to Wilsonville schools. I think you can go to either. Really, I think so. Well, it doesn't matter. No, that's not why we're here today anyhow. Property line. We'll talk about school district's zoning later. Yeah, but thank you for being on. I'd like to cheers you. I appreciate you having us here today. Of course. Happy to have you guys. We are. For those wondering what we're drinking today, we are drinking rosé, from the Jackson vineyard, which is provided by the Sherwood Hills Winery. I was just telling Katie she hasn't been to this winery yet. We both live in Sherwood and she loves rosé, so I thought it was a fitting wine to bring. But this is like a hobby winery. They're open by appointment only. They, like, have a vineyard on property, and then they, like, turn their garage into a tasting room. But it's like a nice separate garage. It's really cool. And they have like an outdoor seating, some delicious. We'll have to check it out sometime together. Got done rosé all day. Yeah. So now we've talked property lines rosé all day. Why don't we actually talk about you? Wouldn't that be great if that's a I don't think we have enough time for. Yes, well, we'll do our best. Okay. Can you go ahead and introduce yourself to everybody and give us just a brief introduction of who you are and what you do? Oh, man. You know. Okay, grab a pencil. Right. So I'm Katie Kern. I currently own and operate, wedding planning at our wedding, an event planning business called Portland Event and Design. I currently manage this venue, which is Chateau de harp. Along with, like, planning events. So when they book, when clients book their event here, I do all the management and like, event planning and all of that. Here. And then I co-own Portland Catering Company, which we're a full service catering company in Portland about with servant servicing the Portland metro area. So I've been in catering for about 22 years. I've owned my business since 2012. Planning events. And then I manage a couple other venues as well. And then I'm a mom. Yeah. Do you a mom, a coach? Yep, I do. You were in charge of the PTA? Well, I was on Pac. Sorry. I'm sorry, I know I gotta say it the right way. Sorry. Parent advisory committee. She advises. Yeah, I just do all the things. Yeah? Yeah. You wear a lot of hats. What have you always had an entrepreneurial spirit, like as a kid, or is that something that kind of bit you later in life? I think more so my parents really instilled like you work hard, play hard situation. And that was never an option for us to like, not be busy and not have things on our plate. So I think sometimes I have a platter full instead of a plateful. Yeah. But in my like in my life, that's just how I operate, because that's just how I've been my entire life. So whether it was like doing a project at home and growing up and, and like working a job, or when I was in college, I worked several jobs just to kind of like keep busy and like, keep going. And then I think that mentality just, like, helps you grow and helps you build to whatever you're doing. So yeah, that's just kind of what I've always been like, I don't know, I'm what was like your first, like, solo entrepreneurial endeavor. Like you were saying, you're doing projects at home and stuff, but, like, as you're growing up, like, well, was like one of your very first, like, solo things that you did solo. So I think what really made me start is when I was my first job was catering. So that's why I've been in catering for so long. And so that company I worked with when I was in high school, I got promoted to lead super quickly. So I was a 16 year old with my license driving, catering van, running events like. Yeah, in charge of people that were super, not super old, but like much older than a 16 year old. Yeah, yeah. So you were in charge of grown ups. I got that little taste of like, management, so to speak, and like, knowing that I could do it and I was doing it successfully. So I think that's just kind of where I started that itch of like, doing better, doing more. Yeah. And like succeeding because I knew if I could do it at 16, I could definitely do it later in life. Yeah. And now that you have participated, managed on multiple things, what is some of like the toughest lessons that you've learned? Oh gosh. Management of people. Yeah people are tough. So in my industry so the event industry it's so hard to have staff and then I have a really hard time of like having people who work at my level. So because I'm a super hard worker, I work like there's not a time block in my day that I don't have something scheduled. And so I project, I used to project that a lot on other people and having that super high unrealistic expectation for others like, hey, I'm busting my butt. You should be busting yours. Yeah. And I think over time, my management style has changed to kind of be more understanding of like, hey, not everyone's going to be me, not everyone's going to work like me. But if I can show them that I'm working alongside them and I care as much or I care, I care what they're doing regardless of their effort. Yeah, that's that's the one thing I learned in leadership too, like along the way is like, not everybody's as invested to you as you are. So like, you really want everything to be successful and maybe you're part time. They just like not the 16 year old you were. But like the current 16 year old you have hired or whatever it might be like, this is a summer game. My mom makes me do cool. Sometimes I'm like, why are you only picking up one plate? You're missing pickup seven. Like, yeah, make it worth your while. I think that's also like the moms and us too. Like we have to be efficient. Time is money, people. We can't like eight make eight trips to one table. You're going to be like, I'm so tired. Yeah, yeah. You're five minutes into your shift. Like, pull it together. Yeah, totally. What is something that you wish you would have known before starting your own business? I wish. I don't know, yeah. I think what's really nice is, like, I've really grown and I've grown with my business, so. And I've grown it in my own pace. So when I first started, it was, it was always like, and like a part time job on top of my catering job. So I always work full time catering. That's just of my 9 to 5 paycheck support, my family. And so planning was on top of that that I offered to our clients. So it gave me the opportunity to kind of grow in my full time position, but then also like, see how I wanted my business to run. And so I was always able to pull back or increase the amount of money I was making or the amount of commitment I was giving because it was just a part time thing. Yeah. And so it is it's not as much a part time thing anymore, but it's like I only book as much as I want to and how much I want and like the yeah, the growth. But currently I've been working really hard at it. I just hired my full my first full time employee. That's exciting. She's kicking butt, I love her, and so. And it's just nice to kind of see. The growth, the growth. And, like, how much effort you put into it is what you're going to get back. Totally. And I've kind of seen that kind of reaction. And like so many different ways. So I think I don't know if that's something I should have known before I started, but it was a lot of busy kind of grow. Yeah, a lot of business ownership is just doing and learning. Yeah. You just got to like and I think I just did it. I was like, everyone told me I should do it and I did it, and I started slow. And then I just ramped up and I'm just I'm in a really good spot right now. So that's awesome. It's awesome. As a wedding planner, how often is it where people are asking you, like, what are the top trends? Or should I be doing this at my wedding? Or do most brides come to you with like their binder of like, this is what I want? Oh ash, if you're a binder bride, we're going to put that to the side. No, I'm just kidding. If my brides are watching this, I love you. But what I will say. So for me, I like to really focus on the couple. So I'm not going to come with you. I'm not your. I'm not Jennifer Lopez with an earpiece and a belt. Okay. So what? I mean, for a lot of reasons, that's just not me. But what's really nice is, like, I just like, I come to them and I'm like, I'm real with them. Like, what's your budget? What do you want it to look like? Like vision boards. Totally. But then I work with them on really creating something that they, it's a that's attainable for their budget and that's going to make them happy. And they're not going to be like feeling regrets afterwards, like, oh, I shouldn't spend all my money on that or yeah, oh, I guess we didn't need the doves. Yes. Yeah, 100%. You don't need the doves. No judgment to anyone that had doves at their wedding. I, I have not had doves at a wedding yet, so there you go. I don't know how we would do that, but really, that's why you need the earpiece. Release the doves. Now, see, that's why I don't have one. Is because they're not releasing any. Right. Got it. Perfect. But I really. It's just. It's about the client. For me. It's not. I don't want them to be like me. Like none of the weddings I would I do are exactly what I would do. Because that's the beauty of events, is every client gets their own choice of what they're going to have on their wedding day. If you don't want to walk down the aisle in a dress, go for it. If you want to have a ceremony before and just have a party, that's totally fine too. If you like. Whatever it is that's like your thing that you want, go for it. Yeah, just do it. So when someone comes to you to plan their wedding, do you have like a list of vendors that you use or do they normally, like come with their own vendors, or is it kind of a combo. So it's kind of a combo. If there is a full planning package, then it's like I help them along the way. I do everything for them. But if a lot of couples come to us with some vendors and they're like, I need help. And so we can kind of his piece things together and kind of help them finish out. I do have a list because I've been I've been in the industry for so long of some people that I've worked with, I trust, and I love working with them and in a lot of different budget ranges. So it's nice where I can be like, okay, well, you don't have the budget for this, but I have these other people. Yeah, that are within that. Yeah. It's the same in real estate, like when people will call me and be like, I need a plumber. I know 30 plumbers, but also I know which plumbers I'll go to. Which area exactly what their budget is. If they'll only do a full bathroom remodel, if it will come change the toilet. Like there's totally different. Exactly. And I think that's the same in any industry. Like you just know and like knowing the couple, like, okay, well this person probably not a good fit with this couple. Yeah. Or this person is. So yeah. Or they'll charge extra to come out to a different venue or whatever. What is some advice? If someone was like, oh my gosh, I'm getting married, what advice would you give me on choosing an event planner? Like what would you tell them? Like kind of questions to ask or how to select the right event planner for them? Yeah, I think a lot of times people are put off by just like the cost. Sure. So oh, that's too expensive for me. Well, think about how much money that person is going to save you with like discounts that they get or like, well, just time to like being savvy about like how to do things and how to do things in a less expensive way or just saving you time. Like, what's that value bring? Yeah. Also, don't book someone that you don't get along with. Oh yeah. Because you're going to spend a lot of time. Yeah, exactly. And you have to be like, hey Katie, I don't like that. Or hey, Katie, can you talk to this person? I'm having a hard time learning. Like, I feel like I'm a little mini psychologist. Yeah. So it's like, hey, I'm having these issues with my mom, and I need you to help me kind of walk through it, and I'll just be like, hey, this is what I've seen in the past. Yeah, it's not a big deal. Like work through it. And so I think the most important thing is don't be afraid of the cost because there's a huge value in it. Yeah. And like vibe with the person you're talking to. Like, if you have a great conversation and you're like, oh, okay, she gets me. She or yeah, he or he, whoever the planner is. Yeah. Just like go with your gut because if you like that person, you're going to work with them like walnuts cannot. It's got to be so beneficial to have somebody outside of your sphere, like your parents and everybody else, to give you perspective or point of views. Because even when your parents or best friends or family members, whenever they even though they mean well, they still have what they want for you in their head. So, like, what do you mean? You want a buffet? We will do plated. And you're like, But I'm paying for it. Yeah. And the buffet is a little bit better. Yeah, or this way with allergies, we don't have to worry about anybody's allergies because they can just serve themselves or whatever. But. So it's probably going to be so beneficial just to have that person like you to say, no, it's fine. The buffet is a great option. And this is why like instead of like worrying about where I am, buddy is going to judge us if we're not plated or cares about money. Let me. Yeah, let it go about what? That is at the bar. Yeah. Let me keep buddy away from there. Okay. Got it. Perfect, perfect. What are some trends that you're noticing right now on weddings? Is there anything like super popular that has been trending or is it actually just pretty unique? Gosh, I don't have anything that's pinpointing and I don't really like to follow trends, because if you're doing if you're following the trends, then you're not doing it. You're not being unique to yourself, like you're not doing things that are unique to you and your your your story with your parents. So I don't know about what trends. Yeah, that are going on, I don't know. Well, I guess I just was thinking like, to like if people come to you and like, I saw this on TikTok or I saw real and I want to do this. Yeah, I know you love social media so well, sometimes it's so hard to. Social media is so unrealistic. Yeah. And people see these pretty photos and like, oh my gosh, look at these flowers. I'm like, okay, that's $10,000 in flowers. You have a $4,000 flower budget. Yeah. Okay. Like yeah it's super pretty I agree. But and again just where do you want to spend your money. Like if you were going to move money from a different part of your budget. Yeah. Exactly. Where would you want to move it from. Or are we okay with. Because $4,000 still buys a lot of flowers? Yes, 100%. Yeah. But also like, you don't need flowers on top, flowers on top of flowers. Right. If, unless that's what you want. Right. But I again bringing back to reality like. Yeah social media is not always reality. Do you ever give advice also on the catering side of like menu selection like, lasagna is great, but it's messy or, you know, like things like that. So because I call in Portland Catering company and I'm like so involved in catering and doing all those things, we do tastings. So in the tasting we talk a lot about like, okay, what do you want the field to be? How like, what do you want the meal to achieve all those things? We don't really have a lot of people that do like lasagna. So we do like pasta water super popular. It's like it's very cost effective. Yeah. And it's filling. Yeah. And and most people love. Yeah. So when we do something like that, I always try to be like, okay, we'll do like a, a light source, like a olive oil or something with no sauce that. Yeah. That way there's options. So those people that spill on themselves I know me. She's looking at me well, actually at my wedding. Salsa straight down. Yeah. Because I love chips and salsa. So I was like, I got down chips and salsa. Why was no one like Rochelle? You're a terrible eater. You shouldn't be allowed outside with salsa. This is like straight out on your dress, just straight down. And I was like, oh God, we're done with pictures. But like, there was still pictures of us on the night of dancing and sports. Salsa, babe. Perfect. Just perfect. Lastly, I didn't have a Katy and now in hindsight, I should have. Yeah, yeah. There's always everybody's like, oh yeah sure. That salsa. That makes sense. Not one I, I buy actually. Now that I think about it, there's plenty money being exchanged behind closed doors. Like how long before salsa is on her dress. Exactly. Yeah, I give it 20. Wait a minute. I know she's. Yeah, it's going to come. Yeah, it's going to do it. Let me think about who bought shots until they won that. But yeah. Yeah. That's so funny with catering. So obviously you do weddings. What are other events that you guys do outside of that. So we do a lot of corporate. So corporate like luncheon learns and meetings and executive meetings and breakfasts and all like safety meetings, all that kind of of like any kind of corporate catering that you can think of. We do a lot of during the Monday through Friday and then we're a full service caterer. So we do receptions. So if you want to do like a happy hour with alcohol or whatever, apps and stuff like that, we do a lot of those like birthday parties, like what's like the smallest number to like the largest number, just to give people an idea. Because I think sometimes when people think catering, they think they need 100 people. Oh no, no, no. So we cater as little as like ten people. More so corporate, not so much social because I think social catering, like you would think, like you're going to cater your daughter's birthday party or something like that. We don't really do small things like that, per se. Yeah. But for corporate, we can be anywhere from ten people up to 1500. That's awesome. So huge scale. Yeah. And then small scale. Yeah, with the corporate stuff. So are you downtown a lot for that kind of stuff or. We're all over. Yeah. So we were in a really good location where we, we specifically picked that location because we're equidistant to like a lot of different places. So we can go to Hillsborough, we or we can go to Walton, Westland, downtown Portland, Oregon City, all those things like were in a pinned up. So we can kind of do that whole radius. So it's a little Portland metro. Do you go down towards Salem? We do, you know, so there's not a lot of bigger catering companies down in Salem. And so we do deliver a lot to Salem and like even out to like Newberg, McMinnville area. So if you pay a delivery fee, we'll be there. Yeah, maybe not the coast, but, you know. Well, it depends on the fee. Yeah. I would never say never. I guess out of all of your different entrepreneur hats. Like which one? Probably I would. And I guess it's catering because that's your longest history. But like, which one or do you feel like the most connected to? I know it's kind of like picking your favorite child, which is hard, but, you know, I don't know if I think they all make me who I am, so. And there's like value to each one of them. So I don't think I could ever pick one because I wouldn't be a successful event planner without catering. But also catering brought me to event planning, right? And this space I manage and I love and I love being here, but I also wouldn't be here without planning. So it's just like it's a huge web that just kind of creates who I am. Yeah, I'm really thankful for all of it. We are in a beautiful location today. It's a castle. When we pulled up, we were like, oh, you mean the Beast Castle? And welcome to my guest. Yeah. Talk to us a little bit about this space and like, what kind of events you do here. It's a really special place. So it's, it was originally purchased by a couple. It's 68 acres here in West Linn, and it had an original farmhouse. So she was a doctor. He was a dentist. And they her vision was that she wanted to retire and run a venue. When she retired, she wanted to run a venue and she always loved European history and like chateaux and all that stuff. So she really wanted to build this. So she built this property. They built their home first there in the back 5000ft². And then it took a while to get the permitting for the front 5000ft². So they got the permits, built the venue, and then unfortunately, she got diagnosed with, terminal cancer and passed away. Oh, gosh. So she never really got to see it and flourish and with, like, an events happening. But she had her hand and everything here. Her name is Christina Harp. She was a doctor. She was very well known in the area. And so, actually, it's any time we have an event, it's like. Oh, Doctor Harp was my doctor, and, it's it's really special. Dan, her wife, he and I work really closely together, so I joke that I run the space, and he. Most of the lawn. So he does all go mow the lawn. Dang. No, it's not like that. It's like, hey, Dan, you're in. I'm in London. He does all the landscaping. And he really just love seeing people enjoy a space. His wife and. Yeah. So it's really fun and it's great and it's unique. And we limit the amount of events that we do, and it's, it's just a really special space. And. Yeah, he's really happy to share it with everyone, but I know that. So this is my first time here. But when I walked in, it's very elegant but welcoming at the same time. And sometimes when you walk into something that's so elegant and you're like, don't touch anything you can. We just heard my salsa story. So, like, behave, touch that. Fine. But like, it's just it feels still like, oh, no. Move around. Enjoy. Have a seat. Like, it's very welcoming and it's so cool. How many. No, no, but it definitely has like, that elegance. Charm where it does feel like, oh, this is like a lot of people say like when they drive up the driveway, they feel like they're like transform, like they're taken out of organ and they're in this like different space. Yeah. Like they don't feel like they're in organ when they're here. Which is funny how often when people have weddings here. I know that you were saying that the bride and the groom tend to stay the night. Does anybody else normally get to stay on the property? We're not. We're not Airbnb. I don't want to be an innkeeper. What do you mean? I mean, I don't want to. You don't want to be a mom of all spots. I don't want to. I don't want to do my own laundry. I don't want to do laundry here. Yeah. So it just. So when you book the space, you get kind of for the weekend. So access Friday, all event, all day Saturday. The couple can spend the night the night of their wedding, and then they're out on Sunday. So it's just really nice. There's a lot of getting ready spaces here so families can kind of enjoy getting ready in the morning, and then the event can happen. Everyone leaves and the bride and groom can have their own space. Yeah. So it's it's nice in that way. How big of events have you had here? Oh, gosh. The biggest we've had I think it was like 275. We try to limit it to 200. We only we make special exceptions for those bigger events just because it's a lot of wear and tear on the property. Yeah. Well and parking and everything are we have a huge parking lot. Yeah I, we have the space but it's more of like the management of people just because it's a huge property and like, yeah, managing all those people. But we've also had wedding as small as like 40. So it's a huge, huge swing of like people who want to enjoy the space here. And what are some of the other spaces that you manage or have events at? Oh, gosh. So I just started helping a new venue out in Carmel, Carlton I think it's Carlton. I think it's technically their address or something different, but it's Bella Vita 360. It's their space is incredible. So it, they just built this new beautiful tasting room which is by I think it's by appointment only. I correct me if I'm wrong I don't know but it's, it has a 360 degree view of the valley. Oh, wow. So you can see all the mountains when it's cleared on a clear day. It's just an incredible space. And their lawn is perfectly manicured and huge. So you can fit like a 40 by 110 for your reception and then have the rest to have the ceremony. And it's like you don't feel like you're cramped. It's all in one space. So it's just it's really gorgeous. So that's another space. Portland Catering Company has something in the works that I can't technically talk about yet. But stay tuned on that one. Yeah. And then we help oven, winery out in McMinnville as well. Okay, cool. And then if someone hires you as an event planner, obviously they don't have to use those spaces you just talked about or what are some other spaces that have been pretty popular in the area? Oh gosh. How much time do you have? Wow. Well, so truly, there's so many great venues around here that I worked at and I love all the venue owners and things. And I, I don't just work with Portland Catering Company as if I'm wedding or if I'm an event planner. I don't you don't just have to work with Berkeley Catering Company. You don't just have to have your event. Here we go, kind of wherever. So we do a lot of things in like downtown Portland and wine country and all all over the places. Yeah, you are a busy mom like I am. I know she's got two awesome kiddos. And, how do you manage the mom guilt versus work? Guilt? Like, oh, I should be with my kids tonight, or I'm working, like, so I, I've heard I think this is the new thing that people have really started talking about. It's like this mom guilt thing. I don't personally get it. At least I don't think I do. I try to really be present when I'm home with my kids. I'm really lucky. Where is my home? My home. My husband is a stay at home dad. So he gets to be at home with them and pick Olivia up from school and take him to the park and do all those things. And so I feel like my sacrifice of him being able to stay at home and have that time with the kids, like I'm super present when we're there, like they're together and we we make sure that we take family trips and we own a trailer and we go camping when we can when I don't have a wedding, those kinds of things. So I think being intentional with your time, mitigates a lot of that total guilt that you're going to have. Yeah. And just don't be on your phone the whole time you're home, like you're done. You're done working. Put it away. Yeah, well, and you do a lot of stuff too, like coach. Like. So we both coached basketball together this year. I'm trying to get her to coach volleyball with me. Just thinking about it. Just ask my husband. I know. Yeah, I know when I see him on Monday, I will. Olivia was like, mom, you're coaching, right? And I was like, well, you ask her dad. I like it because, yeah, because it's hard for him. Because he's he doesn't obviously he didn't play girls sports, so she doesn't know. And so he can't coach. Well, he doesn't feel comfortable coaching. Sure. And, I was like, you get Lucas. Yeah, I get Olivia. This is my time. Exactly. Yeah. So he'll be playing sports before you know it. Exactly. Yeah. And then you also coach softball, and then you, like you said, you're a part of the PAC. And so, like, you're involved a lot with the kids too. So I think that helps. Well and I think for me volunteerism is really important. Like you, we in the Sherwood area where there's a lot going on and like a lot of parents are involved, but a lot of parents aren't involved. So it's like, again, you get what you put into it. So I really want the schools to be great. I want my kids to have great opportunities. I think that's why. So with softball, starting, sure, it's off a little league. That was like a huge thing because we wanted more opportunity for the girls and like having a little league in Sherwood, we didn't have one. So like starting it in like, well, and it was such an impact too. So Katie was part of the forefront of getting the Sherwood Little League going, but also a neighboring town, Newburgh doesn't have a little league either. And so now they get to participate, and it's cool to watch the kids, like, engage and grow with each other, even if they're not at the same schools and not in the same towns, because eventually they might be, or they'll play each other and they're all going together. Yeah, yeah, you're going to mix them up? Yeah. Eventually. Yeah. So that's really awesome too. What have you learned from that experience, like launching a little league? That's probably been quite a learning experience. Yes. Back to the people part. A lot of work now. So Michael and I, we're really close now. So we kind of launched it together. Natalie, also helped us get it started, and it's kind of helping us on the board. But it's hard when it's only a couple parents that want to step up to the plate and do it, especially as being business owners and like running our own business and like taking time away from our family and our business totally put it together. But for me, the sacrifice is seeing all the girls, like at the field, happy and cheering and playing softball and owning the game. But it was, I think, the biggest thing I can say to people is that if you weren't willing to step up to the plate and volunteer and be a part of it. Maybe keep your thoughts to yourself. Yeah. Well and that's like with anything not just a little league. But yeah it is so frustrating when people give you feedback and that way where they're like why didn't you blah blah blah. And you're like well that's a great idea. Why don't you do that? But they're like, oh, I don't, I don't have time for that. And or like and we've just the negative feedback we've gotten is more so than like, hey, thanks for putting this together. Yeah. Hey, you did a great job this year. Here's some points. And like maybe wait till the end of the season to like, hey, you're still in the thick. Thank you so much for doing this. Your first year you had no groundwork whatsoever. You put everything together from scratch, but you could have done this. This is this. Well, and like one thing that's been eye opening to me that I wouldn't have thought of if I was starting the Little League, is how much field work needs to be done, because we're in Oregon. So like one week in the fields, beautiful. And then it rains all week and then it's flooding. And then you got to rework the field again and like have the proper equipment to do it. Or you have a bunch of parents out there like digging and doing all that stuff. And I was just like, oh, I coach basketball and volleyball. They're both inside in the gym. So, like, I don't have to worry about the weather. And I was just like, oh my gosh, it's just giving me so much more respect to you and all the other parents that are volunteering, doing all of that crazy hard work when it's 85 and like trying and it's a mud pit. Oh my gosh, I and we did a fundraiser so we were able to buy a gator to like yeah the field now. Oh my gosh. The amount of times I hand drug all fields before games and like parents are like, oh, it just happens. It just magically is ready or I think and clean. And maybe they think I don't know if they think that like, you guys are able to hire somebody or if like the. Well, because they play at the middle school field. Yeah. And so I don't know if they think the school pays for someone to do that. I don't think they realize it's the program doing it well. And we have to rent the fields from the school. Right? So it's like, no, we're paying. And then we can't we can't afford to pay people to do it like the volunteers. Yeah. And so like, especially when, like the fields person was gone, it's like no one else is going to do it. So and like it's just there's like, oh well I would have helped. Would you really, would you have really been here at seven? And I'm not your field. Like, you want me to pick up snacks? I'm there. You want me to drop off water 100%? You want me to shovel dirt? You won't want me to in ten minutes. I'm terrible at it. I'm not good at it, and I hate it. It's like asking me to go on a hike now and like I would be the friend. Yeah, I would be that friend on a hike, like two seconds. Like, is that a snake? Is that a snake? Is that a snake? Is that one also, is it snack time like, is it like, is it break for lunch? You guys didn't bring wine. We weren't supposed to bring wine. Wait a minute. I brought my wine with the screw top. What's happening? It's actually my Camelbak. It's all white. Yeah. Why am I so dehydrated? What's going on there? Like you brought the spring water. I just brought wine. But I bring the best. Not okay. Yeah, I bring the entertainment. Yeah, I like it. Yeah. Everyone needs for sure. Yeah, but you're right. The my significant other is the one that was helping with the fields and managing the fields. And we had a family emergency and he had to go out of state for two weeks to help with family stuff. And then nobody else was available. No. Well, and then when I wasn't going to do it, it was Huntington's. I didn't know that had happened. Oh, gosh. And I was like, Where's Derek? And Michael was like, he's gone. I was like, what? What happened to the last? What's so? But then that's when I stepped up. I called my dad because I grew up playing softball, and my dad was my coach and did all the things. I was like, my dad? Yeah, I remember how much you love me. You know, how you really good at making doing fields? Can you maybe drive up and do this? But you're not busy, right, dad? But he did. He came up. He was. He was on time. Well, thank you. Katie's dad. Yeah. The girls appreciate it. Yes. For sure. What it was. He did it for Olivia. Yeah, yeah, well, she's pretty special, I guess. Everybody loves beans, I guess. Yeah. She calls her daughter beans, and I call my daughter bug. We're just like, we're coaching basketball. We're both like screaming beans, bug. Well, they we're both like, five to nothing. Curvy, feisty as all get out. Like, do not mess with our girls. No up. Actually, that's kind of interesting. I don't know if you run into this in your entrepreneurial world, but in coaching, we ran into this in basketball where we there'd be some gentlemen coaching and then they'd see these two, five, two girls and they would try to be like, that wasn't a foul or they weren't like doing stuff. And Katie hired her. Not quiet. No. And we were just like, hey, don't. Yeah, like or like dads to try to put us in our place and or like, I wasn't talking to you. And they're like, oh, they weren't expecting us to, like, stand up for ourselves or the girls when I think that kind of translates to like being an entrepreneur and like being a businesswoman and, like, standing around like, yeah, no, you can't just push me over. Like I'm. I have a voice. Yeah. I'm also I'm small, but so's dynamite. Back up buddy. Oh, yeah. I'm also not afraid of, like, just telling people, like, actually, no thank you, no thank you. When I think it shows the girls too, like how to respond to stuff. There is a couple games that I internally had to be like, it's fourth grade basketball. You're a role model. You are a role model. You are a role model. Do not do not like that internal monologue, that one game you're talking about. I'm glad I wasn't there. Yeah, I really probably better. Yeah. There was a very tough game where some parents were just, like, so crazy. And you're like, can they not just be fourth grade girls and learn the game? Let's also wreck. Like we're not winning championships right now. No one's getting a scholarship. Yeah. See I'm like literally sit down. What is wrong with you? Your daughter also just traveled. So. Yeah. Don't talk about that or. Yeah, like what is happening? It was crazy. Well, there's kids crying. It was like. It was like a movie, actually. It was like such a sitcom, like. Oh, Doyle rules situation. I was like, what is happening to him? Yeah, sometimes I wish I just had a camera following me just all day. Oh for sure. The comical things that happened. Yeah, I've thought about, you know, like when you watch those social media videos of, like, NFL players when they're miked up. And so you get to hear them. There are sometimes I wish that like, you got to hear people miked up all day. Oh, God. Like that would be really fun. See, I would need someone to walk around. Yeah. Same same. I try to have a a polished mouth, but yeah, I'm in. I'm in the hospitality industry. Yeah. We all talk like sailors. Yeah. When it's appropriate. Yeah. Rylan calls in children. Mommy words of someone cusses. She's like mommy where'd like, oh sorry, I say earmuffs. Yeah. So I was like, at least you know it's turkey. They were, Sorry we got off topic. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. We like to chat. Just to wrap things up, if someone was thinking about becoming a business owner, what is a piece of advice that you would give them to encourage them or to help prepare them? I think especially in my industry right now, there's a lot of people that are like, oh, I planned a wedding and I planned my own wedding, and I want to do it. And it's super fun. Just don't go in and act like you know everything because you really don't. Yeah. And you're going to put it like, just be a sponge, learn as much as you can from others and like, grow. But don't be so like in your face about it. Like, yeah, just grow and like learn what you can and do it at your own pace and don't just come in bulk. Well, and I think be open minded or understand that not everything is as easy as it looks. Yeah, because we have that in real estate too, where people will say like, oh my gosh, you just get to open doors and you up with the most beautiful houses. And that's such a small part of my job. Oh yeah. And I'm just like, oh no, you don't understand all of the stuff that goes on behind closed doors and negotiations and paperwork and like, I have a flip right now that I'm the listing agent for, and I've been presenting to like, wholesalers and builders, like, I'm actually, like, going to, like different companies and like, pitching this house on behalf of my seller. And she doesn't know I'm not going to tell her every day, like, this is what I'm doing on your behalf. But like, no one knows that you're doing all that stuff to get their house in front of, like they. Right, like you're not, oh, you get work commission. Oh, you sold all these houses. Yeah. Well, do you understand? Like how much work put in I put in to do that. Yeah I yeah, people do say that like, wow your commissions here I go. Yeah. But it also took me eight months to earn it because like from the very first conversation I ever had to, the closing table might have taken eight months. Exactly. So might seem huge. Yeah. So it might seem huge, but sometimes it's like, well, if you divide that by eight, that's not even minimum wage. No it's but yeah, but you have all these other fees and stuff. But I think it would be the same. And event planning like, oh, I planned this party and it was so fun. And it's like, that's awesome. That's great. But just know there's all this stuff you don't know. And like planning events for somebody else versus yourself is totally different. Exactly. Because like, you know what you want, but like helping someone guide what they want is a totally different. And also learning like especially events is is not your event, right? You have to take your opinions like your preferences out of it. Like, yeah, but I hate the color red. But if that's what they want, like you gotta go for it. You gotta lean in. Yeah. So totally. I super appreciate you all for being on today. Thank you for sharing all of your event planning wisdom and this beautiful venue. If you're listening, definitely go check out the YouTube so that you can see some video of this place, because it's amazing. It's pretty cool and we still have dates available next year. Well, there you go. If you're looking for wedding in 2026, now's the time to place for you. Cheers, Katie. Thank you. Thanks everyone for listening and watching and we'll see you next week. Bye. Hey. I. Want.