Member Spotlight

Sara Stolpe
Catering by Design
Event Designer

Why did you join MPI? To network, meet new people and get involved

In two sentences or less describe a new skill or hobby you picked up during quarantine. If you didn’t, what got you through it? I had never been big into video games prior to the pandemic, but when lockdown happened, I let my boyfriend (finally) teach me how to play Call of Duty.  I’m still not as big of a nerd as he is, but it definitely helped pass the time during quarantine and we still really enjoy playing a ton of different video games together as a way to unwind after a busy day or week.

What is your guilty pleasure? Facebook marketplace.  I find so many good deals, and even when I don’t I enjoy just browsing all of the junk (and gems!) that people are selling 😊

What made you join the industry? That’s tough, I have way too many to narrow it down to just one, but I do know that the community that I created with NACE was definitely a big part of what pulled me through some of my toughest times both before, during, and after the pandemic.  Denver has a very special events industry community that I hope we can continue to foster: collaboration over competition – there is enough business to go around, and rising tides raise all ships!

What is your favorite memory of the industry? Planning and executing a street festival in Chicago called Market Days which is a 1/2 mile long festival featuring an all-day lineup of live music on 6 stages, 250+ unique vendors, arts, crafts, food and drink, DJ’s and dancing, and sponsor booths.

me shooting guns, which is definitely a very fun hobby that I don’t get to do as much as I wish that I could because ammo is expensive LOL