Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylie Hartline.
Hi Taylie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got married right out of high school (I know, I’m crazy, but going on 5 years now!) and fully imagined my life taking a completely different path.
I had been accepted to a musical theater school in Los Angeles, and so that’s where my husband and I went. Growing up, I was always career-focused. I felt success was defined by how high up you were in your chosen field – how much better you were than everyone else. I wanted to finish school and become a voice teacher/performer.
Halfway through my first semester at school, we discovered I was pregnant (I was on birth control at the time). I also developed hyperemesis gravidarum – a very extreme form of pregnancy sickness. So, I was forced to drop out of school and move back home with my parents in Woodland Hills, Utah.
Due to my difficult pregnancy, I was unable to work, so my husband worked hard and got us to a place where I could stay home. After I had my son, I became a stay-at-home mom, which is by far the best thing I’ve ever done with my life. Now we have two incredible sons, and we are defining success differently than we did before.
About 6 months ago, my dad, who owns the Emerald Eve Event Center, came to me and asked if I could take over for a short time. He needed to let his previous manager go immediately and needed someone to fill in for a few weeks until he could hire new management. He thought of me because I love planning parties, and I enjoy organizing and planning. Since it was only going to be a few weeks, I decided to take it on.
After those few weeks had passed, I asked my dad if he had found someone new, and he said he hadn’t looked. I had gotten some good reviews, and things were running much more smoothly than they had in years. I had made some improvements to the space that he liked, and so he asked if I would consider taking on the event center permanently.
My biggest caveat was that I was very committed to being a stay-at-home mom. I didn’t want the job to get in the way of that – and I’m proud to say that it hasn’t (too much). I get sitters when I can, but I often bring my kids to do tours and check guests in. I work a lot from home, taking phone calls, emails, and designing the schedule. I manage a cleaning/set-up team, as well as a maintenance employee who fixes anything that gets broken. Since taking the job on, I’ve organized and redone a lot of the space, helped host tens of events, made instructional videos for all of our technology, updated the website, had all new pictures taken of the space, and I’m currently working on some plans to get more of the community together in the space.
I love where I work. I know I am very privileged, but I try every day to show that I am capable and deserving of the work I do. I love to meet new people, help guests, and make the space work for any type of event.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has most definitely not been a smooth road. My journey really started almost five years ago when I got pregnant with my first son.
I never pictured myself becoming a mother and struggled to let go of the plans I had made for my life.
I got so sick that I had constant IV fluids and medications during my pregnancy. I lost 60 pounds and could barely stand for the entire 9 months. I was depressed and angry about my path being turned in such a different direction. After my son was born, I struggled with postpartum depression. I lost myself. I struggled in the role of stay-at home-mom. I felt like an imposter. I knew I needed to change, so I went to therapy, got medicated, and worked on my physical health. It took the first 6 months of my son’s life for me to start to feel normal again and realize that motherhood was what I was made for all along.
In between my pregnancies, I struggled with health problems that again made it hard for me to pursue a career. I had a nose and throat surgery that led to complications that required another throat surgery and a stomach surgery. I was anemic without knowing it for about 6 months. Then, once I got pregnant a second time, the sickness and hospital visits started all over again. I just wasn’t in a place to pursue anything other than trying to make it through another day.
But a year after having my second son, my dad reached out, and everything changed. I stopped thinking in black and white and realized I could have a career and care for my kids. I took a leap of faith.
It’s different work than I thought I’d be doing, but I really love it. And I love that I still get to be a stay-at-home mom. I am just so grateful that I get to work, have something for myself, but also do what I truly love (care for my kids at home). So, it has not been easy. A lot of waiting, discovering new passions, and growing has gone into getting me where I’m at today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the manager of the Emerald Eve Event Center in Salem, Utah.
Aside from owning the property, I do everything an owner would do. I manage a team, help host events, give tours of the space, sell, market, and network, follow up on leads, manage payments, create the schedule of events, keep inventory, facilitate repairs, and have a knowledge of our tech systems so I can teach guests/help during events.
I specialize in guest satisfaction, ensuring all events run smoothly, and making sure our guests are happy with their overall experience. I am an expert on the space, so I can answer any question, no matter how obscure. I am available during events for help. Overall, I strive to accommodate our guests in any way that I can.
I would say that I’m known for being a social butterfly. I love getting to know new people, hearing their stories, and understanding their needs. I really enjoy giving tours and getting to know people, even if they don’t book with us. I’m most proud of the improvements I’ve made to the space (buying more decor, putting up curtains, creating instructional videos with QR codes) and the good reviews I’ve brought in. I work really hard, and it feels great when I see people recognizing it.
What sets the space apart is that it was built by my dad using all reclaimed materials. It’s very unique, and everything used to be something else. I think it has a beautiful history and a family feel that you don’t get at any other event center. As for what makes me unique, I’d say it would be my thoroughness. I am organized, great at making and sticking to schedules/to-do lists, and helping others with theirs. I am very good at helping everything flow smoothly. I handle the daily functions, people, and events with meticulous detail.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Success used to look very different for me.
Five years ago, I would have told you that success meant you were the best. You did everything perfectly, were at the top of your field, and everyone was jealous of you.
Since having kids, I know now that the only success that matters is finding happiness in the things you do. That doesn’t mean you are constantly happy, but if you are happy a majority of the time – happy in hard moments – you have found true and lasting success.
The thing that has helped me most with my success is accepting where I am at (even if it’s not where I want to be), forgiving my mistakes, and moving forward. I mess up at work. I have upset people, forgotten things, and bought the wrong part on occasion. There have been miscommunications, and giving people bad news when they don’t want to hear it. Some days are really hard. I just keep going. I keep forgiving myself and looking towards improvement and doing things better in the future. If I constantly dwelt on what I was doing wrong, I wouldn’t feel joy in my work. I really try to remind myself of what I am doing right and the things I enjoy about my job. There is a lot to enjoy and be happy about.
So, to sum it up, the key to my success is not being too hard on myself. I am a self critic, so it’s hard to set that aside, but happiness really comes when you live in the present and forgive yourself when you mess up.
Pricing:
- Week day small parties range from $400-$1000
- Week day weddings/large parties range from $900-$1600
- Weekend events range from $1400-$2200
Contact Info:
