Event planner working to survive amid restrictions

For Sherri Falkenberg, operating an events company has been difficult these past months amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“2019 became a growing and learning experience, and we were ready with a full calendar of monthly events for 2020,” said the owner of Lake Events LLC, which was created in 2018. “Then everything changed.”

However, despite numerous cancellations related to Ohio’s stay-at-home order, Falkenberg, who is also a Timberlake Village councilwoman, said she is growing more optimistic for her company that hosts networking events in the area.

Shut-downs are winding down and businesses are re-opening and Falkenberg has announced that events will resume this September. Lake Events will continue with a revised calendar of events through the end of the year, as long as it is safe to do so.

“Our Home Improvement Expo on April 26 is now combined with an upcoming car and bike show, Harbor Hogs and Hot Rods event in Fairport Harbor on Sept. 12,” she said. “The Pig Roast and Car Show on June 7 was canceled, and a future date will be set for 2021.”

The future was in doubt on March 15 when Gov. Mike DeWine announced that all bars and restaurants must close.

“Lake Events, LLC was in the arts and entertainment industry where mass gatherings were no longer safe, St. Patrick’s Day parades and events were canceled, and we were preparing to do the same,” she recalled.

Falkenberg also works along with Paula M. Price, founder of the non-profit 100 Youth That Care. Lake Events also produces trade shows and other community events in collaboration with several non-profits.

The business started in July 2018 and later hosted its first event that October.

They had plans to host the inaugural Health & Wellness Expo at Great Lakes Mall in Mentor on March 14. But organizers realized the event was either going to be canceled or postponed, given the fact that it would draw large crowds and with COVID 19 looming.

That event has now been rescheduled for Nov. 14.

And then the restrictions continued for Lake Events. Their Easter and Mother’s Day brunches at the American Croatian Lodge in Eastlake became take-out only and benefited Dubrovnik’s Restaurant.

“We understood, vendors, sponsors, and the public understood and supported us,” she said. “The future didn’t look promising, but we knew we could pull together, and like I always say, ‘We grow by growing each other,’ and our small business quickly responded and adapted to the new normal.”

Falkenberg also helped start three Facebook pages: We’re All In This Together, Lake County Support Small Business, and Lake County Ohio Take-Out to stay connected with the community and support one another.

“The Lake County Ohio Take-Out page became a precious, free resource for everyone at home,” she said. “It was kept up to date with lists of restaurants that were still open and operating for delivery and carry out, along with pictures and menus of their daily specials and family value meals.”

An updated revised calendar and information about volunteer, sponsor or vendor opportunities are available on Lake Event’s website at lakeeventsgroup.com