Meet Brittany Jackson | CEO & Global Event Producer, A.C.E. Event Productions

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brittany Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brittany, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

Three factors motivated me to start my own business: wanting to support organizations that serve underrepresented communities, the desire for creative freedom to design and execute events that elevate my clients’ brands and align with my beliefs and values, and the desire for more autonomy over my life.

I have been in the event management industry for 14 years. I have experience producing domestic and international, in-person, and virtual events ranging from board meetings and product launches to annual conferences, tradeshows, and cultural festivals. One of the highlights of my career was being recognized as one of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) 20 under 30 honorees. This award recognizes up-and-coming event professionals who have demonstrated outstanding initiative.

For the first ten years of my career, I produced a wide range of events within the government sector, medical and pharmaceutical industries, and for various professional trade associations. Although I loved my clients and the work, something was missing. Often, I was the only Black person on the teams I worked on, there were rarely any people of color on the client side, the
audiences of the events I produced lacked diversity in a significant way, and although I respected and appreciated the work of my clients, I felt no personal attachment to or investment in their causes. I was eager to make a shift in my career, but I wasn’t sure how.

After being laid off in 2020, I saw an opportunity to channel my passion and skillset into projects aligned with my beliefs and values. I decided to focus my energy on securing clients who prioritized diversity within their leadership and organizational makeup and supported causes and missions I deeply cared about and felt connected to.

In November 2021, A.C.E. Event Productions was born. Starting my business has allowed me to make a tangible difference in causes I care about, while also doing what I love. Over the last three years, I have had the honor of producing and supporting the production of events for organizations such as African American Federal Executive Association, Blavity, Inc., California Charter School Association, Democratic National Committee, Families USA, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Tribeca Enterprises and more.

By focusing on purpose-driven events, I aim to attract like-minded individuals and organizations who share my commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

I take immense pride in helping organizations bring their audiences together to address challenges faced by underrepresented communities and to showcase their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Whether it’s making education more accessible for minority students, creating more inclusive workspaces for individuals with disabilities, bringing companies together to diversify the tech space, making health care more accessible for low-income individuals or offering training for the career advancement of minorities, I have helped organizations achieve their mission and goals through creative event management.

The work is hard, and the days are long, but I have never felt more fulfilled.

In addition to A.C.E. Event Productions, I am also growing two other businesses. Fête Posh: A Prom for Moms (IG: @fete_posh) and The Bad Bitch Daily (IG: @thebadbitchdaily).

Fête Posh: A Prom for Moms, also known as the Ultimate Moms’ Night Out is a premier event celebrating mothers from all walks of life. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, October 5, in Washington, D.C., and will host 400 mothers as our guests of honor.

The Bad Bitch Daily is a lifestyle brand featuring affirmations products that empower women to show up as their best selves daily.

What should our readers know about your business?

My company’s name is A.C.E. Event Productions—the A.C.E. stands for Always Cultivating Excellence. I am working to create a brand synonymous with excellence, creativity, and reliability.

I believe my personalized approach to each client, attention to detail, and passion for innovation are what set A.C.E. Event Productions apart from the competition. I pride myself on my team’s ability to understand and exceed client expectations, delivering events that are not only seamless but also distinctly reflective of the client’s visions.

Whether it’s recommending a more efficient registration technology for a seamless attendee experience, sourcing eco-friendly products, signage and swag to lessen the clients’ environmental footprint or implementing a new project management tool to streamline processes, we are constantly seeking out new trends, technologies, and ideas to incorporate into our events to ensure they are always fresh, engaging, and ahead of the curve.

The path has been challenging, but with each hurdle, I have learned invaluable lessons about flexibility, innovation, and the importance of building solid relationships with our clients and partners. I have also come to understand that the client’s trust is our most important asset, and earning it requires consistently delivering on our promises.

I am most proud that 100% of the business to date has been referrals from past and current clients. These referrals reflect client satisfaction and trust in my ability to execute their vision and elevate their mission, which is the exact reason I started A.C.E. Event Productions.

One of the most important lessons I have learned, and am continuing to learn, is that I cannot do it alone. In addition to growing my client base, I am expanding my infrastructure. I recently established a core group of advisors in financial and business management. I am also expanding my network of industry colleagues to share resources, best practices, and lessons learned to ensure A.C.E. Event Productions provides the highest level of service and efficiencies to clients.

Through hard work, perseverance, and a relentless focus on customer satisfaction, I have no doubt A.C.E. Event Productions will one day be one of the industry’s most reputable and sought-after event management companies.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Whew, a week is a long time! I would provide them with a variety of things to do in the area and then let them choose, such as:

A spa day at Balian Springs in Alexandria, VA – and by day, I mean ALL DAY. You can easily spend 8 hours here. Then, we will head to Guapo’s Restaurant in Arlington, VA for tacos and margaritas. This is literally a perfect day for me.

We could also visit some museums and local attractions. D.C. has so many interesting and educational museums to visit. I recommend the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Gallery of Art and the National Air and Space Museum. Some other cool attractions/areas I like to visit are the Botanical Gardens, the National Zoo, and the Kennedy Center (when a good show is in town). We would end our sightseeing day with dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Mastro’s Steakhouse, Le Diplomate or Filomena Ristorante. Also, if she is here for a week, we will definitely make our way to each of these restaurants.

The Wharf, Georgetown, and Old Town Alexandria are my favorite areas to hang out. All of them offer waterfront views, cute shops, good food, and live entertainment options.

A few of my favorite places to go for fun are Punch Bowl Social, Pinstripes, Throw Social and Like-K Karaoke Bar. Full transparency, I will not sing any karaoke, but I love watching and cheering on others 🙂

We would definitely have to spend a day in Annapolis to enjoy some views of the water and some crabs at Mike’s Crabhouse.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

So many people have played a pivotal role in my story. I would need a separate feature to thank them all 😊, but I will keep it short.

I must give the biggest shoutout to my family, the J-Team. Their constant love, support and motivation have given me the courage and confidence to step out on faith and embark on the journey of building the life of my dreams. My dad is my Ace (the inspiration for my company name) and go-to guy for ALL things. His steadfast wisdom, guidance and support have been my saving grace in navigating every challenge life has thrown my way. My mom is my inspiration speaker, prayer warrior, and biggest fan. She has raised me to believe that there is nothing in this world that is out of my reach – which is just the reminder I need some days. My little sister is my biggest motivation. 11 years ago, she moved across the country to pursue her dreams. Seeing her fearlessly live out her dreams has given me the determination to do the same. I am SO proud of you, Sissy! I could not do any of this without you all.

I also want to shoutout every client, mentor, colleague, and advisor who has advocated for me and spoken my name in rooms when I was absent. I have been in business for three years. I do not have a website, social media account, or marketing collateral (I promise I am working on it!), yet I have been blessed to experience continued growth in my business year over year through word of mouth/referrals. Your support, trust and confidence in me, my vision and my business mean the world to me and have been instrumental in my professional and personal growth. Thank you for being a vital part of my journey and success.

Another shoutout to all my nieces, nephews, godchildren, and students at DanceMakers, Inc. (oh yeah…I am also a competitive dance coach), thank you for being the battery pack in my back every day and my reasons for wanting to make a positive impact in this world. You all are the future, and I will do all I can to leave this place better than I found it for each of you. I love you all more than you could ever know.

Lastly, I have to shoutout all the incredible women in my village. I am surrounded by the most amazing, talented, authentic, supportive, and resilient women who inspire me daily. They are mothers, wives, CEOs, chefs, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, teachers, fashion designers, content creators, hair stylists, personal trainers, coaches, and so much more. And they do it all with such grace and poise. Whether it’s giving me a pep talk before a pitch call, reviewing a contract before I send it out, coming over to help me pack up orders, referring me to a client, being a sounding board, celebrating a win or simply just sitting on the couch and being there, you all pour into me and keep me full when life depletes me. You have all shaped me and my life so much. I am so deeply grateful to you all.

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/bnjackson10 

Image Credits
The professional photos were done by D2D Focus