Speaker 1: 0:31

I am Montana Lanier-Breffner and I own and manage Big Sky Management and Events. We are a non-profit and event management company. So I like to say my niche is non-profits. I am a 501c3 girly through and through. So if you name a non-profit I love to work with them kind of in hunt country.

Speaker 1: 0:52

I will say I'm definitely focused a little bit more in the rural areas of the Piedmont, northern Piedmont hunt country and with that I manage nonprofit venues, buchanan Hall, I run farmers markets and I also then do their backend kind of admin, because in a lot of these small nonprofit worlds it's not just cookie cutter one thing or another. So it's everything from marketing to business development and advancement. And then my more fun side of life is the party planning which everybody loves. So I work for the Piedmont Environmental Council. There are large nonprofit ranging nine counties, from Leesburg and Loudon down to Albemarle and Charlottesville, so I do an annual gala for them somewhere between 450 to 600 people, which has become a very large event. So think of a wedding and then times it by three or four, it's huge, it's absolutely nuts and, you know, do some private clients and weddings, so it's not always fundraising.

Speaker 2: 1:54

Yeah, gotcha, I was gonna ask you about about that, but you answered my question there. I'd like to get you to weddings and, yes, you can do that. I would like to ask you how you got started in this industry and what led you to where you are today and what piqued your interest to want to just pursue this career.

Speaker 1: 2:08

Well, I grew up in Middleburg and I went to Hill School, which is this kind of quirky, montessori-ish type education where I will say it's the best thing that ever happened to me. Everybody's like you peaked in elementary, middle school and I'm like 100%, oh my gosh. But they had a very environmental focus. So I originally went to College, vermont, thought I'd do environmental studies, and got up there and realized the cold and all of that. It wasn't for me. The cold and all of that, it wasn't for me. And I came back and I started at Salamander in Middleburg and realized people hospitality, food and beverage, the excitement of that Life's moments are these big events and just getting to help somebody curate that and be with them on their special day, whether it's a 50th anniversary gala or a wedding or you know. I just did a lovely high school reunion and these folks were in their eighties coming for their high school reunion and they made an effort. It was the cutest thing. So I kind of started in the environmental, tried to continue through with the C3.

Speaker 2: 3:08

It really matters to me who the party's for, yeah absolutely, and creating those moments very special and particular for them right, hugely important right now. I'd like to ask you, since you do have background in doing like digital marketing and all that stuff, what have you found that is working best for you to get your name out there, or what are the types of things that you like to do, or maybe give some tips to other entrepreneurs who are maybe not so well-versed in?

Speaker 1: 3:35

that area. Yeah, so I have a couple of things. I feel like my business really took off during COVID, which may not be the case for everybody, and it's a kind of counterintuitive. If you could only have 10 people in a room, how did I have an event? But through that I will say I started with a bunch of other folks that didn't make it and the real thing is it's not sexy, it's not glamorous, it's a lot of hard work, it's the kind of unfun things, right, it's the plunging the toilet, it's the working, the five extra hours unpaid and really putting in that time, because once you do that you'll make a name for yourself Reputation, reputation, reputation.

Speaker 1: 4:16

Keep that reputation clear. Know that no matter where you go, you're a hard worker. I will say I have never asked somebody to do something on an event or on a job or anywhere. Honestly, that I'm not willing to do first. I just don't think that's fair. So I think that's one big part of it and the other is, I think, especially for folks coming up, and this is where I'm glad I had that more of a Montessori type education. I will cold call anybody, I'll pick up the phone, I will talk to people. I don't really love a text or an email. So, especially in this world, I think fortune favors the bold right. So you pick up the phone, you call them. If you want to do a partnership, if you want to start a business, if you want a funder, you know, you ask 99 people and that hundredth will give you what you need, be it a rental building, all of the amenities and necessary things. You've just got to vocalize it Absolutely.

Speaker 2: 5:08

That's some key piece of advice there. So being a hard worker, having that work ethic and not being like a little bit too above it, all right, and being able to get your hands dirty and be able to help when needed.

Speaker 1: 5:19

We all know that person that wants it easy and easy comes, but hard works first. That's right.

Speaker 2: 5:25

And I would like to ask you more about the nonprofit side and helping the farmer's market Typically. When are they reaching out to you? Tell us about those things that maybe we think it's just one thing and that's it. What are the little odds and ends that goes into all the back work that you're doing in admin.

Speaker 1: 5:41

Yeah. So everybody sees kind of that front end product but on the back end there's everything from sponsorship sales or ticket sales. So that's building the platforms, that's finding the people to be there, funding it, it's the budgets, it's the setup, it's the breakdown, it's the you know running around. I will say one of the best things if you're going to get into events is get a truck or get comfortable driving a trailer. The amount of stuff that comes with it, just the amount of running around, you know, a good pair of work boots, all of that.

Speaker 1: 6:11

It takes a lot of elbow grease to get into that final product of that, something worthy to be in a magazine. And some of my stuff's been getting featured more and more and I've been getting that. I have had a couple of write-ups through Country's Essence Style and you know I get some tailgates in Middleburg Life. I just had my gala was featured in Washington Life, nice. So it's my second event to be featured in Washington Life. So congratulations to that, thank you. But all of that it's a lot of manual labor and people will say especially I can just say from the events, even from weddings they see this as a glamorous lifestyle. There's plenty of glitz and glam. I just did a kind of a Hollywood-ish adjacent event. You know not a lot I can talk about, had a tight NDA. Photos will come out soon. It was really fun to be a part of the project, but it was a lot of work, I mean. So.

Speaker 2: 7:08

It takes a lot of hard work to look this fun and good right, especially in the photos and everything, and it's all going to be effortless Right so effortless right, and you're just like there with your friends.

Speaker 2: 7:17

You're like, oh, I wish I had your job. They're like, well, yes, but also there's work behind this girl, so don't get into a sin. Yeah, right, I love that. I love that you show us both sides of the coin, because there's always two sides. Right, there is so yeah. And then what have been some of the struggles for you? Running your own business and being able to oversee everything? And do you have team members with you or any coworkers?

Speaker 1: 7:43

I do. So everything I will say. For me, the hardest thing is just enough time. If you grew up in the Harry Potter era, you know Hermione Granger had that little necklace that she could flip, and I joke all the time that I need that little necklace. So it's just time and I am so thankful. Kind of, in all of my different facets and roles I have really great people with me. So I'll just use Buchanan Hall, for example. It's like my baby. I feel like we've really invigorated it. The board is awesome, so I spent this last weekend decorating with them. It was really fun.

Speaker 1: 8:17

The Christmas decorations, yeah, and then also having people to work with you. Nobody works for you, everybody works with you. We're all for a common goal. Um, so there's really that kind of chicken suit for the soul lifestyle. I think that will get you really far in this role.

Speaker 1: 8:38

And I will say some of my biggest challenges. And this is one that I talk a lot about and people fall all over both sides of the coin for this. But I started a pride event and I was a little heartbroken on the backlash that I received for starting a pride event, because I feel like I try really hard to have an event for every facet of the community. So if I've served, you know, 80 or 90% of the community in some sort, or you've fallen into an event that you've enjoyed, you know, then we all just have to let everybody live and let live. So I was a little disheartened, but we have pushed through and Piedmont Pride has become please come next spring. We always do it in the spring. It is the most incredible. Talk about just a party. It's like who doesn't love a brunch?

Speaker 2: 9:27

and music and lights. People being happy all around. I love it Right.

Speaker 1: 9:33

It's so fun, so, but sometimes you know, at the end of the day I had to push through cause I couldn't sleep at night if I didn't do it. So, um, but sometimes you find things that trigger folks and you don't know really why, and um, but right, you have to have it's still, especially for me it's, I mean, every town, everywhere, even big cities have small towns, you know and small town communities. That's right. So how to?

Speaker 2: 9:58

live with your neighbors. Yeah, and I love that. I love that you're including a space where somebody maybe they've had not a great experience in their town and somebody there was that light for them or gave them that hope, like, hey, I'm welcome here, and it's not like we're oh my gosh, doing this every day. So one day of celebrating and just having the community come together, I think that's a beautiful thing and it's great that we can do that. So thanks for holding that. Speaking of events, I'd like to ask you more about, um, the holiday bazaar that's going on, and tell us about when that's happening and where.

Speaker 1: 10:30

And then, um, yeah on and tell us about when that's happening and where. And then yeah. So December 15th you've got two weekends is our holiday market. We call it the Buchanan Hall Holiday Bazaar. It is featuring the best and hyperlocal. So it's everything for food to put on your table. We've got delicious farms and fresh meats, everything's super great and lovely and just yummy bakeries you name it and then also gifts and jewelry and kids toys I mean there's just something for everybody. And there's pictures with Santa and, if I do say so, some Santas can be weird and creepy and we have the most authentic Santa you've ever seen. So I would say bring any kids, bring the dogs as a proud dog mom, dogs are welcome. Bring your cats.

Speaker 2: 11:12

Whatever you've got, I love that look at you, including the cat too. Yeah, I love you.

Speaker 1: 11:17

I didn't think. You know, I guess, um, but yes, so bring them. So it's Saturday, december 15th, 12 to 2 is pictures of Santa and 12 to 4 is the holiday bazaar. And then you can catch us back in May on a Wednesday night from 4.30 to 7.30 under these sparkle kind of like twinkle lights and Edison bulbs. Bring a lawn chair and you'll get a lot of those same vendors, a lot of those same great farmers, but food trucks and live music and it is just a little bit of a party. The bee's knees yeah, it's the bee's knees, but it's like small business, women-owned business. You cannot leave there feeling anything but great because everybody's had a good time and you've supported and made somebody's day.

Speaker 2: 12:00

Right. I love that. That is so amazing. I'd like to ask you, where do you see yourself in the next five years with your business and with yourself? Like, have you given that some thought?

Speaker 1: 12:10

Oh God, if you could tell me, that would be great. I contemplate this all the time, so I have a couple of things that I would like to expand into that are event support related.

Speaker 2: 12:29

Are we allowed to know, maybe just a little bit, or are you just holding like you don't want to say it, until it happens, right?

Speaker 1: 12:35

Yes, and I also think I've got such a good business deal. I don't need anybody to steal it. Okay, true, okay, we're gonna keep it under wraps, but I cannot wait. Maybe I'll come back on and I'll do it, but I will give you I guess I'll give you a little sneak peek. It's gold and it's on wheels, okay, yeah.

Speaker 2: 13:00

Wow, I don't know what that could be.

Speaker 1: 13:03

I'm really yanking my chain here, Okay okay, but then it's something that I really have been thinking about is where is the next step? Do I go? And I think this is something that nobody ever truly knows right Like my dad and he's still like I could have been a million things right and I wish I could have five careers Girls there's not enough time in the day for that, right. But as a career girly over here, but as a career girly over here, I keep thinking a little bit about how to just take a larger portion of the East Coast right, or, you know, expand and am I open to, and I think this is something a lot of people you know my age are contemplating stay focused on career, do both stay a little bit more home base? So just kind of, you know, I guess, figuring out life.

Speaker 1: 13:59

Yep, I think everybody oh for sure Goes through this.

Speaker 2: 14:02

Yes, I mean, there are some of those lucky people where it's just like I got it all. I knew I was going to be a doctor, I'm a doctor, I'm where I'm at. But for some of us here it's a little bit harder to figure out exactly, like where your path is going to go. And that's part of the beauty of the journey is just like seeing, like what went wrong and what you learned from that and what went well and what you learned from that, and just meeting people, networking and just working your butt off.

Speaker 1: 14:25

That's all it is. Life is a big network.

Speaker 2: 14:35

I want to go back to your work ethic and I want to know, like how maybe you got instilled that where your parents big believers in work ethic. Did you just figure it out on your own, Like you know what? No one around me is working hard, Let me just work Like I want to know how your little mind or your big mind works. Don't say little, Okay.

Speaker 1: 14:48

I'll say your big mind.

Speaker 1: 14:51

Oh God, I guess I sometimes joke. I'm just must not be 100% well to want to work this much. I'm like there's nothing chasing me, I don't have to run this hard. I think I will say, um, one of my goals for the little bit of the future, my kind of shorter to midterm goals, is to learn to say no more to some stuff honestly, because what I find and I think for those workaholics out there, it is great to stop and say you know, I'd rather do a few less things but do them really, really well, which is hard, because as a perfectionist, I say yes to everything right and I'm like it's. I think it's a societal thing. Right now too, it's a little of it is. I think I grew up and you know we're all around the same age we grew up in that, um, rat race is cool.

Speaker 1: 15:41

You know, like that compulsive anxiety ridden like maybe I'm just a choogy millennial.

Speaker 2: 15:47

That people are like you don't need to sleep, you can on four hours, it's okay. Like, just do it. I'm just like no, my head hurt. What are you talking about? Okay, I tried that, but I feel cranky and burnt out what do you mean?

Speaker 1: 15:58

yeah, I feel incredibly burnt out. Um, so I will say I mean I think of the Upperville Colton horse show. We had an install to do and I called my husband at 11 something at night and I said I need you to come to the office, I need to get some stuff on the trailer and I have to go build an install because it has to be perfect by you know. Grand Prix Sunday morning. Yeah, bless my sweet husband's heart, he got up out of bed I don't even know some days why he's married to me and he came and he helped me load and install all this stuff and it was perfect, turned out. The governor used it as his photo backdrop. Um, so like perfect. I know I did that up on Instagram.

Speaker 2: 16:32

You should excuse me. It should be on your website.

Speaker 1: 16:35

Hello. So you know there's that side of it, of that just complete compulsion. I think a lot of it honestly probably comes from just the generation of things we were born into. But also I have a very hardworking family that you know probably bakes bases. You know a lot of workaholics, a lot of you know that, and my granddad was probably my driving force of like more, more, more, um. So I'm thankful for everything I have, cause there's actually feel like I have everything I want, right, I've got family, I love friends, I love a career I love. So, um, I feel really lucky, um, and I know it sounds dorky and I often think to myself I don't think I want to trade lives with anybody. Yeah, um, which is kind of lovely, but that's a powerful thing to say yeah, and sometimes I feel bad saying it Because it feels like, oh, she must not be genuine about that.

Speaker 2: 17:34

No, if you're genuinely happy where you are, why would you want to feel like that, right, yeah, yeah, there's always little things we could improve, but overall, in general, you're happy where you are.

Speaker 1: 17:44

Yeah, so all that, I will say it. When I go, I normally finish every event, every project, every fundraiser, every whatever, and I'm like, damn, I left it all there. I'm really actually proud and happy. So I'm very satisfied by, probably, my workaholism. But the flip side of that is I do take off. Q1 for me is a lot of travel. I love to travel. My friends are always giving me a hard time. They're like, no, we can't, and I'm like, yeah, we'll just get on a plane tomorrow morning. It's like there's last minute travel deal.

Speaker 2: 18:19

I have work tomorrow, girl. It's okay, we'll figure it out.

Speaker 1: 18:25

But I do try to pull back at some point. Or, like you mentioned, burnout I definitely do struggle with it a lot.

Speaker 2: 18:31

Mm-hmm, but how do you manage it, like, what do you do and how do you set your boundaries? I know you said saying no more is one of them, but like a goal.

Speaker 1: 18:40

It's a goal. I'm not good at it. Um, I would say that Q1, so I really schedule a lot of trips.

Speaker 2: 18:49

Um, and I'm sorry to sound dumb, but what is Q1?

Speaker 1: 18:52

Oh quarter one, oh January, february, march Sorry.

Speaker 2: 18:56

I was just like QAnon oh.

Speaker 1: 18:58

January, february, march. Sorry, I was just like QAnon, I'm kidding. So Q1 is my January through March, kind of on a calendar basis. Got it Quarter one, if you will. So I, I really do a lot of trips, so and I try to go places that are very diverse, right? So it's everything from you know, thanks to my parents, but see Machu Picchu, do the fun all inclusive with the girls in Mexico. Um, so, shop, costco, travel if you don't more.

Speaker 2: 19:29

Oh, my gosh Noted. Yeah, I always see that. I always get the ads. I'm just like what is this? I thought they said it's wholesale what? But now that you say that I'll look into it. Good old Costco, it's the place of my dreams. Costco is Now. Is there anything maybe that I have not touched on that you want to take this opportunity to share, maybe about yourself, your business, some of the nonprofits that you work with? You have the floor.

Speaker 1: 19:54

Oh gosh, this is always challenging. So what I would say is I would encourage everybody to. I guess I'll go down a couple of quick things. Wedding wise folks always say should I get a wedding planner? Yes, you're going to save money on every other vendor. Your day will go smoother, it'll feel less rushed, more polished, more enjoyable. So that's my tip there. I think a little bit about me is adversity is good, and you can never judge a book by its cover. My fun fact is I have my CDL, which is a commercial driver's license, so nobody looks at me and thinks I'm a CDL driver.

Speaker 2: 20:37

You're saying like a truck and I was like, yeah, now it makes sense, like you got your CDL. What are you talking about? Yeah, it's nobody.

Speaker 1: 20:44

Everybody wants to judge a book by its cover. So, um, there's a fun fact about me.

Speaker 1: 20:49

It was my dating fun fact back in the day and that was my friendship fun fact um so, um, but always go into things right because, um, especially in certain areas, you never know who people are. You never know the connections, um, and, honestly, people get, I think, um, sometimes they get wrapped up in their adversity and I had a lot of adversity growing up why people may not always see it, there's always. Everybody has skeletons in their closet and I'm really thankful for them because, yes, they've made me a bit neurotic but I really am loving everything I'm doing and kind of the life I've crafted for myself and I tell my friends that craft the life you want, craft the life you want, and I've really consciously crafted a life I want. So those are kind of my two fun facts. I think adversity helps me and, yeah, I know how to use air brakes.

Speaker 2: 21:47

I don't even know what air brakes are. Man, I have much work to do. I don't know what Q1 is Air brakes are. I'm under a rock here, so I'm learning so much from all my guests here, so this is incredible. What are air brakes? I'm sorry they're on my guests here so this is incredible.

Speaker 1: 21:58

Yeah, what are air brakes? I'm sorry, uh, they're on trucks and buses and like cars commercial. No, no, okay, I'm thinking it's that tire.

Speaker 2: 22:06

No, that's the spare tire, but air brakes are. Is that like for trucks? Yeah, that's what's there. Okay, cool, now I know something new. Let me add that to my list here real quick. Thank you so much. Yeah, um, back to the uh nonprofits. Like when they, when someone wants to like hire you to come and work for them, what are they like? Is there a vetting process that you go through, or can anybody like they're interested? After listening to this podcast, I'm like she seems awesome. I want to get some help with, like the backend, or I need help with the front end, and she would be great. She's a go-getter. What's the process like?

Speaker 1: 22:39

For finding a nonprofit or working or yeah, working with a nonprofit. Start as a volunteer and I will tell you, sometimes life is great with nonprofits and sometimes you volunteer a little more than you want to. We've all seen a COVID, we've all seen right in Asheville. Life happens and there's horrible moments and then you kind of get out of it what you put in. So, uh, I would say, start volunteering, and this is where you've got to be vocal.

Speaker 1: 23:04

Let people know, tell your network every board uh, most nonprofits have a, you know, medium size to large board. Find somebody on the board that maybe you have a connection with, say, you want to do something? Um, and then also again, word of mouth. It's my favorite marketing tool, it's my favorite fundraising tool. Talking to people getting out there say, you know, have you worked with them? I know you used to work for them. So, due diligence, um, my Grammy's favorite, one of her favorites that I've really taken is, um, something in haste and repentant leisure, or it was always Mary and Hayes Soe, so you can fill in whatever your something thing is um find a job in in haste and repent and leisure.

Speaker 1: 23:44

So that's powerful there.

Speaker 2: 23:47

Thank you. And then let's see, I want to make sure I did not miss anything important for you. And then most of the events that I'm seeing are curated for the community, which is great, so that way a lot of people can come and like learn about the people that are in this town and what is there to offer. Yeah, um, so yeah. And then the company is big sky management and events. So if anybody's looking to get help with from weddings so they're non-profit we've got miss montana, miss hannah montana, over here. I'm just kidding.

Speaker 1: 24:19

I also got French Montana a lot. Oh my God. I wanted to say that I was like, let me not go there.

Speaker 2: 24:23

Let me say Hannah Montana here. All right, my final question Sorry, I know I talk a lot. If you could leave our listeners with one message, maybe one that's inspired you or has been told to you that stuck out, would you mind sharing?

Speaker 1: 24:35

that. Yes, my favorite quote from a gentleman who was very involved in the community was when you find your place in the world, help others find theirs, and that has definitely kind of been my leading motto. So thank you, Dick Peard, Richard Peard, for kind of coining that a while ago. So I think from that you're in a really joyous life.

Speaker 2: 25:02

Yeah, I like that. That's a good note to end on. Thank you so much for being on the podcast and for sharing all your insights, experiences and just everything and being here.

Speaker 1: 25:11

Thank you, I've had so much fun.