Today we’d like to introduce you to Kris Rundblad.
Hi Kris, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My first career was restaurant management (among other properties I managed for the former Stafford’s Hospitality and, opened, managed and developed the event program for the Charlevoix Country Club). From my hospitality management career, I founded my own event planning company (MerryMakers) and we are coming upon our 30th year of helping couples, families and non-profits plan, coordinate, produce, design, & manage joyous weddings and events.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has for the most part because I love what I do. I am very lucky to have chosen (or it might be said landed in) the hospitality industry.
When I began there were only less than a handful of people with like businesses. Now there are multiple companies in our area and more that like us travel to other markets.
The financial crisis in 2008 was a challenge but we were very resilient and stayed the course.
Covid as it was with everything in the world was very tough on the wedding industry, it was about costs, visions, dreams and fear. Being able to be the sounding board and calming influence for our couples and our colleagues was very draining but also a privilege to be able to help in any small way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love being in the hospitality business which for me is more of an avocation than a business. I love to be a part of all the processes of a wedding or event. I love getting to know my clients and creating something that is just for them, to understand and facilitate their vision and or help them find their vision. It is about creating relationships with them as well as with our fellow vendors. I am very happy to say that most of our events come to us by word of mouth as our work gets passed from family to family and or friend to friend. It’s the best marketing plan ever. I get to use all of my skill sets developed throughout my life (a degree in commercial art and advertising from Ferris State University with follow up studies in hospitality at Michigan State University.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
That as a child and very young adult that I was very shy. I was very lucky to have people in my life that have ‘brought me out of my shell’!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://merrymkr.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merrymakersnme/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MerryMakersNorthernMichigan
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-rundblad-84319618/
