Episode 8: Baltimore City Chief of Special Events, Ashley Bush

Episode 8: Baltimore City Chief of Special Events, Ashley Bush

In this episode of Celebrate & Chill, host Kenetia Lee sits down with Ashley Bush, the Chief of Special Events and Permits for Baltimore City Recreation and Parks. Ashley pulls back the curtain on what it takes to manage public and private gatherings in a major city, from permitting Little League fields to producing massive festivals like AFRAM. She shares her personal journey of manifesting a career in large-scale production, moving from Pittsburgh to Baltimore to take a "leap of faith" on her professional dreams. Listeners will gain invaluable "inside baseball" knowledge as Ashley outlines the most common mistakes event organizers make—like underestimating timelines or promoting an event before the permit is signed. The conversation also explores Ashley’s entrepreneurial side with her business, Curated Creatives, where she designs custom travel and event experiences. Throughout the interview, Ashley emphasizes the importance of equity in city government and why "who you know" won't bypass the essential safety and logistical protocols. Whether you are an aspiring event pro or a community organizer, this episode is packed with practical advice on navigating municipal bureaucracy and scaling your creative vision. Finally, Ashley shares her personal "chill" philosophy involving international travel and the power of a strong support circle. Tune in for a real-talk session on the magic and mayhem of making unforgettable city experiences happen.

Episode Seven: Jazmene Thomas — From Funeral Director to Wedding Planner

In this episode of Celebrate and Chill, host Kenetia Lee sits down with Jazmene "Jazz" Thomas, the CEO and lead planner of J Moton Event Elements. A Los Angeles-based professional, Jazmene shares her unique journey from serving 16 years as a licensed funeral director to becoming a premier wedding and event coordinator. Episode Highlights From Funerals to Festivities: Jazmene discusses how her background in the funeral industry taught her to handle high-stakes logistics with deep emotional connection and calm, noting that "funerals became like reunions" and inspired her to create joyous spaces for people to gather. Career Milestones: Reflecting on 2025, Jazmene highlights her successful Joshua Tree styled shoot and her role in managing registration for a massive 4,000-person summit for Mayor Karen Bass. Looking Ahead to 2026: Jazz shares her goals for the upcoming year, including expanding her team and managing her first major award show. The "Zen" Philosophy: Throughout the conversation, Jazmene advocates for a "calm and demure" approach to event planning. She challenges the notion that events must be stressful or chaotic, instead leading with grace and class—traits she attributes to the influence of her ancestors and her personal connection to nature and music.

Edith Mendoza - The Dynamo Producer

From Gossip Writing to Global Producing: The Journey of Edith Mendoza In this episode of Celebrate and Chill, Kenetia sits down with hybrid producer Edith Mendoza to trace her incredible evolution from writing celebrity gossip for Perez Hilton to producing massive experiential activations like the YouTube Artist Lounge at Coachella. Edith opens up about the grit required to navigate the production world, the technical differences between "permalancing" and true freelancing, and how she manages the high-stakes pressure of working with global brands like Nike and Jordan.

Bianca Lynn Hammonds - The Power of the Pivot

This episode of "Celebrate and Chill" features host Kenetia Lee, CEO of Pop-Up Cleanup, in a warm and insightful conversation with her guest, event creator, producer, life coach, and fellow podcaster Bianca Lynn Hammonds. The discussion dives deep into Bianca's journey from television to events, her pivot to life coaching, and the value of directness.  She also recounts a few bizarre event experiences and lets us know what she loves about events. ►Find Bianca Lynn Hammonds:  WEBSITE: https://coachbiancalynn.com INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/itsbiancalynn/?hl=en YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/BiancaHammonds/videos LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancalhammonds/ ►Subscribe to Celebrate & Chill on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChill-x3c [https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChill-x3c] ►Follow PopUP CleanUP online:  WEBSITE: https://popupcleanup.com [https://popupcleanup.com/] LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/popup-cleanup [https://www.linkedin.com/company/popup-cleanup] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@PopUPCleanUP  INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/popupcleanup/ [https://www.instagram.com/popupcleanup/] FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/popupcleanupwest [https://www.facebook.com/popupcleanupwest] YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@PopUPCleanUP

The Client said What?! – Navigating Unrealistic Expectations with Grace

ou're a pro, you're crushing the event, and then comes that question. You know the one—the request that starts with a compliment and ends with a huge favor nowhere in the contract. Join Kenetia as she recounts the ultimate "scope creep" nightmare: a rooftop event, a happy client, and the sudden, sincere request for her event cleaning crew to... start valet parking cars! In this episode, learn the gentle yet firm strategies to: * Set non-negotiable boundaries before an event begins. * Politely decline wild requests without compromising the client relationship. * Train your team to deflect pressure and manage client demands with grace. Tune in to discover how a simple phrase can get your cleaners "off the hook" and why defining your lane is the key to maintaining your sanity (and your insurance policy!) ►Subscribe to Celebrate & Chill on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChill-x3c ►Follow PopUP CleanUP online:  WEBSITE: https://popupcleanup.com LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/popup-cleanup TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@PopUPCleanUP  INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/popupcleanup/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/popupcleanupwest YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@PopUPCleanUP [https://www.youtube.com/@PopUPCleanUP]