SPOTLIGHT ON: WHITNEY OLINGER
A born-and-bred Wisconsinite, Whitney Olinger worked in public relations and event planning for some of the nation’s most notable names before finding her footing at AZA Events. A proud graduate of Georgia’s Savannah College of Art + Design, Whitney streamlined her public relations and event-planning prowess while representing Roxy/Quicksilver, Urban Outfitters and Neiman Marcus before settling in at AZA to focus on event-planning, exclusively.
Whitney prides herself on her ability to see special projects and plans through from conception to completion, and her inherently organized nature lends itself well to the trials and stresses that often arise in the event-planning industry. When not on the clock, the Arizona transplant enjoys cultivating her collection of cacti, spending time with her beloved Boxer, planning her Fall 2017 wedding, and embarking on outdoor adventures across Arizona and beyond.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working in the Destination Management + Events Industry?
A: This is a difficult question! I love so many things about this industry. I have really enjoyed building relationships with so many great vendor partners and clients. Working in a DMC definitely forces you to learn everything about your destination, and I love that my job allows me to get to know our beautiful state, learning about all of our hidden gems and our rich and storied cultural history. We get to discover all that this beautiful state has to offer and then share it with others! I went to school for Art and Design, but am very business minded and though I love to plan and organize events, I especially love the design aspect of creating a dream event and seeing it all come to fruition.
Q: What are some of your hobbies and/or passions (besides working at AZA Events, of course!)?
A: My fiance and I love to be outdoors. Hiking is one of our favorite past times and if we can take our boxer, Jax, even better!
I have also always been passionate about traveling and exploring new places. I was lucky to grow up with a Travel Agent mother, and tag along on many trips with her, but unfortunately have not been able to do that as often now that I am working full time. While I always love our annual snowboarding and lake house boat trips, I can't wait to visit Thailand, Australia, Spain and Iceland...just to name a few!
Lastly, I also love working with plants and getting to know about different species, I currently have a diverse collection of cacti and house plants.
Q: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want to bring with you and why?
A: Assuming that a person/dog does not count for this and that I have basic tools for surivival... then I would say: a Photo Album of all my loved ones, my engagement ring, and a blanket because I am always cold (even in the middle of Arizona summer!)
