Meet Jeanna Handal | Special Events Coordinator and Caterer

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

Hi Jeanna, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
As a parent to two young children, building a business for them to inherit one day is very important to my husband and myself. We often think of them in high school and having a place to come work after school. Our desire is for them to be proud of what we are all building and for them to develop a strong work ethic. We have made a point to include them in each step of the process. To not shelter them from the many struggles, stressors, and disappointments of being a small business owner. The children have displayed a sense of enthusiasm in our growth, and I often get calls from people who my 8 year old referred to me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My “Art” can best be described as cultivating fun. Since I was a teenager I have had a passion for throwing events. My greatest attribute is bringing people together and promoting a good time. In college I studied Recreation and Leisure services with an emphasis in Special events (yes, that was a real major). Professionally, I put my love on hold for many years and chose a steady paycheck over my passion. The world of special events is filled with some of the most talented individuals I have ever met. Creatively the competition can be overwhelming. As a means of diversifying so as not to have to compete I launched Jeannie’s Event Trailer. I am very passionate about it becoming the standard for mobile events. Mobile events seem to be an undefined and underdeveloped aspect of the events world. This has proven to be challenging as I have been tasked with painting the picture of what defines an event trailer. Truthfully, I am continuing to define and redefine my limitations with it also. I would say the most difficult aspect of this venture has been the emotional one. Becoming a small business owner opens yourself up for vulnerability and insecurities in a new way. The wider your reach the larger your chances for criticism and rejection. My hope is to be successful to the point that my life exemplifies trusting your intuition and following your dreams. I want to one day look back on this time of tremendous difficulty and know that I didn’t give up. That I was persistent, kept my faith not only in God but in myself and relied on others.

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.
What a fun question. Also, its easy for me to answer. So my best friend just gets into town at 2 PM on Friday. We start by going back to my house in Coral Springs to freshen up and show her my home. We would have a pregame cocktail in my backyard and then head out in an Uber to Runyon’s for happy hour. By around 10pm we would head to JD’s Bar & Lounge for drinks and to control the TouchTunes Jukebox. The next day we would wake up and head over to the beach. Then spend the day bar hopping between Blondies, Elbo Room, and Lulu’s Bait Shack. Dinner would be at Chima Steakhouse, followed by a stroll down Las Olas. On Sunday we would most likely take the Water Taxi from the Downtowner to The Wharf and everywhere in between. You can have fun at a dive bar as well as an upscale dining establishment. South Florida offers a quality of life unmatched by other areas.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This question can only be answered by describing the love and encouragement that my life is surrounded by. I may not feel it every second of the day but I am blessed beyond measure by the support of my faith, family and friends. I believe God opens and shuts the doors as we walk through them. That belief has allowed me to have peace with my choices. My parents have been an intricate part of helping me launch this business. As they continue to increase in age the significance of working with them on such a project is invaluable. My friends have been there every step of the way with advice, words of encouragement, and compassion. However, the support of my husband cannot be underestimated although it often is. The support staff in any venture can tend to be underappreciated and devalued. However, if it was not for my behind the scenes husband doing all the dishes, making all the money, watching the kids, talking logistics, wiping my tears and handing me my crown I would not have the ability to succeed. I am reminded more and more each day that small business owners can tend to feel isolated and alone in the day to day struggles, but I am continually reminded that I am not alone.

Website: thebroadandtheboard.com, jeannieseventtrailer.com

Instagram: @thebroadandtheboard, @jeannieseventtrailer

Facebook: The Broad and The Board

Image Credits
Simply Elegant Photography