Rachel Crick recently spoke with Maddie Pettus, the event manager for the National Tour Association on growing as a meeting planner and finding your niche.
Maddie Pettus is an event manager at the National Tour Association (NTA). She graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and a minor in facility management. Before she joined NTA, Pettus was an event coordinator at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, where she also interned. While in college, she also planned events for her college sorority.
Q: Can you tell us about the first event you attended?
A: I originally wanted to go to school to be a physical therapist, but during my first semester of college I realized that I hated science and had to rethink what I wanted to do. When I finished my finals in 2019, my mom invited me to the NTA Travel Exchange in Fort Worth, Texas. Seeing what went on at events, I knew I wanted to be a part of them, so I changed my major. I was amazed by the whole process, from what I was hearing about beginning planning and site visits, seeing different convention spaces, seeing booths being set up and interactive things in each booth. The overall atmosphere drew me in. Everyone looked like they were so excited to be there and form relationships and network. My family has always said I’m outgoing, and whether you have that personality or not, the events industry pulls it out of you.
Q: What were the first steps you took to pursue a career in events?
A: Throughout college, I was in a sorority. Our officer elections were a few months after I got back from Fort Worth from my first Travel Exchange show. I wanted to run for director of event planning, and that kickstarted me into hosting different events for my sorority and other events on campus. My senior year, I was required to take a 12-credit-hour course, an internship, which was at the Kentucky Horse Park. I started in January, then got hired full time in March before graduating that May. That was my first hands-on experience with my own events.
Q: What was your first job in events like?
A: It was a learning experience and something I had to adjust to. I was going to school in Bowling Green, but I was doing a lot of remote work, so I didn’t have to be on campus. Being in Lexington was very different. I was excited, because when you graduate and you’re looking for a job, that’s stressful, but I loved the Horse Park. I learned so much throughout my time there. I learned that I’m a big people pleaser. I don’t like to upset anyone and I don’t like when anyone’s having a tough time with their events. But I also learned that nothing goes perfectly in the event world. There’s always something you’re working with behind the scenes, and it’s okay if it’s not perfect — it will still turn out to be a good event. If flaws happen, it’s not going to be the end of the world.
Q: Tell us about your first career transition. What was it like to change jobs as someone so new to the industry?
A: I always thought NTA specifically sounded rewarding and like it would be a good experience. You’re able to gather people from around the world in one location. I didn’t know if there would be an opportunity for me to work there. Then this past June, one opened up. There are always uncertainties when it comes to starting something new, when you don’t know how it’s going to turn out. I went from the Horse Park, where I was working in-person every single day, to NTA, which is remote. In the beginning, I thought, ‘Am I going to like this? Am I going to be equipped for it?’ But I actually love working from home.
Q: What advice would you give other planners just starting out in the field?
A: Starting out and not having a lot of experience under your belt might be something that scares you at first. Looking at people who have been in the industry 30+ years may be difficult, [because] they have a lot more experience than you do. But the good thing with our generation, with the lack of experience, is you’re able to come up with new ideas and generate new things to do for your events. My advice is to be yourself. The more you’re yourself, the more you lean into your personality, the more you’ll shine wherever you are. Don’t worry whether you have experience or not. Be confident in what you do.
