2016 Alumna Starts New Event Planning Business and Continues Volunteer Work

“From a young age, I knew that I wanted to be an event planner,” said Sheryl-Leigh. “After graduating from the College of Charleston in South Carolina, I worked in Washington, D.C., for five years on the ‘gala circuit.’ I was doing nonprofit galas for anywhere between 500 to 6,000 people. I was a sponge in the industry and learned as much as I could about the event business. I did a lot of corporate work and a lot of nonprofit fundraisers, but I always knew that I wanted to be an entrepreneur.”

In October 2025, Sheryl-Leigh started her own event planning business called SL Experience, which caters to projects in various locales — including the states where she’s resided over the years. Moving forward, Sheryl-Leigh said she’ll go wherever her business leads her throughout the globe. Currently, she’s residing in Sarasota while she gets her company off the ground.

“My business is a destination event planning company,” said Sheryl-Leigh. “I’m all over the East Coast right now, but I have a couple proposals out for international projects and some on the West Coast. I’m building a portfolio of business in all of the places that I've lived: Connecticut, Charleston, and Sarasota.”

Sheryl-Leigh said that going from a full-time job to self-employment has been a “big learning curve,” but maintained that the experience has been both exciting and rewarding with much of the prep work taking place in her home. She added that she started this entrepreneurial journey in her mid-20s because, hopefully, “it's a well-oiled machine by my mid-30s.”

From the thoughtful details of an intimate dinner to the fast-paced logistics of a corporate blowout, Sheryl-Leigh strongly believes that every event deserves the care, creativity, and purpose that an event planner can provide.

“Intentional gathering is at the heart of every great event. You should hire an event planner so you can be present during your event and get what you're meant to get out of the event, which is connection with other people or connection to the hosting nonprofit or company,” she said.

As if starting a new business isn’t enough to keep her busy, Sheryl-Leigh is also a dedicated volunteer with Experience Camps.

“My father died when I was 20 years old and heading into my senior year of college,” explained Sheryl-Leigh. “I was introduced to Experience Camps through mutual friends. It’s an amazing nonprofit organization that sends children who have lost a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver to overnight camp for free for one week. There are clinicians and camp counselors on site, so it's like 30 percent grief therapy and 70 percent summer-camp fun.”

Experience Camps opened a program in Kent, Conn., and that’s the first time she got involved on a volunteer basis.

“That first time was so exciting and such a meaningful experience,” said Sheryl-Leigh. “I’m thrilled to be returning this summer as a counselor. I will live in the bunks with the kids. Ten campers who are 8 to 10 years old, who have all lost a parent or both parents. I would say that 90 percent of the counselors have also lost a parent, so they can relate. Hopefully, seeing happy and fulfilled adults, who have also experienced loss, makes a positive impact. I've learned so much from grieving children and have found lifelong friends in the grieving adults I volunteered with.”