Churchville native knows how to bring all the elements together for the perfect occasion Until several years ago, Shawn Rabideau didn’t even know there was such a thing as an events industry, but now the Churchville native is a very successful events coordinator and president of his own company offering full service production design nationwide. “I’m not a caterer,” Rabideau said during a phone interview from his offices in New York City. He will, however, help his clients hire a caterer for their special event. Rabideau’s company, Event Ergonomics, LLC, focuses on designing social and corporate events - everything from weddings to birthdays to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs to product launches to non-profit fundraisers. Services include in-house floral and decor design and coordination of every aspect of an event: designing invitations, finding a caterer, recommending entertainment and endless other important details. Rabideau said he didn’t start out with aspirations in design or event coordination. The 1993 graduate of Churchville-Chili Central Schools instead studied broadcast journalism at the University of Missouri at Columbia. Rabideau said he had been active in theater and choral music programs at Churchville-Chili and thought that journalism was where he wanted to go. He eventually decided that journalism was not for him and after taking some time off, ended up with a degree in history. A job during college at a Pier One Imports store in Columbia first got him interested in visual merchandising. Rabideau worked at Pier One all during college and after graduation returned to New York state where he worked at a Pottery Barn store downstate in Westchester, Rockland County. While at Pottery Barn, he decided to take up an offer from a store client who told him to call if he ever wanted a career change. In January 2000, Rabideau was hired as a personal assistant to an executive in the events industry. “My first job was to coordinate a 25th birthday party for 125 people in the Dominican Republic,” Rabideau said. He worked his way up to director of events before leaving to work for a corporate company on events. Rabideau said he never had any intent to start his own business, but he wanted an outlet for his creativity. Event Ergonomics, LLC, was formed two years ago in September and Rabideau said his business has doubled in that time. He says he feels very lucky, “Starting a business in New York is not easy.” He gives partial credit to his success to the contacts he was able to make at his previous jobs. Rabideau said he had opportunities to do amazing things, had worked with some big companies and had contacts with vendors in the events industry. His business has also grown thanks to word of mouth. “If you do a good job, people will recommend you,” he said. His list of clients is a who’s who of celebrities including Barbara Walters, Kenneth Cole, Jennifer Lopez (Glow perfume launch) and the wedding of Star Jones Reynolds. Rabideau actually owns two companies that allow him to coordinate an entire event for a client, or he can just do the decor - everything from flowers to linens to candles to ceiling treatments. Rabideau said he loves the creative process and brings a freshness to the industry. He finds inspiration everywhere and always looks at things from a different angle. “It has all been done before,” he said, “the question is how do you make it your own?” Aspects such as finding a new twist on something like color is one way to answer that question, he said. Rabideau said his philosophy and attention to detail separates him from others in his industry. He takes the time to get to know the client and to follow through on details. He makes sure the entire event is comfortable, efficient and gratifying and takes into account things like a client’s favorite color or initials for wedding themes and decor. Rabideau said he wants clients to feel like princes or princesses and immerse themselves in the experience and forget everything else. He said he feels parties and events are opportunities to create memories for life, “ ... a one shot deal, times when everybody comes together to celebrate and make a dream come true.” Rabideau said he enjoys returning to the Rochester area and that it is always good being home. He is the Lifestyle and Entertainment expert for 13 WHAM-TV, a job he enjoys because it gives him the opportunity to share tips and ideas for entertaining at home. He said people don’t need a huge budget, they can use what is around the house and think outside the box. Event Ergonomics, LLC is a nationwide company. Rabideau said he has coordinated events in places across the country and is currently working on a family reunion May 13, 2007 |
Churchville native Shawn Rabideau says special events should be comfortable and often incorporates clients’ favorite colors and objects in the decor. Provided photos.
