Co-owner, vice president and event coordinator – VIP Concierge & Errand Service – www.vipedmonton.net

When Sarah Conant is at a wedding, she carries a kit filled with everything from Band Aids to smelling salts, a habit from her college days studying technical theatre production.

She uses a similar kit now in her job as an event planner for VIP Event Consultants, a division of VIP Concierge & Errand Service. Conant and her mom, Lisa, got the inspiration for their company during a trip to New York three years ago. Concierge companies are common there, but not in Edmonton.

When VIP opened last September, there was a great response. “We do anything within the confines of being legal and ethical,” laughs Conant, who explains the cost are “very affordable” because they want single mothers to be able to access their services.

She was raised by her mother, who knows the financial challenges of a single parent. The 22 year-old launched the events consultant division, and plans everything from charity functions to fashion shows. Conant’s experience as a stage manager makes planning events easy by comparison. She’s also a personal shopper, either for or with clients.

But Conant doesn’t work only at building VIP. In addition to her job as its event coordinator and vice president, she is also an assistant manager at Reitman’s. “Sometimes brides are concerned that I have another full-time job,” she admits. But, she obviously thrives on being busy. Conant loves both of her jobs—she’s never bored. And that’s important to her.