Driven, Up-and-Coming

Criteria: Person or Business that’s grown with networking. A referral partner, they make an effort to really understand and know other’s businesses and refer business back-and-forth. They are really starting to shine in the events industry.

horizontal image of Three Peer-Nominated Mountain Mover Award Finalists: Michelle Glanville, Custom Keepsake Drawings; Amy Lund, Big Guys BBQ Roadhouse; Tammy Wittek, Host A Toast Parties & Events

TCWEP Peer-nominated Rising Star Award Finalist Michelle Glanville 2024

Michelle GlanvilleCustom Keepsake Drawings

Michelle Glanville created Custom Keepsake Drawings in 2018, creating handmade portraits of pets and homes. In late 2022, Michelle dove into the wedding scene by creating custom watercolor portraits of wedding bouquets as a means of floral preservation. This led to an exploration of wedding couples’ portraits – which is where her involvement in the wedding industry took off! 

In September of 2023, Michelle, supported by her husband, family, and friends, quit her job to pursue her art business full time, and hasn’t looked back since. 

Through her business, Custom Keepsake Drawings, Michelle operates as a Live Wedding and Event Painter, capturing the “you had to be there” moments of couples’ special days while providing entertainment for their guests. Michelle also paints and sketches guest portraits at events as personalized guest favors. Her commissioned portraits of couples, bouquets, venues, pets, and homes from photos are a fantastic alternative to live painting. 

Michelle’s unique watercolor and ink style captures the detail, energy, and beauty of the moment. It truly brings Michelle joy to create artwork for others, and she is honored to paint keepsake pieces that hold so much meaning and love. Michelle is dedicated to bringing clients’ vision to life and creating a work of art that they’ll cherish for a lifetime.

Michelle lives in Minneapolis with her husband, son, and dog.

TCWEP has provided me with a community that encourages, supports, and uplifts me in my new, sometimes vulnerable, business endeavors. When I left my job to pursue my art business, I was very worried that I would feel alone and lost, but as my first TCWEP meeting came to a close, those fears were instantly lifted. The professionals that attend TCWEP have provided me with validation that I am in the right place, should continue pursuing my dreams, and that they are here, hustlin’ alongside me as I continue on.

What Michelle’s Peers Say…Michelle is a sweetheart that is networking more and getting out to Open Houses etc. She has a unique product to offer wedding and event clients and is very talented.———-Michelle tossed her corporate life aside last year and went all in on her artistic business. She learned that networking was one of the most important things she could do and has been making great———-Beautiful, artistic work!———-

TCWEP Peer-nominated Rising Star Award Finalist Amy Lund 2024

Amy LundBig Guys BBQ Roadhouse

My Husband Jethro and I own Big Guys BBQ Roadhouse in Hudson and has been in business for 9 years. We are the largest Wood Fired BBQ Restaurant in the Midwest! With Texas Style BBQ and You have to try our Signature World Famous Candied Bacon. 

We offer full service catering with award winning BBQ. We have 4 food trucks, our newest is a 40’ Smoker jets delight full mobile kitchen including two sales windows. We offer 3 offsite wood fired smokers. We can cater every event, from weddings, rehearsal dinners, grooms dinner, bridal showers and morning gift opening brunches . 

Our catering and service is 2nd to none and we are here to impress you and your guests!

TCWEP, This is the best networking group I have ever been apart of. The connections I have already made have been so incredible. Teaching me great tools to implement in my own business and the out pouring of support is what I have been looking for in a networking group. On the other hand I am making friends with like minded people.

What Amy’s Peers Say…Up and coming in the event industry, nothing is going to stop her.———-Great personality with a can do attitude———-Super Star meeting new people and sharing her business, gonna shine!———-

TCWEP Peer-nominated Rising Star Award Finalist Tammy Wittek 2024

Tammy WittekHost A Toast Parties & Events

First and foremost a mom to two amazing young women, Lily (20) & Alicia (16). When I am not mom-ing, I enjoy adventuring and can be found behind the wheel of a Jeep off-roading with a group of friends, going to concerts and local events, trying new restaurants and I am generally up for anything! I love pineapples, road trips, and the hustle and bustle of a busy event season! 

Professionally, I work as the Operations Manager at Host a Toast, a local Event Management and Staffing company. As HaT’s first employee, I helped launch the company from an owner/operator organization to a growing team of 6 full time employees and 100+ seasonal event professionals. I am known as the great connector, constantly building and maintaining relationships. After 33 years in the Minneapolis F&B and Event industry here in MPLS my passion for the craft of hospitality continues to deepen

We joined TCWEP to make vendor connection and that we have! We’ve have been members for barley a month and already have made so many great connections.

What Tammy’s Peers Say …Because she crushes like nothing I’ve ever seen!———-Hard working and present

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