Episode #74
Roxanne Bennett
Founder & CEO of Pinners Conference Talks About What it Takes to Host Giant Events
Guest Bio:
Roxanne Bennett grew up in a small town in Idaho with a passion for helping others and a dream to one day own her own business. After marrying her husband Kendall Bennett, Roxanne went to Southern Utah University to earn her degree in education.
With the help of the faculty and staff at SUU, Roxanne was able to juggle motherhood and a large coursework to finish her bachelor’s degree.
After graduating, Roxanne taught kindergarten for a year - and enjoyed it - but realized she wanted to follow her entrepreneurial dreams.
Roxanne launched Utah Valley Magazine with Kendall and other family members in 2000. In 2004 Roxanne added trade shows and events to her portfolio and has since owned and organized business conferences, home shows, and women shows. Roxanne’s most recent large venture was in 2014 when she started Pinners Conference, which has expanded throughout Salt Lake City, Dallas, Atlanta, and Phoenix.
Though she does not use her degree to teach in a classroom setting; she believes that if a person can transfer their college education into their daily living—where they are constantly learning—that is her main goal.
Roxanne said: “Our whole theme for Pinners Conference is to learn, create, connect; and I love that concept of always getting an education.”
Selected Links and People from the Episode:
Show Notes
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Introduction (1:22)
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How Roxanne became one of the top women entrepreneurs in the state (3:30)
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Getting away from teaching and going into an MLM (8:51)
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How she started her first company (11:10)
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Being able to understand teachings and learning (16:07)
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How much work actually goes into the Pinners Conference (21:29)
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What makes the Pinners Conference so unique (27:10)
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The power of collaborating and helping others (33:17)
