ABOUT US !
Helping Hands Event Planning is really a family. The company was founded by Dawn Starostka with the support of her family, but the company has grown when we find the right people who fit our attitude of "do a professional job and love doing it."
Our family is:
Dawn Starostka, Owner
Dawn Starostka is an El Paso native who left the desert for a while, but was drawn back to the open skies and friendly people. Dawn spent many of her years away in the Washington, DC area as Development Director for a pharmacy association and then a private school, where event planning fell in with all the other duties of managing a fundraising program. She planned galas and golf tournaments, conferences and auctions, along with many other types of events. She has planned events from across country on very tight budgets and with great success. Upon moving to Las Cruces, Ms. Starostka saw a need for professional event planning services and has filled that niche with professionally run, well-organized events primarily in Las Cruces, but increasingly in El Paso and Albuquerque.
Dawn brings the organizational as well as strict financial management skills to the team, along with the vision for where the company is going. She loves Las Cruces and loves being involved with creating fun events that celebrate the community. She is the lead on all large, public events and festivals, while overseeing all of the projects and supervising everyone.
Email Dawn
Erica Aragon, Event coordinator
Erica is a 2004 graduate of New Mexico State University, and is currently completing work on her Master’s of Business Administration with a projected graduation date of December 2008. Erica began her tenure with Helping Hands Event Planning as an intern in 2007 and has continued on as Event Coordinator. Erica brings a background in accounting and financial planning, as well as office management and IT experience. Erica is a go-to person for whatever needs to be done to ensure an event is a success.
Email Erica
Our Secondary Team
Our secondary team, those we pull in on events has needed and who are always there to help includes a rotating internship position as well as:
John Starostka
Photographer, banner hanger, registrar, schlepper, and supportive husband extraordinaire.
Renata Starostka
Labeler and stamper, assistant decorator, increasingly talented graphic designer and word document creator, and wonderful, supportive daughter.
Diane McMellen
Event babysitter, receptionist, database maintenance, promoter, and proud Mama.