Who We Are
Meeshie Nguyen, Founder & Chief Event Organizer
Although born in Chicago, Meeshie moved to San Diego with her family at the age of 12 and since has called herself a “native” of America’s Finest City. She attended Black Mountain Middle School, Mt. Carmel High School, and graduating from CSU-San Marcos. While going to college, Meeshie competed in numerous pageants around San Diego. Her titles include Miss Rancho Penasquitos, Miss San Diego USA, Miss Saigon USA, and she made it to the “Top 10″ out of over 90 young women at the Miss California USA pageant. During her reign with those titles, she was heavily involved with the N. County Chamber of Commerce where she devoted her time to community service and youth programs. Twice, Meeshie was the recipient of the “Special Commendation” award for her community service efforts by a former San Diego Mayor and Council member.
As a graduate from CSU-San Marcos with a Bachelor Degree in Business Finance, Meeshie worked as a Financial Analyst for various San Diego based corporations. However, after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 (www.meeshie.com) – she realized that planning events for great causes was her true passion. Meeshie’s latest accomplishments include running the Rock N’ Roll marathon (2008), the San Francisco Half – Marathon (2008), and the Carlsbad Half Marathon (2009). Recently in October (2009), she was nominated and won the “Bobbie Langford Volunteer of the Year” from the Young Survival Coalition. In her free time (when there is any) she enjoys playing golf, running, kickboxing, spin classes, scuba diving, hanging out with close friends, San Diego nightlife, and watching UFC! Meeshie continues to look forward to the bright future of D-Lux Events and “Creating Events for Causes” around San Diego county – the city where she’s always called home.
Alisha Marie Pena, Vice President Business Relations
Born and raised in San Diego, Alisha Marie Pena grew up in Spring Valley, Ca where she attended Loma Elementary and went on to attend Monte Vista High School and graduated in 1991. After high school, Alisha Marie begun to work at the age of 16 for a well known grocery store chain and then decided to go into retail management where she managed Wet Seal Clothing Stores. At the age of 21 Alisha Marie took her sales and marketing experience from retail and begun a career in Hi-Tech Sales. She then would work in that field for 15 years until recently in 2009 when she had the unfortunate taste of the economic times and was laid off.
She has since taken on a new and fun calling of becoming an Independent Sales Consultant with Cookie Lee Jewelry http://www.cookielee.biz/esuite/home/alishamariepena and has recently joined D-Lux Events as VP of Business Relations and is excited to be part of an amazing organization that helps many San Diego Fundraisers and Charities. In her spare time Alisha Marie enjoys spending time with friends and family, jet skiing, camping and other outdoor events.
Janice Pilapil, Event Coordinator
Janice Pilapil was born in San Jose, California. After graduating from high school, she decided it was time to leave the nest and explore the “world”. She moved to Southern California in Fall 2005 to attend the University of California, San Diego. While at UCSD, she actively held various leadership positions in her sorority Kappa Zeta Phi, and continuously volunteered for various charities on and off campus. Aside from her academic and volunteer activities, she also worked as a Marketing and Special Events intern for a local hi-tech non-profit trade organization. In June 2009, Janice graduated with a B.A. in Communication and Ethnic Studies.
In 15 years, Janice wishes to be the head or marketing and events for a major convention center, a Las Vegas casino or a popular amusement park (like Disneyland!). Along with her professional goals, one of her primary focuses after graduating has been to combine her passion for event planning with her desire to help individuals and organizations around San Diego County. Janice hopes to fulfill her philanthropic goals through her role as Event Coordinator for D-Lux Events. In her spare time, she enjoys scrapbooking, figure skating, dancing and exploring San Diego.
Ashley Matney, Business Development/Sponsorships
Ashley is a recent resident of San Diego moving here just 6 months ago. She grew up in Brooklyn, NY, and after completing a double bachelors degree from Johnson & Wales University located in Providence Rhode Island she moved out to the west coast. Along with her passion for event planning, Ashley also has a flare for cooking. She has a small catering company, “Fulfilling catering” which she runs out of her San Diego apartment. The Catering company focuses on cocktail parties, and specialized desserts and drinks.
Brooke Blacksher, Fashion Events Coordinator
Bio coming soon!
Marvin Stanford, PR/Media Coordinator
Born in Trinidad and Tobago and raised in San Diego California as a military brat, since the age of eight, Marvin Stanford has called southern California home. He attended Farb middle school, graduated from Serra High school in Tierrasanta and he is currently finishing a Bachelors Degree in Public Relations & Marketing at Ashford University. As an entrepreneur, he Co-founded Persona Mogul in 2001, a software program company, he helped develop and design software applications for unsigned artists to upload mp3 audio to major labels and production companies via the internet. His other business ventures include 6 years of real estate experience, in addition to 8 years in sales and management.
In spite of his successes, however, Marvin felt a lack of fulfillment or passion in these ventures. He was thus drawn to Life coaching, personal development and volunteering which he found to be much more meaningful. Marvin has volunteered for San Diego Food Bank, San Diego Blood Bank, San Diego Heart Association and is a member American Diabetes Association. Currently Marvin is continuing to pursue his passion in marketing and holds a position as a Business Development and Marketing Consultant for Green Energy Solutions, an energy & utilities broker located in San Diego California.
Suzanne Conlon, PR/Media Coordinator
Suzanne “Suz” Conlon was born and raised in Massachusetts. After graduating from Boston College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, she pursued opportunities in television sales, e-commerce, Internet marketing and copywriting. In 2009, Suz decided it was time to trade the snow for the sun and after several visits to Southern California moved to Pacific Beach to experience the SoCal lifestyle. She has recently joined the D-Lux team as a PR Coordinator, and currently does freelance writing work and is involved in a non-profit group called NEST, which is based in St. Louis.
NEST aims to ameliorate the lives of female artisans in third world countries by providing them with the materials and supplies necessary to sustain and maintain their own entrepreneurial businesses. Through NEST and D-Lux Events, Suz hopes to fulfill her philanthropic passions and wants to pursue a full-time position dedicated to championing charitable organizations. In her spare time, Suz enjoys the PB nightlife scene, hiking, reading, hanging out with friends and reality television. She’s an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan… Suz has found that this quality is not always welcomed with open arms by her new San Diegan neighbors, but continues to whole-heartedly support her hometown boys!
Kyle Ong, Assistant Coordinator
Kyle Ong joined the 2010 team with Event Planning experience from Santa Clara University where he assisted and coordinated Undergraduate Admissions events for the 2008-2009 school year as a student assistant, then briefly as faculty. He hails from San Jose, CA where he was private schooled throughout his entire student career, however he left SCU to continue his Political Science major at UCSD.
He fancies photography, entrepreneurism, and reading. Outside of D-Lux, Kyle has side projects he is fine tuning to make money for him. He believes that money is merely a means to an end, and that the only way to really get out of a cycle of middle-class living is through building your own machine in a business. He stands behind the power of networking and his extroverted personality reflects that. If you catch him at an event, holler and introduce yourself, he will be more than happy to meet you! If you like surrounding yourself with positive people that are motivated, think positive, and love to learn, Kyle is the person for you!
Aurora Drening-Ribeiro, Assistant Coordinator
Aurora is a quirky (and a little dorky) born and raised city-girl, and a hippie at heart. Although originally from Los Angeles, CA, she grew up exploring the beautiful city of San Francisco. After completing four years at UC Santa Cruz (including a brief six months studying abroad in Melbourne, Australia), she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies in June 2009. With no idea what to do next, she packed her bags, headed back down down to So-Cal, and moved in with her big sister!
She learned soon on that a diploma delivered no answers. Post-grad life had been like a hurricane, and the prospects of her uncertain future were often overwhelming. Gradution seemed only to bring an abundance of “So…what are you going to do now?” questions, and a lack of clarity. Was it really time to grow up?!? This ambiguity terrfied the natural control freak within her, but thrilled her adventurous imagination. Aurora realized that she was only certain of a few things: She wanted to work hard, make a difference, and, of course, have fun while doing it!
With no interest in the Legal field, Aurora decided to channel her efforts towards the things that she was passionate about and enjoyed doing most: Using a creative approach to organize people, places, and things, in order to bring those individuals together to celebrate life in a meaningful way. In search of like-minded people, as well as a way to put all of these efforts towards a good cause, she joined the D-Lux Events team! After all, she believes, “As long as you love what you’re doing, you never have to work another day in your life.”
For more info please contact us at:
info@D-LuxEvents.com
