TranslateDiscoverYou Events, Susan Lataille
Joseph G. E. Knight Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence
Susan Lataille, Owner of DiscoverYou Events
"Throughout my life, I've been told that I'm a great connector. Somehow, I've always had the confidence and energy to bring people together in dynamic ways” said Susan Lataille, Owner of DiscoverYou Events. It was this confidence that Susan used to launch her business after creating the DiscoverYou Wellness Expo in 2009. “The company has changed over the years and continues to create new events to serve the community in the best way, said Lataille, “This business allows me to connect those who strive to improve our community” she continued.
Connecting businesses to their customers, clients, leads, and communities has been the driving force since DiscoverYou Events was founded. However, for Susan to achieve her goals she needed help and reached out to SCORE looking for guidance with some key issues she was facing. Susan was matched with SCORE mentor Deborah Pannullo, “I met Susan at a point in the business cycle where she had decided to sell.” said Deborah. “We spent the better part of a year together, we dissected the events she was promoting, we reviewed the revenue and costs by event.” added Pannullo.
It was during this analysis that it became clear that certain events could not be sustained while other events were proverbial “cash cows”. Susan and Deborah began addressing which events needed to be sold or discounted while drafting strategic and tactical plans to help carry out each goal. With her new plan Susan found subsequent expos and events were far more successful than they had been prior.
“Deborah was very valuable in helping me gather all of the information need for selling my business,” said Susan, “She guided me through how best to present the business including profit and loss. This showed me how valuable my business was and it helped me decide to keep it knowing that the growth would continue.” Lataille concluded.
Susan’s decision has paid off and DiscoverYou has begun specializing in producing and managing four distinct types of events. These events include unique Rhode Island events, the Ocean State Business Expo (the largest business to business expo in Rhode Island), the East Bay Business Expo, and events geared towards supporting various non-profits. In a short time since Susan has enacted her new strategy DiscoverYou Events has garnered a reputation for maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and service for the exhibitors and attendees of all of our events.
Susan shows no signs of slowing down and is as passionate as ever, “The fact that I'm a connector takes on new meaning when it comes to producing events,” she revealed, “It brings me a tremendous amount of satisfaction to see connections being made that result in better lives. That satisfaction is the reason I love doing what I’m doing.” she smiled.
Rhode Island SCORE proudly honors Susan Lataille, Owner of DiscoverYou Events, as the recipient of the 2017 Joseph G. E. Knight Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence.
