Meet Ian!

Named Houston Business Journal's 40 Under 40, Ian Ramirez, CSEP, is the Co-Owner of Madera Estates, an award-winning Spanish- and European-inspired wedding and event venue located in Conroe, TX. He is also the Co-Founder of the Venue Help Desk, a comprehensive directory of vetted experts and trusted systems, connecting venue owners and managers with the right tools and professionals to help solve any problem, one step at a time.

After almost a decade in the industry, Ian is passionate about giving back to his community as well as sharing his knowledge with other wedding and event venue owners and operators. In addition to being a 2024 WeddingPro Educator, he has been a featured speaker at Wedding MBA, Catersource + The Special Event, Wedding Summit Series, the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE), as well as the International Live Events Association (ILEA). Among his accolades, Ian has also received his Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) designation.

Ian started his career as an internationally trained opera singer who has sung across the globe from Portland, Oregon to Stuttgart, Germany. When he is not at work or on a stage, Ian can be found in the yoga studio or traveling with his husband, Paul.

Full Group Breakout Session:

Instant Impact: How Your First Response Can Make or Break a Lead

In this competitive world of wedding venues, your first response to a new lead can make all the difference. This session will guide you through the essential strategies of crafting an initial response that not only captures their attention but also sets the stage for successful conversions.

In this session, you'll learn simple yet effective hacks to respond faster, ways to personalize your message to resonate with each lead so that they don’t ghost you, and methods to navigate incoming leads from multiple platforms.

Key Takeaways:

  • Learn how to follow up faster, significantly increasing your chances of converting leads into tours.

  • Discover techniques for tailoring your initial response to address each lead’s specific needs and wants.

  • Identify strategies to efficiently manage and respond to leads from various platforms and entry points.