March - Our Employee Highlight

           At Top Shelf Staffing, we are incredibly fortunate to have a team of dedicated professionals who bring expertise, passion, and leadership to every event. This month, we are thrilled to shine our Staff Spotlight on one of our exceptional Event Captains, Trace!

Trace has been an invaluable part of our company for many years, and their impact on our team and events is immeasurable. Their leadership abilities, deep knowledge of event execution, and remarkable ability to think on their feet make them a true asset to every event they oversee. Whether orchestrating seamless logistics, guiding our staff with confidence, or solving last-minute challenges with ease, Trace consistently goes above and beyond to ensure every event runs smoothly.                                                                         - Larry Ray - Director of Staffing

If you had to describe your leadership style as a NYC landmark, which one would it be and why?  

My leadership is 100% Rockefeller Center: Glamorous, Streamlined, Grounded, and Art Deco: Rockefeller Center honors the wonders of the past and bravely pioneers the future. But at its very core: It's entertainment, it's a party!

When I'm leading an event, what the clients/guests see is their party going off without a hitch: massive, monumental, impressive, and most importantly fun! Meanwhile, behind the scenes (like Saturday Night Live) I'm running a well-choreographed dance of food and bar service, coordinating with florists and VIPS, making all the magic happen, and making it look effortless (even if it sometimes feels like I'm the Atlas statue ha!

What’s your secret to keeping an event running smoothly, even when things get chaotic?

                  Organization and communication is crucial, this preemptively solves a lot of potential problems. My superpower is my perspective, and remaining grounded. When things get "hectic," I ground myself with my great Topshelf Team: Once I decide what the priorities are in the moment, I delegate to my team. Then we divide, and we conquer!

                  Feeling supported in communication is absolutely paramount, for everyone. In college I taught toddlers (I'm talking babies. Ages 2-5.) They taught me that at some level, everyone just wants to feel heard and understood. Every chance you get, make someone feel listened to, and understood. Whether or not you can solve their problems in that moment, if someone knows you're actively trying to understand them, that goes a long way.

What’s the coolest venue or event you’ve worked at while at Top Shelf Staffing, and why did you love it?   

I'm gonna throw a curveball here! At Topshelf, you're quickly exposed to so many stunning venues and meet so many celebrities. If Troye Sivan asks me 'Is this chicken?' at one more event, someone is getting someone's phone number. (That's a joke, but barely.) Our events are often so incredibly gorgeous and star-studded, it starts to blend together! 

However, those aren't my favorite. In my 8 years of being a Topshelf Captain, the events I'd really call "cool" are where I can see the direct impact and contribution that's being made to our community. For example, I loved catering at HELP USA, to celebrate and commemorate those that have experienced  homelessness. It feels wonderful to contribute to the success of events that directly better our city, and to see nothing go to waste.