Title: President

Company: Extraordinary Events

Location: Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Widely considered a guiding force in her field, Andrea Michaels hopes to continue to provide support and expertise to the event services industry as her event planning career persists. A published author who was named “Pillar of the Industry” at The Special Event in 2014, Ms. Michaels has been the president of Extraordinary Events for 27 successful years. Her ability to analyze and accommodate each event’s special needs with professional creativity, foresightedness and logistical savvy has made an incredible impact on the industry as a whole, and she hopes to be remembered as a teacher and inspiration to others.

Following a master’s degree in criminal psychology in 1974, Ms. Michaels was given the opportunity to plan events with a former employer. After spending 15 years as a partner in an entertainment booking business, she decided to start her own company and Extraordinary Events came into fruition. Ms. Michaels approaches her work to this day with energy, enthusiasm and communication, and she is always willing to take risks for the good of her company. Her passion for the field extends beyond her own career; she would like to see the ethical standards of her industry improve and to educate her peers. In 2010, her book, “Reflections of a Successful Wallflower; Lessons in Business, Lessons in Life,” appeared in bookstores, and she plans to release more books in the near future.

Ms. Michaels encourages those who want to enter the business to learn from more seasoned professionals. Her excellence in event planning has been acknowledged through various awards, such as the Special Event Award of Excellence, the Steve Kemble Leadership Award, and the M.P.I. Global Paragon Award. Due to her strategic support and innovation, she was the first inductee into the Special Event Industry Hall of Fame. Ms. Michaels hopes to positively impact the world around her, and charities she supports include Dining for Women and the SEARCH foundation.

Ms. Michaels considers her greatest accomplishment to be her son, who she raised while developing Extraordinary Events. Her son is now a partner of the company, and she is proud of his contribution to the business. Outside of work, Ms. Michaels enjoys reading at home and spending time with her family.