When Rebecca Light was in high school, she was heavily involved in BBYO, a national youth group dedicated to “delivering to the post-bar/bat mitzvah audience fun, meaningful and affordable experiences that inspire a lasting connection to the Jewish people.” She served as her chapter’s s’ganit, or vice president of programming. It was this early experience that gave her “a little taste of my passion for details, logistics and overall event planning,” she says.
Today she has more than a decade of eventplanning experience and her own business, Leading Light Events, which coordinates events for companies, nonprofits and private citizens across the Valley. Light founded her company in 2011 after working in events for an eclectic group of companies including the Phoenix Business Journal, the Arthritis Foundation and the Phoenix Coyotes Hockey Club. “Starting my own business and working for myself has always been a dream and a goal, and eventually I reached a point in my life and career that it was actually feasible,” Light explains. “I like to say that ‘the stars just seemed to align’ timing just made sense.
“I primarily work with corporate and nonprofit clients on meetings, mixers, fundraisers and celebrations of all types and sizes,” she says of her client roster. “However, over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with some amazing families on planning bar and bat mitzvahs, anniversary parties, sweet 16 soirees and much more.”
Born in Denver and raised in Tucson, Light has a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Arizona. She first moved to the Valley after 9/11 as a recent college graduate looking for work. “I knew I wanted to work in events … however, it was a tough time for everyone, especially those in luxury businesses like hospitality,” Light says. “I learned very quickly that budgets had been cut, departments had been slashed and there simply were just no jobs available.”
Determined, Light spent a few months “building up her Rolodex,” before finally landing a job with the Coyotes, where she got hands-on corporate events experience. From there she moved into the nonprofit world with the Arthritis Foundation, coordinating events that brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars. She then did some freelance work and eventually was hired as the events director for the Phoenix Business Journal in 2006, where she developed and executed more than 30 events a year.
“This position allowed me to grow immensely as a planner, to build new [relationships] and strengthen my existing relationships with venues and vendors, and allowed me to work with an incredible family of people,” Light says. This summer her company, Leading Light Events, celebrated two years. Light says she's most proud of the relationships she’s built in the industry and the fact that her company has been built by word of mouth and referrals. Her favorite moments are when she can get a client to see “outside of their own scope” to create an event that goes beyond their expectations.
“Bringing my and my clients’ visions to life and turning theminto reality” is what draws Light to the events planning industry.“In my business, there’s not much that’s more satisfying than taking a blank slate and transforming it into something unique, fun and beautiful,” she says.
In addition to her business endeavors, Light believes in being involved in the local community. She recently retired from11 years of service with BBYO. She and her husband, Josh Wertlieb, are founders of Free Arts of Arizona’s Pilot Light Mentor Conference, and they are also active with the B’nai Tzedek Youth Philanthropy Board. “I was brought up in an incredible family with strong Jewish values and active involvement in the community,” Light says.
“Both my parents have worked in the Jewish communal field for as long as I can remember and were tremendous role models for my siblings and me. I have taken much of what I learned from them on ethics and relationships and put it to good work in my personal and professional dealings.”
In addition to high hopes for the continued success her business, Light reveals that she and her husband are expecting their first child early next year.
To learn more about her company, visit leadinglightevents.com.
