Last week you graciously gave a warm welcome to Kristin Mullen, our new Children’s Garden Early Childhood Program Developer.  This week, I’d like to introduce you to another new staff member, Donna Reynolds, the Garden’s Assistant Facility Events Coordinator.  As the Assistant Facility Events Coordinator,  Donna assist the our Facility Events Coordinator, Kristen Hughes, with all aspects of rental events here at the Garden. These events include weddings, corporate, non profit, holiday rentals and private events.    Kristen Hughes & Donna Reynolds act as the main points of contact for all rental clients and ensure they have great experience here at the Garden.  Last year the Garden hosted 420 events — 80 of which were weddings — so these women are experts at handling almost any request!  If you have questions about facility rental you can email Donna & Kristen at FacilityEvents [at] lewisginter [dot] org

I just recently gotten to know Donna myself, but I can tell she is enthusiastic about her job, and very eager to please — a huge asset when it comes to meeting the needs of a wide variety of clients.

A: I grew up in Chester. Since I grew up in the same place my entire life, I wanted to go out of state to college. I attended the University of South Carolina and majored in Sports and Entertainment Management. After having various internships around Richmond during my breaks, I decided Richmond is where I wanted to be.

A: I live in the heart of the Fan. I love being walking distance from so many of the great restaurants and museums Richmond has to offer.

Q: What did you do before you came here?

A: I worked for EastCoast Entertainment, an entertainment agency based out of Richmond, booking bands and entertainment for private and corporate events.

Before I started working here, I was fortunate enough to take a month off and travel around Argentina with a friend. We volunteered at an orphanage in Buenos Aires during the week and spent our weekends traveling to different regions of the country. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience!

A: I really enjoy meeting all of the new brides-to-be. It is so much fun to share in their excitement for their big day.  And of course, going to work every day in such a beautiful place is not a bad perk!

A: While I was an intern for the Richmond Braves, I had to dress up as the Diamond Duck! Somehow I do not think a 5’3 girl is that convincing as a mascot. I did however learn the official Diamond Duck signature and developed a new found appreciation for mascots.

A: One of my favorite things to do is check out new music around Richmond. Some of my favorite venues are The Camel, Balliceaux and of course The National. There is so much diversity in the Richmond music scene you can never get tired of it.