Over the last 30+ years, few of San Antonio’s most prestigious and substantial projects and events have not been touched by the expert hand of Janet Holliday. Janet embodies a rare combination of strategic vision, entrepreneurial spirit, tremendous leadership skills, and the “can-do” attitude that it takes to plan, position, promote and produce some of the most successful large-scale marketing events in San Antonio and around the world.
As a passionate businesswoman with decades of creative bravery, Janet has grown her company, The CE Group, to offer five core services of experience-based marketing expertise: events, destination management, communications, venue consulting, and creative. This depth and breadth of services, combined with the style, organizational skills, positive work ethic, and radical customer dedication that are the foundation of the company culture, has long positioned The CE Group as the leader in their industry.
Driven by a dedication to civic leadership, Janet and the CE Group have played a leading role in some of San Antonio’s most significant milestones and hallmarks, such as the grand openings of the Alamodome, San Antonio International Airport, The Witte Museum, The DoSeum, and The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge. Janet’s talent and creative resources have been a force in notable projects, such as San Antonio’s 300th Anniversary, Luminaria, Siclovia, the National Conference of State Legislatures, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center’s expansion and transformation,
NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Four, five San Antonio Spurs national championship parades and celebrations, and the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & Half Marathon. Janet’s ongoing relationship with Pearl Brewery has encompassed everything from venue consulting to small and large-scale event executions throughout the years. She has delivered countless campaigns and signature projects for leading Texan companies and organizations including the City of San Antonio, Frost Bank, Embrey, SouthStar Communities, Zachry Hospitality Group, Broadway Bank, the Spurs, and H-E-B. Janet is also a certified Destination Management Company Professional and an active member of the DMC Network. As San Antonio’s only Accredited Destination Management Company, the CE Group acted as project managers for the U.S. Travel Association’s IPW 2023, a conference of over 5,000 travel professionals from over 60 countries.
At the core of her unshakeable values are mentorship, stewardship, and leadership. Janet has ensured the CE Group is committed to diversity, community service, and supporting nonprofits through the CE Group’s Champions of Experience initiative. Her ability to find, lead, and keep the best talent has earned the CE Group a San Antonio Business Journal Best Places to Work 2022 Award. As a pillar of her community, Janet consistently encourages others to live healthy, happy, and eventfull lives. As President and CEO of the CE Group, Janet Holliday is a highly sought-after expert in events and marketing in Texas and throughout the country.
Here are my takeaways from the episode:
1. Success is about living a life of significance and value.
2. Creative Bravery is having the vulnerability to not always be perfect, to take risks, and to be ok to fail and find the freedom in that. Having the ability to ask for forgiveness and give the same to others.
3. Vulnerable Trust is a foundation for building a strong team.
4. Love what you do! If you love excel spreadsheets or accounting, go for it. Don’t give hours of life away to things that you don’t enjoy. And, Lean in with passion.
5. Make sure there are no woulda, coulda, shoulda’s in your life. Embrace not where you’re going, but stand on the road you are on and embrace the journey!!
