Charleston Business Magazine
“Caldwell founded KLH Group, an event production firm specializing in social impact within the luxury event market, in 2015. To date, KLH Group and its clients have impacted more than 250,000 kids’ lives and a global impact of more than 230,000 meals for children in developing countries. The company’s profits have grown by 200 percent over the past five years, but her nominator, Victoria Hill of KLH Group, says even those impressive numbers don’t do Caldwell justice. She calls Caldwell a trailblazer, and says she consistently supports her employees as well as entrepreneurs looking for advice.
After eight years working on luxury events at five-star properties, Caldwell went on a mission trip that changed the trajectory of her career. After returning from Uganda ,she still loved event production and destination management services, but felt conflicted about the opulence of the industry. Marrying her passions for sustainable community service and event production resulted in the creation of KLH Group. Projects include building clubhouses for pediatric cancer patients, designing dog houses for veteran service dogs, filling meals for disaster relief and developing mentorship programs for underserved children.
In addition to running a company, she is a thought leader on implementing corporate social responsibility with clients, and is a published author and speaker. She co-produces an annual event with NEEDTOBREATHE benefitting One World Health, raising more than $250,000 per year for sustainable clinics in developing countries, and she worked with many Fortune 500 companies, including Wells Fargo and Newell Brands,, as well as organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
What is your favorite book that you would recommend reading?
Besides the Bible, I’d suggest Dave Ramsey’s “EntreLeadership” and Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich.”
Who was your most influential mentor?
Thankfully, I have had a handful of people I’ve looked up to throughout my life. At Johnson & Wales University, my travel and tourism professor Christopher Desessa guided me into the hospitality industry. Post-college, I had an opportunity to work on a program for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. My contact with the foundation was instrumental in my growth during that time. My good friend and mentor, Sharon Martin, played an integral part of my confidence building. And present day, the women in my mastermind group help shape my daily path with their wisdom- especially my great friend Hilary Johnson, founder & CEO of Hatch Tribe.
What advice would you give a young woman who is interested in starting a career in your field?
1) Look for a company whose values you share. The event industry can be pretty robust, with a lot of different personalities. Get your feet wet with different styles of companies, but ultimately be on the lookout for an owner or mentor who shares your values and passions.
2) Be Persistent. If someone does not respond to your request for coffee or return your phone call for an interview - be persistent. Think outside the box. Where does he/she get coffee? Resourcefulness is the best quality someone can have in this industry.
3) Be ready to wear A LOT of hats. No day is EVER the same in the event industry, so you must be willing to be everything to everyone on “game day” to get the job done.
4) Fail Fast. Keep trying new things, but if you’re going to fail, make it quick and get back on the horse. This industry is all about innovation and shiny objects, do don’t be scared to get out and try.”