Client Executive, Wedding Planner, Entrepreneur
Name: Parker Coggins
Summers as a Camper: 8 summers
Years as a Staff Member/Positions held: 6 summers
Powerboating Ski UA (2 summers)
Senior-in-Charge (Camp 3/Powerboating)
Junior Counselor (2 summers; Camp 3/Powerboating)
First Session CILT
Current Profession:
Client Executive - Strategic Partnerships, Insight Global
Owner, Socially Spruced
Lead Wedding Planner, Alexandra Madison Weddings
Overview of career path and professional passions:
I was a hospitality management major at the University of South Carolina and always knew I wanted to be in event planning. I started working at country clubs and worked for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club for several years before transitioning into the wedding space at Alexandra Madison Weddings. Wedding planning has been a creative supplement to my full-time position at Insight Global working in staffing in a professional services firm. I’ve also always wanted to be an entrepreneur and dreamed up Socially Spruced, Your Party in a Box.
More about Socially Spruced:
I first launched with bachelorette party décor which was a natural fit because it’s the stage of life that I’m in. However, Socially Spruced can be customized for any sort of event as your social media-worthy display. We offer curated parties in a box by theme or boxes you can build yourself or completely customize. Boxes come with décor including banners, a balloon garland and specialty balloons, barware and accessories. The best part is the items are delivered directly to your doorstep or party venue, complete with all the necessary set up tools and an easy-to-follow guide, ensuring a seamless and memorable experience. With so much emphasis on having fun events with the perfect décor and social media aesthetic, I hope the business will really thrive.
What do you believe have been some of your greatest personal and professional accomplishments?
I’ve set the next chapter of my life as a time to focus on my individual success as a top priority. I’ve always wanted a role in "Corporate America," and I continue to involve myself in learning new skills in the sales industry. I’ve also always wanted to plan weddings for friends and have made that dream a reality. Goal three has been to start something of my own and it took me a while to figure out what that was going to be. I leaned into the stage of life that I’m in and what I love most: celebrating friends, finding a niche boxing up everything needed to execute a party and am hoping to spread the word to help others with this “all in one” shop instead of handling the hassle of multiple websites/deliveries. I think it’s an idea I can grow and scale the rest of my life and not be pigeonholed to a location or specific type of event since it’s online retail. My philosophy is if you’ve got a dream, why not go after it – my parents always ensured my brother and I we could do anything we put our minds to.
How do the values or skills you learned at Camp show up in your everyday work and/or personal life?
As a camper coming year after year, you learn how to stay curious and motivated moving through the rank system. I worked toward my Captain rank at Powerboating for years and I never actually got it. In the moment that feels like the worst possible thing after working so hard for so many years. But what I learned by not achieving that rank is probably one of the most valuable life lessons I’ve ever learned. You don’t have to actually “win” to find success and failure doesn’t define you – Camp teaches you this by giving us the opportunity to take risks and learn to implement feedback gracefully. There is always something to be learned and something to be thankful for.
As an entrepreneur, I love to celebrate women and their accomplishments. The mindset of bringing people together and lifting them up is what Camp teaches you that so many people haven’t had the opportunity to learn. Camp reinforces inclusivity that even when you’re celebrating your own success, there is the success of someone else right there next to you that you could be lifting up and sharing it with.
Is there a person or a situation that had a huge influence on you while you were at Camp? How and why did they/it impact you?
My best friends have been my best friends since I was 10-years old, and I have Camp Seafarer to thank for such a special bond. Coming to Camp, I thrived because there were so many nice people and I got to interact with people from different backgrounds, nobody judged me and there weren't phones or social media creating barriers. Camp has taught us how to stay in touch through every stage of life and grow with others. I learned how to be a friend when you’re not together consistently to people both near and far. I’m so thankful to have learned the value in that. Those same friends are now going after their dreams and supporting each other along the way and it’s something really special that started at Camp.
Favorite Camp food: Silver bowls. Not only were they delicious, but I loved how much hype energy it brought to the Mess Hall – such a unique experience to Camp.
All-time favorite skit memory: As a UA, I was to be the Fireball Man during a Skit announcing the Fireball Carnival. As someone who is 5’3” getting into that costume was hilarious, especially on a hot summer day.
Favorite Camp event: Of course, being the Ski UA on Powerboating, I have to say the Ski Show! I love that it is a time to honor the skills and accomplishments of so many campers and celebrated alongside Camp Sea Gull. My brother, Cole Coggins, shares my passion for Water Skiing and because he was a member of the Ski Team (as a camper) and a Powerboating Ski Staff Member, we were always together during the event which made it even more special!
Devotion you best remember from Camp: The toothpaste devotional is classic. It has always stuck with me through all my years as a camper and on staff because of Maya Angelou’s quote, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
What three words best describe you? Energetic, passionate and intentional. I am forever grateful to Camp Seafarer for influencing the person I am today and will continue to drive my character in stages of life to come.
