More Than Rentals: Suzanne Chandler Knows the Room
by Event Source | Blog, Inspiration
Meet Suzanne Chandler: Building Relationships and Events Across Michigan
Suzanne Chandler just might be the busiest woman in Detroit.
In between meetings with clients, I was able to sit down with Suzanne for a one-on-one conversation about the ever-evolving events industry and what it takes to keep up with it.
Suzanne has a way of connecting with the people who truly keep an event moving, not just the CEOs or executives, but the operations teams working behind the scenes. That ability was reflected even in the setting of our conversation.
Suzanne sat in a beautiful, unopened hotel bar that the staff had kindly allowed her to use for our meeting. A disco ball and chandelier hung in the background while a staff member brought her a cup of coffee, creating a scene that felt perfectly suited to someone who seems to charm everyone, everywhere she goes.
More than two decades of experience across event planning, nonprofit fundraising, marketing, client development, and event rentals have given Suzanne the ability to look at an event from nearly every angle. Combined with her firsthand knowledge of venues throughout Michigan and a commitment to meeting clients where they are, that experience allows her to anticipate details and potential challenges long before event day.
Building the Event Source Name in Michigan
Suzanne has been with Event Source for 13 years. When she began her journey with the company, Event Source had little to no market share in Michigan and was largely unknown outside of its home markets.
Market Managers like Suzanne were tasked with introducing the Event Source name to new audiences throughout the Midwest and building those relationships from the ground up.
A born-and-raised Michigander, Suzanne spoke about the area with obvious pride. She described Detroit as a city of ups and downs, but one that is constantly evolving and full of opportunity.
There is always something new to experience, a new event space opening, a restaurant to try, or a coffee shop to discover, and that continued growth has helped make Detroit an exciting market to be part of.
Seeing an Event from Every Angle
There isn’t one single thing that sets Suzanne apart from the pack, but rather a combination of her past professional experience, her willingness to travel to venues and learn their layouts firsthand, and her genuine enthusiasm for the events industry.
If I had to boil it down to one unique ability, it would be Suzanne’s ability to view an event from every angle. She understands how a space and an event function from the perspective of the event planner, operations manager, catering manager, market manager, and even the valet. That wide-ranging perspective allows her to anticipate needs, spot potential challenges, and understand how every moving piece contributes to the overall guest experience.
There aren’t many people in the event rental industry you can call who possess Suzanne’s particular kind of knowledge. She’s the person who can ask, off the top of her head, “Does that space still have the gray armchairs by the fireplace?”
She knows to remind an event planner in the dead of winter that people in Detroit are going to arrive wearing coats, or that the sofa a client requested for the second floor simply won’t fit in the venue’s elevator.
She may also be the one to point out that the parking lot won’t accommodate the guest list, which means valet service may be needed, and if there’s valet service, there must be stations set up for it.
Those seemingly small details can make or break an event, and Suzanne has spent years learning to see them before they become problems.
Experience From Every Side of the Events Industry
How does one obtain this level of knowledge? By spending years in the events industry in all forms.
Before joining Event Source, Suzanne built a career that touched nearly every side of the business, from planning VIP events and leading event departments to fundraising, special events, marketing, and client development. Each role gave her a different perspective on what it takes to bring an event together successfully.
Her time working in nonprofits taught her to pay close attention to the budget, identifying line items where costs can be reduced so money can be redirected elsewhere without compromising the overall event.
Her experience as an event planner also showed her where traditional rental partners were falling short. She saw a gap in the market when it came to in-person service. While many rental partners take orders from behind a desk and manage logistics from there, Suzanne built her approach around being present.
She stays on the road, visits venues, meets clients where they are, and learns the spaces firsthand. That hands-on approach has become one of her greatest strengths, allowing her to offer a level of insight and service that is difficult to replicate.
A 2026 ILEA Michigan Luminary
So it comes as little surprise that in 2026, Suzanne received Michigan’s Luminary Award at the ILEA Michigan SHINE Awards.
The Luminaary Award recognizes a seasoned event industry professional with six or more years of experience who has distinguished themselves through innovation, leadership, and mentorship.
Suzanne herself was surprised to win, having been nominated for other industry awards in the past but often coming home empty-handed. To anyone who has worked with Suzanne throughout her career, however, the honor felt well earned, a sentiment reflected in the standing ovation she received when her name was announced.
“Give Yourself Grace”
Ahead of our interview, I asked Suzanne to share the best piece of advice she had ever received. Her answer was simple: “Give yourself grace.”
When we sat down in person, I asked her to expand on what that meant. She explained that people in the events industry, and especially within a company like Event Source, tend to expect a lot from themselves professionally.
We are passionate about what we do, constantly thinking six or seven steps ahead, trying to know every detail of every project, and sometimes setting expectations for ourselves that are nearly impossible to meet.
For Suzanne, “give yourself grace” has become both a personal reminder and advice she hopes others can carry with them: don’t be so hard on yourself. You can care deeply about your work, strive to stay ahead, and still recognize that you are not going to get every detail right every time.
More Than Knowing the Rentals
After talking with Suzanne, it becomes clear that her expertise isn’t simply knowing which chair, linen, or glassware will look best in a room.
It’s knowing the room.
It’s knowing how the guests will arrive, where their coats will go, whether the elevator can accommodate the furniture, how the operations team will move through the space, and which questions need to be asked before anyone realizes they need to ask them.
That kind of knowledge isn’t learned from behind a desk. It is built over years of showing up, listening, learning, and caring enough to understand every side of an event.
And after 13 years of helping grow Event Source throughout Michigan, Suzanne is still out there doing exactly that.
Frequently Asked Questions
What products are you most excited about?
New glassware—particularly the Prestige collection.
What trends are you seeing in the events industry?
Suzanne is seeing increasingly intricate draping, including spandex loops, layered fabrics, and more sculptural drape installations.
How long has Suzanne Chandler been with Event Source?
Suzanne has been with Event Source for 13 years and has helped build the company’s presence and relationships throughout the Michigan market.
What is the ILEA Michigan Luminary Award?
The Luminary Award is presented through the ILEA Michigan SHINE Awards and recognizes a veteran events professional with at least six years of industry experience who demonstrates innovation, leadership, and mentorship.
What markets does Event Source serve?
Event Source serves clients throughout markets including Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, and Pittsburgh.
How can I contact Suzanne Chandler?
Clients interested in working with Suzanne can connect with her directly using the contact information below.