By Aleasha Sandley, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
PENDLETON — In October, event planner Dennis Ashley got the word that he would be tasked with his biggest assignment yet.
At the same time, he was told he would have 12 days to get it done.
Ashley, who runs Pendleton event planning business D Ashley Design+Events, had to gather his resources to plan the events and accommodations surrounding last month’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” house build in Miami County. The build included hundreds of volunteers, builders, spectators and the cast and crew of the popular ABC show, all of whom used the accommodations provided by Ashley’s company.
“It happened very quickly,” Ashley said. “There was no lead time into this event. I had 12 days from my first meeting to what we call strike day, the day when everything had to be up and running.
“This event was my biggest challenge to date.”
Everything that had to be done included a 24-hour catering tent used by volunteers and construction workers and a VIP tent that had to be decorated and maintained. A spectator tent sponsored by Anderson University also was organized by Ashley and volunteers and acted as a safe haven from the rain that dampened the build site.
The seven-day build also boasted smaller events, including AU’s Family Day, which offered circus clowns, face painting, balloons, poster-making and food vendors to children and families.
At the end of the long week, D Ashley Design+Events had planned a wrap party for 500 volunteers and cast and crew members from the show. The party featured local singer Casey Jamerson.
The week was long for Ashley, but the pay-off was big. An ABC representative told Ashley his company’s hospitality and management of the project was within the top five best during the show’s 164-episode run. More than that, Ashley said, was the rewarding feeling that came from helping Miami County’s Cowan-Brown family, which received the house built during the episode.
“In hindsight, the preparation, the long hours, the poor weather, the lack of sleep, it doesn’t outweigh what I like to call God moments that I had all week long,” Ashley said. “It was heartbreaking at times. It was joyful, it was stressful, it was fun. I’ve gained partnerships within the event industry that will benefit and be an advantage for our company.”
Ashley’s “God moments” include when one of the company’s sewing machines broke while volunteers were trying to sew draperies on-site for the VIP tent. A local woman retrieved her own sewing machine and pitched in.
“She jumped right in and sewed for two hours and was just thrilled that she was able to help in her way,” Ashley said.
Another “God moment” occurred when Ashley’s volunteers were running out of straw to put on the muddy ground where spectators and volunteers were watching and working. After a couple phone calls and radio announcements, local farmers donated more than 1,000 bales of straw.
Ashley said his mission with the project was to gain experience and help him grow his company, which has been part of Pendleton flower shop The Flower Cart for years. A year ago, D Ashley Design+Events evolved out of The Flower Cart, where it still operates.
“That week was not about my company,” Ashley said. “It was about the people who volunteered to help someone else. I would absolutely do it again.”
Contact Aleasha Sandley: 640-4805, aleasha.sandley@heraldbulletin.com.
