Episode Summary

In this episode of The Event Solutions Podcast, host Jorge Lopez sits down with Janel Murray, Associate Director of Events at the University of Redlands, to explore the behind-the-scenes world of event operations, logistics, accessibility, leadership, and the relationships that make successful events possible.

Janel shares her unconventional journey into the events industry, from working in commercial film and travel writing to special education advocacy, estate sales, and ultimately university event operations. Today, she wears many hats, overseeing the logistics behind events ranging from weddings and celebrations to large university programs involving thousands of attendees and dozens of locations.

The conversation takes a deeper look at the details that often go unnoticed when an event goes well. From accessibility and ADA considerations to parking, facilities, custodial services, catering, air conditioning, trash cans, and restroom capacity, Janel explains why successful events depend on thorough preparation and a willingness to think about the entire attendee experience.

Janel also discusses the importance of leadership, trust, and knowing when to step back. She shares lessons from mentors, including the value of hiring great people and giving them room to do their best work. She also explains how younger team members have become a source of perspective and accountability, reminding her to slow down, pause, and manage her energy when the pressure of an event starts to rise.

The episode closes with a powerful real-world example of resourcefulness. When structural damage suddenly made a major indoor venue unusable just days before a 1,000-person event, Janel relied on the relationships she had built across facilities, AV, grounds, and custodial teams to transform an outdoor space in less than two days. The result was not just a successful event, but a client who wanted to use the outdoor venue again the following year.

Key Takeaways

• The work people do not see is often what makes an event successful. Restrooms, trash cans, parking, air conditioning, accessibility, venue condition, and overall flow may not be glamorous, but they are critical to the attendee experience.
• Pre-production creates confidence. Janel approaches large events much like a filmmaker approaches a production. The more thoroughly the details are planned in advance, the smoother the execution becomes onsite.
• Accessibility should go beyond compliance. Meeting legal requirements is only the starting point. Janel emphasizes thinking about how to make an experience genuinely comfortable and accessible for everyone.
• Great leaders hire great people and get out of their way. One of Janel's most lasting lessons was to build a strong team, trust their abilities, and allow them to use their talents rather than micromanaging them.
• Relationships are an event professional's greatest resource. Janel's ability to respond to last-minute challenges comes from the trust and relationships she has built with facilities, AV, grounds, custodial teams, catering, and other departments.
• Managing energy is part of managing events. When people are under pressure, meeting them at the same level of intensity can make problems worse. Janel has learned to bring a calmer energy into difficult situations and help others reset.
• Your time has value. Janel stresses the importance of recognizing the difference between caring about your work and giving away excessive unpaid time. Strong boundaries help protect both event professionals and the teams they lead.
• Younger team members can teach experienced leaders too. Janel's student employees have learned to recognize when she is getting overwhelmed and help her pause, reset, and return to the event with a clearer perspective.
• Resourcefulness comes from knowing your resources. When a 1,000-person event suddenly had to move outdoors because of structural damage, Janel was able to mobilize the people and departments she trusted. The experience demonstrated how strong relationships can become the solution when plans change.

Guest Bio: Janel Murray

Janel Murray is an experienced event and operations professional currently serving as Associate Director of Events at the University of Redlands. Her career has included commercial film, travel writing and editing, special education advocacy, operations, and event management, giving her a uniquely broad perspective on planning, logistics, people, and experiences.

At the University of Redlands, Janel oversees the operational side of events across campus, working closely with facilities, custodial services, athletics, catering, grounds, AV, academic departments, students, and external clients. Her work spans large-scale university events, weddings, celebrations, conferences, and other experiences, with a particular focus on logistics, accessibility, safety, preparation, and execution.

Known for her passion, resourcefulness, and commitment to creating meaningful experiences, Janel believes in being curious, humble, and kind. She also brings a strong commitment to developing the next generation of event professionals through her work with student employees and coordinators.