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Jan 30, 2025

Join Dr. Connie for a joyous kickoff to Season 10 of House Calls! In this milestone episode, she welcomes seasoned event planners Donna Allen and Nicole Lessard from Destination Managers for an enlightening discussion about the surprising wellness benefits of social gatherings. Discover how throwing and attending parties can boost your mental health, enhance your social connections, and improve your overall well-being.

Whether you're an introvert or extrovert, this episode offers valuable perspectives on making social gatherings work for your lifestyle. Start your year right with practical advice from industry veterans who understand the art of bringing people together.

Don't miss this uplifting conversation that perfectly blends health wisdom with party planning expertise. Tune in to learn why your social calendar might be just what the doctor ordered!

 

The Destination Manager is a women-owned and operated, full-service destination management company based in Scottsdale. For 25 years, The Destination Manager has created extraordinary moments + memories for clients throughout Arizona. From a secret event space for an intimate gathering to managing logistics for 3,000+ guests, they are your trusted go-to for any + all Arizona destination planning + event needs.

 

Donna Allen, DMCP – Donna is an Art Institute of Phoenix alum whose role at The Destination Manager (TDM, for short) incepted, initially, as a creative experiment to internalize the process of event design in an era of outsourcing. Donna parlayed her technical education in interior design into the realm of event design, successfully building a team of creatives to refine TDM’s signature “organic design” approach. Now as the Creative Director and Co-President, Donna’s legacy as a creative powerhouse has laid the foundation and built the systems for strategic, form and function design.

Nicole Lessard, DMCP – Originally from Massachusetts, Nicole was a meeting planner in Boston before moving to Scottsdale in search of sunshine and blue skies. She joined The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, where she continued to develop her interest for the hospitality industry, specifically in a high-end, luxury capacity. In December of 2009, Nicole joined The Destination Manager as an Operations Manager and subsequently, as the Director of Operations. Fifteen years later, she is the Managing Director and Co-President of the company.

 

(DMCP is Destination Management Certified Professional – a designation awarded by the Association of Destination Management Executives International to individuals who have demonstrated the highest knowledge of best practices. There are 11 DMCPs in all of Arizona – 8 of whom work at The Destination Manager.)