Anne Baker: She always has a plan

AAC PROFILE She always has a plan

New senior executive assistant/event manager brings diverse event planning experience to the association.

Story and Photo by Holland Doran AAC Communications Coordinator

From planning galas and weddings to organizing state, national and international conferences, Anne Baker has a knack for making any event memorable.

She’s bringing her event planning expertise to county government as AAC’s new senior executive assistant/event manager

Baker is excited to contribute to AAC’s mission and to manage events such as AAC’s annual conference.

“I hope to bring new ideas and a fresh perspective to my new role here at AAC,” she said. “I have learned so much throughout my career, and I know that all of those skills will be helpful in my position.”

Baker grew up wanting to be a teacher, but her dream was to plan weddings. Her dream became reality when she applied to be the social catering manager at The Peabody Hotel, formerly in Little Rock.

“I never thought that would happen, but I stumbled across a job at The Peabody Hotel, and my dream of helping people plan their special day came true,” she said. “I have enjoyed event planning ever since I started at The Peabody.”

During her seven years at the hotel planning hundreds of weddings, galas and events, she learned valuable lessons and skills she has used throughout her career, such as excellent customer service.

“While working there I also learned the important skills of owning your mistakes, being extremely organized, important communication skills and being a team player,” she said.

After working at The Peabody, she furthered her skills as senior coordinator of client services at the Angela Rogers Group.

“I learned a lot from Angela, and she definitely taught me everything I know about conference planning,” she said.

Baker planned conferences for state and

national associations that attracted anywhere from 500 to 2,500 attendees.

One of her significant accomplishments at Angela Rogers Group was planning a conference for a national association in Puerto Rico.

“I had never planned a conference overseas, and it brought a whole lot of unique challenges, but I definitely learned a lot from it,” she said. “You have to be extremely organized to pull that off, and our team at Angela Rogers Group nailed it.”

Before coming to AAC, Baker worked directly with the clerk of court at the U.S. District Court in Little Rock.

“The best part of my job at the court was that I helped plan the naturalization ceremonies for new U.S. citizens,” she said. “Those ceremonies always touched my heart.”

Working with a diverse group of people, Baker has absorbed many life lessons — kindness being one of the most important to her.

“If you are genuinely kind to people then I think you will go far in life,” she said. “I have a young daughter and that is the lesson that I am trying to already instill in her.”

Baker has already fit right in as a part of the AAC team.

“Everyone that I have met is so nice, and I feel like I am part of a great team of people,” she said. “I look forward to learning as much as I can, as fast as I can, so that I can be an integral part of this amazing organization.”

Baker was born in St. Louis but moved to Little Rock when she was 4. She graduated from Mount St. Mary’s Academy High School in Little Rock. She then graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Her husband of nine years, Freddie, also attended the university, but the two did not meet until after they moved to Little Rock following college. They have a 1-year-old daughter, Addison.

Baker loves spending time with family, crafting with her daughter, and traveling. Seagrove Beach, Fla. and Dallas are her favorite destinations.

More about Anne Baker

Family information: I have been married to my husband, Freddie, for nine years, and we have an 18-month-old daughter named Addison Marie. She is my everything. I was born in St. Louis, but my family moved to Little Rock in 1986.

My favorite meal: Probably Mexican. I feel like we make tacos or go to a Mexican restaurant at least once a week.

When I’m not working I’m: Spending quality time with my family or traveling. We love 30A in Florida and go once a year to recharge and relax. I also love reading but don’t find that I have much time to do that these days.

The accomplishments of which I am most proud: I am so proud of my husband and me for raising such a wonderful little girl. She is so very happy and kind, and that makes me so proud. She is the first one in her class to offer a hug to a friend and is the welcoming committee at her school. She is my greatest accomplishment by far.

The hardest thing I have ever done is: We had to put my Yorkie, Gus, down last year. He was my favorite little buddy. He fought for a year once he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, but we finally decided it was better for him to go to heaven … and I truly believe all dogs go to heaven.

At the top of my bucket list is to: I have been lucky to be able to travel around the world, but I have always wanted to go to Maine. I am a huge fan of fall, and I would love to see how pretty it is in the Northeast during that time of the year.

You might be surprised to learn that: I hate cleaning. I am a very organized person in all aspects of my life except for cleaning. I put it off as long as I can. I would love for my house to magically clean itself because there are too many other things I would rather do with that time.

My pet peeve is: When things are hole punched wrong. I always will make a copy of it and re-hole punch something if it is not lined up just right in a binder.

Motto or favorite quote: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” And, “Think and wonder, wonder and think.” Both by Dr. Seuss.