Community Guide 2021

Page 6

Creating Community

ZEMZ Events helped others pivot during the pandemic

“We had started doing – overnight – virtual events and she was extremely helpful with my office,” Jones said. “She pivoted her business overnight.” Ellie Goldstein, one of Stewart’s clients, said it was not just Yahya’s BY PAUL LARA plara@insidenova.com knowledge of MORE INFORMATION event manageahaira Stewart has a knack for creating communi» Visit zemzevents.com ment that drew ty. Better known to friends as Yahya, Stewart, who her in; it was hails from “the west side” of Manassas, has been something more coordinating gatherings since 2006, when she owned a intimate. company called REC Productions. “She sets up vendor events – which is great – but she Much of her focus then was on planning splashy events goes beyond and introduces you to other incredible and club life at signature Washington establishments. business owners in the area,” Goldstein said. “I’ve made In 2008, a motorcycle accident forced her to reassess so many incredible connections through that.” her life. Goldstein, an oncology nurse who lives in Vienna, no“I had children, yet I’m living like I’m single with no worries,” Stewart said. ticed that many of her recovering chemotherapy patients After a hiatus, she picked up event planning in 2016. were getting amazing results with some skin care prod“Event planning was my passion, and I enjoyed making ucts, and she started selling those, which then led to her Yahya Stewart, owner of ZEMZ Events and More, shows off her teaching her peers how to use social media. But Stewart people happy. It started with weddings and birthdays, 2021 award from the Prince William Chamber of Commerce. and then I pivoted when I realized I was helping other helped her connect with a larger community. ZEMZ Events was named the top emerging business of the year. PROVIDED business owners showcase products to the community.” “She’s one of those people that are less about her As a small-business owner herself, she realized she agenda and more about the people that come to her didn’t want to go to Alexandria or Washington. “I want- of Commerce. She knew how to set up virtual spaces, for help,” Goldstein said. “Yahyah has connected me to a lot of people who needed a lot of coaching. I don’t and the chamber helped get her name out there. ed to do what I did in my backyard, and I saw the need know what it is about her, but she’s so forward about “Had I not had the chamber backing me, it wouldn’t for event vendor showcases here.” ‘let’s all help each other,’ and I’ve watched her grow In 2018, she had her first community event in Manas- have happened,” she said. because of that. She collaborated with people and lifted Her virtual platform mimicked a live vendor showsas. Her outreach was so successful that Stewart said her them up.” entire next year would be booked by August – and then case, and each vendor got a suite with a gallery. Angela Schwartz, a yoga teacher in Bristow, could the pandemic arrived. Debbie Jones, president of the Prince William ChamCOVID-19 caused a need to pivot – and quickly. ber, said she was impressed with Stewart’s ability to turn ZEMZ PAGE 7 Stewart said her savior was the Prince William Chamber on a dime.

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COMMUNITY GUIDE • SEPTEMBER 2021


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