Kim King Smith created an entrepreneurial path early in life, which has inspired her to achieve unique results in helping others.

"I fell in love with event planning in the third grade. I went to a small school in Gosport, Indiana (about 15 miles west of Bloomington) where we had a teacher who was the life of the party. We had several artistic and creative students in our class. One of the students, Roger Moore, took dancing lessons with me for years. He could sing, dance and act and went on to Hollywood where he received an actor's card. His career was prominent during the 1970s and 1980s. Each Friday, we were able to have a party and a play as a reward for doing all of our schoolwork. When we put on the play and party, I planned it by calling parents and asking them to bring Kool-Aid, decorations and cupcakes. Imagine an eight year old calling you and asking you to contribute to the party. Well, they loved it and wanted to attend, too," she recalled.

"There were about 550 people in my hometown of Gosport. The elementary and high schools there were connected together. I loved sales and 'working.' I first began by helping a local philanthropic sorority, Kappa Kappa Sigma, sell pecans door to door and then I had lemonade stands in the summer. At age 10, I had a Crossroads Carnival to benefit Crossroads Rehabilitation Center. When I was 11, I had two paper routes, the Indianapolis News and the Spencer Evening World. One was mine and I shared one with my brother. I went door-to-door selling subscriptions to the Indianapolis News (my route) and later that summer won a statewide award for selling the most. I loved having my own business and serving customers," Ms. King-Smith explained. "Our little town produced many hard working and successful individuals. I am very proud of all of them. One that has contributed worldwide is Dr. John Brown who lives near Broad Ripple and did the first pediatric heart transplant at Riley Children's Hospital," she added.

Planning these events was just the beginning of her early accomplishments. "An Indianapolis radio station had a contest to promote local high schools and school spirit where the winner would receive a DJ for a dance and celebration. They wanted contestants to write in and compete to have an event for their high school. I wrote in and won it for my school (Owen Valley High School) when I was about 15 or 16 years old. It was a great event and I later became a high school correspondent for the radio station. Another event was The Gosport Lazy Days Festival, an annual event that needed a larger draw of attendance and entertainment. At 17, I decided to have a talent show (that was a spin-off from the old Gong Show). The talent show is still going strong and is an annual feature," she noted.

"I loved helping with events in college at Indiana University and helped my sorority Alpha Omicron Pi in any way I could. After college, I taught school a few years and was cheerleader, pompom and junior class sponsor planning fund raising events and the prom. Later, I managed my husband's dental practice for several years and learned how to coordinate multiple appointments, schedules, invoicing, marketing, vast communication skills and supporting the public," Ms. King Smith recollected.

She graduated with a BS and MS in English Education from IU, where her husband, Mark W. Smith, D.D.S., graduated from the School of Dentistry and her son, Derrick Smith and daughter, Courtney Smith, also graduated. She was the IU FIJI Mom's Club President and helped plan events for three years for the fraternity plus assisting with the Chi Omega Mom's Weekend Auction.

"I've always loved planning events and helping people when they are in need of assistance for a non-profit, social or community event. I love helping them make that event special. My small town/rural work ethic has always made me work really hard and try to do everything possible to make events successful. I started helping with community and non-profit events as a volunteer. People attended these events and liked them. From there I produced more and was hooked!" she said.

A physician office visit changed her life. "One day, I went for my routine mammogram and was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was devastated and thought life had ended. Little did I know this diagnosis would be a huge blessing. It opened up my eyes and made me a lot more sensitive and compassionate toward other people and their families with this challenge and other life challenges. I used to be afraid of cancer and now I will hit it head on!" she emphasized.

Ms. King Smith went through treatment and has been in remission for several years. With a second chance at life, she knew it was time to pursue her secret lifelong dream to begin her event management and bridal consulting business, Kim King Smith Events. Changing from being a volunteer to running a business, she was fearful that the many groups that had had her as a volunteer wouldn't consider her as a professional. Her fears were diminished and business began.

Some of the many events Ms. King Smith has done include: the Holiday of Lights that sold over 25,000 luminaries with horse drawn carriages and Dickens style decor and entertainment in Edinburgh where the event was promoted on the Today Show, IU Coach Terry Hoeppner Cancer Challenge for the Simon Cancer Center, Suite Dreams Gala, Little Red Door Agency, FFA, school fundraising, corporate meetings and events, garden and antique shows, talent shows, queen pageants, fraternity and sorority parties, plus Mom and Dad's Weekends, proms and more.

Ms. King Smith's bridal consulting business consumes a large part of her business where she has been named Best Wedding Planner by the Indy Channel A List four years in a row, the past two years as Martha Stewart's Wedding Wire Bride's Choice Wedding Planner and Indiana's only Accredited Bridal Consultant. She is also a Women's Business Enterprise named by the State of Indiana.

The visit to her physician was a major turning point. "From the cancer diagnosis, it transformed and changed my life. I've worked at events for Susan G. Komen and volunteered for The Little Red Door Agency. I had lemons and made lemonade. It has actually been a blessing. I've loved helping people and seeing things come to fruition. It led me into another direction in my life and allowed me to help others with important times in their lives," she surmised.

She decided to move her business into Broad Ripple in May of 2010. "I love being in Broad Ripple. It's a hub of creativity and activity. Broad Ripple is the closest thing to my heart next to Kirkwood Avenue in Bloomington. When I hit the pavement there (in Broad Ripple), I'm filled with energy," Ms. King Smith noted.

She would later make another studio move, but continue achieving great results in a challenging business environment. "As our business grew it was easier for me to have a design studio in a loft studio in my home," she mentioned. "I hated moving out of Broad Ripple, but am here at least once a week. I work with many of the locals on weddings and events, plus have many clients in the area. Broad Ripple is just the best!" she added.

Her career has been very gratifying organizing a diversity of events. "Working with my many events and wedding clients has been very rewarding and I love each of the weddings I've done. It's a gift that I am honored to receive in being part of a family's best moments in life," she said.

Her small town work ethnic and genuine interest in helping people have been a key in her successful career in giving back to through the coordination and planning of special events and weddings. "I contribute a lot [of my success] to my small town upbringing and the many people that helped me along the way. The roots and the strength of a strong neighborhood and friends really make a difference, much like Broad Ripple and the vicinity," Ms. King Smith concluded.

You can request a complimentary bridal consulting or event planning quote by e-mailing: info@kimkingsmithevents.com or by calling (317) 512-0172. Kim King Smith Events also plans galas, corporate events, anniversaries, birthdays, bar/bat mitzvahs, formal dances, graduations, holiday and tailgate parties, medical and dental professional office open houses and Sandals Honeymoons and vacations, too. Her website, www.kimkingsmithevents.com, contains more information.

Kim King Smith has been an inspiring entrepreneur as she has made a difference in people's lives. She can help you plan that special event or wedding while creating memories that last a lifetime.