Team Spotlight: Interview with Jessie Weitzer, The Millennium Alliance’s First Employee!

As the year comes to an end, we would like to take a moment to appreciate a familiar face who started as The Millennium Alliance’s very first employee and has been with the company ever since. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Jessie Weitzer, SVP of Executive Alliances, to get to know her a little bit more. Check out her interview to learn more about Jessie, her path to becoming Millennium’s first employee, and how the company has evolved since she first started.

Q: You were Millennium’s very first employee almost 6 years ago. Tell us how that came together and how you ended up with Millennium.

A: I had worked with Rob & Alex at a previous company. While on vacation with my family I got a facebook message from Alex:

Alex: Hey Jessie…hows it going?
Jessie: Hey! Things are going well. How are you doing? Happy Early New Year 
Alex: Doing good thanks. Happy New Year to you as well. Do you have anything planned?
Jessie: I am actually in Argentina right now, will be flying home tomorrow. How about you?
Alex: Lol that’s awesome. Are you able to chat on the phone really quickly?
Jessie: I actually have not had a phone since I got here. I will be back in NY Wednesday morning, so I can chat then. How does that sound? Is everything okay?
Alex: Sounds great. Yes, that works. Everything is great. I wanted to speak to you about something you might find exciting. Are you still with “anonymous company”?
Jessie: Yes I am, let’s chat on Wednesday. I will call your cell once I am back.
Alex: Ok perfect.
Jessie: Sounds good.
Alex: Great thanks. Have a nice trip back. Looking forward to chatting.

When I got back from vacation we met for coffee and he started telling me about the company he and his silent partner was starting. I was very intrigued and after that first meeting, I knew it was an opportunity that I had to pursue. The next step was meeting Alex in Hoboken and finding out who the “silent partner” was. I had a gut feeling it was Rob but on the drive from the path to Alex’s apartment in his Jeep Grand Cherokee I started thinking “what if it isn’t Rob?” Thankfully & luckily my gut was right.

 After that meeting, I was sold.

I met them at a Starbucks in Chelsea to go over, sign and officially accept the position. I quit my previous job and the next week we started meeting every day, working out of an apartment for a couple of weeks, then moved into a J Suite’s shared office space and the rest is history.

Q: How has the company evolved since it’s early days, growing from a small office with a few employees, to a large office on Park Avenue with nearly 100 employees?

A: Millennium started with 4 employees and that first year we put on 3 events. Currently, we are running 40 events, private bespoke client dinners, and have launched a very exciting digital platform for our members.

How is that possible? The answer is creating events that are exceptional, having the right employees in management positions, creating a culture & environment that is fun/enjoyable and allows people to thrive, prosper and want to work hard. Always sticking to the core roots of why this company was created; to create the best events in the industry.

Q: What distinguishes Millennium from other organizations you’ve been a part of?

A: I may be a little bit biased as I have seen Millennium grow from a startup to ranking on the Inc. 5000 list. Some distinguishing factors: Encouraging & wanting to keep innovating. Many companies would be content putting on the best events but not Millennium. We keep coming up with new ideas, strategies and different verticals such as dinner series, Innovator of the year awards, our digital diary, etc. Discussing any issues that may arise, addressing, avoiding and learning from them.

Q: What is your favorite travel or vacation spot and why?

A: Huge Miami/Caribbean lover. Beach is the one place I can relax and think about nothing. Suntan + Prosecco + sand + beach chair is my happy place.

Q: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us.

I am a very good skier & my favorite workout is kickboxing.