About LaJoy Plans

MELVA LAJOY LEGRAND, CMP, DES, CEO AND FOUNDER

With over 20 years of experience in the Live Events Industry, Melva LaJoy Legrand — Founder and CEO of LaJoy Plans —has established herself as one of the leading event planners in the U.S. Producing events in almost every major city in the country, for audiences ranging in number from 10 to 60,000. Melva is a 2022 Global Events Industry Council Award Winner, and has been recognized by BizBash magazine as a Top 500 Event Planner.

Melva started LaJoy Plans to deliver high-quality, stellar services to mission-focused organizations. Coordinating events for budgets in excess of $1M/day, notable attendees include gospel legend Yolanda Adams, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Inaugural National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda C. Gorman, and World Bank President David Malpass, among others.

A graduate of both Howard and Columbia University, Melva is the recipient of several awards involving her event planning successes, but her greatest achievement is being one of the first women to receive the Alice J. Paul Award presented by the American University’s Women & Politics Institute. Recognized for her work in designing a community rally to support college-aged survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, she was one of four inaugural recipients to receive the prestigious award. Recently elected as a board member for the newly created Live Events Coalition—a non-profit organization launched in response to COVID-19—Melva is the organization’s Education Co-Chair, responsible for designing all of the educational experiences for its over 1,500 members. 

Outside of her professional realm, Melva is known for her love of people, high energy, culinary event experiences, unique laugh, creativity, and tenacious work ethic. When not planning events, she can be found in the boxing ring, spending time with her parents, or enjoying trips with her beloved Emmanuel.

SAM JACKSON, MANAGER OF EVENTS

Samentha “Sam” Jackson’s love for creating events has always been part of her personality. At a very young age, Sam was the one always planning family events, and this remains the same to this day! Sam’s design aesthetic is influenced by her Haitian background, modeling career, and tenure as Mrs. Navy Yard for the Mrs. America Pageant. To expand her skill set, Sam received her certifications in International Events, Wedding Planning, and Special Events in 2015. Also, Sam was a pioneer in the social media world by being one of the first to produce “live” video journalism before it was an available feature. A published author and public speaker, Sam shares about her personal and professional journey in order to help and inspire others. When Sam is not planning or writing her next book, she is reading, meditating, exercising, gaining new experiences, and enjoying a mindful life with her beautifully big family.