Today we’d like to introduce you to Dina Mendez
Hi Dina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Of course, I love sharing this story! To begin I have always been a creative and throughout high school I always wanted to be an event planner. I attended Florida International University, studying Communication Arts with a focus on Organizational Communication. I did not realize FIU had a hospitality program until my last 2 semesters when I was done with my requirements and needed to fill credits. Compared to my classmates I was going to graduate with zero experience in the field and started freaking out with graduation approaching. I spoke with one of my professors, Dan Cormany, who handed me a business card to a floral and event production company seeking interns. I took the position knowing it would get my foot in the door. At that job I met Jessica Masi of Masi Events and instantly knew I wanted to be like her. Through this floral and production company, I started putting into practice my calligraphy work, something that previous only lived in my notebooks.
Shortly after graduating, I reached out to Jessica for an opportunity to work with her alongside her husband Michael Masi as part of the Masi Events team. Soon after, I was hired as their first employee (it was a pinch me moment in my life)! Not only did I flourish and grew to be a Senior Event Coordinator, but the Masi’s knew of my calligraphy talents and encouraged me to start my business. I started calligraphy work back in 2017 and joined forces with Julie, my high school best friend, to launch Tinta Y Tierra.
I was an event planner by day and calligrapher by night. I balanced both my full time job and business learning so much with the Masi’s encouragement along the way. Unfortunately summer of 2020 due to Covid I made the difficult decision to step away from the industry (it came with the time), but I kept the door open with the Masi’s to coordinate the postponed weddings once the bans were lifted. I did not last long outside of the industry – I truly am in the field I belong. Shortly after I started freelancing with Julia Rhode Designs where I learned floral composition and production in depth. I took a break from the industry working at a skin care store while still freelancing on weekends with the Masi’s (so not really a break). By the end of 2022, I started freelancing with Helen of Ever After Design Studio. I had to brush up on my floral production skills, but working alongside Helen was absolutely amazing.
Towards the end of 2023 I stepped away from Tinta Y Tierra and all freelance work due to my father’s decline in health. After taking a break for personal reasons, I am now providing calligraphy services under my own name, Dina Mendez Studio while being the venue coordinator to Royal Mansion & Gardens – a new venue in the Redlands.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Yes and no. Event planning and coordination was definitely my calling, and being a curious person that enjoys absorbing knowledge helped me grow with both event planning and calligraphy work. I would say post Covid is when the road really got shaky. At this point I was just throwing spaghetti on the wall to see what stuck. Luckily through the great relationships I built with vendors while working with Masi Events, I did not have to look for work once I started freelancing – work always found it’s way to me. Even when I was uncertain about job stability, Jessica was always such a sound voice of reason and somehow I would land stable work. I do invite the challenging times because I know those are the moments that will teach me the most valuable lessons.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Dina Mendez Studio offers calligraphy services for event signage, specializing in pointed pen calligraphy. Although I was formally a part of Tinta Y Tierra, I kept a great relationship with Julie (we’ve ben friends for half our lives now) and value community over competition. There is so much room for everyone in this industry and I truly enjoy seeing everyone thriving creatively.
Being a former event planner, I am known for sharing my knowledge and providing tips to brides while connecting vendors together, especially during my freelancing days. I am most proud of my desire to collect skills like infinity stones; my skills become great building blocks for problem solving, allow me to be a great leader for my team, and be an asset to any team I am a part of.
Something I believe sets me apart from others is my infectiously positive attitude and sharp logistics (I thank Michael for this, he truly was such an incredible mentor with event logistics). I won’t lie, this industry is stressful – but it’s a stress I can tango with any day. I did not realize how well I married those two traits until I started freelancing again after a long break, I move so effortlessly with the two that I started questioning if my mind was on autopilot.
I am most proud of my perseverance. I reached out to Jessica seeking a mentor in my dream job and gained an immeasurably valuable relationship. I launched Tinta Y Tierra by my mom’s hospital bedside days before finding out she had cancer and still landed incredible jobs despite the hardship. I figured out a way to adapt during a time that was out of everyone’s control and worked alongside great teams that I dreamed of one day working with. I stepped away from my business due to my dad’s decline after a long cancer battle, knowing I was in no condition to give Tinta Y Tierra the attention it deserved. After months of not knowing what I was going to do, the industry reeled me back in with a refreshed love for what I do, and a reminder as to why I am in this industry that I breathe, bleed, and love whole heartedly. Through every chapter in my journey, I persevered.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
The coffee culture haha! As a Cuban/ Peruvian/ American, coffee is literally in my blood along with ceviche. I also love the diversity in Miami.
The traffic is definitely my least favorite, it’s one of the reasons I moved out of Brickell.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinamendezstudio
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DinaMendezStudio
Image Credits
The photos displayed are a collection of my work along with moments from my time with Masi Events, Tinta Y Tierra, and Petal Productions.
