Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Rouffe.
Hi Heather, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my career working in non-profit organizations and quickly fell in love with the event planning side. After leaving the non-profit sector, I was selling ad space and one day sold an ad to the owner of Atlas Event Rental. By an act of fate, it turned out she knew a family member of mine who told her I was looking for a new career. The next day I received a call with a job offer. I began my career with Atlas over 15 years ago in inside sales and then became their first outside sales representative. I worked my way up to Director of Sales, and then in 2012, I became a partner. Today I am a managing partner, lead the sales team as well as work in sales myself. I also love sourcing new items and fabrics to add to our inventory.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I started working at Atlas, we were operating from a small trailer. Today our offices span three counties in South Florida, with our main hub being a showroom attached to a 44,000 square foot warehouse in Palm Beach County, plus two additional satellite showrooms located in Miami and on the Treasure Coast. Over the years, I have experienced many growing pains- tough clients, bad hiring decisions, the works. All those experiences have gotten me to where I am today, and I am very proud of it.
We’ve been impressed with Atlas Event Rental, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a partner in Atlas Event Rental, which is a high-end, full-service event rental company. Atlas has been family-owned and operated for over 30 years and our extensive inventory includes everything you need to throw an incredible event, big or small. Atlas carries dance floors, staging, bars, catering equipment, tables, chairs, linens, napkins, and tabletop items like glassware, china, flatware, charger plates, and more. We have an in-house sewing team who makes all our linens, napkins, and custom pieces, and we are consistently bringing in new inventory. What sets Atlas apart from other rental companies is our quality, our customer service, and the relationships we build with our clients. I am proud to say we have been a part of many high-caliber events such as celebrity weddings, Presidential debates, the Super Bowl, and Art Basel, to name a few. What sets me apart from others is my passion for design, my hands-on approach to business, and my love of sharing what I have learned. I love being a mentor to my clients in the event industry, helping them grow and incorporate rentals into their businesses as an additional income stream. I am most proud of Atlas being named one of the Top 30 Rental Companies by The Special Event two years in a row, and in 2021 I will be an Ambassador for The Special Event and Catersource trade show.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Between work and spending time with my kids, I do not often find the time to read or listen to podcasts. I do however, love to talk, and I have enjoyed speaking engagements and being interviewed on several podcasts in recent years. I love talking to new people and getting to share my story and learn along with them.
Contact Info:
- Email: heather@atlaseventrental.com
- Website: www.atlaseventrental.com
- Instagram: @heatherrouffe, @atlaseventrental
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atlaseventrental
- Other: https://www.atlaseventrental.com/tableswelove/
Image Credits
Heather in red jacket- Krystal Zaskey Photography
Heather in black outfit next to white table – Krystal Zaskey Photography
Atlas Event Rental Showroom- Matea Michelangeli
All other images: in-house photographer. Credit Atlas Event Rental
