We had the good fortune of connecting with Judith Warren and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Judith, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I have never been a risk taker. I was 50 years old when I started this business.   I had worked as an appreciated, but underpaid accountant for years, My degree was in accounting/business. I was quite afraid to lose money or the property that my siblings and I had inherited from my grandparents. For a solid year I spent going over every detail of this new hospitality business. Budgets were drawn for every scenario. Family members demanded that all loans be paid off in 8 years. My budget included a loan for enough cash to last a year with no inflow of revenues. I presented all of my financial plans and promised to pay off the $800,000 mortgage for the building in 8 years. We voted to proceed with my plans, but it was not unanimous. It was rough to be in a dispute with family.

I kept my “day job” while the construction was underway. Construction was tough, too. The contractor put my project on his back burner. Everything was very hard work, but where there is a will, there is a way.

We have been open for business for 27 years and survived  all national financial crises from 1996 t0 2023 and also have experienced most every possible event mishap. We have learned how to handle everything with aplomb.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Vecoma at the Yellow River is a special events venue which is secluded in a 70 acre riverside forest inside Metro Atlanta. Vecoma’s events are magical.  In every season the forest and river provide a dreamy vision. Even before we opened in October 1996 (Atlanta Olympic’s year),  I was selling events like crazy.

Most of our business is on the weekends with Weddings, but we handle every type of special occasion, Corporate meetings and picnics, Memorial Services, Anniversaries. Graduations, Holiday parties, Sweet Sixteens, Bar Mitzvahs and others.

 We can make wedding/party  planning easy as we can also be a ‘One-Stop’ shop for everything. Our chefs and banquet manager have been with us over 20 years. Now we’ve added their young nieces and nephew to our staff

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

When every friend comes to Atlanta, I  suggest that our out of town guests spend time in our   Evermore Community.  It’s  lovely and a very safe place with many happy spots.evermorecid.org

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My cousin, Susan Camuso is the most beautiful person. She and my children were supportive of my new business through all the tough times of starting a business. Another cousin Bob Hagan loaned me the seed money. You see all my cousins loved the riverside property where I built the Event Venue. When we were kids, we all learned to swim there. All our family reunions were there on my grandmother’s 70 acre cotton farm.

Website: www.vecoma1.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vecomaweddings/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vecomaweddings/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vecomaweddings

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vecomaweddings/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/vecoma-at-the-yellow-river-snellville

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/vecoma4444

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/vecoma/

Image Credits
my cellphone “selfie” Got permission from people in photo

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.