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

Hi Sonia, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I pursued a creative career because design and hospitality have always been a part of my DNA. I come from a family of creatives where my mom was a cosmetologist and my aunts and cousins ran restaurants. Growing up, I was always a part of the performing arts as I participated in plays, set design and choreography. My educational background is in merchandising and interior design and I worked in the corporate world for several years. I held roles as an account manager, commercial account manager and a consultant designer for Hunter Douglas. After a couple of years, I decided to pursue my own business in order to be able to travel with my daughter who is a golfer. Due to the high demand in her schedule, I needed to be able to have freedom and flexibility in my role. Becoming a business owner made sense to me and staying in the creative field made even more sense. I had been successful at growing territories and maintaining client relationships, while never losing my love for design. I believe being creative is a true gift that should be shared with others. I enjoy meeting people and helping them creatively. So, to take a role or do something that didn’t involve creating would have gone against everything that I am. There is a lot of hard work and sacrifices, but the decision was a no brainer for me. Now that my daughter is in college, I decided to expand my business to include event planning and design. I was often asked by family, friends and previous clients to plan, design and execute their events, so adding this service to my brand was a great addition.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an Interior Designer/Event Planner and have been in the design field for over 15 years.  My business, Sonia Butler Events, works in developing branding, social, corporate and destination events. I am able to create and work locally in Atlanta, nationally and globally. There are many talented planners that work at their craft and master it well. What makes my work unique, eye-catching and innovative is my natural ability to connect with my clients. My connection comes from listening to their thoughts, dreams and vision. During the time that I spend with them, it allows me to focus on who they are, what they love about life and their emotional connections to their celebration. These are the things that will allow me to create a celebration that captures the essence of who they are and express it through design aesthetics. I am most proud of being on HGTV’s House Hunters where my client entrusted my vision for her home on national television. I got to where I am today through hard work, faith and consistency. It was not easy getting here, but it was definitely worth it. There were some challenges along the way, but I overcame the challenges through learning from mistakes, accountability, incorporating processes and clear communication. I believed in myself and my natural gifts enough to invest in myself through continued education, while immersing myself into the art, design and travel community. I would like the world to know that I am a mom, wife, sister and friend that enjoys life. Family means alot to me. I lost my dad at the age of 2 and once old enough to understand, it instilled a place in my heart to be present when in the presence of someone and listen to their story. My brand is an extension of who I am. My life and my brand are filled with love, dedication, and travel. I treat everything with care. I believe that luxury is the gift of ease and comfort.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my favorite spots in the city that I would take my best friend to would be mostly restaurants. I enjoy experiencing foods from different cultures. It allows me to experience worlds far away right in my hometown. Some of the local spots that I would take my friend would be Two Urban Licks, Rumi, The Battery, Painted Pin, Top Golf, The High Museum, The Beltline and Bar Taco. A few local spots on the southside are Brake Pad bar and grill and Bella restaurant. The rest of the time we would spend hanging out at home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband, daughter and son have been my biggest supporters throughout my journey. I truly appreciate the love and understanding that they have given me over the years. I would also like to express true gratitude for my business coach, Kathy Romero, of Kathy Romero Wedding and Events. She coached me through her Advantage program. She is more than a coach, she is truly a gem. Lastly, I would like to include my family, friends and clients who have supported me through encouragement, referrals and using my services to plan and design for their homes and special events.

Website: www.soniabutler.com

Instagram: @soniabutlerevents

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-butler-46ab0a2/

Facebook: soniabutlerevents

Other: www.pinterest.com/soniabutlerevents/

Image Credits
Hilton La romana Beach Setup

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.