Virginia entrepreneur Tortica Anderson’s business vision comes full circle amid darkest season of her life
Andre Johnson 
Then the LORD answered me and said, “Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. (Habakkuk 2:2 NASB)
GOD’S VISIONARY
In case you don’t know her, Tortica Anderson would like to introduce herself.
Widely known as a woman who’s armed with an immeasurable, progressive vision, Anderson is the proud founder and CEO of A Family Affair Event Management LLC, an awe-inspiring endeavor that has given way to her having possessed more than 18 years in her chosen profession.
A native of Triangle, Virginia — a small town near Quantico Marine Base — Anderson’s A Family Affair Event Management offers a vast array of services, most notably event planning and production, team building and event management.
Also known as a community outreach advocate, co-author, an aspiring motivational speaker, and philanthropist, Anderson has established a rather impressive track record in her featured profession, one that includes putting on bridal and fashion shows, fundraisers, conferences, galas, trade shows, networking events, as well as corporate and community outreach events — most notably, Warner Theatre, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Place, Hilton Mark Center, Morias Vineyard, Rosemont Manor, Greenock Manor, Effingham Manor Winery, and The Richmond Amtrak Station.
MORE ON ANDERSON’S AFA: https://www.familyaffaireventmanagement.com/
For Anderson, who currently resides in Stafford, Virginia, her rise to entrepreneurship success emerged amid humble beginnings.
“I lost my father in 1999,” Anderson told Making Headline News during a recent interview. “After his health had declined over the years, at that time, I thought that was the worst thing I had ever experienced. Little did I know, (I had no idea) what I was in store for (for me).”
Fast forward to 2005, Anderson had given birth to her daughter, Amiyah Shakyra.
During her pregnancy, in fact, Anderson had endured her share of difficulties, including complications from diabetes, all while savoring what she described as a thriving career while closing in on the age of 40.
“I carried my angel full term, but unfortunately, she was born stillborn,” said Anderson, recalling what unfolded on November 8, 2005. “My life, as I knew it changed that day.”
A year or so later, Anderson had given birth to another daughter, T’kiyah Serenity, whom she describes as a “smart, witty and compassionate little girl.”
“She is the calm to my storm and my renewed faith,” Anderson said her youngest daughter’s presence.
Anderson is the mother of, T’kiyah, 12, Reynaldo, 29, and the late Amiyah, all of whom she describes as “my biggest fans, considering they motivate me to continue to pursue my passion & happiness.”
Speaking of renewed faith, Anderson’s rise to becoming a successful businesswoman was essentially discovered some 18 years ago when a family friend offered her the opportunity to plan her “all-inclusive” wedding.
WALKING IN HER DESTINY
“The wedding was a success and exceeded their expectations,” Anderson recalled. “Within no time, what started as a hobby shortly became her vision.”
And the rest, as they say, was history.
Much to her credit, Anderson’s A Family Affair Event Management has evolved mightily in recent years and, to the delight of her clients, it has become a continuous success.
Interestingly, since Anderson’s business has gone into full operations, this Virginia-born entrepreneur has been afforded the luxury of serving as a lead coordinator for weddings, holiday parties, and a number of special events, especially when she wasn’t working her Corporate America gig.
In fact, it seemed that Anderson’s unexpected layoff from her job had ultimately become a blessing in disguise.
“I had grief from losing my dad and other close family members…the lost of Amiyah, a failed marriage due to grief, lack of communication and the lay off in 2010 during which at the time, my mother’s health declined and I became her primary care giver just months before the layoff,” Anderson said. “The layoff caused a financial burden, but I had to heal and rebuild. My mother was my priority and I still care for her today. Unwanted advances by two different clients promising award-winning opportunities made me revert into a shell, questioning myself and my abilities.”
“What seemed like bad timing was inevitably God’s timing as it had afforded me the opportunity to focus on cultivating AFA,” Anderson says with a victorious smile.
A little more than a decade removed from its inception, it is due in large to Anderson’s wealth of experience in her selected line of work that, in turn, has fueled her desire to press and navigate toward her destiny — with God, her Helper, steering the way.
“I formed A Family Affair Event Management LLC later that year, but getting into the industry was a struggle for me, but I was committed to being successful and happy,” Anderson said.
More than anything, achieving a sense of happiness, coupled with a renewed sense of faith was absolutely essential, particularly during Anderson’s fervent quest to garner entrepreneurship success.
Thank God she doesn’t mere look like what she’s been through.
“Before my father died in 1999, my brother, dad, and myself had plans to open a towing business. His health deteriorated quickly and he passed in August. My brother and I have an unbreakable bond, and the love for our father, so even though we were grieving, we were determined to continue our father’s legacy and opened the business in December of that year, as well as I had a commercial office cleaning business. Our bloodline is strong and our father taught us respect, loyalty to our family, diligence, morals, values, perseverance and honor. Entrepreneurship didn’t really start with the event planning. It was years before in 1998.” — Entrepreneur Tortica Anderson
“I was rebuilding, learning, healing and contemplating my next move to build my empire and a legacy for my children,” Anderson said. “I was committed to proving that I deserved a place in the industry.”
“Having an authentic heart can be mistaken for a weakness, so you always have to work twice as hard to prove yourself among your peers, colleagues and in the industry. I finally value myself and demand others to do so as well, but it took years to honestly feel this way. I am still learning, but I have accepted the challenge. There is a standard by which AFA operates, which took years to develop.”
So far, so good for Anderson, one of the event planning industry’s best kept secrets.
MAKING HEADLINE NEWS SALUTES TORTICA ANDERSON:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80Cilo588zE
For more information on Virginia Businesswoman Tortica Anderson of A Family Affair Event Management LLC, call 703.629.0840 or connect with her via Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/AFAeventmanagement/. Send email to: T4afamilyaffair@gmail.com.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to makingheadlinenews@gmail.com or to memphisgraduate@yahoo.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.
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