“MEET THE TEAM”
Left to Right: Valerie Nygren, Gilbert Valdivia, Andi Lipton, Carlyn Gilbert and Devin Seckfort.
“ANDI LIPTON
FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT”
Andi moved from Miami to New York City to attend New York University and after graduating, set out to fulfill her passion for event planning. She began her career at Sports Illustrated where she took part in the organization of the annual swimsuit party, in addition to multiple city-wide events. After some time with the company, she was offered a position at Condé Nast. It was here that she took part in an abundance of high-end projects ranging from the multimillion dollar FashionRocks, to charity foundation events and numerous fashion shows. She blossomed in this high-end fashion world and gained an immense infatuation for classic and stylish parties.
In 2006, she returned home to Miami and brought the experience she gained in that fast-paced environment back to South Florida. Upon her return, she worked for both a local catering company and the prestigious Biltmore Hotel. In June of 2008 she opened and founded ANJE Soirées and in June of 2019 changed the name to ANDI Soirées.
Andi’s focus with the company is planning and executing all weddings, social and corporate events. She loves the relationships she forms with her clients and thrives on assisting them make their events as personalized and exceptional as possible. She works efficiently and is incredibly dedicated to making sure each event is a reflection of her clients’ personalities, relationship, and style. She is honored to be a founding partner and the owner of the amazing ANDI Soirées team!
“CARLYN GILBERT
EVENT MANAGER”
Carlyn honed her event management skills in the non-profit and arts world by coordinating festivals and high-profile events for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Florida Grand Opera, Miami International Film Festival, and Miami Art Museum. Her cool, calm and collected attitude allows her to manage a multitude of details without breaking a sweat. She shines and is fearless when working under pressure. Carlyn thrives on the unpredictability and endless change found in the events industry. As a self-proclaimed “people pleaser,” Carlyn’s clients enjoy having her on-site and appreciate her willingness to do whatever it takes. When asked what the best part of her job is, Carlyn replies without hesitation, “Seeing an event come to fruition and knowing that I played a key role in its success. There is nothing better than receiving gratitude from a happy client.” Carlyn is a Miami native and with years of corporate event planning experience under her belt, joined the ANDI Soirées team in 2008. She is a loving wife and mother of two and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas.
“ALE GOODWIN
EVENT MANAGER”
After graduating from the University of Central Florida, our sweet Ale headed abroad and lived in Malaysia for 3 years helping people find their passions as part of the Mindvalley team. Returning to the states, she found her own passion in the fast-paced world of events by crafting memories for others that will last for years to come. Alejandra gained experience in both corporate and social settings at a luxury hotel in Palm Beach before spending her weekends with the ANDI Soirées team. She has found success in her role with the company by building strong friendships with clients and vendors alike, while approaching events with a creative approach to ensure our clients’ vision always remains a top priority.
“DEVIN SECKFORT
EVENT MANAGER”
Originally from Saint Louis, Missouri, Devin came to Miami fresh out of college from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in Hospitality Management with an emphasis in conference and event planning. Having spent most of his college experience working in hospitality related jobs and interning with a wedding planner, he wanted the "real" experience of large scale events in both weddings and corporate events. This led him to work for a luxury catering company for three years learning all the ins and outs of event production, including food, venue, lighting, and florals. Wanting to be more involved with his events Devin decided to step out from behind his computer and jumped into event execution with ANDI Soirées. He now uses his knowledge and quick thinking to assist his clients on the day of their wedding or event and deliver a perfection every time.
“GILBERT VALDIVIA
EVENT ASSISTANT”
Gilbert Valdivia has thirty years of experience in the hospitality business, both in South Florida and in other parts of the United States. He has worked in the airline, cruise, and restaurant industries and has acquired an excellent working knowledge of the internal operations and management of these businesses. Throughout his career, Gilbert has been deeply involved in logistics and event planning, from small dinners to major functions. His outgoing personality and ability to make people smile has made him a huge asset for ANDI Soirées. He has established himself as one of the premier individuals in hospitality in Miami and is well known throughout South Florida for his ability to make clients feel at home and for meeting their every need.
“VALERIE NYGREN
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT & EVENT MANAGER”
Valerie, a native of Connecticut, had dreamed of moving to a big city all her life. While visiting Miami, she instantly fell in love with the fun atmosphere and, of course, the weather. Valerie chose to attend the University of Miami and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations. Although she has experience with public relations in both the sports and entertainment industries, she realized that event planning was her true calling. Valerie began working with ANDI Soirées in 2012. She has since been involved in the planning and execution of various events throughout South Florida. Valerie is detail-oriented and thrives under pressure. She truly enjoys interacting with clients and ensuring that each event runs smoothly. Valerie loves being a part of the ANDI Soirées team and looks forward to experiences within the company.