Her education was sidetracked for a moment when she began working a demanding job in the home building industry. For five years she worked very hard and climbed the corporate ladder in the industry where the last position she held was National Purchasing Program Coordinator with Capital Pacific Homes. Though she was reaching success relatively quickly, Patrice’s true calling as an entrepreneur and creative mind consumed her, so with the blessing of her family, she revived the old family business, All Occasion Creations Event and Wedding Planning on a part time basis. One morning after her bosses’ return from summer vacation, her boss received what for most was devastating news; due to the crash of the market, the whole department was being eliminated effective immediately. Patrice saw this as God’s swift kick in the rear to focus on building her own business and bigger and better things.
Through her hard work and determination Patrice currently runs three businesses; All Occasion Creations Event and Wedding Design Firm (the revived family business), Virgo Squared Event Management and Marketing (a company which manages and develops public events including PlayDate Austin in which she co founded) and the Miss Black Central Texas Organization which is a nonprofit whose mission is to cultivate young black women into proud leaders who strive for a better future for both themselves and their community. Patrice founded Miss Black Central Texas to curb her appetite for service and leadership. The organization provides scholarships for young girls to attend college and develops and facilitates enrichment programs that teach them to dream big, work hard and give back. You may also here her every Wednesday afternoon on KAZI 88.7’s The Forum, a radio talk show in which she co hosts that addresses the issues relevant to young adults.
Patrice Nelson is truly blazing trails in Austin and the surrounding areas and she will continue to with her creative vision, determination and heart the size of the state she so proudly calls home.