Meet Melva LaJoy Legrand
Melva is a self-made entrepreneur recognized for her work in the live events industry. Based in Washington D.C., she is also a public speaker, community leader, and storyteller. Melva is passionate about mentorship, and uses public speaking to amplify her mentorship, guiding others through their personal hurdles and trauma, toward healing and confidence. Evident in all of Melva’s work is her interest and longstanding commitment to causes rooted in social equality as it pertains to women, health, and race & identity.
Melva brings life to events in her role as CEO of LaJoy Plans, an event planning firm launched in 2007. Melva has been recognized as a trailblazer in the events industry receiving the 2024 Smart Meetings Entrepreneur of the Year Award, 2024 Meeting Industry Women to Watch, BizBash Top Event Industry Innovator Award and the Events Industry Council, Global Social Impact Award.
“My commitment is to speak from a place of authenticity within life’s imperfect journey.
I rebuilt myself from brokenness. I have had many moments where I made mistakes, and had to learn and relearn lessons about managing money, or the perils of questioning or comparing myself to others. I have a track record of being willing to talk about the hard stuff, the taboo stuff, (abuse, infertility, financial ruin, caretaking, emotional eating, and more) in the spirit of collective healing.
I believe the world needs more healed people in every area of our lives.
If we had more healed people and stopped existing from a place of brokenness and insecurity, the hate we are all witnessing wouldn’t stand a chance. But first, we need to pull back the layers, stop looking at the Instagram or TikTok reels, stop validating micro-aggressive or passive aggressive behavior, refuse to normalize meanness as a necessary part of work, and unlearn those habits that hold us back. We have to absorb and embrace a different and healthier way of relating to ourselves and to others, of living, of leading, and of being. That starts with compassionate introspection.”
Feeling compelled to serve, and to bring people together through custom, meaningful events, Melva relaunched LaJoy Plans in 2019, following 20+ years in the event planning industry.
Melva and her team have coordinated over 400 conferences, galas, luncheons, and more for mission-focused organizations, non-profits, and individuals…
With budgets in excess of $1.5M/day.
Spanning across 39 states and growing.
Included notable attendees such as Inaugural National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda C. Gorman; gospel legend Yolanda Adams; Former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi; civil rights icon, author, and founder of The National Memorial of Peace and Justice, Bryan Stevenson; and current U.S Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona, among others.
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Melva bravely charged forward, as an early adopter of the event industry’s transition to virtual experiences. As the Education Co-Chair of the Live Events Coalition (LEC), Melva helped design all webinars and online conferences for its 1,500+ members, a position she held until 2022.
Giving back to her event planning community is a part of her ethos. Melva is the co-host of DC-based Head Table Talks; an annual luncheon that serves as a safe space for event planners to gather, share, learn and network.
For whatever Melva gains, she equally seeks to give. Melva leverages her social impact to bring awareness and hope to the difficult topics that have affected her own world, like Alzheimer’s and Dementia or the trauma of surviving Sexual Assault.
She has graced the stages of IMEX America (2023) and will join her first international conference in May 2024 at IMEX Frankfurt, along with the One Women’s Summit (2022), IBTM Americas (2022), the Tide Risers Summit (2021), and four cities for BizBash’s Connect Conference (2022).
Melva has been featured in Forbes, Authority Magazine, Washingtonian, The Black Wall Street Times, HQ The Association, and more, speaking to the issues surrounding the gender pay gap, leadership rest, being an effective leader, Event preparedness, and managing a healthy work/life balance.
In her events, during her talks, and in her life…Through it all..
Melva always tries to bring forward the JOY in LaJoy!
Outside of her professional life, Melva is known for her love of people, high energy, culinary event experiences, unique laugh, creativity and her tenacious work ethic. When not planning events, Melva splits her time between DC and Paris with her beloved husband Emmanuel.
