One Very Energized Events & Branding Diva, CJ DiRoma Talks Event Energy, Staying Up All Night, Social Media, Ninja Branding & Hustling While You Wait...Always!

CJ DiRoma & The "Station Avenue Girlz"

CJ DiRoma is a legend. One very savvy ninja diva with a passion for event production, marketing, branding, creative "anything" and a talent for entertainment! CJ DiRoma is Station Avenue Productions, a leading event production firm headquartered in South Jersey and serving all size venues throughout the United States.

CJ has worked with legends - Barry Manilow, Kenny Rogers, Charlie Daniels and scores and scores of epic greats in the world of music and entertainment. Has she worked with any great comedians? Has CJ ever worked with any great bands? Ever heard of Boyz II Men? Ever heard of Jim Belushi, Lewis Black, Howie Mandel or "Mike & Molly" star Billy Gardell? CJ is not only gifted at envisioning, organizing and producing events of all sizes - from concerts to non-profit galas - she is also "connected" to all the right entertainers to ensure every event gets the right entertainment.

Jim Belushi & The Chicago Board of Comedy

As if that were not enough to impress, CJ is also a branding and marketing expert, who, during 2011, founded The asterism* Group, a boutique marketing and creative services firm that includes the talents of Station Avenue Productions. In addition to the proven event production services of Station Avenue, The asterism* Group delivers services with Station's two sister divisions, Consumption Marketing and Little Flower Creative. Does CJ have too much energy for ONE petite, power player. Probably, but CJ wouldn't have it any other way.

CJ, you have such a diverse and robust background - and all creative! You are the visionary behind concerts and large venue community events. You have delivered beautiful and successful non-profit events. You are a branding maven. You are a strategic marketing executive. You mentor rising stars in marketing, branding and event campaigns. You have worked with legends in the entertainment world. You even can your own tomatoes! Where do we start? How about this: What do you LOVE to do the most, when it comes to your professional life?  

My favorite part is seeing the joy on guests faces. Creating a memorable moment whether it be a client seeing their vision come to life with a cool brand or guests at a party or event getting lost in the talent.

As Founder and CEO of The asterism* Group, you are the visionary not only fueling the successful entertainment and event production company, Station Avenue Productions, but also the creative eye behind Consumption Marketing and Little Flower Creative. Consumption Marketing relies on your success as a marketing executive and branding expert. Little Flower Creative turns to you for everything from unique product launches to literary guidance and even interior design expertise. When do you sleep?

HA! Sunday night between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. if I am lucky!  Just kidding!  I have great energy and time management skills.  I am guilty of working too much.  I also have great support team.

CJ, real quick...read a book or watch a movie?  

Movie for the time saver but also I am visual person.

Who is your favorite Hollywood great?

I love old Hollywood.  If I had to pick...Jack Lemmon.

What is your favorite band?
The last band I worked with...I fall in love with the magic each group creates.

Who is the celebrity that you met that actually made you nervous?    

No one yet!

When you work with large firms and non-profit agencies, not to mention leading entertainment venues and conferences, what are the key goals when it comes to getting an event off the ground - the right way?

Communication and planning.  I'm a stickler for detail and back up plans!

What event are you most proud of, in terms of being its event production cornerstone?

TOUGHIE! I have had some great challenges.  If I had to choose it would be the Chef Brian Duffy "bar rescue" event at Cove Haven Entertainment Resorts in the Poconos.  We served a full dinner to 500 plus guests as they watched the food prep from stage in an old theater with cocktail tables. A full dinner table setup was executed on those tiny tables! An outdoor kitchen tented with the culinary staff working on the celebrity chef's menu and fantastic wait staff that delivered the plates all at once to keep the show moving - all tremendous details and lots of energy, time and preparation.  Food as entertainment was the theme!  Marvelous job by all!  Plus, the food was all locally sourced and or specifically created for the event.  People involved in the behind the scenes aspects of the event and its layers of planning STILL talk about the nightmare logistics and how it was FLAWLESSLY executed. We even brought in a local, world renowned distiller to provide the matching spirits.

You lend your creativity to so many businesses throughout the Delaware Valley and beyond. Is there one commonality among businesses today, in terms of mistakes they are making in their branding. You will have to put your Consumption Marketing hat on to answer this one! 

Not engaging in social media or my biggest pet peeve an inconsistent parallel language used in advertising or marketing materials.  Define , design, be social and be consistent.

Think fast...if you were a tree, what color leaves would you have blowing in the summer breeze?

Willow branches remind me of southern summers with my grandmother.

Why do you feel it is important for women to help other women in business today?

We have to pay forward. Women face too many of the burdens in our society and often feel they have the drive or idea but not the connection to go up against the norm.  If you made it, and you know who you are, help another woman no matter what level you have achieved.  There is someone who wants to be you!

Tell us why social media is important for businesses that want to truly brand their expertise and services?  

So many choices now to reach your potential customer or client base.  There is great debate on the ROI of engaging.  However if you don't brand online ... your competition is!

You will be teaching a course at Burlington County College in the Fall all about branding. What do you hope your students come away with, in terms of the MOST important thing they need to keep in mind when branding a business?
Define your product or service! Define how you want your customers to view you and create that environment.

Turning the spotlight on Station Avenue Productions, Station Avenue has produced everything from live concerts - 70,000 at FEDEX field - to business conference events, non-profit galas (Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation), academic celebrations and major events (Burlington County College, University of Pennsylvania) and countless venues, venues, venues from Los Angeles to Atlantic City! 

Station Avenue Productions is a leading entertainment industry event production firm, producing memorable entertainment experiences that achieve success in all key areas of event production - entertainment coordination, creative branding and marketing, fulfillment of event goals and objectives, audience enjoyment, as well as public and media relations outreach and support.

Station Avenue brings exceptional event entertainment management and industry leading event production services to The asterism* Group. And yes, currently, Station Avenue Productions is the event production and event coordination firm of choice of Cove Haven Entertainment Resorts in the beautiful Pocono Mountains Region of Pennsylvania. Station Avenue Productions has also coordinated events for non-profit organizations, including The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and many more. Station Avenue Productions routinely coordinates and produces signature events of all sizes - and anywhere in the country! We are the good guys in black staging and coordinating major corporate, community and entertainment venue events - we thrive in the spotlight."

CJ, please share with us one of your favorite quotes.

Success comes to those who hustle...while they wait.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Special thanks to CJ DiRoma for her time in sharing insights with Consumption Marketing. It should be noted that CJ answered the questions from her hotel room during a brief break between shows she is producing for a top venue! Of course! Thanks CJ!

Learn more about CJ DiRoma and Station Avenue Productions, as well as its sister divisions, Consumption Marketing and Little Flower Creative by visiting blogs, social media and more at The asterism* Group!