meet us

Mary Ellen Coggins
Jennifer Fulford
Tracey Daniels Hickey
Abby Hicks
Christina LaFontaine
Lisa Lee
Amy Miller
Diana Ryan
Michele Turner

Mary Ellen Coggins received her bachelor’s degree in middle school education from the University of Georgia. She continued her studies by earning her Master’s in early childhood education and her Specialist degree in Educational Leadership. 

Mary Ellen is thrilled to pursue her passion of wedding coordinating and has been working with Consultants Unlimited since 2005.  She first discovered her desire for planning weddings by directing weddings for her family and friends. Mary Ellen enjoys every step of the wedding process, especially the relationship that is formed with the bride.  She deeply believes that planning a wedding should be fun and exciting, not stressful.  She looks forward to devoting herself to the goal of making each bride’s wedding dreams come true. 

Jennifer Fulford is a former Interrelated Education Teacher at the Elementary level. She received her bachelor's degree in Special Education and Masters in Interrelated Education from the University of Georgia.  Jennifer is married with two daughters, Mackenzie and Emerson.

Jennifer has worked with Consultants Unlimited since 2002 and has coordinated events in Marietta, Duluth, Athens and Watkinsville, as well as in Atlanta.  In addition to working with Consultants Unlimited, Jennifer also enjoys working at the Payne-Corley house in Duluth as an Event Coordinator. While at the Payne-Corley House, Jennifer has overseen birthday, corporate, and anniversary parties; charity and holiday events; and, of course, weddings.

Tracey Daniels Hickey earned degrees in Psychology and Child and Family Development, as well as a Masters in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia. Tracey is married and lives in Athens with her daughter Carswell and two dogs.  Aside from her love of event planning, Tracey enjoys reading, traveling, community involvement, sports, and most importantly, rooting for the DAWGS with her husband on Saturdays in the fall.  

Always one for organization and the love of planning events, after her own wedding, Tracey realized how much she enjoyed the process and wanted to help others prepare for their big day.  As a result, she has been working with Consultants Unlimited since 2001.  Tracey’s ultimate goal is to assist in every way that she can to create a stress free and fun planning environment for everyone involved. 

Abby Hicks has been in the wedding industry for as long as she can remember. She began her long career in the industry as early as high school; first, with an Atlanta catering company and then a bridal gown store. Abby is a ’99 UGA graduate with degrees in Management and Marketing. Throughout college and after graduation she worked for a local Athens catering company in sales and logistics, planning and coordinating weddings and special events for over ten years. After many years of working alongside Consultants Unlimited coordinators, she joined the C.U. team in 2010.

Abby currently lives in Athens with her husband and 2 beautiful children, Greyson and Sydney. With the birth of her new daughter, Abby decided to focus more of her time at home. However, she couldn’t bring herself to completely cut ties with the wedding industry or the professionals that she has built such close relationships with. Whenever time permits, she loves cheering on her Dawgs, cooking family meals, or stepping away from everything and spending time sitting around a campfire and sleeping under the stars.

Lisa Lee attended the University of Georgia to study Speech Communication. She resides in Athens and currently works for the Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation as a Group Reservation Coordinator.

Lisa found a passion for planning events at a very young age. She has always helped her mother plan and coordinate all of their family and church events. She has been with Consultants Unlimited  since 2007 and cannot imagine a better company to work for. Lisa dedicates herself to ensuring that each bride is able to enjoy the planning process. She truly loves helping brides create the wedding they have always dreamed of.

Christina LaFontaine attended the University of Georgia to study vocal performance.  She is married and resides in Athens with her husband. Christina continues her vocal training and performs in the area – including as a wedding vocalist.

Event planning has always been one of her passions.  She has been with Consultants Unlimited since 2002 and enjoys every aspect of the profession, including her ongoing relationship with Athens’ brides.

Amy Miller is a native Athenian and a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she received her AB in English. She currently serves as shop manager for the Georgia Museum of Art.

Amy joined Consultants Unlimited in 2000. She brought along a wide range of event planning experience, having previously worked for both Mitchell's Formalwear and the Classic Center. In addition to event coordinating, Amy is also active in many local civic organizations, including the Junior League of Athens, Athens Creative Theatre, and the Town & Gown Players.

Diana Ryan
Diana Ryan is originally from Northern California and moved to Athens in 2001.  She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Communications degree and has been with Consultant's Unlimited since 2006.  She also works at the Georgia Museum of Art as an event manager and enjoys the various aspects of event planning.  

In her free time, Diana likes reading chick-lit, knitting, and traveling- especially to away games to cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs! Volunteering with the Junior League of Athens and attempting to tire out her dog also keep her busy.

 

Michele Turner holds degrees in theatre from Young Harris College and the University of Georgia. Her early career was spent in Atlanta with the Alliance Theatre Company at the Woodruff Arts Center. While at the Alliance she gained her experience in donor and special events. Michele returned to Athens in 1999 and established Consultants Unlimited, an event consulting, planning, and design group specializing in wedding ceremonies and receptions. During that time she worked at the Georgia Museum of Art as the Special Event Coordinator and now serves as the Event Designer for the Georgia Center Conference Center & Hotel on the University of Georgia campus. Michele is married and lives in Athens with her husband and two dogs.

Michele feels strongly that all brides should consider hiring a wedding coordinator. “If you choose not to hire Consultants Unlimited, for your own sake, hire someone to handle the logistics of the wedding – especially the “day of” coordination.” If you are not sure whether a coordinator is a necessity for your event, she encourages you to visit the C.U. testimonial page for words from just a few of our hundreds of happy clients.