Creating Possibilities

Ambrosia Events founder and owner shares his story 

​By Hailey Pitcher, MMAC Communications Intern

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​Oscar Sanchez has felt like an entrepreneur ever since he was 11, when he would purchase candy and resell it at his middle school in Mexico. He still never expected to found an event-planning business in the United States, much less be the owner of four other businesses.  

​Sanchez is the founder and owner of Ambrosia Events, an event-planning company for weddings, corporate events and other gatherings of all sizes around the Milwaukee area. The company provides flowers, décor, lighting, linens, furniture and more.​​

Over one quarter of U.S. entrepreneurs are immigrants, and Harvard Business Review says their businesses are more likely to thrive as they create job opportunities and revive areas with new ideas. The resilience and unique skill sets often acquired by those immigrating to a new country are a huge asset to communities and the economy, and their businesses bring in billions of dollars.

​This series highlights Milwaukee businesses that are founded, owned and operated by immigrants. We’ve had the privilege of hearing their stories and backgrounds, as well as what makes them so valuable to our community. 

“We plan it, produce it, execute it, coordinate it and set up and take down,” Sanchez said. 

He left Mexico in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts, immigrating to the U.S. to continue his education and expand his expertise. He attended the Academy of Ice Carving and Design, the Chocolate Academy and French Pastry School.  

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He began his career as an executive chef for several months to focus on learning English at MATC and understanding American culture. In 2013, he started a catering company.  

“I’ve always been more like an entrepreneur,” he said.  

Not long after, a client asked for assistance planning a wedding in addition to providing food. Sanchez hesitantly agreed, despite it being outside the scope of his catering service. Guests who attended the wedding soon began requesting his help with their events, which connected him to more people, some of whom didn’t even need food.  

He realized he enjoyed planning events, even if it wasn’t what he set out to do. Eventually, though, he had to take a step back and evaluate the future of his company.  

“If I continue doing the catering, I can definitely grow the business, but it’s going to be harder... There’s a lot of catering companies,” Sanchez said.  

He did his research, finding that there weren’t many event planners. The ones that did exist tended to be either unaffordable or small businesses in someone’s basement. Sanchez decided his business would fit in the middle.  

In the beginning, he was the only person operating his business. As he continued getting more referrals, Sanchez noticed how much he was paying to hire work for flowers, rentals and lighting by the end of each event.  

“If I can start by investing in buying my own inventory equipment, that will be helpful,” he said. “My first investment was 30 white tablecloths.” ​​

He soon received inquiries about renting his furniture for events he wasn’t a part of, which continued his company’s expansion and required that he hire another person. When it became difficult to work with an outside florist, he began ordering his own flowers and making centerpieces, eventually hiring his own florist. He slowly added more services, inventory and employees.  ​

“I think that when you have so much passion for what you do,
​you will see so many opportunities,” Sanchez said.  

​Even though his business grew rapidly, he has faced a lot of challenges along the way, especially as an immigrant. Sanchez said a challenge for him will always be the language barrier, as well as the stereotypes placed on immigrants.

“As a Latino, you have to work harder just to prove something,” he said.
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However, Sanchez didn’t sit and accept others’ assumptions. He fought to improve his business and keep expanding. He founded other businesses and was intentional about investing his money, despite starting over with nothing in a new country.

“In these 11 years in business, I have never asked for a loan,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez loves his business because he gets to see the project from start to finish.

“I really enjoy the process of turning something raw into something wow,” he said.

​“I really enjoy the process of turning something raw into something wow,” he said.

When clients ask if something is possible, Sanchez relishes using his creativity to make it possible.

He said what sets him apart from other event planners is his understanding of all sides of the business and its logistics.

“One of the things that I always tell people is...that I have the experience working in the kitchen, behind the door and in front of the door. It makes me more knowledgeable about how to manage the event,” Sanchez said.

He thinks there is always something new to learn, so he takes time to attend business workshops and networking events. He is a good problem solver, which has helped him succeed in event planning.

“I’m very resilient. I’m very adaptable. I definitely like to work under pressure,” he said.

Sanchez’s most recent accomplishment is his work as one of five event planners selected to participate in the production team for the Baird Center Grand Opening Gala.

Sanchez has also been invited to speak at high schools about entrepreneurship, something that causes him to reflect on his goals as a business owner.

“I would have never thought I would be in a different country, speaking a different language, having multiple businesses and talking about my business experience in front of people who are way younger,” Sanchez said.

In addition to Ambrosia Events, he also owns Milwaukee Balloon Company, Chroma Painting, Flower for Less and a real estate business.

“I’m always working,” Sanchez said. “But when you have passion for what you do, you don’t see it as working.”