Sabrina Ruiz | Women of Impact 2025

SABRINA RUIZ

CEO

Copperhead Creative

As the founder of The Perfect Plan Events and Copperhead Creative, I’m a logistics queen with 20+ years in high-impact events and fundraising. A UNT Philosophy grad turned event pro, I swapped law school dreams for a planner’s clipboard and never looked back. With bold vision and flawless execution, I don’t do basic. I make magic.

PRESSING QUESTIONS

How I knew this was my passion

I’ve always felt a deep calling to serve others. After planning my first event, I immediately knew it was something that came naturally and I could continue to grow through, both personally and professionally.

Biggest challenges in my career

Scaling my event business while navigating the complexities of growth. Balancing creativity with operations, managing expanding teams and maintaining a high level of service has pushed me to grow in ways I never expected.

My first job and what it taught me

As a busser at a catfish restaurant when I was 13, I quickly learned that even the toughest, messiest jobs hold value — and showing up with a good attitude makes all the difference.

A nonprofit I wish more people knew about

Roundup for Autism is an incredible cause supported by a dedicated, passionate family of volunteers. With a personal connection to autism in our family, this mission resonates deeply. The Yellow Rose Gala Foundation is equally close to me, dedicated to funding research for Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

What keeps me coming back to my job every day

When a client hugs me with gratitude because we exceeded their fundraising goals, or when newlyweds tell me it was the best night of their lives, every moment of stress and exhaustion becomes worth it.

Best career moment so far

Bringing my vision for the Vegas Movie Awards to life was incredibly rewarding. We created a platform for emerging filmmakers to be recognized, celebrated and have their hard work truly seen while raising money and awareness. Watching them accept their awards made all the hard work deeply meaningful.

A skill I never expected to need in this field

Psychology and counseling. I spend a lot of time getting to know clients and many events are tied to deeply emotional causes or high-stakes milestones. These situations call for strong problem-solving skills, crisis management and compassionate understanding. Navigating dynamics with empathy and professionalism is just as important as the logistics and design.

One practice I use to maintain my mental health

My family is what keeps me grounded. When I need to recharge or find balance, I go home to those wonderfully crazy people who bring me peace in the chaos.

Best advice I ever received

Take a deep breath, Sabrina — no one else knows what it’s supposed to look like, so just keep going.

The one thing I wish people knew about my field

How many hours go into designing and planning an event. Countless late nights are spent researching, sourcing and curating details to bring a client’s vision to life. It looks effortless, because we work hard to solve unseen problems.

The first thing I do to course-correct when I hit a wall

I take a deep breath, pause and re-evaluate. A quick brainstorm and a walk back through the steps that brought me to that moment usually help me regain clarity and direction.

IN THE DETAILS