Today we’d like to introduce you to Iris Franco-Phan.
Hi Iris, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Con Tanto Amor was never meant to be just an event company. It began as a reminder not to wait. It’s rooted in the belief that the things that matter most: community, creativity, gathering, celebrating, and supporting one another, don’t happen on their own, they happen because someone chooses to create the space for them.
I’m a mother of 2 boys, an Arizona native and a first-generation Mexican and Guatemalan American. Growing up, community was something you lived. It showed up in family gatherings that always had room for one more person and in neighbors looking out for each other. Those experiences shaped the way I think about what it means to bring people together.
Professionally, I found myself drawn to the work happening behind the scenes. I loved creating the structure, systems, and strategy that allowed people to feel welcomed, connected, and cared for. The operational roles and experiences I’ve had over the last decade have shaped the way I approach this work today. They have allowed me to develop the perspective, systems, and strategic approach needed to support projects ranging from intimate gatherings to large-scale public experiences.
Last October (2025) I officially founded Con Tanto Amor, which translates to “With So Much Love.” The name is a tribute to my late mother and the way she moved through the world, with an unwavering belief that people should always feel like they belong. That philosophy became the foundation of the business.
Today, I work as an event consultant and the founder of Con Tanto Amor. I partner with organizations, small businesses, community leaders, and individuals to help bring their ideas to life through thoughtful strategy, operations, and execution. My role often goes beyond coordinating the details of an event. I help clients think through the bigger picture: how an experience aligns with their values, how vendors and partners are brought into the process, how resources are used intentionally, and how every touchpoint contributes to the experience people have when they walk through the door.
Whether I’m building operational plans, managing vendor ecosystems, developing event timelines, supporting partnerships, or helping a team navigate the complexities of a large-scale activation, my goal is always the same: to create the structure that allows meaningful connection to happen.
For me, success is measured by whether people leave feeling welcomed, valued, and connected. I believe thoughtful operations are an act of care, and when we design experiences with intention, we create opportunities for communities to grow stronger. The work is rooted in logistics, but it is ultimately about people.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been a meaningful road, but it has not always been a smooth one. Building Con Tanto Amor has challenged me in ways I expected and in ways I didn’t. Starting something from the ground up requires patience, resilience, and a willingness to keep moving forward even when the path is not always clear.
There have been challenges that come with starting your own business, creating systems, finding the right partnerships, and learning how to balance the vision for the work with the realities of bringing it to life. I also recognize what a privilege it is to have the opportunity to build something of my own and to turn something so personal into a career.
One of the greatest lessons this journey has taught me is that building something meaningful is never done alone. As a mother to two young boys, I am constantly reminded of the importance of being present and intentional in every role I hold: as a founder, a parent, and a partner. Entrepreneurship often comes with uncertainty, long days, and moments where you have to believe in something before you can see the outcome. Throughout this journey, my husband has been one of my greatest sources of support. He is the person who listens to every idea, helps me work through every challenge, and reminds me to trust myself when uncertainty creeps in. He has been my biggest investor, not just in Con Tanto Amor as a business, but in me as a person. His belief in what I am building, his ability to keep me grounded, and his willingness to dream alongside me have been a huge part of why this exists today.
In many ways, building a company centered around community has shown me how much community I needed to build it. Con Tanto Amor exists because of the people who have supported me, believed in me, believed in the vision, and reminded me to keep going when the path felt uncertain.
At the same time, because Con Tanto Amor is so personal, building it has also required vulnerability. When you pour your experiences, values, and heart into something, a rejection, or even silence, can feel deeply personal because you’re not just sharing a business; you’re sharing a piece of yourself.
The most rewarding part has been seeing that the things I have always valued: care, connection, and creating spaces where people feel like they belong, are not separate from the work; they are the reason for it. Every event, partnership, and experience continues to teach me that meaningful work takes time, intention, and a willingness to keep evolving.
The road has not been perfect, but it has been incredibly formative. Every challenge has helped me better understand the role I want Con Tanto Amor to play in helping organizations create meaningful experiences where people can come together, feel welcomed, and build stronger communities.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Con Tanto Amor?
Con Tanto Amor is an event consulting business that helps create meaningful experiences through thoughtful strategy, intentional planning, and seamless execution. While many people think of events as a single day, I see them as an extension of an client’s values. Every decision, from partnerships and vendors, to timelines and guest experience, communicates something about who you are.
I partner with nonprofits, small businesses, community organizations, mission-driven brands and individuals to help bring ideas to life. Sometimes that means building operational systems behind the scenes. Other times it means developing event strategy, managing vendor ecosystems, creating run-of-show plans, supporting sponsorship and partnership logistics, or serving as the person who keeps every moving piece connected so a vision can become a reality.
My goal is not only to deliver a successful event, but to leave clients with stronger systems, greater confidence, and a foundation they can continue to build on long after our work together ends. One of my favorite parts of the work is partnering with people who have an idea but don’t yet have a roadmap. Some clients come to me with a fully developed vision, while others simply know how they want people to feel. Helping transform that starting point into a thoughtful, executable plan is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. Whether it’s a community festival, nonprofit fundraiser, brand activation, or private celebration, I approach every project with the same belief: the way we gather matters.
What sets Con Tanto Amor apart is that I don’t just focus on producing successful events, I focus on building experiences that strengthen relationships. My work begins long before guests arrive and continues long after they leave. When people feel welcomed, represented, and cared for, they’re more likely to connect with one another and with the purpose behind the event.
One thing I’m especially proud of is the trust people place in me. Many of the opportunities I’ve had have come through relationships and referrals from people who have experienced my work firsthand. It tells me that people don’t just remember the event, they remember how it made them feel.
As Con Tanto Amor continues to grow, my vision is to become a trusted consulting partner for organizations that believe gathering people is about more than logistics. Whether it’s a cultural celebration, a community festival, a nonprofit fundraiser, or a brand activation, I want every project to reflect the people it serves and leave a lasting sense of connection.
At its heart, Con Tanto Amor is built on a simple belief: thoughtful operations create space for meaningful community. When we design experiences with care, we don’t just bring people together, we help them feel like they belong.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was curious, observant, and always drawn to bringing people together, even before I realized it. As the oldest child in a first-generation family, I took on many of the responsibilities that are familiar to so many first-generation kids. I was often translating conversations, helping my parents navigate systems that weren’t built with them in mind, and learning at a young age how to bridge gaps between people. Looking back, I think those experiences taught me empathy, adaptability, and how to anticipate the needs of others.
One of my favorite memories growing up is simply sitting around the dinner table with my family. My mom made sure we always ate together, and I can’t thank her enough for making that a priority. At the time, it just felt like dinner. Now I understand that it was also where we connected, listened, and showed up for one another.
Outside of home, I loved going to concerts and live events. I also loved being active. I started playing sports when I was about seven years old, and athletics became a huge part of my life. Sports taught me discipline, teamwork, resilience, and the importance of showing up for the people around you.
Looking back now, it’s interesting how all of those experiences came together. Today, they shape the way I approach every event, every partnership, and every community I have the privilege of serving.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.contantoamor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contantoamorevents/
