Sasha Klaurens | 20 Under 40
Sasha Klaurens
Owner and Experience Manager
Beacon Events
Sasha Klaurens is an owner and experience manager at Beacon Events, where she helps oversee three historic Topeka venues and The Oasis mobile bar. After earning her degree in English and art education from Emporia State University, Sasha spent several years teaching before moving to Topeka in 2023 and transitioning into the events industry.
Outside of Beacon Events, Sasha is chair-elect of Forge Young Talent, working to connect young professionals with the Topeka community. She and her husband enjoy traveling and time with family, and she’s getting back into her own art practice, working in oil and acrylic.
What’s a lesson you’ve carried with you throughout your life? How has it shaped you?
A lesson I have carried with me throughout my life is, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”
It started as a saying I heard from my great-grandmother, then my grandmother and eventually my mom as I was growing up. I think about it often when I am dealing with conflict. I have found that resolutions are much easier to reach when you approach a situation with calmness, kindness and understanding.
That simple phrase has shaped how I handle difficult tasks and conversations. I want to be remembered as someone who was kind but also honest. That is how I remember my grandparents, and it is the kind of person I hope to be so I can make them proud.
What should someone never take for granted? Why?
Nature is an aspect of our lives that we should never take for granted. The beauty of a Kansas sunrise or sunset is something worth slowing down to enjoy. Shawnee County does a wonderful job of providing parks and trails that are accessible, local and well maintained, giving us opportunities to reconnect with our natural surroundings.
It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and the screens on our phones, but we should never lose sight of how breathtaking the world around us can be. Taking time to slow down and appreciate our surroundings adds so much to our quality of life.
What’s the most important part of the work you do? Why?
The most important part of the work I do is helping create special moments for our clients. The events people choose to bring to our venues are often some of the most memorable moments of their lives. To me, a successful event is hearing a client say that everything was perfect, that they felt truly celebrated or that they could not be happier with how everything came together.
I still tear up during a heartfelt speech or a surprise party, and I love getting to cheer people on from the background. Being trusted with these moments is something I cherish.
What makes it even more special is that these celebrations are taking place in buildings that are more than 100 years old. These buildings have been the backdrop for thousands of celebrations and have truly been part of the heart of our community. Getting to help keep these historic spaces alive while continuing to fill them with new memories is something I am incredibly proud of!
What impact do you hope to make through your work?
The impact I hope to make through Beacon Events is retention. I want to keep events in Topeka and help make this a place where people want to celebrate their greatest joys.
The event industry has grown so much in the three years I have been here. It feels like there is always a new venue, a new caterer or a new rental company, and my response is always, “Yes!” The more the merrier, because keeping events in Topeka matters!
It matters not only for me and my team but for the many small businesses that make up our community. When an event stays here, it creates opportunities for other businesses to grow alongside us. I truly believe the only way to succeed is through positive partnerships and by lifting up the community around you. When we all have a seat at the table, Topeka becomes stronger.
What’s one thing you’ll always say yes to? Why?
A chance to travel! There is so much of the world to see.
I was recently invited on a trip to Peru to hike the Andes for nine days. We ended up hiking somewhere around 40 miles, completely unprepared. I had never hiked more than six miles before! It was absolutely one of the best opportunities I have ever had.
Of all the things I fear, heights are probably at the top of the list, but the unknown is not one of them. I love the idea of stepping into a new place, figuring it out as I go and experiencing something completely different from my everyday life.
I cannot wait to travel more, and I have found that group trips are such a great way to experience the world. There is something special about sharing an adventure with people and coming home with stories you could never have planned for.
What’s something you could talk about for hours? What makes it so interesting to you?
The Iliad and The Odyssey.
I first read The Odyssey in high school, as many students do, but I read The Iliad in college while studying English and Art Education. The Iliad is bursting with artistic inspiration, but more than that, it is an epic poem that will remain relevant to human life for generations to come.
There are so many beautifully developed characters that you can find pieces of yourself in different characters throughout the story. As you age, you may even begin to understand why some characters made the choices that ultimately led to their tragic fate.
“The myths, after all, are stories of the soul. As they are reborn in each new age, they continue to teach us what it means to be alive as human beings: building families and cities, planting gardens and making war, praying to our gods and mourning our dead.”
There is something captivating about stories that can survive thousands of years and still make us recognize ourselves.
