FROM THE TIME HE WAS 17 AND LIFEGUARDING THE KIDS AT DEAN MARTIN PARTIES, SOL HAS BEEN A PART OF THE EVENT BUSINESS. FASHIONING HIMSELF AS THE BOSS, THE MONEY GUY, THE ONE WHO TAKES CARE OF ALL HIS KID'S, AND THE GUY WHO TAKES OUT THE TRASH, SOL IS THE BACKBONE OF LEHR AND BLACK AND INVOLVED IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE BUSINESS. WHETHER IT'S WORKING ON A MEMORABLE TOP LINE, , EXPLAINING TO STEPHANIE THAT SOMETIMES 'THE WAY WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE THINGS' IS STILL THE BEST WAY, OR JUST PLAIN SPRAYING, GLUING AND CUTTING WITH JANE AND EDDIE... SOL IS ALWAYS THERE. YOU NEED SOMETHING IN A HURRY? ASK SOL! YOU NEED MONEY? ASK SOLI YOU NEED SOMETHING DESIGNED? DON'T ASK SOL!
EDDIE IS THE ONLY OTHER GUY AT LEHR & BLACK. PREDESTINED FOR THE INVITATION BUSINESS, EDDIE CUT HIS OWN UMBILICAL CORD, OR SO HE'D LIKE PEOPLE TO THINK. EDDIE GREW UP WITH AMBITIONS OF BECOMING A FIREMAN OR FIGHTER PILOT BUT FOUND HIMSELF IN SALES. SOON AFTER, A CHANCE DATE WITH MICHELLE BLACK, TURNED INTO A CAREER. BROUGHT IN TO HELP WITH A HUGE HOLIDAY ORDER, HE WAS QUICKLY ENTRENCHED IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS. THE HAZING WAS BAD BUT HE PROVED HIMSELF NOT ONLY TO SOL AND ELLEN BUT THE HARDENED VETS IN THE SHOP. EDDIE HAS A PERMANENT INDENTATION OF A SCISSOR HANDLE ON HIS FINGERS, BUT AS FAR AS HE IS CONCERNED IT'S ALL WORTH IT TO BE ABLE TO WORK AT A COMPANY WITH PEOPLE YOU LOVE... AND OCCASIONALLY HATE.
AS ART DIRECTOR OF LEHR AND BLACK, ELLENS LOVE FOR THE PARTY BUSINESS BEGAN AT AN EARLY AGE OF 12 WHEN SHE WAS HIRED TO BE A GUEST AT PARTIES THAT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE. HER KEEN EYE, IMAGINATIVE SPIRIT AND LOVE OF DESIGN TOGETHER WITH LEAD DESIGNER LYNN THE PAIR HAVE CREATED OVER THE TOP INVITES AND EVENTS FOR SOM EOF THE WORLD'S MOST NOTABLE COUPLES AND CLIENTS.
AFTER GRADUATING ART CENTER IN ILLUSTRATION, LYNN HAD A GREAT EDUCATION AND NO MONEY. WITH YOUTHFUL ARROGANCE, SHE WORKED WITH ONE OF THE FIRST LETTERPRESS INVITATION COMPANIES ON THE WESTCOAST WITH SOME FRIENDS. THE CONCEPT WAS SIMPLE; BRING FINE ART TO INVITATIONS AND EDUCATE THE MASSES. THEY SPENT THE NEXT SIX YEARS, AND ALL THE PROFITS PROVING THEY WERE ALWAYS RIGHT. THE COMPANY WAS BROKE. LYNN WAS PREGNANT, OLDER AND WISER AND HAD A NEW APPRECIATION FOR THE ART BUSINESS. SHE MET ELLEN AND SOL BY ACCIDENT. LYNN'S BACKGROUND IN THE ART AND THEIR EXPERTISE IN INVITATIONS WAS A PERFECT COLLABORATION AND THE TRANSITION WAS INSTANT. ELLEN AND LYNN SPEND MOST OF THEIR DAY ON SPEAKERPHONE EVEN IF THERE'S NOTHING TO SAY.
PART OF THE NEW GENERATION, STEPHIE RECEIVED HER BA IN GRAPHIC DESIGN AND THEN DECIDED TO BECOME A NURSE. GO FIGURE! IT TURNS OUT, THE LONG HOURS IN THE ER WAS THE PERFECT WAY TO REMIND HER HOW MUCH SHE LOVED ART AND PREPARED HER FOR THE DAILY TRIAGE AT LEHR & BLACK. KNOWN AS THE MIDDLEMAN STEPHIE SPENDS MOST OF HER TIME MAKING SOL & ELLEN BELIEVE SHE AGREES WITH THEM BOTH! HER "ZELIG" TYPE PERSONALITY COMES IN HANDY WHEN DEALING WITH BOTH CLIENTS AND THE STAFF.
JANE HAS BEEN A FAMILY FRIEND SINCE CHILDHOOD AND WORKED FOR THE LEHR FAMILY WHILE ATTENDING HIGH SCHOOL. SHE BECAME A FLORIST AND STARTED A DESIGN AND PARTY BUSINESS WITH HER HUSBAND. 15 YEARS LATER, DURING A BUSY HOLIDAY SEASON, SHE WAS BACK AT LEHR & BLACK AS A FAVOR. THE LURE OF THE BUSINESS WAS JUST TOO GREAT. JANE ANNOUNCED SHE WAS COMING BACK - FULL TIME - AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELLEN OR SOL COULD DO ABOUT IT. SHE'S BEEN THERE EVER SINCE. JANE IS THE DESIGNATED COMPANY PSYCHIC, BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS HAS A KNACK FOR CHANNELING ELLEN'S VISION.
