Experience

American Academy of Periodontology

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Meeting Services Coordinator

  • Mar 2020 - Present

  -Coordinates all aspects of 10-20 internal, annual meetings to include coordination of housing, food and beverage, audio-visual, off-site events, vendor relationships and billing reconciliation. Additional responsibilities include assisting with registration, logistics management, organization and maintenance of registration materials and history reports. -Acts as liaison between travel vendor and staff for submission of approved air travel lists, manages monthly travel reports and assists with budget reclassification.-Assists in coordinating the allocation of Annual Meeting function space for affiliates, exhibitors, and alumni organizations.-Works with Marketing department to develop Annual Meeting mobile app and provides data to allow for effective functionality.-Coordinates and tracks production timelines, creates schedules and agendas for internal and external calls and meetings. In addition, updates emergency procedures manual and Meeting Services Manual as needed.-Manages departmental incoming calls, email correspondence, and supply maintenance.



CRS Inc.

• United States
• Construction
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Contractor – Marketing Specialist, Energy Efficiency Marketing, Commonwealth Edison, Oak Brook, IL

  • Apr 2019 - Mar 2020

  -Managed 330+ annual ComEducation and 100+Energy Efficiency event requests, including Residential, Income Eligible, Business and Public Sector.-Solicited and confirmed event requirements from ComEd implementation contractors, internal and external requestors.-Coordinated on-site staffing and equipment requirements with event staffing vendor Surge Staffing, ensuring appropriate coverage.-Managed annual Master Event SmartSheet database/central depository, to include researching State of Illinois Elected Officials site and providing reports for analysis to various divisions and teams.-Maintained inventory to include materials, premiums and collateral for the 330+ ComEducation, 100+ Energy Efficiency and 324 Energy Force events. Shipped materials to internal and external requestors as needed.



Self Employed

• Real Estate
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Freelance Meeting Planner

  • Jun 2015 - Apr 2019

  -Produced successful meetings and events by managing effective planning and on-site support.-Provided logistics planning expertise for business meetings, special events such as private weddings and gala dinners, fundraisers and community events in both the not-for-profit and corporate environments. -Produced successful meetings and events by managing effective planning and on-site support.-Provided logistics planning expertise for business meetings, special events such as private weddings and gala dinners, fundraisers and community events in both the not-for-profit and corporate environments.



Creative Group, Inc.

• United States
• Events Services
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Account Manager, Customer Experience

  • Sep 2014 - May 2015

  -Acted as main liaison between external clients, vendors and staff.-Assigned to high-end corporate and pharmaceutical clients.-Worked with internal contract department in researching for event locations, securing event space, sleeping room blocks and proofing contracts.-Developed and executed event specifications, including function space, hotel, ground transportation, food and beverage and audiovisual requirements for domestic and international programs.-Managed all aspects of program budgets.-Managed workload and timeline of four support employees, including on-site support team.Key Accomplishment-Initiated and participated in the Account Manager committee, to create a training document to standardize the departmental planning processes, to develop and train newly hired Account Manager personnel.

• Freelance Meeting Planner

  • Aug 2013 - Sep 2014

  -Produced successful meetings and events by managing effective planning and on-site support.-Provided logistics planning expertise for business meetings, special events such as private weddings and gala dinners, fundraisers and community events in both the not-for-profit and corporate environments. -Produced successful meetings and events by managing effective planning and on-site support.-Provided logistics planning expertise for business meetings, special events such as private weddings and gala dinners, fundraisers and community events in both the not-for-profit and corporate environments.



DeVry Education Group (formerly DeVry Inc.)

• Supervisor, Meetings/Travel

  • Mar 2010 - Aug 2013

  -Managed 150-200+ annual meetings, including high profile and national meetings of 1,200+ in attendance, including research, negotiation and onsite implementation.-Researched venues and vendor services for sleeping rooms, meeting space, transportation, entertainment, speakers, production, etc. Process included negotiating contracts, ensuring fiscal compliance.-Maintained departmental meeting calendar and reviewed all meeting venue contracts for 150-200+ annual meetings.-Initiated, implemented and continuously evaluated the department’s electronic files, in compliance with the organization’s business continuity plan.-Hired, trained and supervised four department employees. Key Accomplishments-Contributed to the Meetings and Travel Department’s Cost Savings, averaging $1.4 million annually-Initiated the creation of “Life of a Meeting”, improving departmental planning process to standardize processes, to create communications templates and to develop/train personnel.-Initiated, implemented and continuously evaluated the department’s electronic files, in compliance with organization’s business continuity plan.-Consistently received outstanding on annual performance appraisals.



Rotary International

• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Manager, Meetings Logistics, International Meetings

  • Jul 2005 - Feb 2010

  -Managed six employees with responsibilities in the areas of space allocation, decoration, signage, exhibitions, freight forwarding, banqueting, transportation, simultaneous interpretation, plenary hall seating, volunteers, facility arrangements, security and medical services, and equipment rental for domestic and international events that included annual International Convention (IC) (11,000-46,000 attendees), annual International Assembly (IA) (1,500 attendees) and tri-annual Council on Legislation (COL) (700 attendees).-Initiated, negotiated and implemented vendor contracts for decorating contractor and managed all departmental vendor contracts, annual budgets (IC $1.5m, IA $1.0m and COL $100k) and payment authorizations.-Managed preparation and maintenance of departmental Annual Plan of deadlines and departmental meeting calendar.-Hired, trained, and supervised six department employees.Key Accomplishment-Consistently received outstanding on annual performance appraisals.

• Logistics Supervisor, International Meetings

  • Aug 2001 - Jul 2005

  -Managed the allocation, set-up, operation and dismantle of all contracted meeting space, including breakout session, office and ancillary meeting space for two events, the annual International Convention (11,000-46,000 attendees), and the annual International Assembly (1,500 attendees).-Coordinated the collection of all meeting specifications compiled, using EBMS software and distributed to vendors. Established company-wide deadlines for timely submission of information required to complete orders and specifications. -Managed budgets, RFP process, contract negotiation, order placement, onsite equipment management and maintenance for audiovisual, computer, office and communication equipment. Managed vendor relationships and directed the onsite schedules and activities of vendor staff.-Hired, trained and supervised one full-time employee.Key Accomplishments-Established mandatory inter-departmental review process of all specifications, prior to submitting to vendors, in order to provide current and correct event requirements.-Consistently received outstanding on annual performance appraisals.



SmithBucklin (Formerly Smith, Bucklin and Associates, Inc.)

• Conference Coordinator, Meeting Services

  • Nov 1998 - Aug 2001

  -Assumed lead meeting planning responsibilities for multiple international and domestic accounts.-Coordinated site selection, logistics for board and committee meetings, annual conferences, tradeshows and seminars.-Managed development, maintenance and growth of all convention/meeting related programs for clients, including participation in strategic planning, conference promotion, budgets and deadlines. -Assumed lead meeting planning responsibilities for multiple international and domestic accounts.-Coordinated site selection, logistics for board and committee meetings, annual conferences, tradeshows and seminars.-Managed development, maintenance and growth of all convention/meeting related programs for clients, including participation in strategic planning, conference promotion, budgets and deadlines.



Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting)

• Seminar Advisor

  • Feb 1998 - Nov 1998

  -Directed the development and delivery of specialized domestic and international seminars and workshops.-Assigned to senior management training seminars and workshops, requiring up to 80% travel.-Planned and prepared logistics for meetings, developed and monitored work programs, prepared budget, coordinated speaker arrangements, special events and creation/production of printed materials.-Acted as liaison with meeting sponsor to determine equipment needs, rental requirements and outside vendors.



DeVry Education Group (Formerly DeVry Inc.)

• Meeting Planner, Meeting Planning Department

  • Oct 1993 - Jan 1998

  -Responsible for planning 100+ annual company meetings. Communication with hotels, transportation vendors and restaurants, which included: site searching, securing meeting space, requesting/proofing contracts, and creating/providing meeting specifications to all vendors.-Acted a liaison between departments and corporate travel agency related to airline ticketing procedures, airfare analysis requests and ticketing coordination as needed for meetings.-Tracked progress of meetings, billing, departmental calendar and assignments of administrative assistant.-Served as Co-Chair for DeVry’s Special Events Committee for all employee events.

• Meeting Planning Coordinator, Meeting Planning Department

  • Oct 1992 - Oct 1993

  -Assisted with planning and implementation of all company functions to include sales training clinics, board meetings, seminars and employee events.-Coordinated meeting costs, billing arrangements and credit applications.-Coordinated group travel and group activities for national sales conferences.