Experience

Children's HeartLink

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Events Manager

  • Aug 2016 - Present

  The Events Manager supports fundraising goals by leading the conception, development, management, and engagement of Children’s HeartLink fundraising events and meetings. This position works closely with Children’s HeartLink leadership, staff, event sponsors and volunteers to meet financial goals and other objectives for each event. Supervision: This position reports directly to the VP of Development & Communication. The Events Manager does not manage any permanent positions but does coordinate volunteers for events and manage contractors utilized to execute events. Responsibilities: Fundraising and Engagement Events: Leads Development & Communications Team in the management of annual Global Gathering Fundraiser Leads the development of strategies and objectives for engagement events to maximize their impact on targeted groups of donors, prospective donors, volunteers, and other supporters. Manages the event/meeting planning process, including location selection, food, activities, and other logistics. Collaborate with the Communications Department to market and produce communications for events Develops and manages event budgets, meeting financial objectives Manages the work of staff, vendors, consultants, and volunteers assisting with events Conducts research and make recommendations on effective events and best practices as a foundation for staff and volunteer decisions Supports third-party events, volunteer-sponsored events, house parties and other Children’s HeartLink engagement events Manages activities related to gala silent and live auction items Event Sponsorships: Manages integrity of event sponsor information Coordinates collateral needed from sponsors for events as needed Collaborates with the Communications Department to develop persuasive sponsorship proposal packages and events-related marketing materials Individual Donor Activities: Coordinates individual events as needed Identifies and coordinates donor recognition



Animal Humane Society

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Senior Producer of Philanthropic Events

  • Oct 2007 - Mar 2016

  Strategically developed, managed, and implemented three major annual fundraising events raising $1.5 million annually: Walk for Animals, Wine Dinner and Whisker Whirl. Collaborated across departments and with organizational partners to ensure mission focus, brand and promotion carried through for philanthropic events. • Managed Events & Partnerships Assistant and temporary staff. • Collaborated with members of Advancement Team, developing timelines and strategic direction for marketing, branding, and public relation strategies for all events. • Collaborated with Director of Volunteer Services and team to explore needs and recruitment for each event. • Analyzed financial, staff, and volunteer resources needed to effectively produce each event. • In FY15, philanthropic events raised $1.6 million dollars; 11% of the $15 million contribution budget, exceeding all revenue goals for the three major fundraising events. • Exceeded Wine Dinner goals each year while keeping expenses flat, resulting in nearly 100% net profit. • Restructured Walk for Animals planning team to involve volunteers and staff to better capitalize on existing strengths and to build enthusiasm. Result was a much more efficiently run event, with staff and volunteers participating in fundraising. • Established community-based Whisker Whirl Planning Committee, involving staff, volunteers, and community members, while growing participation in the event each year. • Researched and hired auction management company for Whirl Whirl to maximize earning potential while more efficiently managing silent auction. • Responsible for cultivating and stewarding relationships with auctioneer, gala chairs and co-chairs, committee members, chefs, volunteers, staff, media, and vendors. • Handled creative functions for each event, managing production of invitations & marketing materials, etc.



The McKnight Foundation

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations

• Event, Meeting & Conference Freelance Consultant

  • Oct 2001 - Oct 2007

  Event, Meeting & Conference Freelance Consultant October, 2001 – October, 2007 Planned and implemented the following meetings, conferences, and events: The McKnight Foundation, Minnesota • The McKnight Conference on Neuroscience, 2002-2007, The Aspen Institute, Colorado • Collaborative Crop Research Program Conference, 2002, 2004, 2007 Mexico, the Netherlands, France • Smart Growth for Livable Communities Conference, 2003, Minnesota • State of the Arts , 2002, Minnesota • The Foundation Financial Officers Group Meeting, 2006, Minnesota The Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, Florida • The Foundation Financial Officers Group Meeting, 2007, Florida Bush Foundation, Minnesota • Fellows Summit, 2007, Minnesota Minneapolis Mosaic, 2006, Minnesota Black Arts Ball, 2006, Minnesota



Arts Midwest

• United States
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Midwest Arts Conference Director

  • Apr 1995 - Dec 2000

  Responsible for the successful planning and implementation of the annual Midwest Arts Conference, serving 1,000 artists, artists’ managers, presenters, and administrators from upper Midwest, across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.• Managed a conference team including both internal and freelance personnel whose responsibilities included registration, exhibit halls, social events, and production of conference publications• Selected conference sites, committees, educational programs, keynote speakers• Designed conference budget

• Director of Funding Programs

  • 1992 - Apr 1995

  Director of Funding Programs 1992 – April, 1995Planned and implemented funding programs, annually awarding over $800,000 in grants to individual artists and organizations.

• Program Associate

  • 1989 - 1992

  Program Associate 1989 – 1992Managed Arts Midwest’s Meet the Composer/Midwest Program and Artistic Exploration Fund. Co-managed two performing arts grant programs.

• Grants Program Assistant

  • 1985 - 1989

  Grants Program Assistant 1985 – 1989Responsible for grants management and coordination of panel materials for all performing arts and visual arts programs.