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Liz Lark-riley is a seasoned event planner and marketing professional with a strong background in creative direction and performing arts. She has extensive experience in managing events, marketing campaigns, and teams, with a proven track record of success in driving business growth and improving profitability. Liz holds a Master of Arts degree in Performing Arts Administration from New York University and is certified as a FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professional. She is currently working as Director of Customer Experience at Mahoney's Garden Centers in Greater Boston.

Credentials

  • FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professional (FCHP)
    Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association (FNGLA)
    Sep, 2020
    - May, 2026

Experience

    • Retail
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Director Customer Experience
      • Apr 2024 - Present

    • Senior Customer Relationship Manager
      • Feb 2023 - Apr 2024

    • United States
    • Retail
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Managing Director
      • Jul 2019 - Jan 2023

      Manages all operations and growth for family-owned garden center, farmers' market, wedding venue, and boutique. Works to engage, empower, and develop a 44-member team while consistently improving systems and key performance indicators. • Transformed 60-year-old family-owned business through organizational restructuring and company-wide initiatives that led to improved ratios for Cost of Goods Sold, Sales to Labor, and Overhead and increased Profitability year over year. •Instituted formal employee development program including in-person classes, original online educational resources, incentive programs, and formal goal-oriented performance reviews. Today more than half the team are FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professionals and/or Certified Landscape Maintenance Technicians. •Transitioned business from SimPOS to VMX, which yielded more valuable data, increased efficiency, and improved customer and team support.• Navigated business and team through COVID-19 pandemic. Adapted to meet ever-changing challenges in ways that led to lasting positive impact. Modernized website to bring all products online, adjusted events business model, and oversaw all internal and external communication. Remained sensitive to staff concerns and commitment to serving customers.

    • Director of Marketing and Events
      • Jul 2013 - Jul 2019

      Planned and executed more than 75 seminars, private events, and large-scale festivals annually and created and executed multi-media marketing plans for Brevard County’s largest garden center and hydroponic vegetable farm, including designing or overseeing all marketing materials.• Initiated the planning and oversaw the conversion of 8000 square feet of Rockledge Gardens property into a dedicated event space, The Harry and Witte Center, which opened for classes, seminars, and weddings and private events in March 2017. Managed all sales and coordinate all events in this new venue. During the first year the space generated more than $75,000 in new revenue through 20 private events and in-house workshops. 50+ private events hosted annually.• Initiated strategic planning process to improve company goals and update branding strategy, increasing sales year over year.• Initiated organizational overhaul upon beginning the position to initiate a shared calendar and drive for shared documents.• Initiated and oversaw completion of complete redesign of company website as well as initialized company Instagram profiles ( @rockledgegardens @rockledgegardensweddings )• Revolutionized company's Annual Fall Festival increasing attendance from an average of roughly 300 attendees participating over the festival's 16-year history to more than 2000 during first year managing the festival. Subsequent festivals attracted more than 5000 attendees.• Work with local media to develop frequent coverage of Rockledge Gardens' events and special stories related to gardening, philanthropic efforts, and human interest.

  • Brain Arts Productions
    • Greater Chicago Area
    • Marketing Director
      • Sep 2018 - Oct 2019
      • Greater Chicago Area
  • Senior DECATS
    • Dallas/Fort Worth Area
    • Drama Teacher
      • Jun 2010 - Jun 2019
      • Dallas/Fort Worth Area

      Lead instructor for the Drama Major at DeBusk Enrichment Center for Academically Talented Students (DECATS) summer program. Worked with a team of three teaching artists to teach acting, movement, staging, scenic design, and collaborative story-telling to 30+ middle school students. The camp cul...

  • Florida Today Communications
    • Brevard County, Florida
    • Theater Critic
      • Jan 2015 - Dec 2015
      • Brevard County, Florida

      Reviewed every play produced at each of Brevard County's five major theater companies.

  • miR theater
    • Rockledge, FL
    • Executive Director
      • May 2013 - Oct 2015
      • Rockledge, FL

      Formed 501(c)3 dedicated to original performance work. Arranged artist residencies devoted to the creation, production, and presentation of new plays. Developed and produced two full-length world-premiere plays and several community-driven participatory performance events.

    • United States
    • Non-profit Organizations
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Grant Panelist
      • 2015 - 2015

    • Grant Panelist
      • 2015 - 2015

  • HERE Arts Center
    • Greater New York City Area
    • Development Intern
      • Sep 2012 - May 2013
      • Greater New York City Area

      Coordinated major aspects of 20th Anniversary Gala, which raised more than $200,000. Responsible for generating and sending acknowledgements for all individual, institutional, and government gifts. Researched and prepared grants. Developed "20/20" digital individual giving campaign tar...

    • Development Intern
      • 2012 - 2012
      • New York City, New York

      Researched and prepared grants; assisted with social media strategy and outreach.

  • American Academy of Art
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States
    • Figure Model
      • Sep 2009 - May 2011
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Brain Surgeon Theater
    • Greater Chicago Area
    • Director of Marketing and Development
      • Feb 2008 - Apr 2011
      • Greater Chicago Area

      Facilitated growth and visibility of innovative, non-profit Chicago storefront theater company. Responsibilities included grant-writing, overseeing individual giving, generating web content, creating and publishing e-newsletter, etc. Planned and executed annual cabaret fundraising event raising u...

  • Southwest University of China
    • Bei Bei District, Chongqing, P.R. China
    • Foreign Expert
      • Feb 2006 - Mar 2007
      • Bei Bei District, Chongqing, P.R. China

      Taught “English Listening, Speaking, and Writing” to Chinese graduate students and freshman teaching majors. Initiated theater program with 30 graduate students to develop a new multi-lingual play blending Chinese and Western theatrical forms.

Education

  • 2011 - 2013
    New York University
  • 2000 - 2004
    Loyola University New Orleans
  • 1996 - 2000
    Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Suggested Services

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Industry Focus. “Entertainment and Leisure”

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