RESUME

Meetings and Conferences

While earning my Bachelor of Arts in Business with Concentration in Tourism from Arizona State University, I also completed the certificate for meeting planning and convention sales. In 2013, I was able to utilize these skills as I began my first job that involved planning meetings and conferences at Connect Worldwide International. I have planned corporate events on both small and large scales, ranging from team outings to meetings to global conferences, which included attendees from over 20 countries.

Key Tasks:

• Prepare agendas, workbooks, event layout, and any other materials needed for the meeting/conference

• Research, build relationships with, and negotiate contracts with venues and vendors

• Book local activities for destination events

• Secure sponsors and speakers (as needed)

• Develop and update event budget

• Organize swag and welcome gifts for attendees

• Create and distribute surveys before and after the event

• Coordinate accommodations for special requests, such as food allergies/preferences

• Designate hashtag specific to the event

• Take and edit photos of the meeting/conference, if professional photographer is not hired for the event

 REUNIONS, Weddings, and related festivities

Reunions, Weddings, and Bachelorette parties are some of the most fun events I have had the pleasure of coordinating. Whether I am meeting with a bride and grooms, a group of bridesmaids, or a reunion committee, I always enjoy hearing their ideas and then creating a plan to bring them to life. Coordinating these events allows me to utilize my strength of planning fun events with any size budget.

Key Tasks:

• Meet regularly with clients to ensure the event plan is set to meet their objectives

• Research, build relationships with, and negotiate contracts with venues and vendors

• Make reservations for transportation, restaurants, spas, etc. (depending on festivities included)

• Arrange AV equipment (as needed)

• Coordinate accommodations for special requests, such as food allergies/preferences

• Develop and update event budget

• Organize swag and welcome gifts for attendees (as needed)

• Obtain raffle prizes and door prizes (as needed)

• Create signage for the event

• Order and/or make decorations and decorate the venue as part of the event set up

• Write and distribute surveys before and after the event (as needed)

• Distribute information through email campaigns and Facebook group or event posts (as needed)

• Designate hashtag specific to the event

• Take and edit photos during the event, if professional photographer is not hired for the event

• Day of coordination including (but not limited to) timeline management (especially for wedding), set-up, tear-down, and managing communication with vendors, venue, and other key contacts

fundraisers

While taking the Special Events course as part of my degree studies, my major project for the semester was developing a large scale event. Out of all the event types we could choose from, I selected fundraising. I have always enjoyed creating a profitable fundraiser with little to no budget (making money out of nothing). My past fundraising successes have included leading the Westin Kierland Villas Front Office in raising over $1,000 for the American Cancer Society through a series of three fundraising events and a budget of $0, as well as raising over $2,000 for a family friend who needed a liver transplant through a benefit concert and raffle event. As a contractor for Goosebump Marketing & Events, I worked with organizations such as Meals of Joy, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, and the El Zaribah Shriners organizations on their fundraising events.

Key Tasks:

• Meet regularly with beneficiaries/organization to ensure fundraiser plan is set to meet their objectives

• Solicit new sponsors for monetary donations and donation items for raffles and auctions

• Follow up with previous sponsors to secure similar or greater donations compared to previous years

• Secure entertainment for fundraising event (as needed)

• Coordinate with venues about timing, space, and resources available

• Arrange AV equipment (as needed)

• Develop and update event budget

• Manage raffle ticket sales

• Emcee the event (as needed)

• Post event details to community calendars

• Design and distribute printed promotional materials as well as email campaigns

• Create signage for the event (including item descriptions and bid sheets for auctions)

• Plan editorial calendar for social media posting

• Designate hashtag specific to the event (if one has not already been created)

• Take and edit photos of the fundraiser, if professional photographer is not hired for the event

entertainment

My first experiences as an event planner were coordinating entertainment events for Book No Book Productions and the Reject Llamas Comedy Troupe. In addition to coordinating their rehearsals and performances, I also gained experience with emceeing shows. I later strengthened these skills as a Special Events Cast Member for the Walt Disney Company where I emceed the Grand Opening of their imagination park store in Chandler, AZ and hosted multiple events in the store. From 2016-2019, I stage managed and emceed for the entertainments stages at the events I helped coordinate with Goosebump Marketing & Events. For my current job with the Town of Gilbert, I book all of the entertainment for our events and stage mange (as needed).

Key Tasks:

• Meet regularly with clients to discuss rehearsal and performances schedules

• Research, build relationships with, and negotiate contracts with venues and vendors

• Arrange AV equipment and/or technicians (as needed)

• Stage Manager and/or Emcee the event (as needed)

• Create signage for the event

• Design promotional materials for auditions and performances (digital and print)

• Post event details to community calendars

• Manage ticket sales

• Distribute information through email campaigns and Facebook group or event posts (as needed)

• Take and edit photos of the performance, if professional photographer is not hired for the event

parades and festivals

My experience with parades and festivals started in August 2016 when I began working with Goosebump Marketing & Events. I have worked on a variety of Goosebump’s events, including Party for Joy, Laugh for Joy, Billy Moore Days, Avondale Winterfest, Avondale Fiesta, Glendale Hometown Christmas Parade, CulturePOP, Tres Rios Nature Festival, and Avondale Kidfest. Please feel free to visit any of these links for photos of the events. Since January 2020, I have worked for the Town of Gilbert on their Special Events Team. My positions for Goosebump and Gilbert have involved very similar job duties, as detailed below.

Key Responsibilities:

• Find and book appropriate entertainment for events, including maintaining a database of performers and writing contracts

• Manage exhibitors and sponsors (confirm registration, answer questions, communicate set-up/tear down instructions, follow up on payment)

• Write scripts to be read by parade announcers and stage emcees

• Stage Manager and/or Emcee the event (as needed)

• Submit event details to community calendars

• Perform a variety of duties on the day-of events, including set up and tear down

• Assist with parade management as lead parade marshal and train other parade marshals before parade (Goosebump)

• Update/post to event website (both) and social media (Goosebump)

• Develop social media strategy and schedule (Goosebump)

• Distribute information through email campaigns and Facebook group or event posts (Goosebump)

• Meet regularly with clients to ensure the event planning is set to meet their objectives (Goosebump)