SUSAN R. FUNK

**** **** ****** #***

Alexandria, VA 22304

Cell: 703-***-****

Email: acqmhq@r.postjobfree.com

Qualification Summary:

A strong background in marketing and event management, negotiating and budgeting skills in the corporate/association/government conferences, advisory board meetings, speaker training meetings, tradeshows, conventions, corporate receptions, special events and weddings. As detail-oriented problem solver; I work well independently or as part of a team.

Experience:

Conference/Event Manager Consultant/Contractor 1/2011- present

American Association of Retired People (AARP), Department of Education, Department of Veterans Affairs and Lockheed Martin, Washington DC

Event & Marketing Manager for the AARP TEK Technology Workshops team. My role is marketing/promotions, direct mail, robocalls, social media, and CVENT/registration for the 350+ technology workshop series that is a brand new pilot program at AARP. We are conducting workshops to teach the 50 plus community and seniors how to use their smartphones and tablets. Produced a Process Document for this team outlining all the steps of event set up, CVENT/registration set up, marketing processes that includes print/robocall process and billing and quality analysis process. Also learned the latest version of CVENT, the Blue Release.

Conference/Event Manager for The Department of Education administering and coordinating five of the 20 competitive grant programs through the financial management and performance measurement of the grant programs and services. These grant programs hold an annual meeting of 350 attendees with several breakouts and receptions.

Conference/Event Manager for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Outreach and Events in Washington, DC. Registration, housing, marketing, social media and meeting planning for the National Veterans Small Business Conference and Expo held in Detroit, MI for June 2012. This conference consisted of 8,000 attendees, 300 speakers, 400 sessions, and 500 expo booths. Responsible for site selection, effective negotiating and booking of hotel/venue contracts, management of advance/onsite logistical arrangements (F & B, production, housing, room sets and reconciling invoices), team lead for registration. Experience in oversight and management of 3rd party housing, registration and production companies. Managing keynote speakers, vips, and military generals onsite. Team lead for new event technologies that included attendee tracking, training and CME session tracking and networking as well as the event mobile application that contained event/schedule updates.

Conference/Event Manager for Lockheed Martin at their executive briefing center, the Global Vision Center located in Arlington, VA. Assist with all levels of senior management meetings in sizes from 5-400 attendees onsite at their secured executive conference center. These events ranged from classified, secret, top secret meetings, video teleconferences (VTCs), receptions, dinners, corporate board meetings for Lockheed Martin, and Corporate Media Day.

Senior Catering Sales Manager 2009-2010

Hyatt Arlington, Arlington, VA

Catering Sales Manager for Hyatt Hotel property located in Arlington, VA. Prospected, acquired and serviced catering and banquet sales from all business segments (corporate, government, association, weddings) to achieve hotel’s revenue goals. Planned, coordinated and supervised event execution to ensure client satisfaction. Executed conferences, wedding, receptions and events. Sold and serviced meetings, conferences, weddings, receptions and corporate, government, and association groups . Sold $60,000.00 for the month of January 2010; exceeded my monthly goal by $10,000.00.

Meetings/Event Planner Consultant 2008

Crop Life America Association, Washington, DC

Meetings/Event Planner for Crop Life America Association in Washington DC.

Saved the day when their meeting planner left for maternity leave prior to their Annual Meeting. Marketed, organized and executed their 250 attendees Annual Meeting. This event included: two day board meeting, two day federal affairs meeting with closing dinner, two day Annual Meeting with speakers, silent PAC auction, live PAC auction, golf tournament, and closing awards dinner with live entertainment.

Hotel Sales Manager 2007- 2008

Hilton Crystal City, Arlington, VA

Hotel Sales Manager for Hilton Hotels Arlington, VA. Contracted and closed group business, achieved group revenue goals by actively up-selling to maximize revenue opportunities. Sold a total of $800,000.00 in a five month period to the corporate, government, and association markets.

Corporate, Government, Association Meetings Manager & Tradeshows 2003-2007

JTR Associates, Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA

Executed meetings/conference for the following clients: Wyeth Pharmaceutical, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical, NASA Peer Review Services, CSC, Department of Defense (DoD), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Independent Community Bankers Association (ICBA)

Planned, organized and executed events from 10-5,000 attendees with various sized budgets for corporate, pharmaceutical, government and association

Negotiated and/or approved contracts with service providers (hotels, destination management companies, audio visual companies, decorators etc.)

Responsible for on-site conference and event management including catering, housing, security, entertainment, audio visual, photography; management of off-site event management including destination management companies, transportation, spouse programs, golf tournaments, board member/speaker gifts and special arrangements for VIPs

Managed conference and event budgets

Managed site selection, logistics, set-up, key note speakers, workshops and webcasting

Supervised the Meeting Coordinators and onsite staff; Oversaw registration, housing, shipping and database services

Managed the marketing initiatives for all conferences and events; marketing efforts included mailed pieces (postcards, brochures, and convention booklet), faxes, emails; managed website updates for all conferences and events

Responsible for selection and design of promotional items for conferences and events

Developed the master schedule, including staff responsibilities, dress code, etc. for all conferences and convention

Responsible for management of exhibitors; served as the liaison to trade show contractors and exhibitors

Managed logistics and scheduling of keynote speakers, VIPS and guests

Planned, organized and executed advisory board meetings and speakers training meetings for Wyeth Pharmaceutical, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical ranging from 10-300pp; provided outstanding customer service to various clients

Set food and beverage menus and guarantees within budget

Post conference reconciliation with hotel, vendors, key note speakers and creating final reports

Developed conference/meeting evaluation forms; maintained complete meeting history

Association Meeting Planner & Tradeshows 2000-2002

Independent Community Bankers Association

Senior Member of Convention Team that managed two 4,000 person conventions with 100 tradeshow booths for the Independent Community Bankers Association.

Developed relationships with key contacts at MasterCard, VISA, and Equifax to secure corporate sponsorships

Negotiated and/or approved contracts with service providers (hotels, destination management companies, audio visual companies, decorators etc.)

Responsible for on-site conference and event management including catering, housing, security, entertainment, audio visual, photography; management of off-site event management including destination management companies, transportation, spouse programs, golf tournaments, board member/speaker gifts and special arrangements for VIPs

Managed conference and event budgets

Managed site selection, logistics, set-up, key note speakers, workshops and webcasting

Supervised the Meeting Coordinators and onsite staff; Oversaw registration, housing, shipping and database services

Managed the marketing initiatives for all conferences and events; marketing efforts included mailed pieces (postcards, brochures, and convention booklet), faxes, emails; managed website updates for all conferences and events

Responsible for selection and design of promotional items for conferences and events

Developed the master schedule, including staff responsibilities, dress code, etc. for all conferences and convention

Responsible for management of exhibitors; served as the liaison to trade show contractors and exhibitors

Managed logistics and scheduling of keynote speakers, VIPS and guests

Set food and beverage menus and guarantees within budget

Post conference reconciliation with hotel, vendors, key note speakers and creating final reports

Developed conference/meeting evaluation forms; maintained complete meeting history

Meeting Planning, Membership and Legislative Assistant 1996- 2000

Council for Affordable Health Insurance Association

Planned, organized and executed events from 10-250 attendees with various association legislative conference, Capitol Hill visits, board meetings, committee meetings and press conferences at the National Press Club in Washington DC

Tracked legislation related to healthcare for the Federal and State lobbyists

Education:

Marymount University, Arlington, VA

B.A., Management, 1990

Computer Skills:

Sharepoint, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, GroupWise, Delphi, Envision, Daylight, Starcite, CVENT Blue Release (latest version), REGonline, Passkey, iMIS, and the Internet

Awards:

Special recognition for the 2012 National Veterans Conference personally from the Chief of Staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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