Management Executive Staff

SHAWN L. CRAIG

** ********* ******* ( West Orange, NJ 07052 973-***-**** (

***********@*****.***

OBJECTIVE: VICE PRESIDENT/SENIOR DIRECTOR

Change Agent... Skilled Negotiator... Team Builder and Coach

Proactive and visionary leader with a rich history of success leading the

development of national/global meetings and events. Expertly poised to

deliver powerful strategies, position cornerstones for project success,

return stagnant projects to renewed profitability, while watching

corporate spends and managing ROI. Tactful and effective negotiation

prowess, resulting in measurable and sustainable outcomes. Energetic and

passionate professional who thrives in high-pressure situations and

seizes every opportunity to "get-the-job-done". Professional core

competencies include:

. Contract Negotiations ( Project Management

. Budget Development ( Strategic Planning

. Sponsorship Development ( Brand Management

. Social Media Engagement, QR Coding & Marketing Strategies

. Proficient user of CVENT, Raisers Edge, (USI) Ungerboek,

Event Pro, RegOnline and other event management platforms

SELECTED CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

. Engineered the development of a celebrity appearance division for

one of the nations largest sports memorabilia companies. Department

currently employs 24 full-time employees and 4 interns.

. Guided the planning initiatives of more than 300 events in 20 years

in niche market of celebrity sponsored and/or celebrity

participating events for a diverse client body.

. Successfully re-negotiated obsolete contracts, saving company

millions without sacrificing corporate relationship.

. Transformed struggling business unit by introducing qualified

industry processes that streamlined ways of work, resulting in a

first year 38%, cost reduction.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

TURNKEY MEETINGS & EVENTS, West Orange, NJ 01/99 - present

DBA Celebrity Appearances Plus, Inc.

President

As a celebrity marketer and talent buyer, CAP, Inc. arranges

appearances for A through D list talent, to which we have direct

access, from film, US professional sports, music, comedy and others

from the world of entertainment. Turnkey M&E serves as the meeting and

event management arm of the business while CAP, Inc. is the talent-

matching component.

. Responsible for the creative, performance, planning and management of

COLDWELL BANKER International Business Conferences '05 '06 and the

Senior Leadership Conferences for Cendant Corporation. Each (5) day

conference hosted 10,000 - 12,000 registrants. Developed and managed

an 8.7M event budget, contract reviews and negotiations.

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Shawn L. Craig 973-***-**** ***********@*****.***

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. Managed site selections, housing, pre/onsite registration tradeshow,

F&B, arranged transport logistics for five simultaneous regional award

programs in two off-site locations, managed general session

productions, VIP dinners and a buy-out of Universal Studios, staging

guide creation, supplier management and negotiations.

. Created corporate, public/private sector conferences and conventions,

political, social and fundraising events for prominent individuals and

national organizations. Supervised all personnel including

subcontracted staff, implemented best practices for schedules, venue

logistics, entertainment, guest speakers, security, promotions &

advertising and over all production arrangements. Developed and

managed project budgets in excess of 13 million dollars and procured

appropriate resources for economic development when necessary.

. Established a celebrity appearance division, which provides a resource

for entertainers, retired/inactive and current professional athletes

to secure appearances during the off-season. Established as an

essential resource to help retiring athletes make the transition from

professional sports to the "real world".

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE, NY, NY (Contract Position) 1/08 -

02/10

Vice President, Conferences

Lead department that serves as an in-house agency to NUL national office.

Produces 4 conferences, 6 regional and corporate leadership meetings

annually. Direct Reports: 7 and 4 interns. Budget: 13M

. Contracted to developed process and implement plans for 2008 National

Conference in Orlando, Florida. Managed all pre/onsite logistics

including contract re-negotiations for production company, decorators,

speakers, entertainment and sponsors. Successfully negotiated citywide

contracts for 2009, 2010 "100th Anniversary Celebration" and 2011

National Conferences held in Chicago and Washington, D.C. and Boston

concurrently.

. Managed all plans for the 2008 and 2009 National Board Retreats.

Supervised the delivery of all services for trustees and senior

executive staff. Negotiated contracts for all goods and services,

supervised on-site staff and service providers.

GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA, NY, NY (Contract Position) 08/06 -

08/07

Senior Director, National Meetings

As interim department head, supervised eight full time exempt

employees, two non-exempt and four temporary staffers. Orchestrated

the successful planning of 35 - 40 annual meetings. Responsible for

high-level negotiations, spend leveraging, coaching and mentoring

staff. Streamlined processes to create functionality and ensure

effective application of meeting industry tools and trends. Budget:

17M.

. Established an RFP process, negotiated meeting support team contracts

with host cities, CVB's, DMC's, hotels, production companies,

decorators etc. generated through sponsorship development $5M in

revenue to support all national events ranging from 300 to 20,000

attendees.

. Engineered and led creative solutions to logistic and operational

challenges. Developed post conference evaluations, billing

reconciliation and budget forecast processes. Created various

reporting vehicles used across the brand to track progress and

facilitate action items for staff during weekly team meetings and

senior executive board meetings. Organized and led all meetings of

cross-functional teams to insure all details were managed, information

flowed clearly, consistently and in a timely manner.

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Shawn L. Craig 973-***-****

***********@*****.*** Page 3 of 3

CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION, Parsippany, New Jersey 8/95 -

11/97

Executive Director

. Hired six of nineteen staffers, managed seven directors' of special

events, eight coordinators and four administrative personnel. Provided

strategic direction and practical oversight to a full range of special

event and fundraising activities such as walks, golf tournaments,

black-tie events, as well as "major gift" and "planned giving"

program.

. Demonstrated an entrepreneurial approach to setting strategies and

organizing operations to maximize the fundraising potential of the

chapter. Established a presence in the NJ community-at large to bring

staff, volunteers and community leaders together to achieve the common

goal "find a cure".

. Implemented strategies for cultivating/soliciting prospective donors.

Evaluated the effectiveness of various development strategies and

prepared alternative approaches to meet fundraising goals. In doing

so, 4m+ dollars, year-one revenue was raised, donations increased by

33%.

. Maintained chapter operations budget of 6.4M in fundraising revenue.

Solicited the support of major corporate sponsors for special events,

identified new resources for fundraising efforts, and federated fund

campaigns procuring $800K in additional contributions.

CLASSIC OCCASIONS, INC. 11/90 - 01/99

Chief Strategic Planner

Provided event-planning services to B2B and B2C groups throughout the

USA. Earned reputation as a strong troubleshooter in both start-up and

problematic turnaround operations. Record of success growing fundraisers,

meetings and events into highly profitable enterprises within a short

period of time, while exceeding expectations. Measured financial

performance and profitability then presented post summary disclosure to

clients for future application. Budget: 1M

EDUCATION

Essex County College - Newark, New Jersey

1985 - 1987

Business Administration

Rutgers University - Newark, New Jersey

1993 - 1996

Marketing / Management

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

(Member since)

Meeting Professionals International (MPI)

2000

Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)

2000

International Special Events Society (ISES)

2002

PUBLICATIONS

"Building Image/Creating Style" Corporate & Incentive Travel Magazine,

VNU Business Publication,

New York, New York - November 2005

"Meeting Communications: Know the Rules" Corporate Meetings & Incentives,

PRIMEDIA Business Publication, Stow, Massachusetts - November 2004

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