Meeting planner
Resume:
Melissa Matarrese
A self-motivated individual with a calm demeanor and proven record of
success in managing all aspects of events. An innovative, software-savvy change agent that leverages strong communication and interpersonal skills while working closely, as a team player, with every level of an organization, from clients, to volunteers and board members.
HIGHLIGHTS
In-house and client event
experience
Event management of
10-10,000+ attendees
HCEAConnect Scholarship
Award winner 2017
2012 W. St. Paul Ave. #502
Chicago, IL 60647
**********@***.***
FULL-TIME WORK EXPERIENCE
American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL — Senior Exhibits Coordinator
DECEMBER 2015 - DECEMBER 2017
Lead planner for internal Annual Conference exhibit space, ancillary vendors, promotions, office build-outs. Plus lead planner for exhibits, sponsorship, and security for outside client.
● Annual conference serves over 12,000 attendees, with over 200 exhibitors occupying 55,000 booth square feet of exhibit hall space, on over 200,000 total floor space.
● Approve floor plans and oversee decorator, utilities, and AV, computer equipment rental for Annual Conference exhibit space, office build-outs and interactive medical courses.
● Recommends and manage vendors for security, medical staff, promotional activities, photography, exhibit-floor catering, office/internal AV, and sponsorship marketing.
● Effectively manage budgets for in-house and client events, grossing over $1,600,000 annually.
● Review and place locations of print and digital signage for in-house and client events with a total budget of $125,000.
● Create and send RFPs, then recommend contracts for event decorator, computer rentals, internal AV, medical services, marketing partner, and security services.
National Council of Structural Engineers Association, Chicago, IL — Meeting & Marketing Director
AUGUST 2006 - DECEMBER 2015
Managed marketing and planning for educational meetings and webinars for an organization of over 10,000 members with 1 indirect report, and total association staff of 5. Planned 12 committee and board meetings each year in addition to Annual Conference with exhibits and high-level Leadership Meeting. Developed requests for proposals for domestic properties then performed site inspections to evaluate potential properties, made site recommendations to the board of directors, and engaged in contract negotiations with vendors.
Developed and sent national and regional marketing campaigns to attract attendees. Troubleshoot registration concerns and questions. Developed meeting specs, and ensured hotel space met event needs. Worked closely with potential and existing vendors and exhibitors on pre-/post-event operations. Confirmed BEOs and works with property from all planning through post-event stages.
Managed and developed content for all company’s social media platforms. Served as liaison between executive level staff, association committees and board of directors throughout meeting planning stages. Managed an operational team of four during events. Consistently ensured events adhere to a budget of up to $100,000.
KarenZupco + Associates, Chicago, IL — Meeting
Coordinator
JANUARY 2005 - AUGUST 2006
Coordinated meetings for this healthcare practice management consulting and training firm of 8 employees with Otolaryngology, plastic surgery and Orthopedic surgery clients nationwide. Managed the organization of over 20 continuing education, coding workshops for doctors and their staff. Event attendance ranged from 40 to 500 attendees. Negotiated hotel contracts and developed and submitted requests for proposals.
Newberry Library, Chicago, IL — Major Gifts and Planned Giving Associate
JANUARY 2003 - JANUARY 2005
Worked under Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving for this independent research library. Wrote gift acknowledgment letters for major and planned gifts. Organized cultivation events with up to 200 attendants. Updated BlackBaud database with events, mailings, queries and contact information. Oversaw administrative budget of $20,000. Managed volunteers.
EDUCATION
Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL — Bachelor of Liberal Arts
GRADUATED 2000
Major in Communications with an emphasis in Media Studies.
SKILLS
ConferenceEdge registration,
BlackBaud, PeopleWare, Mac,
PC, Condeco Meeting Room
Booking, Attendify event app,
BlueJeans, ZOOM, Social
Media for Business (Twitter,
Facebook, LinkedIn)SKILLS
First-aid, CPR, and Stop The
Bleed certified
Former CMP [Certified
Meeting Professional]
Microsoft Office Suite,
ConstantContact, WYSIWYG
Website Updates, BlueHornet
Marketing portal, a2z
exhibitor portal
https://www.linkedin.com/in/m
elissamatarrese/
TEMPORARY POSITIONS
MacArthur Foundation
AUGUST 2018- NOVEMBER
2018
Meeting & Event Planner
Assistance managing in-house
and off-site meetings.
Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics
MAY 2018-JULY 2018
Expo Temp
Assistance to the annual
conference team with expertise
in a2z exhibit software.
LEISURE PURSUITS
Restaurants, Wine, Food,
Theater, Dance, and Travel
Contact this candidate