Event and experiences Manager
Resume:
John Holak
West Hills, CA ***04
**********@*****.***
Skills
●Event Management
●Ability to Handle High Stress Situations
●Contract Interpretation and Negotiation
●Manage Vendor Partnerships
●Manage Full Event Life Cycle
●Knowledge of RFP creation and execution
●Handle all Logistics (Pre/During/Post Event)
●Managing Teams Onsite
●Manage Travel and Calendars for Onsite Staff
●Involved in Marketing and Design of Onsite Assets
●Creating Full Production Schedules
●Convention Management
●Strong Knowledge in Microsoft and Google Workspace Suites
Experience
DECEMBER 2023 - PRESENT
Oklo, Santa Clara, CA- Manager Events and Experiences
●Organized corporate events, conferences, and product launches.
●Managed logistics such as venue selection, catering, and transportation.
●Oversaw timelines, budgets, and resources for various events.
●Developed project plans and coordinated with different teams to ensure successful execution.
●Created promotional materials and social media campaigns to increase event attendance.
●Collaborated with marketing teams to ensure brand consistency.
●Established relationships with vendors and suppliers (caterers, decorators, audio/visual teams).
●Negotiated contracts and ensured delivery of services on event day.Liaised with clients, sponsors, and partners to gather requirements and ensure their needs are met.
●Maintained communication with stakeholders before and after events for feedback and follow-up.
●Designed engaging experiences and themes for events.
●Developed innovative solutions to challenges during event planning and execution.
●Fostered relationships with clients, team members, and attendees.
●Handled guest inquiries and issues, ensuring a positive experience.
●Managed multiple events and deadlines simultaneously.
●Prioritized tasks effectively to meet tight schedules.
FEBRUARY 2023 - FEBRUARY 2024
Inspire Solution, Los Angeles, CA - Director of Event Technology
●Part of Task team to build out infrastructure and open the new Moxy and AC hotels in DTLA for the Marriott Corporation
●Created and managed the budget for AV staff and equipment for the hotel
●Involved in all level of Event sales leading up to and through opening
●Created an inventory system purchased all needed Equipment and managed the CapEx for the property
●Built and coordinated a team of AV managers and Techs for full scale event installations
●Built out a training program and scheduling system for the hotels future AV teams
●Worked closely with the Banquets team on all Food and Beverage for Events creating a cross functional system of planning events Between Inspire Solutions and Marriott
APRIL 2020 - JANUARY 2023
Advanced Convention Technologies, West Hills, CA - Owner/CEO
●Created RFP’s and negotiated contracts
●Hired and trained all freelance workers
●Obtained and maintained all necessary equipment to run Registration, Lead retrieval and RFID tracking
●Coordinated shipping all equipment for 30 conventions a year
●Manage all pre planning of events ie. sourcing venues, floorplan creation, production schedules, software testing, hardware testing and all required site visits
●Managed onsite teams comprised of employees, contractors and union labor
●Create schedules and contracts for all full time freelance workers yearly
●Acted as the liaison between my company and my clients as well as people of all executive levels involved in the conference planning and execution
JULY 2015 - APRIL 2020
Convention Management Resources, San Francisco, CA - Senior Director, Event Operations and Logistics
●Consulted in the reorganization of the companies onsite staffing.
●Helped cut the budget in operations and I.T. creating a more streamlined product
●Created and documented processes for the scalability of the event offerings
●Implemented the use of RFID technology in badge printing for the use of attendee tracking
●Planned and executed onsite network infrastructure
●Created SOP manuals for all technical aspects of onsite setup
●Worked cross functionally with Marketing, IT and Program operations to ensure the highest quality events
OCTOBER 2008 - JULY 2015
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, NATIONAL - PRODUCTION MANAGER/PRODUCT SPECIALIST
●Helped create a new aspect of auto shows that has now been copied by every major car company. Working for Toyota we were the first to create, implement and successfully execute “Ride and Drive” experience at auto shows around the country.
●Worked as a dealer trainer for ford automotive specializing in enforcing sales tactics and product knowledge of the F150 trucks
●Worked as a producer for International boat shows. Handling all logistics including shipping setup, breakdown, scheduling all temp labor positions and coordinating contracts with union labor. Also secured all vendor contracts for AV, IT, and marketing materials
●Acted as both production manager and event manager for Fidelity. Where We primarily focused on the promotional marketing of their 529k plans for childrens educational futures across all of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. This involved booth design, writing out SOPs of all hired staffs training, coordinating labor and helping with setup and break down of events and writing full event recaps to enforce the ROI on the program
August 2004- JULY 2008
Clark & Reid Corporate Relocation, Brant Rock, MA - Owner/Operator
●Negotiated contracts with Clark and Reid for large corporate clients (I.e. Fidelity, AstraZeneca, Sun Microsystems and many others)
●Oversaw the full relocation experience for all white glove, executive clients. Providing pre move planning for them as well as pre planning for the actual execution of the relocation on our end.
●Scheduled labor all over the country to help with the physical parts of the job also obtaining signed contracts, and tax forms. I also handled all payments after the jobs completion.
●We started with one truck and just two of us and built it out to 5 trucks running almost year round. As the economy started trending down in 2008 I negotiated a slate of my half the company to the other owner to pursue new ventures.
Education
September 2000 - May 2004
University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA
Awards & Certifications
●Ford master trainer certification
●IAEE (expo expo) lead technology speaker focusing on RFID
●Best in customer satisfaction award 4 times at Clark & Reid
●Finalist for new best new convention technology company of the year at PCMA (professional convention management association)
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