Event Planning, Budget Management, Vender Sourcing and Management

JESSICA O. BATES

*** **** ****** **, **********, D.C 20002 404-***-**** *************@*****.***

A visionary and strategic Meetings and Event Planner who has organized and managed events from pre-planning to on-site execution. I have the leadership abilities to take the helm and drive forward ambitious yet feasible strategic growth as well as sustainability plans. I am a highly energetic, forward thinking, and creative individual who possesses the knowledge base to effectively create and execute meaningful events and meetings. My key strengths include an ability to quickly identify and effectively resolve problems, effectively supervising event staff and identifying strategic plans to achieve those goals. In addition to this I am a good listener, communicator, presenter, and negotiator. I take pride in my ability to connect with clients, vendors, staff, and attendees.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Program and Events Associate,Digital Promise, Washington, DC March 2018- Present

● Executed multi-day meetings with approximately 275 attendees while managing a staff of 25-30

● Negotiated vendor contracts that saved the company at least 10% of the projected meeting budget

● Implemented a policy for additional attendees that averages $25K in revenue per meeting.

● Oversee membership logistics in partnership with the Operations team, including database management (Salesforce) and budgets/finances for our League and EdClusters networks

● Support the annual League of Innovative Schools new member application from end-to-end including application design, district recruitment, application marketing, and the selection and onboarding processes Public Engagement Administrative Support Specialist,AAAS, Washington, DC January 2017- March 2018

● Initiated new vendor relationships for annual meetings that resulted in an ongoing partnership with discounted rates.

● Made and maintained travel arrangements for our yearly week long 15 person fly-in meeting that included: flight, hotel, evening events, and catering contracts

● Reconciled budget and reimbursement processing for all fly-in and guest travel

● Drafts meeting agendas, summaries, and other program documents in coordination with other members of public engagement team using word processing and other office productivity software International Activities Department Assistant,ACS, Washington, DC June 2016 - December 2016

● Provide administrative and departmental support for the International Activities Division and Regional Event coordinators

● Pre- event responsibilities include working with outside vendors, presenters, registrants, and the various support functions that come with it

● Provide backup support to any departmental staff members to include calendar and website management, scheduling, day to day logistics, travel confirmation assistance, reports, etc. International Activities Department Assistant,DC Reads, Washington, DC June 2015 - May 2016

● Recruited and managed a large team of 70 student volunteers throughout several different locations

● Coordinate employee orientation events, training workshops, and educational programs and fundraisers

● Initiated pre-employment hiring processes and monitored status of results. EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science,Psychology, (2016), Howard University, Washington, D.C. Bachelor of Arts, Administration of Justice, (2016), Howard University, Washington, D.C. References available upon request