Cristina Lawrence, CMP, CMM, VEMM

650-***-**** adkdko@r.postjobfree.com

Redwood City, CA linkedin.com/in/cristinalawrencecmp High-performing event professional with comprehensive accomplishments leading strategy, execution, venue sourcing, contracting, budget, promotional marketing, and cross-functional teams to ensure success and achieve goals. Highly organized, creative problem-solver who excels at guiding teams through complex projects. Looking to utilize my extensive knowledge and skillset with a company that will allow for additional growth. SKILLS

High level of proficiency in the following:

■ Strong Program Management and Leadership skills

■ Strong Contract Negotiation skills / Risk Management / Regulatory / Legal Compliance

■ Document Retention & Data Management

■ Logistics / Scheduling / Calendars

■ Strong Writing, Technical, Analytical, Organization, and Time Management skills

■ Extensive knowledge in Strategic Meeting Management

■ Strategic Venue Sourcing and Site Management

■ Strong Financial Analysis, Revenue Management, Cost Control, and Excel skills

■ Event Registration Management and Marketing

■ Customer Relationship Management

■ Vendor & Supplier management - acquire and train staff and volunteer

■ Proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint, Outlook, Google Suite, Webex, Zoom, SharePoint, Mac OS, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Cvent, Starcite, Concur, and event management tools. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Program Manager/Strategic Meeting & Sourcing Manager American Express Global Business Travel – in-house corporate planner for Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA May 2003 - August 2020

■ Organized and managed all aspects of a variety of high-level global events for Intel Corporation. Experience planning and executing high touch, highly experiential events of various sizes and levels of complexity with individual budgets ranging from $10k to over $2M.

■ Strategic planning, site/venue/vendor selection, contract negotiation, budget management, menu development, logistics coordination, communications, registration, vendor management, gifting, and post-event wrap-up & reporting to include surveys, debriefs, post-modern, and invoice reconciliation.

■ Negotiated and managed supplier contract terms including deposits, attrition, commissions, concessions, and cancellation clauses following the company’s policies and procedures to minimize risk, liability and maximize cost savings into contracts to equal a greater than 20% savings per event.

■ Maintained and monitored all contract & event critical deadlines including deposits, payments, attrition, cancellation, and rooming list deadlines; food & beverage guarantees.

■ Effectively owned and managed event budgets of $2M+ consistently reduced expenses and came in under budget. Initiated purchase orders, invoice approval, tracking spend against budget, and accountability for accurate cross charge and accruals, as appropriate.

■ Prepared cost analysis, estimates, request for proposals (RFPs), vendor quotes, and purchase orders. Obtained permits and insurance certificates.

■ Exceptional project management and time leadership skills, including the ability to work on multiple projects under demanding deadlines. Developed project plan including project scope, objectives, release schedule, milestones, deliverables, etc., involving all relevant stakeholders and ensuring a successful program.

■ Collaborated with Procurement, Finance, Events, and respective event partners to carry out bid specs, source products, reviewed proposals, vendor quotes, and services in accordance with policies and applicable laws.

■ Partnered with stakeholders on internal event planning to ensure business needs and milestones were met; scheduled meetings as necessary documenting and following up on important action items.

■ Reviewed and reconciliation of vendor billings/invoices for accuracy and facilitated payment. Prepared financial summaries for each event and enter financial data into the Cvent database.

■ Vendor management including, identifying resource needs, financial tracking/reconciliation, and day to day oversight of the timeliness and quality of their deliverables.

■ Ability to work independently and as part of a team across multiple groups of external & internal teams to communicate and drive program event strategy & tactics.

■ Experience with travel arrangements, including air, housing, and ground transportation for speakers and VPs.

■ Accurately managed housing for multiple meetings, including maintaining hotel room lists & room blocks; ensuring accurate hotel billing; maintaining up-to-date airline/shuttle manifests, & providing on-site assistance.

■ Exceptional interpersonal skills; experience developing strong working relationships with C-level executives, internal partners, third-party vendors, and customers. EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

■ Virtual Event & Meeting Management Certification - Event Leadership Institute (ELI) Areas of focus include Strategic Planning - Staffing, Vendors, Marketing & Sponsorship - Developing a Digital Event Program - Virtual Event Technology - Data, Analytics, & Security - Virtual Event Execution.

■ Certificate in Meeting Management -Florida Atlantic University Areas of focus include Meeting Design, Budget Elements & Development, Marketing Plan, Research and Management, Staff and Project Teams

■ Hospitality & Tourism Management Certification - Florida Atlantic University Areas of focus include Hospitality Law - Finance Fundamentals - Marketing & Revenue Management - Trends in the F&B Sector - Understanding Tourism & the Importance of Sustainability

■ Fundamentals of Project Planning & Management - University of Virginia Darden School of Business

■ Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)-Events Industry Council

■ COVID-19 Contact Tracing - Johns Hopkins University

■ Cvent Event Management Certification - Cvent

■ Cvent Venue Sourcing Certification - Cvent

■ Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging for All - LinkedIn

■ Diploma in Business Administration- Heald Business College

■ Sacramento City College - General Education; two years completed.

■ Bilingual English/Spanish written and verbal skills PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS

Meeting Professional International (MPI)

Volunteering on MPI’s 2020-2021 Northern California Chapter, Annual Conference & Expo (ACE) Logistics and Experience committee, and ACE Educationalcommittee liaison. PCMA Hospitality

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