Conference Manager Project

Monica Jackson

Columbia, MD ***** 1-202-***-**** adt5jh@r.postjobfree.com

Professional Summary

As Assistant Project Director and Senior Conference Manager the goal is making things happen against all odds. I'm an innovative and performance driven professional with over 25 years of significant experience in Project management and Conference/Event Management. With a proven ability to deliver and contribute to quality project management through delivering well-managed, on time projects, assisting my team managers in coordinating contract activities and training, customer/client satisfaction and always ready to go beyond basic assignments. Experienced in managing budgets, currently supervising staff of 5 and providing oversight to a team of 4-6 contracted support personnel, a proven track record of driving process improvements to reduce expenditures, generate significant cost savings, and optimize the processes and procedures are backed by managing multiple successful projects under several Federal Government agencies to include Department of Education (DOE), Assessment; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations (SAMHSA), Harm Reduction, Psychedelics, Opioids, Pacific Jurisdictions, National Advisory Council (NAC); National Prevention Day and LGBTQ+) and National Institutes of Health (NIH/NHLBI) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Project Management to include Budgeting and Forecasting. People Management/Verbal and Written Communications. Goal Driven and Organization skills. Task prioritization and Time management. Proven track record of reducing expenditures, generating significant cost savings and optimizing the processes and procedures.

Accomplishments

Reduced backlog of processing invoices by over 6 months by streamlining the process without taking risk Manage projects/Develop cost estimates Knowledge of federal government laws and how they apply, regulations, policies, standards, and procedures Providing guidance to customers and stakeholders on contracting requirements Recognized for exceeding personal and team goals and improving performance and strengthening the department while successfully coaching, mentoring, and motivation staff through one-on one sessions and "meeting team members where they are"to be productive, goal driven while enjoying the task as well Volunteered to serve and became a member of the scheduling committee, ensuring that staff can properly balance schedules (work, family/personal) while meeting the needs of the company.

Skills

●Proficient in MS Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

●Project Management to include Budgeting and Forecasting

●People Management/Verbal and Written Communications

●Goal Driven and Organization skills.

●Maintain day-to-day status on multiple projects

●Task prioritization and Time management

●Proven track record of reducing expenditures, generating significant cost savings and optimizing processes and procedures

●Experience providing conference planning and management services as well as meticulously planning and execution

●Develop, update, and implement special events planning programs that effectively support the agency

Work History

Assistant Project Director/Senior Meetings/Events Manager, 01/2021 to Current

Leed Management Consulting, LLC – Silver Spring, MD

●Experience providing conference planning and management services as well as meticulously planning and execution. Identifies and assesses customer needs, developing long and short-term plans to meet the needs in a cost-effective manner.

●Directed staff of four managing customer contracts that produced annual revenue of $1-1.5 million

●Planned, organized, and executed all conference and meeting events across a complete portfolio of customers.

●Devised improvements in event planning and execution to drive cost reductions for customers

●Developed financial goals forecasts and reported senior leadership regarding all aspects of conference planning.

●Solicited and negotiated bids from prospective meeting facilities and other vendor support services as well as defined quality assurance metrics and formulated marketing plans to achieve customer goals for conference events.

●Contributed to improving training and workshops for junior staff and introduced duties to staff, which aligned with their skills and professional development goals.

●Draft solicitation documents in compliance with regulations, laws and policies.

●Monitored costs incurred by project staff to identify budget issues.

●Identified, reviewed and selected vendors or consultants to meet project needs.

●Set deadlines and timeline estimates for upper-level management and stakeholders.

●Perform contract closeout actions to include submission of all final invoices for payment and archive records and documents for historical purposes.

Senior Conference Manager/Project Manager, 04/2014 to 07/2020 (Laid off due to Covid)

LPE ASSOCIATES – Washington, DC

●Spearheaded conference services staff of seven to facilitate comprehensive planning and delivery of customer contracts.

●Handled logistics and coordinated domestic and international travel for meeting participants (air and ground) for conferences supporting up to 1000 participants.

●Administered project costs and scope to ensure completion within budget.

●Supported with site research and selection and managed onsite activities, including registration, speakers, exhibits, meals, and support services.

●Led company internal meeting facilities and special events planning, moreover distributed meeting materials, evaluation forms, and post-meeting evaluations and summaries.

●Generated monthly reports after tracking program expenses and reviewed customer reimbursement protocols ensuring proper, timely, and accurate billing.

Senior Conference Manager/Project Manager, 11/2008 to 04/2014

Conference Services – Washington, DC \

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●Managed administrative logistics of events planning, event booking and event promotions.

●Evaluated existing plans, processes and events planning services to identify opportunities for improvement.

●Supervised onsite team of caterers, audio-visual technicians, and facility management team.

●Successfully and effectively. Worked with colleagues to develop new and existing projects that worked toward achieving a mission of fully rounded education.

●Ensured quality, efficiency, and productivity of services provided by staff supporting contracts.

●Collaborated with DOE program staff and administrative officers to review upcoming conference activities and budgets, as well as developed and maintained budget, spent funds in optimal way, and managed task plans and timelines.

●Supervised junior staff and admin staff in implementing all conference support activities.

Handled logistics and completed travel plans for domestic and international conferences for 10-500

attendees. Introduced registration process that aligned with customer needs.

●Facilitated discussions on vendor agreements and sales, documented vendor requirements, and prepared

conference work plans and schedules.

●Developed and distributed meeting materials and conducted webinar meetings to include pre, day-off, and post-administration.

Conference and Project Manager, 11/2003 to 11/2008

American Institutes For Research (AIR) – Washington, DC

●Developed and initiated projects, managed costs, and monitored performance.

●Piloted several projects across departments that required day-to-day management, relationship holding, and taking departments that required day-to-day management, relationship holding, and taking a long-term strategic view of projects' delivery and development.

●Ensured quality, efficiency, and productivity of services provided by staff supporting contracts.

●Collaborated with DOE program staff and administrative officers to review upcoming conference activities and budgets, as well as developed and maintained budget, spent funds in optimal way, and managed task plans and timelines.

●Prepared correspondence and agenda and distributed materials, moreover, liaised and communicated with hotel and service vendors and addressed facility and audiovisual needs.

●Handled logistics, prepared documents, and completed travel plans for domestic and international conferences for 10-500 attendees.

●Developed and distributed meeting materials and conducted webinar meetings to include pre, day-off, and post-administration.

Education

Associate of Arts: Business Management/Administration 1987-1989

Morgan State University - Baltimore, Maryland

Certifications

Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP)

Project Management Professional (PMP - enrolling in on-line classes November 2022)

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