Events Management,Project Management

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ABIGAIL KESSE, PMP®

** ****** **** **, ******* MA 01510 774-***-**** ***.*****@*****.***

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigail-kesse-9a13ab68/ Fully Work Authorized. No Visa Sponsorship Required. PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Certified project management professional (PMP) with over 8 years of experience in project management, event management, brand marketing, and client relationship management in the marketing communications industry. KEY SKILLS / QUALIFICATIONS

• Project Management Professional (PMP)

®

• Proficient in Agile & Waterfall Methodologies

• Expertise in Project Management Tools: ClickUp, Asana, & SmartSheet

• Cross-Functional Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Event Management

• Proficient in Event Management Tools: CVENT & Zoho backstage

• B2B & B2C Marketing

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

• Excellent Written & Oral Communication Skills

• Languages: English, West African Pidgin, Twi (Ghanaian language) WORK EXPERIENCE

Events Manager (Seasonal), Peppers Artful Events, Northborough, MA March 2025 – present

• Oversee catering events from concept to completion, ensuring seamless planning and execution

• Collaborate with in-house event designers and chefs to understand event objectives, customize menus, and address specific needs.

• Coordinate logistics with the Operations team to ensure timely delivery and setup of necessary equipment.

• Execute on-site event setup, including meticulous arrangement of tables, buffet stations, and equipment to deliver exceptional events.

• Serve as primary point of contact for clients on event days, delivering exceptional customer service, and promptly addressing concerns or questions.

• Compile and analyze event outcomes, documenting challenges, solutions, and key takeaways in detailed post- event reports.

Projects & Events Manager, TopDog Africa Limited, Accra, Ghana Jan. 2020 – Jan. 2025 A premier marketing and communications company in Ghana (West Africa) serving over 150 business clients including Danone Africa & Nestle PLC and managing 10,000+ events & projects.

• Project Management

- Utilized Agile & waterfall methodologies to manage large-scale projects with budgets exceeding $1M, and teams up to 100 members, which contributed to 60% of TDA’s annual revenue.

- Managed cross-functional teams (e.g., IT, design, and marketing) to define, plan, and execute project scope, objectives, and deliverables, resulting in 130% achievement in project KPIs.

- Implemented project management best practices to ensure timely and within-budget delivery, resulting in a 20% reduction in project costs.

• Event Management

- Planned, coordinated, and executed over 500 events such as conferences, exhibitions, tradeshows, workshops and concerts for corporate and private clients.

- Created, monitored, and controlled event budgets ranging from $15k to over $1M contributing to over 40% of TDA’s annual revenue.

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- Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers to reduce costs by 25% while maintaining quality.

• Client Service

- Client Relationship Management: Built and maintained strong relationships with clients to ensure satisfaction and loyalty resulting in 90% client retention.

- Account Management for portfolio of over 20 clients & brands, understanding needs, goals, and challenges. General Manager, Dealz Market Limited, Accra, Ghana Dec. 2019 – Jan. 2025 A strategic business unit of TopDog Africa Limited offering business solutions to Fast-moving Consumable Goods Companies (FMCGs) through promotional sales and brand activations.

• Designed business unit structure, created and recruited 14 job roles, and managed daily operations.

• Created performance incentive packages for staff and supervised quarterly, half-year, and end-of-year performance reviews, resulting in 95% employee retention rate.

• Acquired and retained new clients; cultivated and maintained strong relationships with existing clients such as CocaCola Ghana Limited, Unilever PLC, Danone Africa, and Nestlé Ghana Limited. Client Service Lead, TopDog Africa Limited, Accra, Ghana Nov. 2016 – Dec. 2019

• Collaborated with project managers to plan and execute 300+ projects and 20 large-scale events including fashion shows, conferences, and tradeshows.

• Managed all phases of marketing projects & events, including vendor management, project timeline & scope, resource allocation, and post-event evaluation.

• Developed project documentation, including charters and status reports, to enhance transparency and accountability in project planning and execution.

Advertising Accounts Executive, Theory Limited, Accra, Ghana Aug. 2015 – Sept. 2016

• Liaised with clients to identify and solve advertising and marketing problems.

• Collaborated with Theory Limited’s marketing team to design client advertising campaigns

• Supervised market activations and advertising campaigns from inception to completion. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

• Excellence in Project Execution

- Developed and implemented project management frameworks (e.g., Agile ceremonies [daily stand-ups, retrospectives], lessons learned, WBS), which improved project process by 50%

- Managed over 20 product launches and 500+ brand activations, resulting in a 25% increase in sales.

- Improved project delivery timelines by 30% through team efficiency gains and process improvements.

• Event Management Excellence: Successfully managed over 500 corporate events (conferences, tradeshows, exhibitions) including 2 large-scale fashion shows featuring 7,500+ attendees, resulting in a 95% satisfaction rate.

• Client Retention Success: Consistently maintained high client retention rate above 90% over 6 years. EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in African Studies 2010 – 2014

University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana

#1 ranked University in Ghana (US News & World Report, 2024-2025), and its 4-year BA is equivalent to U.S. BA. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS & AFFILIATIONS

• Project Management Professional (PMP)

®

, Project Management Institute (PMI) 2023

• Foundation of Digital Marketing & E-commerce, Google Professional Certificate, Coursera 2024

• Attract & Engage Customers with Digital Marketing, Google Certificate, Coursera 2024

• Project Management Institute (PMI), Global Chapter—Member 2023

• Project Management Institute, Central Massachusetts Chapter—Member 2025

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