Birgit Rys Email & Phone Number

Major Responsibilities: I successfully planned and managed all aspects of several major events, ranging from 50 to 600 guests, including three with a celebrity chef, which caused unusual complexities of schedules and resources – I sourced for vendors and items to be used as giveaways at trade shows and special events. While successfully maintaining relationships with vendors, I was able to consistently negotiate costs to 10-25% below original prices – I coordinated sales and marketing participation at numerous trade shows and conferences (average 40+ / year) in various locations throughout the US and the Bahamas – effectively negotiated sponsorship opportunities for over 40% of trade shows, 80% of which resulted in customized agreements - researched possible speakers for company's conferences. Contacted and contracted them to present at event, and was their liaison during preparation and course of show - regularly researched venues and locations throughout the nation for company events accommodating groups of 20 to 800 - planned, negotiated, and scheduled transportation, hotel accommodations, audiovisual (A/V), and menus for company events and dinners for top clients and executive-level employees within tight deadlines and rigorous budgets - oversaw the creation and shipment of all company promotional items, and effectively kept inventory of them, as well as written materials, and trade show booths.

Greater Chicago Area

Major Responsibilities:I've successfully helped expand this family-owned business by establishing scheduling and customer database organization to support sales volume increases of 40%. I have scheduled jobs for drivers, contacted clients, provided the necessary information of date, location, nature of load, and existing permits.

Kreuzwertheim, Germany

Major Responsibilities:Customer Relations Management: Received concerns and provided solutions to customers in communication with quality assurance, close interaction with research and development, production management, purchase departments, and suppliers, and direct cooperation with service technicians.Export Professional: customer service & relations, interrelation with branches & representatives worldwide - arranged sales & service meetings, international trade shows - cooperated with research and development department, production management, accounting department, international banks, as well as forwarding companies, and customs offices to prepare and process exports (incl.customs clearance) of highly sophisticated machinery and equipment - translated brochures and technical manuals from German into English - issued regular reports to government officials.April-June 2007-I co-managed the US branch in Ashland, VA. Duties included: requested inquiries and ordered parts from suppliers - provided offers and quotes to customers - processed orders - coordinated imports to US with global forwarding agencies - I scheduled installations of new machines, as well as service visits and calculated technicians' time cards - kept close communication with outsourced accounting, interrelation with German headquarters, and interaction with US/Canadian/Mexican sales representatives and service technicians.

Wertheim, Germany

Major Responsibilities:Supervised exports of UEBE medical technology (blood pressure monitors, ovulation thermometers, etc.). I negotiated with forwarding companies and customs clearance procedures, and developed and performed marketing strategies.

Major Responsibilities:I worked my way up from production helper to assistant export manager. On the way I passed through different departmets. In the sales department I first processed incoming customers' orders in the company's computer system, within a few months, I was in charge for the main server, annual inventory lists and calculations, and 1998/1999 along with the company's programmer for converting the entire company to a completely new system. With NORMSCHLIFF GERAETEBAU as the world-market leading manufacturer of laboratory glassware (distillation-, extraction-, rectification apparatuses with support systems and computerized controls), I often dealt with highly skilled, scientific customers worldwide. I translated NORMSCHLIFF's technical handbooks from German into English. In 1997, I became key account manager for MERCK worldwide among other customers. For most projects, I had to work in close cooperation with the customers and NORMSCHLIFF's chemical engineering department, electronic department, production management, purchase department, and accounting, often with international banks (Letter of Credits), customs offices, and government officials (for export permits, customers import licenses), as well as forwarding agencies for exports to customers worldwide as well as international trade shows.