Erika Nelson Email & Phone Number

Responsible for all events and interactions by the Senator and her staff in Minnesota. Lead a team of 25 people to include outreach, casework and operations. Ability to look ahead and plan while remaining nimble and modifying the schedule as current events and demands change. - Organized, supervised and executed more than 200 in-state personal appearances by Senator Klobuchar each year, including press events, constituent meetings, fact finding tours and disaster response. - Serve as liaison between Senator Klobuchar, local private and public sector leaders, state officials and other federal agencies in Minnesota. - Streamlined scheduling and tracking and office procedures to increase efficiency and Senator engagement at events. - Supervise staff across the state, manage a high profile office and handle multiple security and facility issues in a highly polarized and volatile political environment.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Lead administrator for the department, partner to the Chair in all decisions. Supervised team of 20 that included events lead, technology personnel, and administration. - Led complete remodel of instructional studio and labs, from staff and student input sessions, to architect selection, design and construction. - Responsible for department budget and HR, hiring staff and overseeing the tenure process for the professors in the department.

Saint Paul

Comprehensive planning, direciton, leadership and serve as liaison to all sponsors of the Institute. Key member of the Institute's leadership team. Advise on full range of research and administrative responsibilities.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Serve as Senator's in-state staff lead on all health care and commerce matters during both health reform debate and financial reform efforts. Duties include outreach to Minnesota constituencies like health care providers and small businesses and responding to inquiries and requests made to U.S. Senate office. Manage team of 6 outreach directors, scheduling and all logistics.Handle inter-governmental relations and constituent services with the Small Business Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, the federal Export-Import Bank, the US Department of Commerce and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and other members of Congress.Organize and staff public forums designed to provide direct input to federal health and business policy.Interact with constituents at all levels regarding their concerns and the Senators policy decisions.Write briefing materials and provide staff support for meetings, press conferences and formal government proceedings for Senator Klobuchar.Respond to Senator Klobuchar's requests for information, materials and constituent concerns regarding various health and business subjects.Staff personal appearances and statewide travel to facilitate Senator's interaction with the public, business leaders and interest-based constituencies.

Hired into a newly defined position to grow non-dues revenue products and services, manage multiple businesses and to run an annual meeting. Supervised two Executive Directors, Continuing Medical Education Department Manager, Advertising Sales Manager and Administrative Assistants.Led the association management operation (MSBC) which provided executive director services to specialty association customers. Closed non profitable services.Managed publication of annual membership directory (300 pages and 9,000 member listings) including advertising sales, project management and retail sales of the directory.Established policy and procedures for revenue generating affiliations and partnerships.Managed annual meeting including site selection, contracting, content logistics; sold vendor space to generate revenue. Dramatically changed format to accommodate education and increase meeting value to participants.Organized and managed fee-based association events including 2-3 annual or panels offering education and topic focus. Generated annual revenue of $30,000.Led MMA’s CME accreditation operation, considered the model for the industry.Brought project management and process improvement skills to internal association work flow. Reduced paper, increased communications, and re-invigorated culture.Executive Director of the MMA Alliance, the volunteer arm of the MMA. Led team in initiating and executing comprehensive member survey focusing on association communications, goals and product value from a member perspective.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Managed a $4 million, five manager department that delivered meetings, conventions, trade shows and social events for major corporate, fraternal and professional clients.Personally sold, organized and executed more than two dozen major events annually.Managed department budget including shortfalls and staff realignments.Department consistently ranked in top 10 on customer service surveys in an eight state, seven province region.Developed sales proposals and forecasts, managed internal training programs, tracked product quality, helped shape overall business strategy.Personally chosen to manage the international conference for Visitors Bureau.Promoted 5 times in 14 year career.

Ba, Sociology

Executive Education - Mini Mba