Howard Givner Email & Phone Number

Provide strategic & growth consulting to event agencies and other business owners to help them get to the next level, position for exit, and advise on M&A.Advise event managers and owners on driving growth and profitability through innovation and strategy. Help event departments measure ROI and prove their event’s value through data and storytelling. Help.

Chicago, IL, US

• Sold ELI to PCMA to accelerate our ability to develop and deliver education and professional development resources to the events industry, and to drive innovation across a broader platform.
• Merged the courses of ELI & PCMA into the largest, deepest and most cutting edge course catalog.
• Developed industry's first AI course.
• Re-designed and curated agendas and content for flagship events Convening Leaders & Educon, driving 51% registration growth vs. prior year, 35% higher registration revenue, & 20% higher total revenue.
• Developed Event Strategy Center, Event Tech Lab, & Event Tech Test Drive experiences, generating $300k in new revenue & thought leadership.
• Designed executive-level track wargaming forum, Future-Proofing the Event Industry.

Chicago, Illinois, US

• [Acquired by PCMA, Jan. 2023]Developed and launched innovative online education platform providing best-in-class training and resources to help meeting planning, event marketing, and hospitality industry professionals.
• Created Netflix-style subscription service featuring 260+ video class modules, delivered in an unbundled, micro-learning format.
• Led development of 17 Certificate Courses taken by over 5,000 industry professionals. Delivered predominantly online, with select courses delivered in-person, and via flipped / hybrid classrooms.
• Pioneered use of clickable, digital credentials.
• Curated and hosted thought-leadership conferences & events, including: the TED-style Event Innovation Forum; Event Agency Growth Summit; Business, Design & Strategy Summit; Innovation & Engagement Summit.
• Managed all elements of building and running the business, including P&L, marketing, web development, course/content development, strategic planning, group sales & sponsorship, etc

Working with friend and progressive Democratic candidate for Congress in New York's 16th Congressional District on messaging and marketing strategy. For more info https://jonathanlewisforcongress.com/

[Acquired by BCD Meetings & Events, Jan. 2018]I led the U.S. division of Grass Roots Meetings & Events while the company went through a divestment process, being sold by parent company Blackhawk Network to BCD Meetings & Events. Exceeded profit targets by 84%, tripled profit margins from prior year, raised industry profile, and drove a results-oriented.

Falmouth, Maine, US

In May, 2008 Paint The Town Red, Inc. was acquired by Global Events, the largest events agency in Spain, and #13 worldwide. I stayed on for 18 months to integrate the two companies, raise the profile of the Global Events brand in the U.S., and reposition the firm to take advantage of new, deeper production capabilities in going after larger clients and.

US

• [Acquired by Global Events Group, 2008]Founded, managed and grew award-winning meeting/event agency over 20 years to become one of the top event firms in the country. Oversaw a team of 12 that produced a wide range of.
• Oversaw all operations, sales, accounting and finances: set and managed budgets; created cash flow and reporting systems; negotiated credit line.
• Garnered over 30 industry awards across wide range of categories.
• Planned and managed wide range of events including national sales meetings, investor meetings, award shows, conferences, media events and marketing launches.
• Established location referral service; pioneered industry commission structure for single-day events. Built innovative automated RFP portal to search, check pricing & date availability with over 300 local venues.
• Created cost-effective marketing plan on a limited budget that yielded over 100 pieces of press in consumer and trade media. Interviewed and managed external PR firms.