Jenny Van Riper, Cmp Email & Phone Number

Arlington, Virginia, United States

Arlington, VA

Arlington, VA

• Supervise account assignments and staff deployment for Senior Meeting and Event Managers (SMEMs), Meeting and Event Managers (MEM’s) and Meeting and Event Coordinators (MEC’s)
• Identify and implement staff training needs, develop goals and personal performance objectives (PPO’s), and evaluate and coach employees for optimum staff performance
• Manage relationships between client and internal MEM by facilitating discussions to identify needs and implement appropriate retention and satisfaction measures
• Work closely with other operation managers, the Regional Vice President of Strategic Account Management, and the Vice President of Meeting Planning to develop, implement, and track departmental monthly forecast.
• Assist in company sales efforts by creating and compiling targeted sales materials and participating in sales calls
• Collaborate with Experient leadership on the strategic development and creation of an ongoing Government Event Planning Team including implementation of meeting planning and accounting processes in compliance with.

• Provided employees initial and on-going training in job specific responsibilities and Experient procedures
• Monitored performance of meeting and event managers and meeting and event coordinators through proofreading, editing, providing recommendations, and reviewing account status
• Assisted employees with problem resolution and brainstorming solutions and strategies for clients
• Maintained previous responsibilities as MEM for up to seven accounts ranging in size from 1,300 to 7,500 attendees

• Organized and managed meeting details with clients to create, refine, and effectively communicate written meeting specifications throughout the planning process for meetings ranging in size from 300 to 6,500 attendees
• Provided clients with creative solutions to improve meeting quality and reduce liabilities, implement and monitor budgets, and provide comprehensive post-convention analysis and recommendations
• Recommended and managed supplier products and services by producing thorough RFPs and analyzing and negotiating bids, fair pricing, contract terms, and vendor services; monitored timeliness and quality of vendor.
• Provided on-site leadership and support during meetings to ensure all functions occurred as planned while monitoring performance levels, anticipating and resolving on-site challenges, and managing and directing other.
• Reviewed and approved final hotel and supplier invoices; disputed billing discrepancies

• Managed meeting logistics including site inspections and selection, preparation and analysis of RFPs, contract negotiations, set-up requirements, food and beverage selections, and audio-visual requests for events.
• Implemented event logistics, hotel and vendor communications, and on-site troubleshooting
• Prepared a two-million dollar budget, including independent tracking of expenses and coordination with internal departments, reporting projections, and identifying $180,000 in savings for fiscal year 2002
• Acted as liaison with the exhibit management company and general service contractor by forwarding exhibitor leads and communicating exhibit hall layout and décor preferences
• Initiated the reorganization of the recruitment and management of a 200-person volunteer program necessary to fulfill on-site staffing requirements
• Coordinated affiliate group requests, approvals, and reservation confirmations for meeting space and hospitality suites

• Solicited, booked, and managed food and beverage, audio-visual, and facility set-up requirements for meetings and events for corporate, government and individual clients
• Oversaw daily hotel operations, guest services, and employee relations while Manager-on-Duty
• Coordinated 1999 Annual Employee Holiday Party and Bi-annual General Staff Meeting