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, budget, and business plans • 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 government regulations, establishing contractor hiring procedures, and staffing a team to provide meeting planning support to government contracts• Maintain responsibility for up to three accounts ranging in size from 1,300 to 7,500 attendees • Chair Experient’s Supplier Review Committee to continuously evaluate supplier partner inquiries and recommend appropriate partnership levels to leadership

• 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 services, including audio-visual and media, general services, destination management, security, temporary staffing, transportation and photography• 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 team members when serving as the lead on-site Conferon representative• 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 ranging in size from 75 to 3,800 attendees • 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• Maintained comprehensive historical records of meeting attendance, domestic and international demographics, exhibit, and awards program statistics and sponsorship income

• 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