Plan, organize, manage, and evaluate more than 40 public special events and visitorprograms for diverse public audiences. Develop events that reflect the Arboretum’s mission,expand its audience, generate revenue, and drive attendance in key seasons.- Oversee the creation, planning, organization, management, evaluation, and budgets ofevents and programs that are strategically appropriate, advance the Arboretum’s missionand goals, and recruit new and larger audiences. Examples include races, music festivals,theater performances, plant shows, and dining events.- Develop new events that increase revenue, are appropriate to the Arboretum’s mission,and expand the Arboretum’s audience. Work closely with Marketing and VisitorPrograms departments to identify potential event ideas.- Evaluate all special events based on visitor experience, revenue and expenses, logisticalneeds, and overall fit with the Arboretum’s mission. Use event evaluations to shape theoverall special events portfolio at the Arboretum.- Lead other Arboretum staff in the planning, implementation, evaluation, and promotionof all special events and programs. This includes communicating all set-up requirementsto the appropriate staff, coordinating volunteer needs, ensuring the timely creation of allgraphic design pieces, and working closely with catering staff to create effective diningexperiences.- Supervise the Special Events Coordinators and Group Tour Coordinator. Duties includerecruitment and selection, scheduling and job assignments, performance feedback, andstaff development and training in keeping with the Arboretum’s policies and procedures.- Oversee the Arboretum’s Group Tour program to achieve revenue goals and provideoutstanding visitor experiences.- Support other Arboretum programs as needed including event coordination, contractingwith vendors, and communicating with other staff and volunteers as needed.

-- Prospected, consulted with, and closed local merchants on compelling offers for our subscribers based on each business’s products & services-- Identified new and creative businesses & activities to be featured, expanding the range of offers for our subscribers-- Presented Groupon as a unique alternative for businesses to utilize as a way of acquiring new customers

-- Generated two brand new events-- Solicited sponsorships from corporations, small businesses and individuals for multiple Relay For Life events-- Cultivated and managed relationship with over 3,000 donors, participants and volunteers-- Community organizing, relationship building, fundraising for Relay For Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer-- Identified key strengths and develop creative strategies to recruit volunteers-- Motivated and encouraged teams and participants to understand the importance of fundraising and accomplishing goals-- Identified key opportunities for the development of Cancer Programs and assist with execution of Division-led marketing communications, media relations and advocacy strategies-- Coached and mentored committees through assisting them in training, recruitment and fundraising efforts-- Developed copy including press releases, key messages, web sites, presentations and materials for distribution-- Managed event websites and social media sites for all DuPage Region income events and motivated staff to be creative in using the websites

-- Managed relationships with AT&T marketing managers-- Created and implemented media strategies to meet client needs-- Developed copy for clients including press releases, key messages, talking points, trade articles, Web sites, presentations and materials for distribution, monitored and researched top-tier papers, consumer and trade publications, online forums and new media to identify client opportunities and issues.

-- Monitored and compiled summaries and media analyses that assisted in dictating grass roots marketing strategies for clients.-- Conducted primary research on employee satisfaction of the Fleishman-Hillard University Program-- Analyzed findings from internal research and provided strategic recommendations on way to improve the program-- Facilitated focus groups and analyzed findings

-- Developed press releases and marketing materials for distribution-- Managed committee who planned and executed the Aspire Children’s Services Annual Luncheon & Fashion Show.-- Solicited over $8,000 of monetary and in-kind donations to benefit the Fashion Show and Luncheon