Katie Kulp, Cmp, Sepc Email & Phone Number

Bristow, Va, Us

Northern, Virginia, United States

**Customized Event Planning:** Partnering with association, corporate, and non-profit organizations to craft tailored event proposals that align with organizational goals, ensuring a unique and memorable experience for attendees.**Accessible Event Design:** Championing inclusivity by planning and executing accessible events that accommodate diverse needs, ensuring equal participation and an inclusive experience for all attendees.**Sustainable Event Management:** Advocate for eco-friendly practices by implementing green initiatives and sourcing sustainable vendors, reducing environmental impact while maintaining quality and creativity.**Contract Negotiation:** Skillfully negotiate contracts with venues, vendors, and suppliers to secure the best rates and terms, maximizing value and ROI for clients.**Logistical Coordination:** Manage all aspects of event logistics, including venue selection, audiovisual setups, catering, and transportation, ensuring seamless execution from concept to completion.**Client Collaboration:** Foster strong client relationships by becoming an extension of their team. Through open communication, regular updates, and a personalized approach, I work closely with clients to understand their specific needs, objectives, and vision, ensuring trust, satisfaction, and successful outcomes.With a commitment to collaboration and a deep understanding of client needs, I bring a fresh and innovative perspective to event planning. I pride myself on delivering exceptional service, creating engaging experiences, and making each project not only successful but also enjoyable for everyone involved.

Bristow, Virginia, United States

As a dedicated Travel Specialist, I specialize in curating bespoke travel experiences tailored to individual preferences, interests, and budgets. Whether you're dreaming of a magical Disney vacation, an adventurous Universal Studios getaway, or an international journey of discovery, I'm here to bring your travel visions to life.With a expertise in Disney and Universal destinations, I offer insider knowledge and tips to create immersive and memorable experiences that cater to theme park enthusiasts and first-time visitors alike. My passion for exploring new cultures and destinations extends to international travel planning, where I provide expert guidance and meticulous planning for authentic and enriching experiences around the globe.In addition to individual travel planning, I have extensive experience in coordinating group travel arrangements for families, friends, corporate teams, and special interest groups. From managing accommodations and activities to arranging transportation and dining options, I handle all the details to ensure a smooth and enjoyable group travel experience for all participants.What sets me apart as a Travel Specialist is my commitment to creativity, attention to detail, and personalized service. By listening to your needs and desires, I create customized itineraries and provide expert guidance to turn your travel dreams into reality, whether it's a solo adventure, a romantic getaway, or a group expedition.

When you are a part of a small company and something major (such as a pandemic) hits, it is up to all employees to redirect their efforts in ways that will help the company and their clients make the changes necessary to adjust. In the events industry, this meant strategizing the best way possible to turn in-person events virtual and now hybrid. This includes everything from what platform bets fits their conference to training speakers and staff on how to run live and pre-recorded events. It is a change in marketing strategies and communications, and relearning how to engage attendees (especially in the age of Zoom fatigue). The last year, in addition to my role as Venue Sourcing Manager, I have taken on Virtual Event Strategy, Marketing Management, and Event Manager roles. In addition I took on internal responsibilities such as brainstorming how to market virtual services and researching and building business cases for additional services.

I manage an amazing team of dedicated venue sourcing professionals. Together we source hotels for over 3,000 events worldwide for Association, Corporate, Government & Military clients. I also work on other projects within the organization, including our virtual events team, marketing team and I publish our company's bi-monthly newsletter. Since I am an event planner at heart, I also still maintain a few of our event planning clients as well.

Taking this job within the company opened me up to not just planning, but the execution of events onsite. I worked with clients in a variety of industries, managing events from 10-2000 attendees. If it is logistics related, I have done it including, but not limited to: vendor negotiation and management, working with hotels including rooming lists, menu selection and BEOs, budget management, transportation, childcare, audio visual management, speaker management and more. Working in this role, I earned Employee of the Quarter and had one of the highest client retention rates in the company.

Dumfries, Va

In my first position on 'the other side' of event planning, I did logistical planning for over 250 events per year for an Army program. These events ranged from 10-100 soldiers, spouses and their families for 1-3 day training events. In this role I worked with hotels and other venues, transportation, childcare and curriculum vendors to provide a smooth and well run program. As I did not go onsite for these programs, it was imperative that everything be arranged perfectly and communication was consistent across all vendors and the client. In this role, I was awarded Employee of the Quarter. I was also able to assist onsite with other programs within the organization for events up to 3,000 attendees.

In this role I continued in my Senior Catering Sales Role for Marriott, earning new and maintaining returning social and local catering clients. This was both a proactive and reactive sales role and included tasks such as menu and proposal development, sales calls - phone and in person and account management.

Having worked diligently and successfully through the recession, I was promoted to Senior Catering Sales Executive, earning more responsibilities such as training and goal setting, as well as working with high-touch clients. In this role, i booked over 3.5 million dollars in revenue, earning me recognition as a top 3 in catering sales revenue for the Mid-Atlantic market. This also lead to me achieving a Pinnacle sales award (two-time winner of Marriott International's Chairman's Circle). I also took on roles such as Marriott Mid-Atlantic Region Catering Liaison to our regional marketing team. In this role I helped to develop market-wide initiatives and marketing material. I also took part in a task force, helping to advise Marriott International on a new corporate-wide sales and event system.

I entered this role in a post-Sales Force One era. Roles had changed drastically from what they were before, and as such, we were able to help develop what these new roles and responsibilities looked like. During my time in as Catering Sales Executive, I booked social (wedding, party, family reunion) and local catering (10 rooms or less) business as well as managing affiliate bookings for large group business. My dedication to this job lead to me earning Leader of the Quarter and an added responsibility of Subject Matter Expert for our hotels in regards to our sales platform. I booked 4.5 million dollars in revenue, which in turn earned me a top Marriott sales award- Chairman's Circle.

In my first sales role, I was in charge of proactively selling the government and SMERF market for two sister properties. I was in this role for a few months before the restructuring of the company sales team lead to it being eliminated. In my time there, I spoke with over 250 new accounts and helped to increase government room nights by 230%. I also developed and implemented several pieces of marketing collateral including promotional flyers and tradeshow displays.

I assisted managers in organization and efficiency by taking on projects such as contracts, letters, creative proposals, and keeping track of their day to day activities. I was also responsible for greeting potential guests on the phone and in-person as well and qualified and dispersed leads from various sources. I trained others in computer programs and day to day tasks. In August 2006 I was endorsed by Manager Candidacy Review Board leading to my promotion to manager a few months later.

As a front desk agent, I acted as hotel ambassador for guests and potential guests. I was responsible for customer service and guest assistance as well as up-selling of rooms.

M- Psychology, M- Sociology, Child, Research, And Sociology

Activities and Societies: Gamma Sigma Sigma (Community Service Sorority), Psi Chi (Psychology Honors Society), Alpha Kappa Delta.

Mba, Marketing