Laura Simmons Email & Phone Number

San Jose, Ca, Us

San Jose, Ca, Us

Responsible for the strategic direction and execution of all content for Cisco Live, the leading educational event for IT professionals including keynotes, partner content, customer success stories, executive programs, and technical education. Lead cross-function collaboration to align with customer needs and Cisco business priorities, driving demand generation and business value. Develop cutting-edge content, utilizing new digital platforms, to attract key audiences. Create persona-based programs targeted to specific audiences. Define clear metrics, KPIs and measurements of success for each project. Create the strategy to support key corporate initiatives that come to life through storytelling in our keynotes, messaging, attendee communications and event experience.Direct evolution of the digital platform to support virtual events. Develop content to support both in-person and virtual education. Evolve the On Demand platform to support year-round content. Develop monetization strategies for digital events. Cisco Live has won numerous awards including Best Pandemic Era Digital Event (B2B) 2020 and Best Pandemic Pivot Digital Event (B2B) from Event Marketer. Manage highly matrixed team of 9 and 80+ content leads across the organization to represent Cisco’s priorities to customers.

Responsible for Cisco Live conference content strategy, driving cross-functional collaboration across a variety of organizations to create comprehensive program for customers. Lead the development of the educational framework, agenda, and incubated ideas for new programs to enhance the event for existing audiences and new audiences. Identified and drove the measurement program for evaluating the effectiveness of the annual educational program. Created new programs for targeted audiences, such as IT executives, that increased attendance. Oversaw the process and content tools required to manage a complex, global program.

Armonk, New York, Ny, Us

Developed and implemented a strategy for the educational content offered at IBM's customer event, IOD and Cognos Forum, Cognos’ annual customer conference. Created the content strategy, agenda framework, and content management process, as well as managed the speaker relationships. Directed internal conference committee and presented strategy to key stakeholders. Identified key messages and themes for promotion in marketing campaign deliverables. Managed portions of the budget as related to educational program expenses.

Worked with clients who produced a variety of global events, ranging large high-tech conferences to focused, high-level content-driven events. Clients include Cisco Systems, WingateWeb, AMD and Hyperion. Responsible for overall program and project management of an account working directly with client representatives and account teams. Managed software deployment to meet business requirements and industry best practices. Managed and maintained overall global program project timelines, budgets, and deliverables from various members of the account team. Directed content development, provided expertise on conference structure, created schedule, managed speaker recruitment, managed keynote speakers, created call for presentation structure, created strategies for advisory committee.

Account manager for the TI Developer Conference. Responsibilities included overseeing all aspects of the event, including budget development and management, content development, sales, operations, marketing, registration and web content. Successfully met all objectives including financial and attendee goals.

Drove the creation of strategic plans that include branding, technical documentation, promotion and marketing for Micro Forte, the Australian Game Developers Conference (AGDC) and the Game Developers Association of Australian (GDAA). Responsible for the branding of the BigWorld multiplayer technology. Directed business development opportunities including identifying opportunities, creating proposals and pitching ideas. Developed and built online strategy for various projects including Micro Forte’s titles and the BigWorld technology. Directed and developed partnerships both in the community and internationally.Served as General Manager of the Australian Game Developer Conference, driving sponsorships, attendance and content program. Increased sponsorship and attendance by 40%.

Us

Responsible for creation, direction, development, and strategic implementation of events including NetWorld+Interop and Java Business Expo that resulted in over 8500 delegates, 700 speakers and revenues exceeding $14 million. • Served as product manager for networking, wireless and developer events by creating concept of events, developing milestones and managing process through execution.• Built relationships with key clients to direct, design and manage developer events such as Intel Developer Forum, JavaOne and Bluetooth Developer Conference.• Recognized, investigated and addressed IT industry needs by creating technical educational programs to enhance attendee knowledge of cutting-edge topics.• Defined marketing goals for target audience.• Managed keynote program that involved identifying and recruiting leading executive speakers. Managed key messages and served as main point of contact for keynotes and their staff.• Created marketing content for direct mail and web collateral.• Controlled budgets of over $2.5 million.

Managed the planning, development, and strategic implementation for all activities for conference programs for E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) and Interactive Multimedia Association Expo. Responsible for conferences with over 2800 delegates, 300 speakers and revenues of over $600,000 in 1996. Increased attendance at E3 conference program by 40%. Launched IMA Conference program attracting over 500 industry attendees.