Laurel Challet Axelrod, Cmm, Citp Email & Phone Number

Costa Mesa, California, United States

While continuing to operate programs, I supervise and provide support to Account Managers, Coordinators, Independent Contractors, and Event Staff; facilitate day-to-day functions of Operations Department; and assist with training and onboarding of new department employees.

• Managed all hotel related aspects of events from 5 to 500 attendees, including blocking rooms and meeting space; planning menus and theme parties; coordinating off-site events and optional activities; and negotiating.
• Conducted site inspection and planning trips with clients to determine the best activities, venues, restaurants and meeting space to accomplish the program and client’s goals.
• Created project plan for all events, guiding cross functional team toward goals and ensuring client needs were met.
• On-site lead manager for events with as many as 2,300 attendees, remaining in constant contact with clients and quickly responding to inquiries and resolving any issues that arise.
• Met with clients on an individual basis to determine program needs and establish guidelines for attaining goals.
• Wrote, proofread, and edited program of events (day-to-day schedule) for all events.

• ADMINSTRATION
• Provided high level administrative support with positive attitude to VP Sales, VP Training, President, and 10+ outside sales representatives.
• Diplomatically screened and handled calls from business owners and key executives, solving problems, connecting people, and saving bosses countless hours.
• Managed busy calendars for several senior executives.
• Used expert level typing, composing and proofreading skills to create professional correspondence.COST REDUCTIONS
• After reduction in force, assumed Director of Seminar Operations duties in addition to existing duties, and made immediate cost reduction recommendations resulting in annual savings of $75K.

• Controlled trade show calendar of 25 shows, comprising of exhibitor registration, booth shipment, and assigning staff roles.
• Using Survey Monkey and other tools, designed and administered surveys to collect participant feedback.
• International event planning in locations as far reaching as the Mediterranean, Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico and South Africa.
• Traveled 25% of time, both domestically and internationally, understanding needs of travelers and cultural diversity.
• Comfortable speaking to audiences from 1-100+ in size.

• Managed all hotel related aspects of events from 5 to 2300 attendees, including blocking rooms and meeting space; planning menus and theme parties; coordinating off-site events and optional activities; and negotiating.
• Coordinated mass mailing of event packets to 1000's of attendees in a timely manner.
• Created project plan for all events, guiding cross functional team toward goals and ensuring client needs were met.
• Debriefed with client after each event and used feedback to assess staff and make program improvements for future events.
• On-site lead manager for events with as many as 1,600 attendees, remaining in constant contact with clients and quickly responding to inquiries and resolving any issues that arise.
• Partnered with sales executives in procuring and retaining clients.

Organized schedules for team of six instructors, reserving class/meeting space at various local facilities. Received registration documentation and tracked enrollment numbers for each course.

Destination Management Company: Directed program registration for corporate, association, and incentive programs, with groups ranging from 20 to 1,500 attendees. Organized transportation and completed restaurant reservations. Provided administrative training to other coordinators.