Laurie Powers Email & Phone Number

Canada

Waterloo On

Expanding on my previous role, I continue to lead and project manage the program component of corporate events at OpenText in collaboration with diverse global teams and executive leadership. This includes: program design, execution and strategy, breakout session management, speaker management (external and internal speakers) demo and expo planning, staffing, gaming, mobile app & presentation management for all program elements. In addition, I have built and lead a team to support these endeavors and create highly engaging and successful programs.The numbers:2020-Present: Pivot to Digital events - strategized, learned and led 6 digital events on various platforms - a complete re-think of attendee engagement and content creation and production was required!2017-2018: Oversaw the program planning for 11 Corporate events ranging in size from 200 – 4000 attendees around the world (Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and North America). All events were executed within a timeframe of 6 months.Number of breakout/expo sessions: 25 – 500Staffing to run program: 75-700Speaker management: range of 20 - 300 speakers (internal), 10 – 150 external speakers.Focus areas:Planning: Working with diverse global teams from field marketing, product marketing, engineering, sales and executive leadership to develop a program agenda and drive content creation, technical elements and staffing (+training/orientation) for all elements within each event – includes breakout sessions, expo, keynotes, mobile app, gaming and developing new processes based on the unique requirements of each program and polishing past processes to improve results.Event execution – onsite management to execute the programs including smooth running of sessions and content, speaker management, including prominent personalities, and production of large-scale main stages in conjunction with Audio Visual teams and logistics staff.

Waterloo, On

As Manager of Program Planning and then Senior Manager (October 2019), I led and project managed the program component of key corporate events at OpenText in collaboration with diverse global teams and executive leadership. This includes: program design, execution and strategy, breakout session management, speaker management (internal, external customers and guest speakers) demo pod and expo planning, staffing, gamification, mobile app, PowerPoint deck management for all program elements.

Waterloo, Ontario

I successfully manage program planning for key corporate events, specifically I oversee the global program for the OpenText Innovation Tour. Elements of the role include: program design and execution and strategy, breakout session management, demo pod and expo planning, staffing, main stage keynote management & production, orientation and preparing staff prior to the events. I work closely with variety of teams within OpenText including; senior and executive leadership, Creative, regional field marketing teams and sales teams in addition to external participants; customer & partner speakers and A/V suppliers to ensure all elements of the program are executed perfectly, the key objectives of internal stakeholders are met and customers experience a world-class and informative event.

Current Role:-Marketing lead to promote the activities of the Learning Services department and training at the annual user Conference. Strong focus on social media in addition to other marketing tools and relationship-building activities including;community engagement, newsletters, website management. Key skills demonstrated: Creativity, strong interpersonal skills, superb written and verbal communications.- Program manager and team lead for the annual Open Text conference (2005 – present). Successful planning, marketing, management and coordination of 30+ concurrent training sessions, including overseeing vendors, instructors, temp staff, production of materials and set up of 300+ computers. Key skills demonstrated: strong logistical skills, relationship management and leadership, flexibility and diplomacy.- Project lead for Learning Services websites and back-end web systems. Manage the Learning Services area of the Open Text corporate and conference websites and back end system, creation of documentation, train users globally, provide front-line technical support to users, solve problems and puzzles. Key skills demonstrated: Robust problem-solving, negotitaion, multi-tasking and project management skills.Special Project – Canada 3.0 2010 Forum As part of Open Text’s platinum sponsorship of the Canada 3.0 Digital Media Forum (Stratford ON, May 10 – 11, 2010). Responsibilities for this special project included:-Program Management for two key streams of the event– Creating and Learning. This role required working effectively with a diverse group of people from academic, media, government and corporations across Canada, relationship building, leadership, time management and diplomacy to build session panels with substantive content.-Volunteer Management involved the recruitment, assigning of roles and training of program support volunteers pre-event and management of volunteers onsite at the event.

Canadian Society of Technical Analysts, Sept. 2006 – Sept 2008 Part time Contract – Virtual officeKey Achievements and Duties:• Successful management of the society’s website• Timely and accurate monthly financial reporting • Production coordination for the inaugural issue of the Canadian Journal of Technical Analysis.

Marking, Leading seminars, Assisting students:Winter 2008: POLS 3650 Quantitative Research MethodsFall 2007: WMST 1000 Intro to Women’s StudiesWinter 2007: POLS 2150 Gender & PoliticsFall 2006 & 2007: POLS 3370 Environmental Policy & Policy Formation

Executive Search

Planted trees in Alberta.

Ma, Political Science

Activities and Societies: University of Guelph, TA Conference Advisory Council –September 2007 TA Conference University of Guelph.

Post Degree Diploma, Peace And Conflict Studies

Ba, Art History