Liz Diggins, Cmp Email & Phone Number

Franklin, WI, US

Franklin, WI, US

• Serve as the primary contact for clients, ensuring alignment with meeting objectives and fostering strong relationships to promote long-term collaboration.
• Negotiate and manage vendor contracts to ensure performance meets expectations while assessing and recommending venues based on cost and logistics.
• Oversee meeting budgets, including forecasting, expense tracking, and reconciliation, while developing creative strategies that align with client goals and budget constraints.
• Coordinate all logistical elements of meetings, including venue arrangements, audiovisual needs, catering, and transportation, while collaborating with production partners for seamless integration.
• Develop and execute detailed project plans and timelines, manage client portfolios with an emphasis on retention, and lead process planning initiatives to enhance efficiency.
• Optimize operational workflows and enhance event technology by incorporating innovative solutions and conducting cost analysis to identify savings opportunities while adhering to client SLAs.

• Determined and arranged detailed program needs for both in-person and virtual events (i.e. room set-up, function times, audiovisual, menu selections, on-site/off-site events and activities, DMC operations, special.
• Managed between 10-50 meetings at a time; approximately 100 events annually
• Built, monitored and maintained concise and accurate event budgets, maintained strong and creative cost savings ideas.
• Negotiated contracts for venues, DMCs, speakers, catering, entertainment and virtual event vendors
• Responsible for ongoing client satisfaction, service improvement plans, and for creating and maintaining client relationships
• Advised client on best practices and provided suggestions or alternative ideas to make their event successful

Greater Milwaukee Area

• Served as primary client liaison and lead for all meetings and events on long-term, dedicated SMM account
• Assigned and oversaw procurement and planning workload for all 700+ annual client programs
• Identified and resolved challenges for planning team while providing support and training relative to new or revised processes
• Responsible for maintaining and improving sourcing and overall meeting planning processes to ensure Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) adherence and account-specific policy compliance
• Coached and developed direct reports by conducting performance reviews and regular one-on-one meetings
• Analyzed, forecasted and managed financial and operational measures to ensure operational profitability

Caledonia, Wisconsin

• Primary client contact for association’s conference providing weekly reports and conducting regular meetings with conference co-chairs and board
• Sourced and secured space for convention centers, hotels, off-site venues, and third-party vendors
• Managed and maintained all aspects of conference website and online registration tool
• Designed exhibitor/sponsor prospectus providing a more user-friendly experience by providing means to pay for sponsorship and exhibit booths online
• Researched and implemented a customer relationship management (CRM) database to track sales calls and financial records
• Management of all conference logistics including speakers, exhibitors/sponsors, attendee registration, website, marketing (print and electronic), and onsite staff and volunteers

Greater Milwaukee Area

• Responsible for all aspects of strategic meetings management program (SMMP) of multi-billion-dollar aerospace and commercial building systems corporation; primary liaison to client, event venues, and vendors
• Venue sourcing, contract negotiation, menu planning, budgeting, sponsorship coordination, registration site development, audio-visual coordination, e-commerce, transient sourcing, third-party commissions, onsite.
• Identified maximum cost-saving opportunities and streamlined stakeholder processes
• Regarded as an Internet and technology SME among colleagues and clients Accomplishments
• Created comprehensive process flowchart and step-by-step manual for internal and external clients
• Independently negotiated more than $1.75M in client savings in just over two years

Greater Milwaukee Area

• Served as conference and association manager of large annual music education conference that included 150 exhibits, 100 sessions, and 35 band, orchestra and choral performances
• Registered attendance averaged about 2,000, and total conference bodies were estimated at approximately 9,000 including exhibitors, student performers and concert attendees
• Managed client relations including membership, IT/web projects, marketing, conferences/events, financials, project management; 50+ onsite staff/volunteers, and provided continuous new business initiativesAccomplishments
• Directed full revision of client policy and procedures manual for executive committee; created step-by-step conference project timeline, planning committee action list, and comprehensive post-event summary report for.
• Created database for conference management with full integration of conference website/registration

Greater Milwaukee Area

• Planned all event functions for six association clients; estimate of 20 meetings/ conferences on annual basis
• Developed marketing and promotional content across several mediums
• Primary contact to clients and vendors for all event details
• Prepared RFPs and negotiated hotel and vendor contracts
• Created and maintained event budgets
• Researched and coordinated speaker logistics for all conferences

Greater Milwaukee Area

• Served as primary contact for annual conference of 120 speakers
• Provided budget and forecasting insight to management group
• Developed and distributed monthly speaker newsletters
• Designed and maintained database for speakers, moderators, reviewers, and committee members
• Provided marketing content for promotional materials, including Web site and direct mail pieces
• Reviewed and approved design layout of direct mail pieces during production process

Madison, Wisconsin Area

Prepared critical documents for client cases; Organized legal files; Created a more efficient method of identifying the status of attorney files; Planned a 150-attendee worker’s compensation legal conference

Milwaukee, WI

Distributed, reviewed, and summarized group ticket sales surveys; Assisted sales staff with special events and tailgate groups; Coordinated logistics of meeting room rentals with clients and internal staff.