Merry Coffman Email and Phone Number

My responsibilities include public relations, marketing, group sales, outreach programs, community partnerships, educational programming development, special events, advertising, budgeting and execution, and social media management. Objective is to bring visitors to Pure Florida. Year and year, through many trying times, I effectively achieved that goal.

In this position I developed, marketed and managed all education programming at the Edison Ford Winter Estates along with a team of 2 - 6 employees depending on the time of year. Programs included:Sold out summer camp, hosting over 400 students every summer (sold out summers of 2012, 2013, 2014)Sold out homeschool programs, 6 science classes and 2 history classes total of 160 students each month (sold out every year - had to keep adding classes to accommodate the waiting list)Managed a very successful Art Installation Program with over 50 christmas trees decorated by over 1,000 lee county students and 25 large, kinetic art sculptures every spring for Art in the Gardens created by over 500 Lee County students.Developed School Field Trip programming that became so popular we had to reduce visitation for Field Trips to off-season months.Developed a highly effective outreach program that included science shows, classroom engineering challenges and professional development for County educators.

In this position I assisted the Marketing Director with marketing the destination, advertising and branding with ad layouts, flyers, deadlines, and designs. I started the Edison Ford Membership Program and in my first 6 months raised $40,000. I started the education programming that began with a 3 week summer camp program that I designed, marketed and administered. This was followed by adding an education team who I assisted in developing homeschool programming and toddler programming along with monthly interactive museum programs for children of all ages. I was part of the founding team that implemented the art installations from children; the Children's Tree Trail (December) and Art in the Gardens (April/May). I handled all the outreach, tradeshows, hotel and attraction packages. I assisted in the professionalization of the events department through marketing the destination for weddings, receptions and events and managing the contracts and events on-site. As well, I managed the Annual Antique Car show from being a 60 car show to over 100 antique Ford Cars and a popular annual event for Edison Ford.