Michelle Dowd Email and Phone Number

Advise and consult on employee engagement strategy, including managing internal communications, employer branding, and events. People Leader of Engagement and Guest Services Associate.

Develop and manage strategy and implementation of all company-wide events (live/virtual/hybrid) annually, with a goal of enhancing culture and driving brand mission.

June 2021 - Present | Virtual AssistantWork with creative and wedding industry professionals to maximize their time and streamline efficiencies within their business.April 2015 - November 2019 | Wedding Designer + PlannerFounder of Atlanta-based Wedding Planning company, BURKE | DESIGN + PLANNING, offering full-service creative wedding and event design services to couples. *featured in: STYLEMEPRETTY Living, Camille Styles, Trendy Bride and More.

Led strategic omni-channel marketing initatives for Social Occassion tradeshow markets while also managing and executing total-event strategy for all Apparel tradeshow markets. Effectively transformed brand identify through development of long and short term strategies with a goal of positioning brand more competitively, leading to record retention rates, strategized on and develop co-branded sponsored marketing and event programs with key channel partners, and managed and optimized a cross-functional customer-centric marketing channel strategy to build B2B and B2C experiences into all channels.

Produced and managed logistics of annual calendar of events (tradeshows, trainings, special events), traveling onsite to execute each event. Responsible for:• Event Schedule• Management of all Logistics• Venue Research and Selection• Creative Design of Receptions• Vendor Coordination• Program Development• Delegate Recruitment

Worked in all phases of meeting planning and execution including research/site visits and selection, negotiations, planning and final on-site execution of all meetings and events for IAMC.

• Production & Stage Management• VIP hospitality• Vendor Loading• Crowd Control• Site set-up and break down• Creative problem solvingEvents Worked Include:• The Grady Foundation Rock-N-Ride (2012)• The Little 5 Points Halloween Festival (2013, 2014)• Atlanta Pride (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)

Developed and produced Travel Incentive and Meeting programs, alongside Account Manager, with leading national companies (clients included, but were not limited to, AT&T, Sharp Electronics and Merck), providing total customer service to clients and their participants.

Worked alongside the Special Events Manager to develop and plan all aspects of two key fundraising evens: 1) Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride and 2) Muckruckus MS. Responsibilities included, but were not limited to the following: • Assist with the creation of Bike MS route• Secure break points along the route• Attend meetings with vendors and site contacts• Assist with the creation of various manuals• Keep budget book updated• Assist with logistics for Muckruckus• Attend meetings with partner event companies• Write donation request letters/grants• Campaign planning for future events• Assist with the creation of future budgets

SpectrumPR is a student based PR agency through PRSSA at Georgia College. Spectrum is unique because it takes on real-life clients from the Georgia College campus and Milledgeville Community. While working with SpectrumPR, I worked primarily on two special events: Survivors in Pink, a tribute event to all of the breast cancer survivors in the Baldwin Co. area and Evening in Excellence, an event dedicated to young at risk women who have achieved excellence through their faith. • Event Design• Creative special event planning• Strategic planning• Media relations• Community relations• Team building