Carolyn Wheeler Email & Phone Number

Volunteer-driven role as a member of the Curation Committee responsible for selecting speakers for TEDxLasVegas scheduled for April 2025.

Las Vegas, Nv, Us

Leads the property’s Community Relations and Engagement programs including philanthropic, volunteer and employee fundraising campaigns. Oversees the building of collaborative partnerships with non-profit in Southern Nevada and driving thought leadership initiatives for the Mirage/Hard Rock brand. Plays a key role in advancing internal team member communications that capture and inform team members about all aspects of the property through mobile apps, signage and electronic communications including operational updates, guest experience, loyalty program education, HR initiatives and Culture.• Oversees the training of department leaders to increase content and usage of mobile app communications tool.• Developed fundraising activities for Employee Assistance Fund with more than $32,000 raised the first year.• Conceptualized and oversaw guest facing and employee facing activations and communications during Hard Rock’s signature campaign, Pinktober, to raise more than $88,000 for the American Cancer Society year one for The Mirage.• Developed strategy for community giving program including standardizing the grant application process to maximize impact.• Member of The Mirage closing team responsible for transitioning 3,300 employees to new roles within the company and the community. • Responsible for overseeing workforce workshops, hiring events, and asset donations in anticipation of The Mirage closing on July 17, 2024.

Responsible for building value, strengthening awareness, increasing membership, and driving the strategic direction for The Downtown Vegas Alliance’s programs and initiatives to influence growth in the downtown Las Vegas business community. I drive thought leadership to connect, collaborate and convene public and private stakeholders on behalf of the 501(c)6 organization to address challenges and create solutions to promote a thriving community in the city’s urban core. •Increased membership by more than 20% within the first 6 months of being in the role and continue to increase by 10% YOY. •Pivoted strategy to provide members with critical resources needed to support businesses during the COVID-19 crisis including the dissemination of stimulus programs, health and safety measures, bulk purchase pricing of PPE and creation of digital content including webinars, policy updates, best practices, and social media tactics for small businesses. •Created marketing campaign that offered a series of interest-based half-day itineraries for Las Vegan’s to enjoy upon the reopening of downtown businesses. With $0 to spend, the campaign generated 600 downloads on our partner app, nearly $600,000 in media value and $1.8 M in PR value. Received an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant from the city of Las Vegas to reboot this campaign and include the utilization of digital twin technology and media buy for Summer 2022.•Led the effort to produce a first of its kind art exhibit to display murals that covered non-essential businesses in downtown Las Vegas during Phase 1 of the pandemic. Proceeds of exhibit support downtown Las Vegas artist grants as well as an artist recovery fund.•Awarded $313,000 ARPA grant from the city of Las Vegas to create a collective impact program designed to build capacity of micro and small minority-owned businesses, build their credit for access to capital and create pathways to corporate diverse supplier programs for contract opportunities.

Las Vegas, Nv, Us

Focused on incorporating marketing, volunteerism, and civic engagement opportunities to solidify company as leading social innovator and philanthropic partner in communities. Set strategic framework for Caesars Foundation and corporate giving programs to integrate business goals for environmental sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, and philanthropy to align with community priorities. Managed corporate social responsibility marketing budget and worked closely with Caesars Foundation treasurer to reconcile grant payments and administrative costs.• Reviewed Caesars Foundation applications and monitored measurable outcome of more than $1,300,000 in grants and evaluated impact and sustainability of support to determine how best to partner with community non-profits. Resulted in more than 80% of grants included governance and volunteer opportunities, which added exponential value to partnerships.• Partnered with corporate departments and property operations to ensure sharing of corporate social responsibility messages with stakeholders including guests, investors, community leaders, and team members through vehicles such as annual reports, public relations, and earned media as well as social strategies and events.• Created a corporate disaster philanthropy plan including a funding roadmap to address support for natural and man-made disasters affecting communities and stakeholders in response to incidents such as Hurricanes Harvey and Maria and the October 1 shooting. • Invited to speak on corporate citizenship programs at key sustainability conferences, including Sustainable Brands and Sustainatopia, as well as serving as guest speaker at UNLV undergraduate and graduate classes.

Las Vegas, Nv, Us

Led regional HERO volunteer program delivering more than 20,000 volunteer hours per year to strengthen the Las Vegas community as a part of the company’s commitment to support markets in which they live and work. Managed team of more than 20 property leaders and partner liaisons to increase volunteer engagement opportunities for nine properties in the Las Vegas region with more than 25,000 team members. • Directed major fundraising campaigns for community partners. Achieved groundbreaking totals by raising $500,000 for United Way of Southern Nevada in 2016 and $120,000 for American Cancer Society in 2017.• Built and executed Caesars SmartHERO program in partnership with Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, which was selected as a finalist for the 2016 NV Governor’s Point of Light Award for Corporate Volunteer Program.

Las Vegas, Nv, Us

Crafted strategic internal communications plan executed across all 37 company properties to reach over 60,000 team members. Focused on ways to reach front-line team members without access to company email addresses by integrating digital communications, signage, and engagement activities. Managed team of communications specialists to ensure timely execution of day-to-day communications, often with rush turn around.• Created “I am Caesars” team member campaign for Caesars Palace 50th Anniversary, utilized by property marketing team to create award-winning consumer promotion and continues to be used in national marketing campaign.• Created integrated marketing campaign for internal employee opinion survey resulting in groundbreaking participation rates (98%) and enterprise-wide implementation. • Launched new brand and marketing strategy for corporate social responsibility framework and messaging for internal audience.• Spearheaded launch of new mobile application allowing team members to access timely information such as schedules and alerts to improve performance and customer experience. Rolled out mobile app tool to all company-owned properties and corporate office with average adoption rate of 35% (ten points higher than industry average). • Concepted idea for cross-departmental, cross-property challenge for Leadership Summit resulting in development of new business channel delivering $1,000,000 in first operating year.• Received 2016 Caesars Award of Excellence for Diversity by inspiring innovation and demonstrating the ability to think outside the box and deliver results.

New York, New York, Us

Executed internal communications, engagement, and community development strategies for over 2,000 employees at The Lakes, Nevada operations center including quarterly town hall meetings, bi-monthly state leadership meetings, recognition activities, as well as diversity initiatives to increase overall engagement. Managed site engagement budget and balanced more than $400,000 in special events, recognition, and diversity expenses.• Partnered with non-profits to identify community needs and evaluate funding programs including more than $1,000,000 in Citi Foundation grants and $800,000 in local contributions to support Las Vegas market while looking for innovative ways to increase impact in community. • Increased number of employee volunteer hours and board member positions as means to position company as leader in community.• Executed and managed CRA goals and requirements as well as submission of appropriate documentation for OCC review.• Recognized by United Way of Southern Nevada as Campaign Coordinator of the Year in 2013 by creating giving campaign raising more than $180,000.• Led the transition in helping 1,100 employees to new employment upon announcement of site closure, including scheduling job fairs, resume, interviewing and financial workshops and collaborated with Workforce Development partners resulting in a success rate of approximately 80%.

Developed partnerships in community to help increase awareness and build sustainability for organization’s mission of empowering students to own their financial future. Partnered with special events manager to deploy fundraising strategies to sell sponsorship packages for events as well as work on logistics and marketing for signature fundraising events.

Served as brand champion and marketing director for Nevada arm of one of nation’s largest dropout prevention agencies. Oversaw day-to-day activities, including public relations, social media, email marketing, and internal/external communications. Assisted with special events, fundraising, partner development, volunteer management, and legislative campaigns.

Worked with clients including Fremont Street Experience, Fitzgeralds, Communities in Schools of Southern Nevada, Dog Country, SourceCheck.com, and NetSol Technologies. Served as marketing consultant for major Las Vegas hospitality groups and start-up companies to develop branding strategies, targeted marketing and advertising plans, competitive analysis, product literature, sales tools, and other communication materials. Worked with NADSAQ listed technology company to oversee all sales and develop marketing materials including website, brochures, and business proposals.

Oversaw development of key marketing documents for major vacation ownership developer including comprehensive industry analysis, detailed sales and lead analyses, focus group studies, and guest surveys. Led development of rebranding strategy as well as inclusive marketing plan for corporation and subsidiaries. Spearheaded development of referral program as well as new marketing initiatives such as lead-generating interactive kiosks and online advertising/lead collecting. Worked closely with executive staff and outside partners such as American Express and Capital One to develop new business partnerships.

Directed development and implementation of strategic marketing programs for leading B2B online travel and meeting planning website including planning and placement of both online and offline media campaigns, email marketing, public relations, trade shows, ad development, collateral production, and interactive sales collateral. Spearheaded branding and marketing plans for core product as well as for new first-to-market product offerings. Provided direction for site enhancements and product development to add value to site for users as well as some minor page development.

Launched workers’ compensation product in state of Nevada and oversaw preparation of comprehensive marketing and advertising plan for Sierra Insurance Group (division of Sierra Health Services).

Las Vegas, Nevada, Us

Supervised two teams comprised of account services, creative, public relations, media, and production on agency’s largest gaming accounts, Luxor Las Vegas and Excalibur Hotel Casino. Developed and executed media and cooperative promotions on national and regional level for both clients. Managed team of account executives and assistant account executives and coordinated work of media, creative, production, and public relations teams. Administered budgets of $18,000,000 (Luxor Las Vegas) and $13,000,000 (Excalibur) for two major gaming accounts.

New York, Ny, Us

Managed creative, media, and production teams on Caesars Atlantic City and Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate accounts in development of new marketing/advertising directions. Worked closely with upper management to develop marketing strategies and positioning statements for new products and services. Managed and reconciled budgets of more than $32,000,000 for major clients of agency.

Master Of Arts - Ma, Urban Leadership

Ba, Sociology