Annual two-day forum for 1100 included a pre-event welcome reception, two days of general sessions and breakouts and a complex attendee dine around. With an elite attendee profile of advertising executives and creative directors, it was critical that all elements from on stage to event logistics embody an element that could impress as this was a group who had definitely been there seen that. Every element including print, signage, transportation, menus, environments were carefully crafted to a very tight budget as the main draw (and primary budget expense) was content / speaker oriented.

My role was lead event manager/producer responsible for event documentation, budget development/management and reconciliation, event design, catering management and overseeing the event production team (registration, housing, transportation, dine around, print and signage, speaker management).

One challenge was in the event experience as the bulk of the budget had been allocated to filming for general session. This group required a bit of a wow factor that was fresh and interesting. I proposed using the outtakes from filming and projecting them onto screens. The entire set was custom designed & built for this event (and rented to us at a negotiated rate) and by moving it to the conference location and using different film stock, we leveraged a variety of different looks and experiences with one set.

Key accomplishments
Developed design for evening event and toleverage it, had the entire set relocated to the conference space to give life to the food and beverage room; retooled a complex budget includingreporting and reconciliation; developed dine around program logisticsfor 1,100 attendees assigned to eleven different restaurants in downtownand a closing reception; managed and directed complex attendee transportation; oversaw speaker management.