Professional Summary:

Accomplished executive with over 10 years of event planning and arts marketing experience. Planned and
coordinated successful events, parties, fundraisers, and conferences involving budgets of all sizes. Highly organized and efficient, with proven ability to prioritize, handle multiple projects and stay within budget. Excellent communication and negotiation skills with an MBA in marketing and planning.

Professional Experience:

Senior Account Executive
July 2008 to Present

• Coordinated and organized day of activities for multiple weddings
• Worked with numerous vendors to ensure seamless successful events

Event Planner
Biggest Bedtime Story Ever
April 2008

• Organized, coordinated, and planned this celebrity filled family event at the Petersen Events Center with over 5,000 in attendance.
• Worked with over 100 volunteers to ensure a seamless successful event.

Event Planning Committee
Discover Pittsburgh
2005 - 2008

• Worked with planning committee over the past three years to organized and plan this popular annual networking event.
• Event brings representatives from Pittsburgh’s business, cultural, recreational, and educational communities together to offer Young Professionals opportunities to get involved.
  

Director of Marketing and Events
February 2006 to June 2008

• Event planning, budgeting and management for over 60 events per year.
• Events included:
  
  • Annual Spring Gala and Auction fundraiser ($250K) at Heinz Field with over 300 in attendance.
  • Season Shakeup Smart House Party with themed cocktail contest and dancing.
  • Annual Open House at City Theatre with entertainment, tours , games, and food sampling from 7 restaurants.
  • Party at the PPG Aquarium with scavenger hunt and aquatic themed music, cocktails, and food.
• Develop and implement marketing strategy and promotional campaigns for both season subscription and single-ticket buyer segments across all mediums including television, radio, print, direct mail, and web.
  • Increased total single ticket revenue over last 2 years by 260% ($1.45 Million) over previous 2 years
  • Exceeded season single ticket revenue target by 20% in last 2 years
  • Quantity of subscribers increased by 13% and subscriber revenue increased by 11% in last 2 years
• Create overall brand awareness for the theatre and specifically for its productions.
• Create and spearhead grassroots and viral marketing campaigns.
• Oversee website development and maintenance.
• Develop and institute new programs including a blogger night, text message advertising, interactive online play discussions, tele-sales campaign, a 3-play subscription package, a money back guarantee subscription offer, and pre-recorded phone message blasts
• Create new marketing sponsorships with local and national organizations including the Pittsburgh Pirates, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Planned Parenthood.
• Conduct and analyze market research and audience studies to develop marketing strategies designed to build a larger loyal audience base and maintain the current base.
• Develop, monitor and maintain $250,000 marketing budget and project earned income.
• Supervise 9 staff members, including Director of Communications, Patron Services Manger, Sales Manager, Group Sales Associate and box office staff.
• Work closely with over 20 vendors including graphic designer.
• Participate in Board, Executive, Marketing, Business & Finance and senior level management meetings.
• Member of the Strategic Planning Committee and the Greenroom Committee (Young Professionals).

Director of Operations and Events
July 2003 to January 2006

• Event planning, budgeting, and management for over 100 events per year.
• Coordinated theatre ticketing operations (Tessitura/Prologue) and other front of house operations, including maintaining excellent customer service.
• Supervised 15 staff members, including Box Office Manger, Office Manger, and front of house staff.
• Launched a partnership with 15 local restaurants and caterers in which over $100,000 of food and services are donated to the theatre each year.
• As Group Sales Manager, dramatically increased annual group ticket sales from $15,000 to $200,000 yearly.
• Created and organized a new group sales database.

Assistant to the Executive Producer
July 2001 to June 2003

• Worked in conjunction with Development Department on all fundraising events, including $1 million dollar Spring Gala featuring numerous Broadway stars and performances at the Hilton Hotel.
• Liaison between Executive Producer and staff.
• Key member of executive and senior level management strategic planning sessions.
• Integral part of Marketing Committee strategy meetings for the widely acclaimed productions PROOF and THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST’S WIFE on Broadway and all Off-Broadway shows.
• Collaborated with the Marketing Director to report on audience research reports and focus group studies.
• Maintained the budget of two national tours.
• Assisted in the planning, development and restoration of the $35 million historic Biltmore Theatre on Broadway.

General Manager and Director of Events
June 1998 to June 2001

• Planned numerous events including a yearly $500K fundraiser with celebrities including Paul Newman and Gwyneth Paltrow.
• Managed all business facets of operations including negotiation of union and artist contracts, bookkeeping, A/P, A/R, day-to-day management of budget and payroll.
• Collaborated with Producing Manager to develop a comprehensive marketing strategy that effectively promoted the theatre and resulted in significantly increased ticket sales.
• Developed and implemented successful subscription, group sales and single ticket campaigns.
• Managed telemarketing and web-based sales.
• Helped prepare and manage the marketing financial reports and budget.

Awards:

Award for Creative Collaboration – Excellence in Audience Development, 2007 Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Work of Art Awards – Award Finalist

Award for Creative Collaboration – Advances in Capacity Building, 2007 Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Work of Art Awards – Award Finalist

Education:

University of Pittsburgh, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, Pittsburgh, PA

Masters of Business Administration -- Marketing -- current GPA 3.85 -- Deans list for Academic Excellence -- September 2005 - July 2008 (expected graduation).

Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY

Bachelor of Arts -- Magna Cum Laude -- Phi Beta Kappa -- GPA 3.83. Film Major -- Theater Minor.
September 1994 – May 1998.