Work Experience.
Joining the Georgia Chapter of the CF Foundation, I had the perfect opportunity to combine my area of expertise (events) with my passion to do something for a greater purpose.
A month or so into this new job, our Executive Director resigned. The leadership of the chapter was up in the air, but we all focused on our responsibilities, and our ship sailed smoothly.
As a Coordinator, my first event was Super Splash--a long-running metro swim-a-thon among summer swim teams. Simultaneously, I supported a Director for several fall events. About three months into my Coordinator role, this Director fell ill and I assumed her responsibilities, including the 20th Annual 65 Roses Ball , the chapter's signature black tie gala. A few months later, I was promoted to the Director position officially, though I had already assumed the duties mid-summer.
My "baby" of 2004 was the Dominique Wilkins' Drive for a Cure elite basketball tournament. Initiated by our former Executive Director, this event fell into my lap due to my sports background. This tournament involved basketball legends such as Dominique Wilkins, Ralph Sampson, Teresa Edwards, Wes Matthews, Roger Kaiser, Walt Bellamy, Charlie Criss, and other Celebrity Coaches who led our teams to victory. The event was a true success, raising over $35k--$10,000 more than projected!
I'm looking forward to improving upon my events in 2005 as I add several walks to my portfolio. Working with the CFF has been a great opportunity with a top-notch non-profit. Rated as the "top charity you can trust" by SmartMoney magazine, the CF Foundation puts 90% of every dollar raised directly into the research efforts to provide a cure or control for CF. With only a 10% operations budget, planning exciting events has definitely been a challenge!
As a trainee in the Corporate Sales department of the Braves, I became part of a world-class baseball team. Our department was responsible for securing high-profile sponsorships from major companies. My responsibilities ranged from proposal design to account activation. Our sponsors included many national brands such as Bellsouth, Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch, The Home Depot, Russell Athletic, Allstate, Viagra, Cingular Wireless, and many more. I worked with these sponsors on a daily basis to fulfill the elements supplied in their agreements, whether it be a field visit, first pitch, gate giveaway, or product-related promotion.
One of my significant duties was managing the signage inventory throughout Turner Field. Working with ANC Sports, I scheduled behind-the-plate and baseline rotations for each game so that our sponsors would receive accurate exposure throughout each televised game. Running monthly exposure and billing reports for each game was also a task I completed each month for our sponsors. Additionally, I maintained an inventory database of each sponsor's stadium signage to track condition, maintenance, and visibility.
I also developed a contact database for our department to maintain our communication records and sponsor elements in one central location that the entire department could access. The project proved a challenge, but the end result was something the department will be able to utilize for a long time, and it will streamline all departmental operations, reducing confusion.
Additional duties included support of all promotions at Turner Field, daily research for sponsor news clips, scheduling event photographers and maintaining image library, prospecting potential partners, receiving/distributing agreements, and filing departmental invoices.
I also helped to plan and manage annual sponsorship events such as the 2003 Opening Day Party, with over 1,000 attendees. Sponsors were invited to enjoy a catered tailgate to kick off the season. Also, the annual golf tournament fell into my hands, and I helped coordinate volunteers, signage, hospitality, and players.
A beautiful facility graced by the memory of Payne Stewart, the voice of Bob Costas, and greatness of Stan Musial, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is a tribute to the history of Missouri athletics. From bass fishing to tennis, from stock car racing to golf, and from college basketball to professional wrestling, the Hall of Fame has it all! The Hall is dedicated to recognizing and continuing the greatness of Missouri athletes.
The highlight of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is the annual enshrinement banquet. Sports fans enjoy a meet and greet reception with inductees, videos recognizing each inductee's accomplishments in Missouri Sports, and speeches by each inductee all taking place over a full-course meal.
At the start of each sport season, the HOF hosts a kick-off luncheon and inducts a related player as a Missouri Sports Legend. These luncheons draw several hundred guests who come out to meet celebrities such as Buck O'Neil and Ozzie Smith.
The Hall also sponsors several celebrity golf tournaments each spring. Players get the opportunity to play a round of golf with Missouri sports heroes such as Grant Wistrom, Stan Musial, and Bernie Federko.
Other events such as the annual Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) Games and Hill of Fame 5k Run are also hosted by the staff. The Sports Hall of Fame also conducts annual celebrity golf tournaments throughout Missouri that raise funds for the Hall and associated charities. In addition to these events, the Hall is available for rental for parties, meetings, and other events.
My responsibilities included execution and evaluation of marketing pieces, supervising interns, event set-up, gift sales, and coordinating hospitality, among others. I also created menus for corporate events, developed equipment/event proposals, hosted corporate events, and managed the museum facility. On weekends, I was responsible for all operations at the Hall of Fame including admissions, facility management, event management, administration, and guest relations. My experience at the HOF propelled me into the world of sports marketing and event planning. It was at the Hall that I realized my affinity for taking a project in its early stage and seeing it actualize as a successful product.
As an intern with the Nitros
Baseball Club
in Wellsville, New York, I was involved with all
operations of the New York Collegiate Baseball League
team. Some duties included program ad sales, community relations, on-field
promotions, managing the concessions and ticket sales staffs, updating the web
site, and team transportation to away games.
This season proved to be a unique one for the Nitros, as a major sponsor of the team throughout its existence has been Adelphia Communications and John Rigas. The indictment of the Rigas family due to off-balance-sheet accounting issues with Adelphia gave way for many uncertainties for the Nitros. The management successfully made it through the season with the lack of funds, and the Nitros ended the season in first place of the Western Division.
A parallel league to the Cape Cod League, the NYCBL is a major scouting ground for major and minor league teams. Top-notch college players from across the United States are recruited to play in the top summer league to prove their talent with wooden bats.
Working with Nitros was a unique experience. Due to the small size of the organization, I found myself wearing many hats throughout the summer. Though playing "Mom" to 25 college-aged boys got old after ten weeks, I enjoyed the atmosphere of summer baseball and the support of the community. The area was small enough that I was able to be involved with all aspects of the community and broadened my horizons by venturing to Western New York State.
As an intern with the PCC Championship, I was involved with the extensive planning that goes into putting on a major golf event. As a part of the PGA Buy.com Tour (previously the Nike Tour and currently the Nationwide Tour), this stop is hailed as one of the favorites among tour players, and we boast one of the largest crowds throughout the week. Additionally, over $500,000 is given to Ozarks area charities each year from this event. This tournament is one of the few stops on the tour that has existed over 10 years.
I was involved with vendors, drafted sales proposals, assisted with volunteer coordination, and coordinated signage requirements. I also had the opportunity to participate in sales meetings with corporate sponsors and supporters of the tournament.
Emerald Park is a neighborhood development that operates its own swimming pool throughout the summer season. As manager of this facility, I hired and trained the staff consisting of five lifeguards and two head lifeguards/assistant managers. I was notified of my hire approximately one week before the pool's scheduled opening--giving me a very short time to put a suitable staff into place. Also, the pool's maintenance was outsourced to a company that gave little attention to our facility. Unfortunately, this created a major problem for me and the operations of the pool. The pool's chemical balance was an absolute headache, and never actually turned around until mid-July. Nevertheless, we planned holiday events and held monthly staff meetings. We had some troublesome staff, and I had my first experience at terminating someone.
I did not realize at the onset of my position what I was getting myself into. The previous year was an absolute disaster as there was no real fence around the pool. Every morning lifeguards would find things thrown into the pool and other vandalism. Items such as picnic tables, planters, lounge chairs, and rocks would be found on the bottom of the pool. The problems of Summer 2000 greatly affected our operations the following year. I enforced strict behavior policies at the pool and monitored the professionalism of my staff. I am happy to report that there was no vandalism to the facility and the pool staff was appreciated repeatedly, making the 2001 season a huge improvement over the previous years.
During the summers the local park board hosts day camps for children of all ages. I was named the director of Camp E.C.O. and was responsible for several counselors and over 75 kids each day. My duties included setting the weekly activity schedule, planning field trips, organizing crafts, ordering supplies, registration, parent relations, and budget functions. Some of our activities included cave tours, nature trails, go-carts, miniature golf, outdoor adventure, sports, and weekly swimming.
As a reservationist at Wildwater rafting company in Long Creek, South Carolina, I represented the company as a contact for interested guests. Selling rafting trips, accommodations, and meal packages were essential to my job. I was also involved with guest relations, retail sales, and administrative duties while securing reservations on 4 rivers in the Southeast on a functional database network system. This small corporation was a great learning experience as it was owned and operated by a small family who had continued to successfully operate on four major rivers in the region. The company is known for its professional staff and wonderful attitudes. The Chattooga River (site for the filming of acclaimed film "Deliverance" starring Jon Voight and Burt Reynolds) is a premier rafting experience, one of the few in the southeastern United States.
