CHARLES A. PAPA
Arlington,VA
Summary
High-level entrepreneurial strategist, leveraging communication, organization, process management, and team-building strengths to develop complex, engaging live and digital events. Liaise directly with VIPs of Fortune 100 companies, high net-worth individuals, heads of state, and cabinet-level officials to ensure positive experiences. Engage and motivate diverse teams of vendors and co-workers. Meet tight deadlines and maintain budget and attendee experiences. Collaborate cross-functionally with key stakeholders, including CEO/C-suite, board of directors, volunteer leaders, and team members/co-workers by utilizing communication, leadership, coaching, and problem-solving strengths-contract Specialist with keenly focused negotiation skills. Calm under pressure. Adept in managing fast-paced working environments. Best known for facilitating experiential learning environments and conference design, emphasizing technology and environmental impacts on attendees.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Director
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
- Launched organizational meetings management consolidation and leveraged cost savings to improve client services
- Established standardized hotel contracts with major hotel chains to strengthen cost controls and legal requirements and streamline the review process
- Revitalized departmental intranet site to broaden client access and expand services
- Devised request for proposal (RFP) site selection utilizing 3rd-party providers to increase capacity
CEO / Owner
EVENTIVE SOLUTIONS LLC
01.2020 - Current
- Company Overview: Business event management service provider, delivering dynamic, cost-effective live, virtual, and hybrid events that increase ROI and meet KPI measures
- Business event management service provider, delivering dynamic, cost-effective live, virtual, and hybrid events that increase ROI and meet KPI measures
Senior Director of Education and Events
TEXTILE RENTAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION
01.2021 - 01.2023
- As the Senior Director of Education and Events, provide strategic leadership in aligning educational programs and events with the Association's mission
- Working closely with senior executives, Meetings, and Marketing departments, ensure the seamless execution of events and educational programs by overseeing budget, timeline, and performance targets
- Key Contributions:
- Streamlined the process of procuring subject matter experts and keynote speakers, resulting in a more effective content management program
- Co-developed a hotel contracting tracking process to manage attrition and cancellation options, reducing financial exposure risks
- Created a Risk Management plan for onsite operations, improving the overall safety process for event staff and attendees
Senior Director Meetings and Events - Office of CEO
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
01.2015 - 01.2020
- Led, organized, and manage VIP and executive-level meetings, conferences, events, and board programs
- Oversee all facets of programming and advise departments with global expertise and resources
- Liaise with organizational leadership, board, volunteers, and supplier industry representatives
- Collaborate with multiple interdepartmental teams to design and execute team strategy conferences
- Co-wrote organizational Contract Addendum with General Counsel Office to ensure legal priorities were met and that contracts complied with grant reporting mandates
- Developed operational, strategic plan for hotel, vendors, and conference team during annual 500+ attendee Volunteer Leadership Summit and Board of Director events, limiting risk, increasing safety, devising experiential learning options, and improving return on investment and ROE
- Spearheaded implementation of CVENT registration platform overseeing RFI / RFP processes, including API integration, marketing template design, pilot program rollout, and negotiating a multi-year contract with a phased implementation
- Implemented Third-party Vendor management strategies for cost-effective delivery of services, including Audio Visual, Site Selection, Content Creation/Delivery, and Conference Services Hotel/Venues
- Enhanced revenue generation strategies for the annual Volunteer Leadership Summit to increase revenue year-over-year utilizing direct and social media channels
- Mitigated risk and financial exposure to Covid and Force Majeure penalties, eliminating $400K in damages fees
- Achieved significant cost reductions in $750K - $1m plus budget for annual volunteer conference establishing cost controls in food and beverage, technology, and vendor management
- Assessed and maintained Key Performance Indicators (KPI) criteria to achieve target financial Return on Investment (ROI) of 5-7% as well as attendance goal measures for Return on Experience (ROE) utilizing data-centric analysis
- Slashed audiovisual services costs by 25%+ for high-profile Annual Volunteer Leadership Summit and large organization-wide conferences with dedicated audio-visual service providers, enhancing ROI, overhauling vendor performance, intensifying image-heavy presentations improving ROE
Director Meeting Management
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
01.2003 - 01.2015
- Led, organized, and manage VIP and executive-level meetings, conferences, events, and board programs
- Oversee all facets of programming and advise departments with global expertise and resources
- Liaise with organizational leadership, board, volunteers, and supplier industry representatives
- Collaborate with multiple interdepartmental teams to design and execute team strategy conferences
- Expanded attendance for high-profile VIP conferences by 10% year-over-year from 2017-2019 by employing Facebook advertising, video messaging, and direct outreach
- Initiated outdoor experiential learning workshops to create environmental learning opportunities, develop content involving complex logistics in domestic/international locations, and advance conservation goals
- Designed Fortune 100 CEO-level and senior management experiences in international destinations
- Providing high-level services to discerning and demanding individuals
- Managed complex personalized experiences for corporate CEO-level individuals, including such companies as Dow, Goldman Sachs, The Coca-Cola Company, Cargill, Caterpillar Inc., JP Morgan Chase & Co., Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B
- De C.V, IBM, PepsiCo, Inc., and other NYSE listed companies
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - History / Political Science
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
Shreveport, LASkills
- Contract Negotiation & Analysis
- Data-driven Management
- Registration Web Site Design
- Cost Effective Budgeting
- Strategic Meetings Management
- Sustainable Meetings
- High-Level CEO/VIP Liaison
- Risk Management
- Experiential Program Content Design
- Digital Event Strategy
- Global Conference Management
- Donor Fundraising Events
- Development Events
- Website and Meeting App Buildout
- Revenue Generation
- Client Relations
- Consulting
- Relationship Management
- Vendor Management
- Effective Team Management
- Coaching
- Goal Setting
Certification
- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
- Digital Event Strategist (DES)
- Certified Event Data Strategist
- Pandemic Compliance Advisor (PCA)
- Member Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)
- Member LGBTQIA Meeting Professionals
Collaborationplatforms
- Outlook
- Zoom
- MS Teams
- Microsoft 365
- Asana
- Slack
- Dropbox
Timeline
Senior Director of Education and Events
TEXTILE RENTAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION
01.2021 - 01.2023
CEO / Owner
EVENTIVE SOLUTIONS LLC
01.2020 - Current
Senior Director Meetings and Events - Office of CEO
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
01.2015 - 01.2020
Director Meeting Management
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
01.2003 - 01.2015
Assistant Director
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - History / Political Science
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
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