Innovative and philanthropically driven program manager who develops meaningful social impact initiatives, events, and programs. An altruistic leader with a history of building strategic partnerships, and communicating with diverse targeted audiences. Talented at curating unique engagement opportunities to connect stakeholders with positive service-driven outcomes to boost enterprise awareness, brand positioning, and drive success. Intentional organizer capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously and adopting emerging technologies to help high-level operations run as smoothly as possible.
Results-driven donor relations professional with strong track record of enhancing donor engagement and fostering long-term partnerships. Skilled in strategic planning, relationship management, and fundraising initiatives. Known for fostering team collaboration and adapting to changing needs to achieve organizational goals. Dependable and focused on delivering impactful outcomes.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EVENTS
Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin
01.2024 - Current
Work in tandem with the recent Director of Development Events to design, implement, and lead the planning and execution of high-profile events including donor recognition events, lectureships, and medical student milestone celebrations to ensure each event aligns with Dell Med’s brand, values, and objectives
Main event organizer for student events: Match Day, Commencement, and the White Coat Ceremony
Support Dell Med leadership, gift officers, students, faculty, and outside speakers in cultivating and stewarding relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporations
Manage event logistics; administer event budgets, negotiate contracts, and build strong relationships with vendors (hotels, venues, caterers, university organizations)
Supervise and coordinate event staff to ensure smooth operations and deliver exceptional attendee experiences
Utilize project management tools to monitor event timelines, track progress, and ensure successful delivery of multiple concurrent events
Track event performance through post-event analysis, and event management software
Lead and develop strategies to increase sponsor engagement and support for events; maintain strong relationships to ensure optimal event execution; collaborate with communications teams to craft event messaging and scripts ensuring a personalized and donor-centric experience
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to successfully execute large-scale events.
Streamlined event logistics for improved efficiency and reduced costs.
Negotiated contracts with vendors and venues, securing favorable terms for the organization.
Spearheaded the development of comprehensive event plans, outlining goals, timelines, and deliverables.
Developed strong working relationships with key stakeholders to ensure alignment on event objectives and deliverables.
Led a team of event coordinators, providing guidance and support in executing successful events.
Evaluated potential risks associated with each event, creating contingency plans to mitigate possible disruptions or challenges.
Managed administrative logistics of events planning, event booking, and event promotions.
Produced concept plans for high-profile corporate meetings and events.
Oversaw event registration process by collecting and tracking attendee information.
Researched vendors and locations, liaised between event staff and facilities and arranged teams to coordinate event setup and teardown.
Oversaw event happenings in progress, answered guest questions, acted quickly to resolve problems and trained and supported [Number] team members and volunteers.
Facilitated effective communication among team members, resulting in smooth operation during high-pressure situations.
Implemented data-driven improvements to future events based on post-event analysis and attendee feedback surveys.
CLIENT SERVICES COORDINATOR
Trove Hospitality, LLC
04.2023 - 11.2023
Planned and coordinated make-ready bachelorette party services; concierge decorating, party planning, and personal shopping for Bachelorette and birthday parties
Procure decoration package kits for each client order (i.e., balloon garlands, photo backdrops, gifting baskets, party favors, and premium add-ons)
Communicate internally and externally to meet client needs and preferences, as well as updates and changes
Collect, organize, and deliver client groceries, as well as arrange items for easy accessibility
Creatively customize, design, and decorate event spaces for safe, user-friendly, fun, and interactive ways
Support colleagues executing large events
Developed strong relationships with clients by providing exceptional customer support and maintaining open lines of communication.
Trained new Client Services Coordinators on best practices by offering hands-on guidance through shadowing sessions and frequent check-ins, fostering a well-informed and cohesive team dynamic.
COMMUNITY MANAGER
Join Parachute
07.2022 - 12.2022
Company Overview: In this medical-technology startup environment, I drove how Parachute engaged with its members and community partners; Parachute's mission is to increase national access to plasma by introducing plasma donation centers to smaller cities across the US
Spearheaded outreach to local small businesses for sponsorships, partnerships, and giveaways; wrote copy for sponsored ads and implementation of giveaways; Responsible for getting four new centers registered with local Chambers of Commerce, organized ribbon-cutting events, and wrote press releases
Consolidate leads generated through marketing initiatives such as giveaways and Facebook Ads
Worked diligently on various presentations, activations, programs, and content ideation with the marketing team
Created and executed strategically targeted engagement tactics for press outreach, social media, job boards, and in-person community groups
Monitored comments and engaged with members across social channels, ensuring alignment with brand tone and voice
Researched scientific and medical information and translated content to be easy for all audiences on company blog pages and FAQ topics
Planned and executed promotional activities to drive community engagement and increase occupancy numbers
Created an 'Employee Ambassador Referral Program' that introduced the company’s mission and business model to center team members' friends and family, and local college campuses
Led community college tabling outreach events; purchased swag items and engaged students through games and giveaway-based interactions
Created a company-wide donation matching initiative for 'Holiday Challenge' promotion in six markets to support each location’s nonprofit
Engaged with internal staff to organize personnel to vote for their favorite local nonprofit to be the beneficiary of Holiday Matching Challenge proceeds
Customer service support via Google Business and Facebook; Got each center verified on Google Maps and Apple Maps
Developed and analyzed a Donor-feedback survey with over 300 responses to learn about motivations for donating plasma
Compiled data with donor-feedback survey analysis and metrics in a detailed presentation format
In this medical-technology startup environment, I drove how Parachute engaged with its members and community partners; Parachute's mission is to increase national access to plasma by introducing plasma donation centers to smaller cities across the US
Developed interactive online platforms for enhancing user engagement and feedback.
Marketed offerings and services to community.
Implemented innovative ideas for community programming, offering unique experiences that attracted new participants.
Cultivated long-lasting relationships with local businesses and nonprofits, expanding networking opportunities and resource sharing options.
Managed social media accounts, effectively promoting community programs and increasing audience reach.
Increased brand awareness through development and implementation of successful public relations campaigns.
PROGRAM LEAD - SMALL BUSINESS SPECIALIST
PeopleFund
08.2021 - 07.2022
Spearheaded the relaunch of the organization's 2nd ever BIPOC Small Business Accelerator Program, an 8-week course funded through multi-million dollar investments from multiple bank partners and Starbucks
Each small business owner received a $3-5,000 grant, as well as a loan up to $50,000
Worked closely with the Lending Department, Underwriting, Department of Philanthropic Partnerships
Administered all aspects of the program including collecting applications from small business owners, and admissions into the program, collected preliminary screening information, compiled documents, data and assisted in loan packaging preparation for potential program participants
Closely supported 40+ selected small business owners to provide streamlined communication between the organization and clients; curated guest speakers to host themed weekly seminars and educational opportunities to build business acumen for funding requirements
I assisted the Lending Dept
In creating client portfolios preparing signing paperwork and allocating of grant funding and loans
Created framework for onboarding program for new borrowers to access education and support services
Worked closely with Risk Mitigation to identify and provide support services to borrowers who may be facing difficulties with repayment
Maintained working knowledge of ongoing small business opportunities and resources
Identified key opportunities for client engagement in external programs, financial and technical through a monthly newsletter
Served as the primary point of contact for MICRO Loan borrowers post-loan in regards to coordinating client support services, and as compliance admin for SBA-regulated programs
Tracked set metrics for job evaluation and community impact monthly, maintained accurate records on the cloud server, and provided data to support the needs of grant and contract reporting
Implemented customer relationship management practices for increased client retention.
Implemented project-based learning experiences that encouraged collaboration among peers while engaging them deeply in subject matter content.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM LEAD - AWARDS & GRANTS
SXSW-South By Southwest
11.2015 - 03.2020
Orchestrated major award events and application-based programs including the Community Service Awards, the Innovation Awards, the David Carr Prize student essay contest, and the professional development Workshops
Supervised and coordinated hundreds of yearly applicants and program finalists; devising and implementing evaluation criteria and hand-selecting/interviewing Advisory Board members to aid selection processes
One of five Department Representatives on the company-wide Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Team
Ordered and arranged all company/event-wide statuettes (±200 3D arrow sculptures) from Society Awards
Spearheaded cross-collaborations with multi-functional departments including Communications, Sales and Exhibitions, Registration, Production, and Planning teams to ensure program/event success
Conducted research and secured entertainment including hosts and presenters for ceremony events during the week of SXSW
One of five programming staff on the Sessions Management Team, charged with monitoring major communications in the Conference Inbox (ZenDesk) acting as point-of-contact for thousands of SXSW speakers and session organizers
Onsite Staff Venue Manager and liaison with hotel staff, mentoring technicians, and volunteers to support event attendees both before and during the SXSW event week
Hosted and presented at Community Meet Ups to boost engagement in Panel-Picker entries, badge purchasing, and networking opportunities for prospective speakers, session organizers, and event attendees
Secured high-profile speakers and panelists, raising the overall prestige of the conference.
Mitigated potential risks by developing comprehensive contingency plans for unforeseen circumstances during conferences.
Monitored industry trends to inform innovative approaches to future event planning initiatives.
Fostered a positive atmosphere among staff and volunteers, contributing to successful event outcomes.
Fostered an engaging atmosphere at conferences by incorporating interactive elements such as live polling or Q&A sessions.
Ensured timely communication between stakeholders by establishing clear channels for coordination and decision-making.
Increased sponsorship revenue by creating customized packages tailored to sponsors' specific needs and goals.
Optimized event layouts by working closely with venue staff on space utilization for maximum guest comfort and engagement opportunities during breakout sessions or workshops.
Enhanced attendee satisfaction by meticulously planning and executing high-quality conference programs.
Supported senior leadership by developing status reports on activities related to planning, scheduling, cancellation, inquiries, resourcing, risk mitigation, and proposal development for various events.
Ensured a safe and secure environment for participants by closely monitoring daily activities and promptly addressing any concerns.
Enhanced participant engagement by implementing interactive and inclusive activities in the day program.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology Major, Political Science Minor
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
01.2015
Skills
Event Management & Planning
Project & Program Management
Community Outreach & Engagement
Customer/Client Service Management
Process Optimization
Research & Strategy
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Public Speaking & Presenting
Press Releases & Public Relations
Budgeting & Resource Management
Database Consolidation & Organization
Partnerships & Relationship Generation
Professional Development Curriculum & Workshops
Social Media & Digital Marketing
Strategic Networking
Funding & Grant Dispersal
Volunteer management
Post-event analysis
Accomplishments
Dharma Yoga Teacher Training Graduate, 2021
Austin Women Magazine, 2020 mention: “Austin Women that Inspire Virginia Cumberbatch”: https://atxwoman.com/virginia-cumberbatch-equity-austin/
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department at Dell Seton Medical Center At The University Of TexasRegistered Nurse, Emergency Department at Dell Seton Medical Center At The University Of Texas
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department at Dell Seton Medical Center At The University Of TexasRegistered Nurse, Emergency Department at Dell Seton Medical Center At The University Of Texas