Diversity and Inclusion Group leadership at both SFMOMA and OBE
Cimeron Ahluwalia
San Francisco,CA
Summary
Enthusiastic, experienced and passionate leader that effectively creates, envisions and produces programs and experiential events the fields of visual and performing arts, cultural organizations, and tech. Creative problem solver that works cross-departmentally with key stakeholders to drive consensus and community.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Director of Donor Engagement and Experiences
San Francisco Conservatory Of Music
San Francisco, CA
01.2022 - Current
- Responsible for creative strategy development and planning to grow engagement opportunities with current and prospective donor bases
- Design and organize unique travel and educational experiences for groups of trustees and donor base that include renowned guests musicians, tours, and musical moments
- Develop and circulate cross-collaborative event brief used by key stakeholders capturing event mission, audience goals, production schedules, marketing plans, vendor and budget information as method of efficient communication
- In six months recruited four new team members that align with expanding team structure that aligns with the fast-growing organizational needs
- Identify opportunities for universal institutional communications strategy that integrates performance, academic and event priorities to current and potential audiences
Freelance Executive Producer
Self
San Francisco, CA
08.2021 - 01.2022
- Assistant producer on Los Angeles Global Citizen Festival concert featuring Stevie Wonder, One Republic, and Demi Lovato as a fundraiser for climate crisis, COVID response and poverty mitigation
- Executive produced Google Image Equity Summit as part of Google's product launch of Google Pixel 6 inclusion efforts building more equitable camera and imaging products for people of color (Project postponed until late 2022)
- Produced SF Symphony's Re-opening night gala after being closed for two years from COVID
Production Director
On Board Experiential Marketing, Production
02.2018 - 07.2022
- Oversee strategy, conception and production of major B2B, finance and lifestyle brand events including for leading companies such as Facebook, JP Morgan Chase, Apple, Mulesoft, Intuit and Rothy's
- Responsible for over bringing in $10 million in revenue and overseeing multi-scaled budgets
- Curate, secure and art direct talent including fee negotiation, contract management and production execution in conjunction with major talent agencies such as William Morris, Paradigm, and CAA
- Lead internal summit program series for Facebook consisting of 9 annual programs and scaling from 450-4,500 attendees
- Virtual and live-streaming events producer in 2020, developing new strategies and adapting to evolving client and audience needs
- Serve as ambassador for cultural change on the Diversity and Inclusion Group by curating speaker workshops and interactive learning experiences, creating a framework for inclusive recruiting, language and internal policies, and developing awareness and open dialogue across the company
- Head up supplier diversity program ensuring registered minority-owned business are vetted and utilized in production work
- Core member of ThinkTRUE, a Black-owned, minority led consultancy supporting marketers who are championing diversity initiatives and engaging with multicultural communities
- Cultivate and steward relationships with clients and serve as a main point of contact for high-level events and experiential activations
- Participate as a member of the Directors group developing organization strategies and leadership growth initiatives and authentic perspectives
- Lead Health and Safety task force to development and implement event and employee crisis procedures in response to COVID-19
Director of Donor Events
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Development
10.2011 - 02.2018
- Successfully envisioned, created and evolved the museum's largest legacy and complex signature fundraisers including The Modern Ball, and FOG Design+Art Preview Gala and Fair, Art Bash and multi-tiered fundraiser, the Birthday Bash with over eight artist installations by people of color and women artists, Judy Chicago, Clare Rojas, Barry McGee, Jacolby Satterwhite and Grammy-award winning Solange
- Directly responsible for conceptualization, oversight and production of the expansion re-opening which included eighteen unique stewardship, cultivation and fundraising events in Spring of 2016
- Pioneered all sponsorship and artist activations to enhance dynamism of the robust event program connecting current community artists with relevant events and programs in the first two years of the museum's re-opening
- Effectively communicated and led cross-departmentally and externally through presentations and decision making throughout internal teams, industry leaders, external stakeholders, city officials and Board of Trustees
- Oversaw a team of ten individuals ranging from Assistant Director to Special Events Coordinator responsible for executing stewardship and cultivation events, volunteer leadership, auxiliaries and major fundraising events
- Created relevant social media strategies for events increasing brand awareness that capitalized on artists, entertainers, and sponsors using expertise on contemporary art and cultural trends
- Curated and secured talent and musical experiences including Little Dragon, Solange, Poolside, Passion Pit, Holy Ghost, Lines Ballet, Saturn Jones, Aftershock and many San Francisco musicians and dancers
- Fundraised a net of over $2.5 million annually through fundraising events, with a record of $5.5 million in 2016; and cumulative $11 million
- Served on Senior Staff and provided insight to the Diversity and Inclusion initiatives informing the organizational strategic plan
Event and Donor Project Manager
San Francisco Symphony
04.2008 - 10.2011
- Project managed high profile fundraising events directly benefitting San Francisco Symphony's music and education program Adventures in Music such as The Black and White Ball, Deck the Hall, and the biennial Golf Classic
- Solely responsible for project managing the 2010 Black and White Ball, a city-wide event raising netting over $400,000
- Organized a city-wide neighborhood association marketing campaign for The Black and White Ball
- Conceived, implemented and executed a new fundraising event in 2011 consisting of a runway show sponsored by Neiman Marcus, An Evening with Carolina Herrera
- Conceptualized and led community events including All San Francisco Concert, Deck the Hall Community Day and Chinese New Year Festival Reception, working closely with committees, volunteers and vendors
Development Associate/Special Events Coordinator
SFJAZZ, Development
06.2006 - 04.2008
Special Events Assistant
San Francisco Opera Guild, Development
02.2003 - 06.2006
Education
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09.1997 - 05.2002
Graduated cum laude in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts
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02.2021 -
Currently pursuing a graduate degree
Skills
Adobe Acrobat and Illustrator
Quip, Google Drive, Sharepoint and other collaborative platforms
MAC and PC Proficient
Salesforce Database and CRM Platforms
Splash, CVent and other registration platform software
Social media savvy
Interests
Performing member and teacher of Indian classical dance at Leela Dance Collective
Contributor to artists of color advocacy groups in the Bay Area
Former music club promoter
Timeline
Director of Donor Engagement and Experiences - San Francisco Conservatory Of Music
01.2022 - Current
Freelance Executive Producer - Self
08.2021 - 01.2022
Tufts University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Diversity and Inclusion Leadership - ,
02.2021 -
Production Director - On Board Experiential Marketing, Production
02.2018 - 07.2022
Director of Donor Events - San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Development
10.2011 - 02.2018
Event and Donor Project Manager - San Francisco Symphony
04.2008 - 10.2011
Development Associate/Special Events Coordinator - SFJAZZ, Development
06.2006 - 04.2008
Special Events Assistant - San Francisco Opera Guild, Development
02.2003 - 06.2006
San Francisco State University, Bachelor of Arts - ,
09.1997 - 05.2002