Cristie Woodard
Long Valley,NJ
Summary
High energy professional trusted with organizing management tasks, conferences and meetings, coordinating marketing initiatives for high profile stakeholders and companies. Skilled in sales, time management, calendaring and budgeting, negotiating with vendors, interpersonal communication, and proposal writing. Strategic planning and creative process for large scale events. Strong presenter with branding experience. Team management.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Donor Stewardship and Events Manager
Tri-county Scholarship Fund
Mendham, NJ
07.2023 - Current
- Works closely with corporate event sponsors, donors and trustees to ensure positive and uplifting event experiences
- Creates TCSF event calendar for the year
- Manage all TCSF fundraising, social events and school visits
- Creates planning and meeting calendar, communicates with event committees, keeps records, liaises with all vendors and venues, and secures and manages event volunteers.
- Manages event budgets and fundraising components in collaboration with TCSF President and Finance Manager.
- Manages printers for all TCSF printed projects in collaboration with the TCSF Marketing Director.
Handles the execution of all TCSF mailings: donor report, donor gifts, corporate thank-you, Thanksgiving booklet, Florida invitations, Valentines, Holiday Social, and Awards Dinner invitations.
- Development support: Brainstorming and connecting people who could potentially be involved with Tri-County as donors, honorees, or volunteers.
Director of Events
The Ridgewood Country Club
Paramus, NJ
05.2021 - Current
- Responsible for building a new events team and restructuring existing events department to include new procedures for member and social events and golf outings
- Run weekly food and beverage meetings and execute upwards of 200 events a year
- Manage all golf outings to include contracts, food and beverage and client/sponsor coordination
- Manage the club Google calendar for all club functions
- Coordinate billing with accounting for golf and private events using Jonas Event Management program
- Create correspondence, revenue/expense reports for member and non-member related events
- Revenue forecasting for upcoming calendar year
- Collaborate with the clubhouse manager in the hiring, training, supervising and evaluating of event staff and vendors
- Manage and negotiate with event vendors and third-party contractors
- Responsible for the creation of Banquet Event Orders (BOEs)
Director of Event Sales
Davidson Hospitality
Berkeley Heights, NJ
01.2023 - 06.2023
- Cultivated strong relationships with customers by responding promptly to inquiries or complaints.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive strategies to improve operational processes and organizational efficiency.
- Established relationships with vendors and suppliers to secure favorable terms for materials or services.
- Led cross-functional teams in the development of innovative solutions to complex problems.
- Recruited, trained, supervised, evaluated and mentored staff members.
Director of Events and Sales
The Bernards Inn
Bernardsville, NJ
08.2019 - 04.2021
- Increase wedding, corporate and social occasion revenue for the AAA Four Diamond Forbes recommended Restaurant and Inn
- Manage event coordinators, banquet manager and wait staff
- Liaison with Lodging department for client room blocks
- Manage on and off -site bridal showcases
- Work closely with executive chef to create trending banquet menus and creative inn events for the local area to include wine tastings, cabaret nights, and holiday events
Events and Catering Manager
Beacon Hill Club
Summit, NJ
10.2017 - 03.2019
- Developed, promoted, and marketed events at one of NJ’s most prestigious private member owned clubs
- Beacon Hill’s events are focused on social, sports, and enrichment activities for members and non-members
- Created and executed new event concepts and programs resulting in increased attendance at internal club events
- Created floor plans, correspondence, revenue/expense reports and participation statistics for member and non-member related events
- Provided recommendations to the general manager and committees based on feedback and data from the members, similar clubs, and experience
- Collaborated with the club manager in the hiring, training, supervising and evaluating of event staff and vendors
- Managed and negotiated with event vendors and third-party contractors
- Responsible for the creation of Banquet Event Orders (BOEs)
- Reviewed income and costs and made recommendations on making events more profitable and cost efficient
- Managed Club wide calendar to include member, private, hockey and paddle events in multiple locations
Events Coordinator
Wolfgang’s Wine and Spirits
Sommerville, NJ
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Company Overview: Wolfgang’s is an upscale wine and spirits purveyor owned by the award winning restaurateur Wolfgang Zwiener
- Responsible for in-store wine events and promotions
- Hosted wine tastings and made wine recommendations to increase store revenue
- Created an education track focused on delivering wine expertise through a series of onsite classes
- Wolfgang’s is an upscale wine and spirits purveyor owned by the award winning restaurateur Wolfgang Zwiener
Founder
Plan-it Productions
NY and NJ
01.2002 - 01.2016
- Planned, coordinated, and executed events, conferences, and meetings for corporate and consumer clients
- Full service business that excelled in product launches, team building, and custom offerings
- Select Client List and Work Examples:
- A&E - Created a scavenger hunt across New York City as a team building exercise for the A&E sales team
- Created trivia based on clues from A&E shows and arranged for an elaborate limo program to take the participants from clue to clue
- Budd Van Lines - Executed the celebration of Budd Van Lines 40th anniversary
- Sourced venue, managed guest relations, and coordinated directly with the Maritime Parc team
- Children’s Miracle Hospital - Created and managed a live and silent auction for a fundraiser
- Hired staff, sourced venue, and managed event registration
- The American Kennel Club - Collaborated with Sotheby’s to host a live auction to benefit the Kennel Club
- Momma Connect - Launched, promoted, and hosted a family expo introducing 75 local vendors to moms and families seeking to interact around a set of kid friendly offerings
- Forest Labs - Ushered in the grand opening of their Long Island location with a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring Senator Chuck Schumer
- Private Client - Destination event to Napa Valley for 20 people
- Coordinated all transportation, winery tours and tastings, team building events and luncheon and dinner itinerary
Director of Catering
Burdine’s Catering
Miami, FL
01.2001 - 01.2002
- Company Overview: Burdines was a Federated owned chain of retail stores in the State of Florida
- Coordinated onsite and offsite events at private and public venues in the Miami area
- Burdines was a Federated owned chain of retail stores in the State of Florida
Vice President
Paint the Town Red
New York, NY
01.1997 - 01.2000
- Produced events for Disney’s Lion King on Broadway, ESPN, and A&E
- Was responsible for raising total revenue by 50% over three years
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Theater and Communications
Boston College
English Major
Le Moyne College
Skills
- Microsoft Office
- Event Brite
- Jonas Club Software
- Maestro
- G Suite
- Sales
- Zoom
- Slack
- Celebrity Events
- Golf Tournaments
- High level Management
- Social Media
- Conversational French
- Scheduling
- Events planning trends
- Organizational skills
- Conflict resolution
- Attention to detail
- Staff training
- New business development
- Effective communication
Passions
- Food and Wine
- Yoga
- Theater
- Friends and Family
Certification
Advanced Event Design & Strategy Certificate
PCMA Event Leadership Institute
Timeline
Donor Stewardship and Events Manager
Tri-county Scholarship Fund
07.2023 - Current
Director of Event Sales
Davidson Hospitality
01.2023 - 06.2023
Director of Events
The Ridgewood Country Club
05.2021 - Current
Director of Events and Sales
The Bernards Inn
08.2019 - 04.2021
Events and Catering Manager
Beacon Hill Club
10.2017 - 03.2019
Events Coordinator
Wolfgang’s Wine and Spirits
01.2016 - 01.2017
Founder
Plan-it Productions
01.2002 - 01.2016
Director of Catering
Burdine’s Catering
01.2001 - 01.2002
Vice President
Paint the Town Red
01.1997 - 01.2000
Bachelor of Arts - Theater and Communications
Boston College
English Major
Le Moyne College
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