Denise Engwall
Work Preference
Summary
Highly personable and organized professional with experience across corporate office and event settings. Newly licensed Illinois real estate agent who brings a client first approach and a genuine passion for helping people through big life decisions. My diverse background in customer service, event planning, sales, marketing, and travel allows me to connect easily with clients/teams and ensure a successful transition to and an ability to complete any task. My communication, computer, and planning skills are superior, as is my attention to detail and work ethic; I meet project deadlines and exceed expectations. I'm comfortable and reliable at working independently and making decisions.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Licensed Real Estate Broker – Part Time
License Park Realty, LLC
Remote
01.2026 - Current
- Active Illinois State Real Estate License
- Proven ability to build and maintain strong client relationships through trust, responsiveness, and personalized service.
- Provide high-level customer service by anticipating client needs, resolving questions quickly, and ensuring a smooth end-to-end experience.
- Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and remain flexible in a fast-paced environment.
Sr. Project Manager
Meetings & Incentives Worldwide
Remote
04.2024 - Current
- Travel and act as Lead Program Manager and Coordinator for meetings/events that only allow one coordinator (handle meeting room set-up, A/V, ground transportation, food, and beverage).
- Plan, execute, control, and close out attendee registration projects and reports.
- Manage event hotel accommodations, hotel reservation additions and changes, and all attendee communications, including event invitations, reminders, travel letters, emails, and surveys.
- Manage meeting profiles and statuses in event software for clients and internal timelines.
- Provide quality control processes, including ground manifest versus arrival/department manifest, hotel rooming list versus event rooming list, final reporting, and cleanup.
- Provide on-site preparation assistance, including, but not limited to, badge layout/production, on-site sign-in sheets, on-site reports, registration packet preparation/production, and on-site supply preparation/shipments.
- Maintain event meeting database with continual/ongoing updates/changes.
- Qualify attendee information and meet deadline expectations.
- Research 3rd party vendor options and information (dine around grids, gifts/material, etc.).
- Use and develop event registration sites outside of Cvent; understand mobile event apps, including how to provide customer assistance with app downloads and use.
- Assist in website testing, technical support, and/or digital production on virtual events.
- Follow and build client SOPs.
Executive Admin Assistant/Coordinator, Conferences & Events
Association for Manufacturing Excellence
Remote
09.2018 - 04.2024
- Executive administrative support to AME President & CEO and Director, Conferences & Events Manager.
- Help plan, organize, and execute in-person and virtual meetings and events, including in-person annual conference, national board meetings, management team meetings, president council meetings, and team building.
- Oversee all steps of event creation in Cvent, including setting up virtual logistics, updating and editing information, uploading/downloading information, building events into Cvent utilizing submitted meeting requests.
- Conference on-site support, including creating packets for conference sessions and tours, registration desk, photographer, AME booth decor, networking activities, and organizing and distribution of all conference materials.
- Enter events on the AME website (Drupal), including event logistics, event descriptions, host company descriptions, presenter information, and agendas, and publish to the site.
- Maintain website pages for national board, management team, regional presidents, and nine (9) regional boards, and about AME page. Including updating headshots, job titles, and AME board they serve on.
- Provide admin support to nine (9) regions by scheduling monthly meetings, managing updated distribution lists, taking meeting minutes, and sending them to all members.
- Managed membership records by updating and maintaining membership database, processing new and renewed memberships, running monthly and quarterly reports, and distributing to boards.
- Collaborated with marketing on weekly event email and social media communications.
Executive Assistant
The Peel People, LLC
Elk Grove Village
04.2015 - 02.2018
- Coordinated daily activities for President and sales staff, managing travel and lodging arrangements, drafting correspondence, and executing logistics for trade shows.
- Acted as liaison between company and commissioned artists; proofread and edited designs for quality and alignment with brand standards.
- Drafted product descriptions for marketing literature, organized product samples for customer testing, and managed listings and shipping for products sold on Amazon.com.
- Maintained all company files and data archives.
Event Coordinator
Garden Terrace Banquets - Part Time
Elk Grove Village
06.2004 - 10.2015
- Executed sales and secured bookings for diverse events, including weddings, graduations, and corporate functions.
- Met with clients to establish custom event details, including dates, timing, guests, decorations, food, and alcohol service.
- Coordinated event logistics by preparing floor plans and arranging details, ensuring alignment with customer specifications.
- Directed catering staff activities to maintain high service standards, serving staff, bartenders, and chefs.
- Enhanced sales and marketing efforts through brochure design and participation in local and national trade shows.
Flight Attendant
EXPRESSJET Airlines
07.2013 - 04.2015
- Followed all FAA guidelines and regulations as trained: checked passenger tickets, performed preflight safety checks and passenger counts, ensured carry-on items were stored properly, secured cabin and galley for takeoff and landing, including closing cabin doors.
- Communicated with flight crew and passengers, including making announcements and demonstrating emergency/safety procedures.
- Assisted passengers with boarding and disembarking, accommodated special needs and requests, and addressed inquiries to enhance passenger experience.
- Collaborated with flight crew to foster a welcoming environment and ensure a positive travel experience for passengers.
- Served beverages and conducted sales of liquor and food items efficiently, ensuring compliance with safety protocols.
Education
Advertising Design & Illustration
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, ILDesign, Marketing
Harper College
Palatine, ILSkills
- Microsoft Office and Google Suite
- Leadership and coordination
- Client support and relations
- Membership management
- Attention to detail
- Accounts payable and receivable
- Video conferencing tools
- Adobe software proficiency
- Event planning and coordination
- Attendee management
- Database management
- Customer service excellence
- Time management
- Written and verbal communication
- Problem solving
- Team collaboration
- Strategic thinking
- Flexibility under pressure
- Cvent proficiency
- Meeting facilitation
- Asana project management
Certification
- Cvent: Event Management & Advanced Event Management
- Cvent: Creating Hybrid Events - Hybrid Events Foundations
- Cvent: Virtual Events Landscape
- Real Estate: Illinois Real Estate License
Timeline
Licensed Real Estate Broker – Part Time
License Park Realty, LLC
01.2026 - Current
Sr. Project Manager
Meetings & Incentives Worldwide
04.2024 - Current
Executive Admin Assistant/Coordinator, Conferences & Events
Association for Manufacturing Excellence
09.2018 - 04.2024
Executive Assistant
The Peel People, LLC
04.2015 - 02.2018
Flight Attendant
EXPRESSJET Airlines
07.2013 - 04.2015
Event Coordinator
Garden Terrace Banquets - Part Time
06.2004 - 10.2015
Advertising Design & Illustration
College of DuPage
Design, Marketing
Harper College