Erin Gay
West Chicago,IL
Summary
Genuine, creative, empathetic, honest, and self-motivated; A respected and effective leader demonstrated by executing tasks proficiently, maximizing individuals’ strengths, and working as a team; Incredible passion for customer service and satisfaction; excellent oral and written communicator; A role model for work ethic and integrity; Strength lies in organizing, detail, working with others, collective problem solving and personal relationship skills.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Associate Director of Meeting Logistics
The Joint Commission
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
08.2022 - Current
- Interviews, hires and manages meeting planning professionals
- Establishes standards for effective job performance and evaluates staff according to such standards
- Mentors meeting planning staff and oversees their activities to ensure consistently high-quality pre-meeting planning and communication, “day-of” meeting executive, and post-event evaluation and debriefs
- Identifies actionable and measurable performance expectations and goals for meeting staff that support accurate and timely activities
- Reviews contracts for all meeting support vendors to ensure all meeting needs are met in the most cost-effective and efficient manner
- Manages the department’s annual budgeting process, projections, and variances
- Leads technology initiatives to drive the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of meeting processes, including registration, attestations for meeting and speaking participants, and post-event evaluation
- Oversees the application of the board/committee/advisory travel policy
- Creates and maintains a scope of work resource framework and tool to manage the department’s meeting scope and allocation of staffing and resources.
Manager of Meeting Logistics
The Joint Commission
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
03.2019 - 08.2022
- Mentor meeting planning staff and oversee their activities to ensure consistently high-quality pre-meeting and communication, “day of” meeting execution, and post-event evaluation and debriefs
- Monitor workload and key logistical functions of the department and make recommendations regarding staffing, assigned duties thereof, and processes and procedures to support logistics
- Track and report departmental productivity and performance improvement metrics
- Monitor progress and make recommendations regarding adjustments to goals
- Responsible for management of logistics in relation to Boards, Board committees, advisory groups, forums, and executive team retreats
- Oversee budgeting aspects of meetings and meeting planning, identify budget variances and their causes
- Provide data to assist in the department budgeting process as related to meeting participant travel and general meeting expenses
- Develop annual meeting calendar.
Senior Event Coordinator
The Joint Commission
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
11.2017 - 03.2019
- Responsible for logistics in relation to Boards, Board committees, advisory council, and forums
- Responsibilities include sending requests for proposals and securing contracts for hotel accommodations, meeting spaces, dinner venues; tracking attendance and providing rooming lists to the hotel; arranging ground transportation, in-house catering, securing meeting rooms, setting up and breaking down meeting space
- Maintain the database of key professional organization contacts for department use in its communication initiatives
- Foster and maintain relationships with external vendor including hotels, limousine services, conference call vendors, and restaurants.
Event Coordinator
The Joint Commission
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
04.2016 - 11.2017
- Responsible for logistics in relation to Boards, Board committees, advisory council, and forums
- Responsibilities include sending requests for proposals and securing contracts for hotel accommodations, meeting spaces, dinner venues; tracking attendance and providing rooming lists to the hotel; arranging ground transportation, in-house catering, securing meeting rooms, setting up and breaking down meeting space
- Maintain the database of key professional organization contacts for department use in its communication initiatives
- Foster and maintain relationships with external vendor including hotels, limousine services, conference call vendors, and restaurants.
Event Manager
Marriott International
Schaumburg, IL
03.2014 - 04.2016
Conference Services Manager
Marriott International
Skokie, IL
03.2013 - 03.2014
Event Manager
Marriott International
Waukesha, WI
05.2009 - 03.2013
Event Coordinator
Marriott International
Fort Collins, CO
10.2006 - 05.2009
Education
Bachelor of Science - Restaurant/Resort Management
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO05.2009
Certification
- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) - Events Industry Council.
- Sustainable Event Professional Certificate (SEPC) - Events Industry Council.
Timeline
Associate Director of Meeting Logistics
The Joint Commission
08.2022 - Current
Manager of Meeting Logistics
The Joint Commission
03.2019 - 08.2022
Senior Event Coordinator
The Joint Commission
11.2017 - 03.2019
Event Coordinator
The Joint Commission
04.2016 - 11.2017
Event Manager
Marriott International
03.2014 - 04.2016
Conference Services Manager
Marriott International
03.2013 - 03.2014
Event Manager
Marriott International
05.2009 - 03.2013
Event Coordinator
Marriott International
10.2006 - 05.2009
Bachelor of Science - Restaurant/Resort Management
Colorado State University