Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Affiliations
Languages
Timeline
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Gerald F Longo

Danbury,USA

Summary

Turning Event Organizations into Strategic Business Partners & High-Impact Growth Drivers for Industry-Leading Corporations with Complex Global Ecosystems, Billions in Revenue, and Millions of International Customers Strategic-thinking, highly visible global corporate events expert with deep international business acumen and a long history of success developing and executing event strategy to leverage buying power and deliver wildly successful events for companies across diverse industries. Energetic, approachable leader and relationship builder, known for assembling, mobilizing, and empowering critical-thinking meeting and event organizations to exceed financial targets and expectations of participants/attendees.

Global management professional with strong background in overseeing international operations and implementing strategic business plans. Adept at fostering team collaboration and driving results in dynamic environments. Known for adaptability and reliability, with skills in leadership and strategic planning.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Global Manager, Conventions & Meetings

Sanofi Aventis, Inc.
  • Company Overview: (pharmaceuticals)
  • Joined new management team as Global Manager, Conventions & Meetings
  • Created operating playbook for pre-event planning and cross-trained staff after centralizing global event organization
  • Deployed global marketing programs to boost product awareness, educational deliverables, and exhibit booth traffic

Global Director, Conventions & Meetings

Olympus ACMI Corp.
  • Company Overview: (global medical devices)
  • Started out with CIRCON ACMI (medical device manufacturer), promoted 2x, and retained by Olympus after the CIRCON acquisition to drive global event strategies as Global Director, Conventions & Meetings

Global Director, Conventions, Meetings & Events

Abbott Laboratories
01.2018 - Current
  • Company Overview: Global medical devices and healthcare company (medical devices, diagnostics, branded generic medicines, nutritional products)
  • Assumed the reins to course-correct 4 underperforming events organizations within the Medical Devices Division
  • Recently realigned event objectives with company priorities and financial targets within a post-pandemic environment
  • Orchestrated 180-degree organizational turnaround and combined 4 of Abbott’s 7 M&E business units into a single events organization that coordinates and manages 250 events per year
  • Shaped a best-in-class events team, able to capitalize on innovative software tools to drive efficiencies and engagement via virtual events
  • Retained top talent by sponsoring training and overhauling responsibilities to optimize resources and job sustainability
  • Skyrocketed experiential customer engagements with compelling product demonstrations and training
  • Realized 28% spend reduction on a $220MM event budget by enacting meeting consolidations and leveraging vendor relationships during MSA contract negotiations
  • NYSE: ABT

Head, Meetings & Events

Abbott Laboratories
01.2017 - 01.2018
  • After earning recognition for instrumental contributions on the merger integration team in previous role, handpicked to join corporate decision-making team to operationalize further synergies for global M&E teams
  • Assumed leadership charter to establish an organization-wide Center of Excellence (CoE) to foster collaboration, share best practices, identify opportunities for operational improvements, and curtail event expenditures
  • Amalgamated 10 disparate M&E business units into a single, highly collaborative, and unified team
  • Credited with decreasing multimillion-dollar annual budget, mobilizing teams around cost-saving and process-improvements initiatives and formulating metric reports to simplify performance and saving analysis
  • Centralized, Global M&E Organization

Director, Global Conventions & Events

Abbott Laboratories
01.2016 - 01.2017
  • Post-acquisition of St
  • Jude Medical, handpicked to power fiscal stability, rationalize event suppliers, and align internal and external partner relationships
  • Minimized Abbott’s event spend by 28% through rigorous supplier assessment and MSA contract negotiations
  • Spearheaded organizational efficiencies with introduction of GEO Event Lead roles and GEO cross-training program, restructuring positions and responsibilities around event strategy, and properly allocating resources to sustain the annual event calendar

Senior Manager, Global Conventions & Events

St. Jude Medical
01.2015 - 01.2016
  • Company Overview: (acquired by Abbott Labs in 2017)
  • Upon earlier consulting success, recruited by EPIC Events client to launch its first global events organization—complete with operating protocols, processes, and playbook
  • Assembled and groomed high-performing team of event planning strategists while cultivating and strengthening internal stakeholder relationships

Principal Event Strategist

EPIC Events, LLC
01.2011 - 01.2015
  • Company Overview: Strategic events management company
  • Founded event management consultancy, frequently sought out by companies across diverse industries to develop and execute strategies for corporate events
  • Delivered end-to-end event support, from overseeing pre-event planning and performance assessments to identifying synergies and opportunities to eliminate inefficiencies, lift productivity, and fuel cost savings
  • Notable Client Roster: St
  • Jude Medical
  • Direct Marketing Association (DMA)
  • Sanofi Aventis
  • Deloitte
  • Gen Re
  • PSAV
  • Meeting Professionals International (MPI)

Vice President for Conferences & Events

Direct Marketing Association
01.2008 - 01.2011
  • Company Overview: Largest trade association in the U.S
  • Parent organization: Association of National Advertisers (ANA)
  • Appointed to orchestrate strategy as well as improve operations and execution of DMA events organization tasked with ensuring success for a $45MM annual event portfolio ranging in complexity and size from 50 to 25,000 attendees
  • Played key role in generating 10% revenue growth, 5% increase in net contributions, and 22% spend decrease, most notably by introducing an RFP process and renegotiating supplier contracts
  • Raised the bar in organizational performance by aligning employee strengths with job roles, investing in employee training, and initiating stretch goals and performance recognition/incentives
  • Heightened visibility and exposure for DMA events by debuting high-impact exhibitor sponsorship programs
  • Injected innovation into the customer experience as the driving force behind online automation and customer contact management and planning software
  • Now Data & Marketing Association

Executive Director for Event Operations

Direct Marketing Association
01.2007 - 01.2008
  • Promoted to oversee event planning and execution of annual conferences, tradeshows, and C-level executive meetings
  • Optimized event logistics by rolling out a project plan timeline, standardizing pre-event planning process, and eliminating duplication of efforts
  • Set foundation for wider operational efficiencies by cross-training team, integrating roles and job responsibilities, and deploying automated software that removed manual transactions

Director for Event Registration & Customer Service

Direct Marketing Association
01.2005 - 01.2007
  • Brought onboard as member of new management and executive leadership team, meeting CEO’s challenge to create a best-in-class conference and events organization, operational and cost efficiencies, and a first-rate customer/member experience
  • Cut 15% from cost envelope by restructuring operations and infusing supplier contracts with cost-efficient technologies
  • Assembled and trained new team on operations protocols and playbook for success

Education

Bachelor in Business Administration - Program

University of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, CT

Skills

  • Event Planning & Management ~ Participant Activation & Engagement ~ Operational Streamlining ~ Logistics ~ Process Improvements Budget Management ~ Customer Acquisition & Retention ~ Organization Transformation ~ M&A/Integration ~ Start-Up Operations Project Management ~ Strategic Planning & Execution ~ Data Analysis & Reporting ~ Technology Implementations/Automation Innovation Center of Excellence (CoE) ~ Marketing & Branding ~ Corporate Sponsorships ~ Stakeholder Management ~ Strategic Partnerships ~ Vendor Management & Negotiations ~ Presentations ~ Talent Recruitment & Development ~ Coaching & Mentorship
  • Business process improvement
  • Organizational development
  • Cross-cultural communication
  • Marketing strategy development

Accomplishments

  • Achieved efficiency by introducing software tools for tasks.
  • Supervised team of 30 staff members.

Certification

  • Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Meetings Professional International
  • Certified Exhibit Manager (CEM), International Association of Exhibitions and Events

Affiliations

  • Meeting Professionals International (MPI), 1996 – Present: MPI WestField Chapter President, 2011 – 2013
  • MPI Vice President, Education & Special Events, 2009 – 2011
  • MPI Director, Fundraising & Community Outreach, 2007 – 2010 Customer Advisory Board of Directors: Marriott Hotels, 2018 – Present
  • Omni Hotels, 2020 – Present
  • Encore Audio Visual Productions, 2021 – Present
  • Global DMC Partners, 2022 – Present

Languages

Italian
Professional Working

Timeline

Global Director, Conventions, Meetings & Events

Abbott Laboratories
01.2018 - Current

Head, Meetings & Events

Abbott Laboratories
01.2017 - 01.2018

Director, Global Conventions & Events

Abbott Laboratories
01.2016 - 01.2017

Senior Manager, Global Conventions & Events

St. Jude Medical
01.2015 - 01.2016

Principal Event Strategist

EPIC Events, LLC
01.2011 - 01.2015

Vice President for Conferences & Events

Direct Marketing Association
01.2008 - 01.2011

Executive Director for Event Operations

Direct Marketing Association
01.2007 - 01.2008

Director for Event Registration & Customer Service

Direct Marketing Association
01.2005 - 01.2007

Global Manager, Conventions & Meetings

Sanofi Aventis, Inc.

Global Director, Conventions & Meetings

Olympus ACMI Corp.

Bachelor in Business Administration - Program

University of Bridgeport

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Gerald F Longo