Heidi Hanson
San Diego,CA
Summary
Seasoned event professional with career history built on strong interpersonal, planning and problem-solving abilities. Driven leader and program manager with key abilities in customer service, marketing, staff coordination, and event oversight.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Sourcing Specialist
BCD Meetings and Events
San Diego, CA
08.2024 - Current
- Using a full service, white glove approach to each client, I ascertained the directives and needs of each event, and then sourced and contracted venues that matched the client's needs.
- Managed the entire RFP process from development to award recommendation.
- Utilized Cvent extensively in the RFP process, but also searched out and worked with unique venues who don't typically use Cvent.
- Able to approach the venue search process with creativity, often finding venues and vendors that others miss, offering unique experiences for clients.
- Negotiated contracts with suppliers to achieve cost savings goals and help my clients manage their given budgets.
- Reviewed contracts for legal liability and advised clients on the best course of action.
- Organized vendor visits and monitored facilities for quality assurance purposes.
- Evaluated supplier proposals, bids, and quotations to determine best value option.
- Coordinated with internal stakeholders on sourcing strategies and initiatives.
- Monitored industry trends in order to identify new sourcing opportunities.
- Fostered relationships with vendors to save costs and secure sourcing contracts.
Senior Meeting Planner
BCD Meetings and Events
San Diego, CA
08.2023 - Current
- Coordinated and managed complex meetings, conferences, and events from start to finish.
- Developed event budgets and monitored expenses to ensure efficient use of resources.
- Worked closely with internal departments and external vendors to plan all aspects of events including catering, audio-visual, transportation, accommodations, and entertainment.
- Planned logistics for large scale corporate meetings including site selection, vendor contracts negotiation, travel arrangements, registration process setup.
- Managed multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high quality standards.
- Maintained relationships with existing vendors while researching potential new vendors for future events.
- Advised clients on best practices related to event planning processes.
- Negotiated pricing contracts with vendors ensuring cost effectiveness without compromising quality of services provided.
Venue Sourcing & Contracting Manager (Assoc. PM)
First Agency
San Diego, CA
10.2022 - 02.2023
- Managed hotel and venue sourcing, procurement, and vendor management on behalf of the client, while analyzing and troubleshooting issues and delivering speedy resolutions.
- Used CVENT extensively to conduct venue research and RFP's.
- Used strategic negotiation skills to set up favorable pricing and contracts.
- Compiled and analyzed data and presented updates on commission and other revenue requirements.
- Developed relationships with vendors to facilitate quality service at competitive rates while maintaining financial responsibility within budgets.
- Searched and negotiated suitable venues as per setup requirements and budget constraints.
- Tracked project deliverables, keeping assignments on task and on budget.
- Met with stakeholders to discuss project goals and needs and promptly updated them with information whenever necessary.
- Effectively managed client and vendor expectations by being fair but also firm when needed, and openly discussing any limits or issues when needed as they arose.
Venue Director (Operations, Marketing, Sales)
Buena Vista Estate
San Marcos, CA
03.2020 - 10.2022
- Built and managed project plans, coordinated resources and monitored performance to track progress against expectations.
- Managed a budget of 1.6 million
- Cultivated strong professional relationships with suppliers and key clients to drive long-term business development.
- Implemented creative sales and marketing strategies to assist sales team with reaching targets.
- Developed business website and implemented SEO best practices to help drive traffic to the webpage.
- Identified ideal client demographic and created pricing and packages that best suited that potential client.
- Advised the venue on design for the event spaces that would fit both client and vendor needs as well as the aesthetic for the ideal client.
- Managed inquiries, conducted venue tours, and maintained client relationships.
- Created venue contract and venue policies and procedures.
- Directed day-to-day operations by spearheading implementation of short-term and long-term strategies to achieve business plan and profitability goals.
- Managed company operations with responsibility for profit and loss, scheduling, training and inventory control.
- Implemented policies and standard operating procedures and managed quality, customer service and logistics.
Senior Event Manager
Hilton
San Diego, CA
09.2021 - 03.2022
- Maintained adherence to client-event requirements through delegation, prioritizing and management of production phases from concept to execution.
- Met with potential clients to perform site inspections and give tours of facility, meeting rooms and offered activities.
- Created detailed timelines for events based on scope of work required by each department involved in process.
- Reserved space, equipment and personnel needed to facilitate events.
- Applied industry knowledge and personal expertise to customize meetings, conferences and conventions to specific standards.
- Advised hotel on ways to update its marketing, branding, and pricing in the wedding market in order to modernize and attract a broader range of customers.
On Premise Sales Representative
Wine Warehouse California
San Diego, CA
05.2018 - 03.2020
- Managed a sales territory of over 100 clients.
- Developed and executed restaurant staff trainings on particular beverage brands as well as overviews on topics such as wine, sake, spirits, and how to properly taste them and serve them to guests.
- Established positive and effective account relationships through consistent and professional communication with key contacts.
- Established and maintained weekly schedule of account appointments within assigned territories.
- Developed creative presentations and sales strategies within established guidelines.
- Worked with customers and credit department to facilitate collection of current or past due invoices.
- Continuously surpassed sales goals, optimizing profitability and performance of assigned territory.
- Consistently exceeded territory revenue growth goals.
- Maintained positive attitude and diplomacy when dealing with customers and other team members.
- Incentive trip winner 2018. Awarded as second highest earner in the So-Cal division.
On-Premise Sales Representative
Empire Distributors of Tennessee
Nashville, TN
05.2016 - 01.2018
- Managed a territory of 85-100 accounts.
- B2B position selling wine and liquor directly to managers and owners in bars and restaurants for consumer consumption.
- Ended 2017 117% to goal for the year.
- Consistently ranked within the top 25% of reps in the division.
- Though we had team quotas rather than individual quotas, I consistently made my individual product placement goals, and came in second on my team in placements during drives for both Camarena Tequila and RumHaven Rum placements.
- Developed and executed creative selling concepts to drive incremental sales and new product placements.
- Provided a high level of customer service including presentations, merchandising, consumer tastings, staff trainings and managing customer administrative tasks such as placing orders and tracking credits.
- Resolved customer issues or last minute needs with a sense of urgency by personally delivering product or visiting accounts.
Event Manager
Speakeasy Marketing and Events
Nashville, TN
05.2015 - 05.2016
- Directed set up and tear down of various event booths at a variety of locations.
- Managed other brand representatives as the Event Lead.
- Used exceptional interpersonal communication skills to ensure that all guest needs are met and possess the ability to build rapport with a diverse range of customers, managers, and colleagues.
- Multitasked while remaining professional and courteous in a fast paced environment.
- Maintained adherence to client-event requirements through delegation, prioritizing and management of production phases from concept to execution.
- Handled client questions and concerns via different communication channels to deliver exceptional customer service.
- Assessed event success and identified improvement areas through client feedback.
- Directed florists, photographers, musicians and event participants during and after events.
Assistant Banquet Manager
Viva Restaurant
Los Gatos, CA
07.2009 - 03.2012
- Assisted the Banquet Manager with booking meetings, private parties, and banquets with clients at Viva Restaurant.
- Determined the specifications of guest events using the BEO, including room size and location, needed décor or electrical equipment, menu planning and individual pricing.
- Answered phones, created a filing system, and entered event data into the company system.
- Used client specifications to create files for each event, and created detailed instruction folders for servers on the day of the event.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
University of San Diego
2008
French Language
Institute for American Universities
2007
Skills
- Event planning
- Venue Sourcing
- Social media management
- Customer-oriented
- Meet or exceed sales goals
- Labor and food cost control
- Product marketing and displays
- Customer assistance
- Team management
- Team leadership and supervision
- Budget Management
- Managing events start to finish
- Vendor management
- Marketing and advertising
- Relationship development
- Self-sufficient
- Loyal employee
- Conversational in French
- Strong negotiating skills
- Affable and easy to talk to
- Articulate communication skills
- Salesforce
- CVENT
Affiliations
- Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) of Nashville
- Gallo Sierra (Advanced Training)
- Kobrand Training Seminar
Timeline
Sourcing Specialist
BCD Meetings and Events
08.2024 - Current
Senior Meeting Planner
BCD Meetings and Events
08.2023 - Current
Venue Sourcing & Contracting Manager (Assoc. PM)
First Agency
10.2022 - 02.2023
Senior Event Manager
Hilton
09.2021 - 03.2022
Venue Director (Operations, Marketing, Sales)
Buena Vista Estate
03.2020 - 10.2022
On Premise Sales Representative
Wine Warehouse California
05.2018 - 03.2020
On-Premise Sales Representative
Empire Distributors of Tennessee
05.2016 - 01.2018
Event Manager
Speakeasy Marketing and Events
05.2015 - 05.2016
Assistant Banquet Manager
Viva Restaurant
07.2009 - 03.2012
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
University of San Diego
French Language
Institute for American Universities
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