Microsoft Office Suite
JENNA BENDER
Frederick,MD
Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense.
Gertrude Stein
Summary
Accomplished Meeting Professional with over 10 years of experience in event coordination and administrative management. Expertise in managing complex logistics operations, including travel arrangements, vendor relations, and hotel coordination. Demonstrated ability to leverage data for informed decision-making, streamline workflows, and maintain budget tracking while collaborating with stakeholders to achieve operational goals. Renowned for strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and delivering successful events that consistently exceed client expectations.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Meeting Planner
Infinity Conference Group, Inc.
Chantilly, VA
10.2024 - 03.2025
- Facilitate and coordinate all aspects of meeting planning.
- Duties include developing project timelines, creating event websites and registration forms, coordinating hotel room blocks, travel, honoraria, and reimbursements for sponsored participants, coordinating group travel and staff events, managing on-site registration, overseeing the production of meeting materials, sending and tracking correspondence with clients and meeting participants, as well as working with venues to coordinate meeting room setup, AV requirements, and catering.
- Managed 140 speakers and moderators for the 101st USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum, gathering bios, headshots, and presentations
- Project highlights
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- 2025 NIH Rehabilitation Research Conference; 2025 (hybrid) – 120 attendees
- GAO/National Intergovernmental Audit Forum (NIAF); 2024 (in-person)
- U.S
- Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Outlook Forum; 2025 (hybrid)
- Developed detailed itineraries for each event.
- Collaborated with members of the sales team to promote corporate functions.
- Monitored budgets and negotiated contracts with vendors.
- Created program activities, agendas and budgets based on client requirements.
- Coordinated with clients to determine meeting objectives, topics, and agendas.
Conference Coordinator
Leidos Health
Frederick, MD
09.2022 - 03.2024
- Worked as Conference Coordinator, planning program meetings for Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) in conjunction with the Department of Defense
- Duties included coordinating 10+ meetings in the Washington, DC area, adhering to government guidelines, providing onsite meeting support, coordinating attendee logistics, AV equipment setup, and managing registration, creating registration sites using CVENT, coordinating travel for meeting attendees through Concur, adhering to government and Leidos travel policies, acting as Zoom POC during virtual meetings
- Project highlights
- Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP)
- PRMRP Programmatic Review II, 2022 (hybrid)
- PRMRP Programmatic Review I and FY24 Vision Setting; 2023 (hybrid)
- Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP)
- LCRP Programmatic Review and Vision Setting; 2023 (hybrid)
- LCRP Programmatic Review and Vision Setting; 2024 (hybrid)
- Melanoma Research Program (MRP)
- MRP Programmatic Review and Vision Setting; 2023 (hybrid)
- Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP)
- PRCRP Programmatic Review II; 2023 (in-person)
- PRCRP Programmatic Review and Vision Setting; 2024 (hybrid)
- Applied industry knowledge and personal expertise to customize meetings, conferences and conventions to specific standards.
- Negotiated contracts with venues, caterers, and entertainment providers to secure favorable terms and pricing.
- Handled inquiries from participants regarding travel arrangements, lodging accommodations and other logistical matters.
- Organized venue for details such as decor, catering, entertainment and equipment.
- Oversaw advanced event registration and day-of check-in to handle high volume of guests.
- Provided support to staff members during setup and breakdown of the event space.
- Developed and maintained event timelines, ensuring all tasks were completed on schedule.
Event Manager
Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center
Gaithersburg, MD
01.2022 - 09.2022
- Worked as an Event Manager in a hotel capacity in Gaithersburg, MD
- Duties included preparing all event documentation and coordinating with Sales, property departments, and customers to ensure consistent, high-level service throughout the pre-event, event, and post-event phases of property events, managing event logistics, ensuring billing accuracy, ensuring seamless turnover from Sales to Events, creating Banquet Event Orders, act as liaison between hotel and event contact, coordinating with vendors
- Project highlights
- Corporate Meetings
- Veeva Systems Roundtable, 30 attendees (2022)
- Election Night Primary Reception, 50 attendees (2022)
- Department of Energy QAOS Meeting, 120 attendees (2022)
- AbbVie Meeting, 70 attendees (2022)
- Novavax Advocacy Board Meeting, 100 attendees (2022)
- ACCC Staff Meeting, 70 attendees (2022)
- Social Events
- Northwood HS Class of 1970 50th Reunion, 150 attendees (2022)
- Sahajwalla Wedding, 120 attendees (2022)
- Pham Li Wedding, 150 attendees (2022)
- Clarksburg High School Prom, 550 attendees (2022)
- Montgomery College 1946 Society Dinner, 150 attendees (2022)
- Koffman Wedding Reception, 150 attendees (2022)
- Served as primary contact person responsible for responding to inquiries about events.
- Managed on-site logistics during events, such as registration set-up, audio and visual equipment setup and breakdown.
- Maintained relationships with existing partners while cultivating new ones.
- Handled client questions and concerns via different communication channels to deliver exceptional customer service.
- Managed safe and smooth food delivery at banquets, conferences and social events.
- Met with potential clients to perform site inspections and give tours of facility, meeting rooms and offered activities.
- Prepared post-event reports summarizing attendee feedback and other key metrics.
- Coordinated with cross-functional teams to align event objectives with corporate branding and marketing strategies.
- Provided support to attendees before, during, and after the event as needed.
Property Administrative Specialist
Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center
Gaithersburg, MD
05.2021 - 01.2022
- Worked as the Property Administrative Specialist for the hotel
- Duties included acting as the on-property guest point of contact, facilitating event experiences throughout pre-event, event, and post-event, addressing guest needs promptly and effectively, processing all reservation requests, changes, and cancellation requests, building and managing group room blocks to include entering group reservations, updating group projections, and actuals, processing commissions, inputting group rooming lists and revise room blocks as necessary using the reservation systems, coordinating with Housekeeping and Front Desk for special accommodations
- Project highlights
- Corporate
- ASHA CFCC Group Room Block, 2021
- Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Room Block, 2021
- Supernus Pharmaceuticals ADHD Meeting, 2022
- QIAGEN Business Review Meeting, 2022
- Deloitte Room Block, 2021
- AstraZeneca Room Block, 2021
- ASHA Board of Directors Room Block, 2021
- Election Night Primary Reception, 50 attendees (2022)
- Department of Energy QAOS Meeting, 120 attendees (2022)
- AbbVie Meeting, 70 attendees (2022)
- Novavax Advocacy Board Meeting, 100 attendees (2022)
- ACCC Staff Meeting, 70 attendees (2022)
- Social
- Maryland Fire Chiefs Room Block, 2021
- Collins Suarez Wedding Room Block, 2021
- Gaithersburg UkeFest Room Block, 2021
- Shor Bar Mitzvah IHO Joel Room Block, 2021
Education Assistant
Society of Fire Protection Engineers
12.2020 - 05.2021
- Worked as an education assistant for the program development team
- Duties included delivering technical and customer service assistance by serving as liaison to webinar and seminar participants through Zoom, introducing and establishing a new learning management system, acting as the point of contact for inquiries relating to professional development, supporting the global virtual conference, archiving previous webinars and seminars
Event Coordinator
Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center
Gaithersburg, MD
01.2019 - 09.2020
Sales Administrative Assistant
Gaithersburg Marriott Wasgi
Gaithersb, MD
01.2018 - 01.2019
Education
Bachelor of Science - Theatre Studies
05-2014
Skills
- Virtual Meeting Platforms
- Website Creation
- Travel Accommodations
- Graphic Design
- Meeting planning
- Contract negotiation
- Budget management
- AV setup
- Travel coordination
- On-site coordination
- Cvent software
- Registration management
- Client communication
- Problem solving
- Team collaboration
- Customer service
- Meeting support
- Logistics management
- Creativity and adaptability
- Critical thinking
- Project management
- Audio visual equipment
- Interpersonal skills
- Food service oversight
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Teamwork
- Interpersonal communication
- Organize transportation
- Event coordination
- Operations oversight
- Adaptability
- Logistics coordination
Personal Information
Title: Event Planner
Years Of Relevant Experience
Experienced meeting professional with over 10 years of event coordination and administrative management experience. Managed complex logistics operations, including travel arrangements, vendor relations, and hotel coordination. Highly skilled in leveraging data for decision-making, maintaining organizational efficiency, and improving process workflows. Proficient in utilizing automated systems, tracking budgets, and collaborating with stakeholders to meet business and operational goals.
Accomplishments
- Nominated for 2021 Administrator of the Year with the Maryland Hotel and Lodging Association
Certification
- Cvent Management Certified
- Marriott Wedding Planner Certified
Affiliations
- Paint Dungeons and Dragons miniatures
- Lots of baking
References
References available upon request.
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
RemoteHybridImportant To Me
Work-life balanceHealthcare benefitsWork from home optionCareer advancementWork Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Software
Canva
Chatgpt
Timeline
Meeting Planner - Infinity Conference Group, Inc.
10.2024 - 03.2025
Conference Coordinator - Leidos Health
09.2022 - 03.2024
Event Manager - Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center
01.2022 - 09.2022
Property Administrative Specialist - Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center
05.2021 - 01.2022
Education Assistant - Society of Fire Protection Engineers
12.2020 - 05.2021
Event Coordinator - Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center
01.2019 - 09.2020
Sales Administrative Assistant - Gaithersburg Marriott Wasgi
01.2018 - 01.2019
Towson University - Bachelor of Science, Theatre Studies
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