Kimberly Milentis

The title update continues with all responsibilities and duties as Director of Events but absorbs the management over the Impressions Team Manager. The Impressions Team Manager oversees 5 Office Managers and 3 Impressions Team Members, in 5 office markets.

· Collaborate and mentor Impressions Manager on all aspects of Client Experience (phone etiquite, in-office hospitality, best practices with guest interaction, event hospitality)

· Communicate and train entire Impression Team on Brand standards and expectations

· Partner with Impressions Manager on interview and hiring candidates

· Lead and support Impressions Manager on Team performance

· Create and delegate “surprise and delight” ideas for in-office Client Experience

· Collaborate and develop event check-in process efficiencies

· Collaborate with Leadership Team on Marketing Strategy

· Present Event Strategy at annual Company Meeting

· Develop annual Event Strategy that aligns with all other Marketing Initiatives

· Lead weekly Event meeting with Marketing partners

· Hire, train, manage Events Coordinator

· Train and Coach Impressions Team on all event hospitality

· Mentor and support Event Coordinator on event best practices

· Collaborate with Event Coordinator to create and maintain efficient event processes

· Forecast and manage events budget

· Lead weekly meetings with University of Notre Dame Athletic partners

· Collaborate, create, and direct 5 exclusive University of Notre Dame events yearly for Clients and Prospects

· Research and present Innovative opportunities and resources to deliver World Class Howard Bailey Events

· Partner and assist on new office Interior design

· Create and execute in-office video Recording Studio, and Mother Nursing Room

· Travel to 4 office markets to review Brand standards on office hospitality, marketing printed materials and evolving Marketing processes

· Travel for Venue site visits

· Initiate communication with other financial firm to learn about their hosted events

· Strategize and develop testing opportunities on Advisor Seminar Event Invitations and any other event communication

· Supporting and overseeing the Event Coordinator on the process of over 150 Advisor Dinner Seminars

· Directing, with the assistance of the Event Coordinator, over 23 Client and Prospect Events throughout 4 markets.

· Direct collaboration with CEO and Marketing Director on annual event initiatives and sales goals that relate to new Client and employee acquisition and retention

· Forecast and manage events budget

· Create unique and exclusive Client and Prospect events for all Financial Advisor, in all markets

· Coordinate, create, and direct all in-office employee events

· Research and gift meaningful items for Clients, Prospects and Employees

· Present exclusive event opportunities to Advisory Team

· Collaborate with Marketing on effective and creative communication, visuals, and gifting that promote events and other Marketing initiatives

· Research, communicate and coordinate with all event vendors (live entertainment, AV, catering, venue, lodging, etc.)

· Support and supervise front office team

· Interviewed candidates for open job functions

· Hired and dismissed team members

· Create and lead in-office Hospitality process

· Onsite host for Advisor Dinner Seminar Events

· Manage and communicate all scheduling for over 120 Advisor Dinner Seminars Events

· Brand Ambassador to train, direct, maintain and evolve the Vera Bradley Brand with the highest standard in Visual Creation

· 90% Travel to Retail Stores and Outlets to coach, evaluate, and direct creative solutions

· Direct the Visual Merchandising setup and process at all new store openings

· Create and communicate merchandise floorsets for new store opening following visual design initiatives

· Train each new Store Manager and Associates on brand standards and visual guidelines

· Develop training materials to efficiently educate Visual Merchandising processes to all retail channels

· Collaborate and create innovative concepts to meet and exceed Sales objectives

· Present Visual Merchandising objective at national retail manager meetings

· Communicate and Collaborate with District Managers on visual merchandise training opportunities with onsite support and workshops

· Create, design and execute exclusive visual displays at NYC flagship store

· Create, support and travel with Merchandising Team to National Showrooms

· Created, coordinated, and managed all corporate and retail events (i.e., employee parties, retail store and sales/wholesale events, national corporate sponsored events).

· Responsibilities included developing a theme and décor, coordinating logistics, delegating, tasks, and being the onsite producer always completed within the specified budget.

· Retail events coincided with the current marketing initiative; position required collaborating with Creative and Retail teams to determine the goals and objectives, planning the entire event within a budget, and successfully delivering a perfect guest experience.

· Notable events coordinated and executed include:

o Vera Bradley themed wedding

o Annual National Sales Meetings in San Francisco, Miami, Orlando with themed evening events and extracurricular activities

o Assisted in photo shoots for special projects as well as various Public Relations and Foundation events

· Created and developed an Event Binder for indirect and direct sales channels to give guidance on appropriate planning and coordination that is consistent and maintained per Vera Bradley Brand

· Created and organized various community events sponsored by Vera Bradley.

· Assisted and coordinated event initiatives for Vera Bradley Foundation

· Communicated with National Magazine publications on advertising opportunities

· Coordinated and led a Celebration Event in Pasadena, CA for the Vera Bradley parade float featured in the Rose Bowl parade

· Coordinated and executed product gifting at Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

· Communicated and partnered with Product Placement Agent to implement Vera Bradley product in movies and television

Assisted Vice President of Marketing and Marketing Manager with administrative support of
all Vera Bradley advertising and marketing objectives by managing invoices, coordinating travel, team communications and archiving marketing collateral.