Lani Milton
Jacksonville
Summary
Global Account & Operations Manager with a track record of enhancing client retention and driving growth through strategic meetings management. Managed $15M in annual expenditures while ensuring alignment of stakeholder objectives and optimizing resource allocation to enhance operational efficiencies.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Global Account & Operations Manager
BCD Meetings & Events
11.2022 - Current
- Transform meeting & event operations through strategy, partnership & operational excellence.
- Lead cross-functional teams & regional partners to develop & maintain relationships aligning services with business objectives
- Identify growth opportunities within accounts and support business development.
- Stewardship of SOP development & ongoing efficiencies
- Ownership of talent acquisition for team growth
- Proactively monitor teams’ performance against established SLAs and provide monthly reports on outcomes
- Manage and mentor a team responsible for administering $15M in annual expenditure, ensuring optimal resource allocation and cost efficiency
- Create & deliver quarterly QBRs to client to enhance relationship & program adoption
Account & Operations Manager
BCD Meetings & Events
11.2019 - 11.2022
- Liaison with C-level clients and sponsors from Fortune 100 companies
- Provide executive-level oversight for complex and high-visibility programs
- Mentored team in contract strategy, logistics, and client communications to strengthen operational effectiveness
- Oversaw meeting technology platform and recommended enhancements to improve operational efficiency
- Presented post-program reports and financials that demonstrated program value, cost savings, and ROI/ROE
Team Lead- Sourcing & Operational EXCELLENCE
BCD Meetings & Events
02.2015 - 11.2022
- Manage, mentor & support team, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement
- Serve as primary point of escalation for team challenges, offering solutions and guidance
- Managed the preferred supplier portfolio to ensure alignment with business goals and objectives.
- Oversaw an international team of sourcing/contracting managers & meeting planners
- Monitor team performance to ensure cost avoidance target is met and KPI’s achieved
- Responsible for all HR related activities for the team
- Negotiate and finalize contracts for domestic and international programs
- Liaison with customers on a regular basis to discuss team achievements
Senior Program manager
BCD Meetings & Events
02.2007 - 02.2015
- Directed end-to-end logistics; including budget creation and monitoring; communication with stakeholders, program creation, sourcing, data integrity
- Managed all vendor contracts, ensuring seamless execution within budget. Independently sourced, planned and executed 80-100 meetings per year both domestic/international
- Negotiated approximately 200 hotel and venue contracts annually. Exceeded the 80% compliancy required per SLA.
- Managed event hosts’ expectations, budgets and event timelines
- Consistently managed savings metrics without sacrificing deadline fulfillment
- Portfolio included but not limited to: annual President Clubs, C-level Summits, customer facing tradeshows & events
- Responsible for operational resources including onsite event staff and support staff
Program manager
LANDMARK INCENTIVE MARKETING
04.2003 - 02.2007
- Managed full lifecycle of incentive programs -site selection, attendee coordination, logistics, and registration platform development -ensuring seamless execution across all phases.
- Large-scale event oversight - onsite logistics and delivery for events of 30–1,000 participants, coordinating staff, vendors, and venue teams to maintain operational excellence.
MEETING manager
TRAVEL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (now US Travel)
02.2001 - 01.2003
- Coordinated all aspects for annual city-wide conference with attendance up to 6000+: F&B, AV, VIP reception, celebrity speakers, signage, billing, tradeshow
- Designed tradeshow floorplan for all exhibitors; worked in tandem with show decorator
- Prepared and managed budgets up to 3MIL
- Negotiated multiple hotel contracts for attendee/exhibitor room blocks
- Prepared RFP for future host city
EVENT PLANNER
ORLANDO CVB (now Visit Orlando)
11.1999 - 01.2001
- Facilitated annual citywide conferences by managing logistics for meetings, improving overall attendee experience
- Negotiated hotel contracts; coordinated F&B, AV, and support services to ensure seamless event execution
- Designed and executed monthly membership networking opportunities to enhance member engagement
Education
Bachelor of Science - Recreation & Leisure Administration
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FLSkills
- Client Retention & Growth
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Strategic Meetings Management
- Data Analysis & Reporting
- Operational Excellence
- Financial Stewardship
- Compliance Integrity
- Strong Business Acumen
- Stakeholder Alignment
Websites
Certification
CMP Certification, current
Timeline
Global Account & Operations Manager
BCD Meetings & Events
11.2022 - Current
Account & Operations Manager
BCD Meetings & Events
11.2019 - 11.2022
Team Lead- Sourcing & Operational EXCELLENCE
BCD Meetings & Events
02.2015 - 11.2022
Senior Program manager
BCD Meetings & Events
02.2007 - 02.2015
Program manager
LANDMARK INCENTIVE MARKETING
04.2003 - 02.2007
MEETING manager
TRAVEL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (now US Travel)
02.2001 - 01.2003
EVENT PLANNER
ORLANDO CVB (now Visit Orlando)
11.1999 - 01.2001
Bachelor of Science - Recreation & Leisure Administration
Florida State University