Latoya Swan
Gaithersburg,MD
Summary
Program manager with over 15 years of experience, including 10 years in leadership roles. Skilled in coordinating and managing various types of events, from corporate meetings to large conventions. Possess strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring seamless execution and positive participant feedback. Known for creative problem-solving skills and ability to work effectively under pressure, contributing to successful event outcomes.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Meeting Event Manager
Maritz Global Events
Arlington, VA
12.2018 - 11.2023
- Spearheaded meetings with clients to create, refine, and effectively communicate written meeting specifications throughout the planning process for corporate and association events ranging from 800 to 5,000 attendees.
- Developed strategic event plans for clients in alignment with their business objectives.
- Produced comprehensive RFPs to recommend and secure supplier products and services, ensuring fair pricing and favorable contract terms.
- Scheduled and coordinated weekly and monthly meetings with the operations team to ensure project deadlines were met.
- Provided on-site leadership of teams of 15 to 40 individuals, and support during the conference to ensure all functions occurred as planned, monitoring performance levels, anticipating and resolving on-site challenges, and managing and directing other team members.
- Managed a budget of up to $2M, overseeing allocation processes, future financial estimates, and cost reporting.
- Reviewed and approved the final facility and supplier invoices.
- Conducted site visits for general meeting spaces and trade show/exhibit hall space up to 500K square feet.
- Provided clients with creative solutions to improve product quality, reduce liabilities, and prepare comprehensive post-convention assessments and recommendations.
Senior Event Manager
Marriott Marquis
Washington , DC
01.2014 - 08.2016
- Influenced the Event Management Team's business processes during the pre-opening phases.
- Led pre-opening site visits and Interviews for a newly developed 100K square-foot event space.
- Successfully planned and executed large multi-part events garnered up to over $1 million in collective revenue with attendance of as many as 2000 attendees.
- Organized and headed formal pre- and post-event meetings to gather and assess group feedback.
- Garnered success with lucrative companies and clients using a tailored, proactive event management style; offered support at all steps of planning processes.
- Collaborated with the internal Sales Team to bolster sales by using graphs of meeting spaces to facilitate the closing of deals; strategically shifted existing groups to accommodate new business and thus maximize all spaces.
- Partnered with the Revenue Management Team to maximize profit by maintaining accuracy in all contracted lodging rooms and accurately forecasting catering functions.
- Coordinated efforts concurrently across all internal departments and merchants to deliver outstanding events that surpass customers’ expectations, bolster event satisfaction scores, and increase hotel brand awareness.
Senior Event Manager / Event Manager
Renaissance & Residence Inn Capitol View Hotels
Arlington, VA
03.2011 - 01.2014
- Served as a charter member of New Concept Properties, with 17,000 sq ft of function space.
- Conducted pre-opening sales site visits to secure business for newly established hotels.
- Proved crucial in launching departmental standards and routines for the Event Planning Department, and organizing events for up to 900 people.
- Prepared post-event reports summarizing attendee feedback and other key metrics.
- Maintained accurate catering revenue reports and lodging room forecasts up to 625 rooms combined property.
- Administered training for newly hired Event Managers and Event Coordinators.
- Spearheaded sustainability initiatives across all events, implementing carbon-neutral practices that reduced environmental impact by 65% within 18 months, while decreasing operational costs by 12%.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Computer Information Systems - Business Management
Saint Augustine’s University
Raleigh, NCSkills
- Event planning and execution: concept development, timeline creation, site selection, vendor management, registration, logistics coordination, and on-site management
- Budget management: detailed budget planning, cost analysis, maintained relationships with a network of 40 vendors, reduced event costs between $600 and $200,000
- Program management: task delegation, deadline adherence, risk mitigation, contingency planning
- Communication and stakeholder management: client interaction, clear communication, stakeholder engagement, achieved a 90% attendee satisfaction rate
- Creative design: theme development, event branding, visual design concepts
- Technical proficiency: Cvent event management, Microsoft Project Professional, Zoom events and webinar solutions, online registration platforms, rudimentary audiovisual equipment, intermediary Excel, CRM integration, Tableau dashboard development
Timeline
Meeting Event Manager
Maritz Global Events
12.2018 - 11.2023
Senior Event Manager
Marriott Marquis
01.2014 - 08.2016
Senior Event Manager / Event Manager
Renaissance & Residence Inn Capitol View Hotels
03.2011 - 01.2014
Bachelor of Science - Computer Information Systems - Business Management
Saint Augustine’s University