LAUREN TAYLOR

• Actively promote, solicit, and achieve private event sales for small to mid-size events.
• Develop, organize and manage designated events from point of contract to hands-on execution.
• Maintain correspondence with clients throughout event preparation and execution to ensure client's needs were met and exceeded.
• Create organized and detailed Banquet Event Orders to be passed along to other departments to ensure smooth execution day of the event.
• Work directly with Executive Chef, Wine Director, GM, and FOH Managers to secure event needs for execution.
• Schedule and conduct walk-throughs with clients to arrange and confirm details pertaining to every element of the event.
• Oversee event set-up and introduce client/on-site contact to Front of House Manager(s) facilitating the particular event.
• Present for questions during event set-up and check in on the event periodically.
• Participate in weekly event production meetings to communicate BEOs to the team.
• Maintain well-articulated and properly detailed working BEO in TripleSeat and communicate with other departments throughout the planning process.
• Create addendums for any additions to the original contract.
• Assist Event Director with writing event-specific paperwork.
• Manage phone calls and event leads.
• Establish and maintain a department filing system to ensure efficiency and organization.
• Create and maintain event materials and collateral.
• Establish and maintain excellent client relationships throughout the planning and after the event in order to ensure return business and positive word-of-mouth publicity.
• Create and analyze monthly and weekly Event Department Revenue.
• Collect all payments and correspond with Accounting Department when necessary to facilitate and ensure receipt of payments.

• Develop open and effective lines of communication with each client to successfully serve as a liaison during purchasing and planning stage.
• Serve as first point-of-contact for meeting and conference-related inquires.
• Work with Event Operations to fulfill all pre-event client requirements.
• Manage on-site event contract renewals.
• Provide on-site event support to conference exhibitors.
• Assist with the creation of Event Contracts.
• Develop and monitor Event Sales budget and provide regular weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting to department heads.
• Review client invoices to assure billing accuracy.
• Confer with sales teams and team leaders to communicate targets, boost revenue and improve promotional strategies.
• Complete special projects by using effective decision-making, critical thinking, and time management skills.

Achievements

• Maximized the company's $1.4 million portfolio yearly ensuring that contracts are fulfilled and renewed
• Able to maintain a 98.8 percent renewal rate through quarter three of 2021
• Created customer support strategy to increase customer retention
• Resolved customer complaints while prioritizing customer satisfaction and loyalty

• Supported Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Teams in daily tasks such as order processing, reporting, and long-term sales optimization and strategy.
• Served as administrator for company's sales Customer Relationship Management program, and assisted in designing and implementing a new CRM system.
• Worked closely with Marketing to create, implement, and track successful marketing campaigns.
• Managed all inbound leads that originate from events, e-mail, web, or by phone and assigned to appropriate sales executive.
• Introduced higher standards for customer service and increased efficiency by streamlining operations.
• Monitored metrics and developed actionable insights to improve efficiency and performance.
• Created customer support strategy to increase customer retention.
• Resolved customer complaints while prioritizing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

• Organized, inputted, and trafficked all advertising for print and digital media.
• Coordinated scheduling and promotions along with all marketing and advertising efforts.
• Researched lead generation and updated contact management system.
• Created and maintained weekly budget revenue reports.
• Generated contracts for new prospective advertisers.
• Collaborated with Creative Department to develop marketing collateral materials and creative ads.
• Used consultative sales approach to understand customer needs and recommend relevant offerings.

• Created all marketing materials for Dee Kay Events and distributed through various social media channels.
• Coordinated florists, photographers, videographers, musicians, officiants and ceremony participants during rehearsals and pre-ceremony, ceremony and reception events.
• Supported senior leadership by developing status reports on activities related to planning, scheduling, cancellation, inquiries, resourcing, risk mitigation and proposal development for various events.