Hi, I’m
Melanie Koch
Senior Event Manager
Sacramento,CA
Summary
Experienced with orchestrating complex events and ensuring operational excellence. Utilizes strategic planning and vendor coordination to enhance event outcomes. Track record of fostering collaborative environments and driving successful team efforts.
Overview
13
years of professional experience
Work History
University Of California, Davis
Senior Event Manager
10.2022 - Current
Job overview
- Lead the Undergraduate Admissions events unit, overseeing all recruitment and yield events to support UC Davis’s enrollment goals.
- Manage approximately 75 events annually, including large-scale and high-profile events involving UC Davis executives, UC campuses, and key stakeholders.
- Supervise a team of event managers, providing training, performance reviews, and leadership to ensure effective event execution and professional development.
- Develop short- and long-term event goals, aligning with UC Davis’s mission and strategic plans for Undergraduate Admissions.
- Manage a $200,000 event budget, monitor expenditures, and adjust forecasts for future budget needs.
- Work closely with over 100 campus partners, vendors, and UC stakeholders to plan and execute events, enhancing the experience for admitted students and families.
- Oversee all aspects of event planning and execution, including logistics, team coordination, staffing, and post-event evaluations.
- Incorporated DEI principles into event planning by completing a DEI Strategist certificate and applying learnings to make events more inclusive.
- Ensure the health, safety, and risk management of over 10,000 attendees, handling emergencies according to UC Davis standards.
- Identify opportunities to optimize spending and improve efficiency, revising procedures and reallocating funds to create better event management practices.
Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art
Events Manager
10.2017 - 06.2022
Job overview
- Oversee and provide high level coordination for all aspects of internal and external use of museum program spaces, including rental spaces. Responsible for ensuring the safety and security of museum visitors and collections during events.
- Developed and launched museum’s facility rental program. Determined rates and worked with Conference and Event Services to get rental facilities on-line.
- Work with Conference and Event Services on campus to market museum spaces, and serve as liaison with clients and vendors for all space rentals, ensuring adherence to all University and museum policies and procedures.
- Manage highly complex events, both in-person and virtual, including high-visibility events serving donors and community leaders. Orchestrate large scale gatherings in support of the university that include senior campus officials, international dignitaries, government officials, faculty, and alumni.
- Produce and execute Zoom Webinar events streaming to global audiences.
- Develop and maintain the museum’s complex calendar of events and develop detailed planning schedules for each event.
- Coordinate all logistics and administration for events, including scheduling and management of on- site staff, partners and vendors. Meet with university and external constituents for program development and implementation. Act as liaison with external vendors for required services. Create event safety plans to accommodate and adhere to all University directives, specifically around COVID-19.
- Lead museum team throughout the event planning process, execution of event day-of, and debriefs.
- Manage event budget and monitor charges by project. Recharge UC Davis departments and issue requests for payment to on and off campus service providers. Reconcile each event budget and prepare final report. Manage all aspects of contractual commitments.
- Manage event student staff and provide training in a wide range of event services.
- Serve as the museum’s audio-visual specialist for both internal and external programming, proficient in both Crestron and Lutron systems.
- Serve as the museum’s in-house videographer, producer and editor to create content for educational programs, exhibition websites, campus-wide newsletters and social media.
California State Railroad Museum Foundation
Events Manager
07.2016 - 10.2017
Job overview
- Coordinate complex high visibility events including all fundraising and member events; average annual revenue of $1.7 million.
- Manage and produce The Polar Express Train Ride, welcoming 24,000 riders over 20 days. Hire entertainers, supervise all activities, oversee daily operation including oversight of 500+ volunteers and employees, coordination of meals for volunteers and entertainers, and leading customer service team.
- Work with Foundation departments, California State Parks, and the City of Sacramento to ensure all requirements are met and necessary permits obtained. Share Banquet Event Order information and confirm execution the day of events; work with vendors to follow itineraries and timelines and establish relationships for future events.
- Effectively manage multiple priorities while exercising good judgment, especially under challenging circumstances; work with stakeholders to foster a positive relationship resulting in increased engagement.
Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant and Spa
Event Specialist
09.2014 - 07.2016
Job overview
- Responsible for client relationship and event design. Oversee all aspects of set-up, execution and production for all events including weddings, social events, corporate functions, and concerts.
- Manage an average of 60 clients at any given time.
- Maximize revenues through innovative up-selling opportunities while keeping a strong emphasis on developing customer relationships and total customer satisfaction.
- Meet and exceed departmental budgeted revenue goals.
- Work cross-departmentally to ensure all provisions in Banquet Event Orders are executed the day of events, work with vendors to follow itineraries and timelines, and establish relationships for future events.
- Anticipate customer’s needs, respond promptly and acknowledge all customer requests.
- Mentor and train an events intern in all aspects of event management.
Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant and Spa
Spa Supervisor
09.2011 - 09.2014
Job overview
- Supervise 60+ employees in multiple departments, maximizing productivity and promoting a cooperative work environment.
- Encourage and educate employees on how to upsell themselves and products to clients.
- Provide an exceptional customer experience reflecting the company’s standards of service and promoting goodwill in the community.
- Serve as operations manager on behalf of Spa Director running daily operations including scheduling, ordering, stocking, inventory, and customer relations.
- Generate repeat business and consistently impress current clientele through high levels of service and product.
- Trained and mentored new team members, fostering a positive work environment that supported employee growth.
Timeline
Senior Event Manager
University Of California, Davis
10.2022 - Current
Events Manager
Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art
10.2017 - 06.2022
Events Manager
California State Railroad Museum Foundation
07.2016 - 10.2017
Event Specialist
Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant and Spa
09.2014 - 07.2016
Spa Supervisor
Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant and Spa
09.2011 - 09.2014
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