Melanie L. McTaggart
Houston, TX,TX
Summary
Sucessful Executive Director of Event Operations with over 12 years of experience planning and executing events, conferences and trade shows from concept to completion. Highly organized, detail-oriented leader skilled in directing high-performing teams to develop solutions and achieve financial goals for event business. Offering outstanding communication and cross-culture team management skills. Entrepreneurial attitude for optimal profitability. Ambitious team leader adept at creating strategic alliances with organizational leaders and effectively aligning with and supporting key business initiatives.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - CONFERENCE OPERATIONS
Hart Energy
Houston, TX
01.2011 - Current
- Managed and executed 18+ conferences and trade shows annually from conception thru post-event
- Responsible for all operations, logistics including ordering AV, F&B, and exhibit decorations
- Created and managed large corporate networking events including concerts and golf tournaments
- Prepared and managed $6-7 million expense budget for 11+ years creating 50% profit margin annually.
- Monitored sales forecasts and projected financial planning for events division to achieve revenue goals.
- Managed appropriate cost control to meet budget restrictions and maximize profitability
- Negotiated contracts with vendors including hotels, convention centers, trade show decorators and AV companies to achieve prime pricing.
- Managed five person conference team, overseeing registration, fulfillment and speaker procurement
- Launched virtual event business
- Worked with marketing team to produce effective messaging and tactics
- Worked with content team to align conference themes and agendas to editorial content
• Drove strategic improvements to enhance operational and organizational efficiencies.
DIRECTOR OF CONFERENCES
Hart Energy
Houston, TX
01.2009 - 05.2009
- Programmed and managed all aspects of conference development for conferences
- Maintained and controlled conference and operational budgets
- Managed operations and logistics for each event
- Selected industry experts to serve on advisory boards and planned board meetings
- Invited, coordinated and managed all speakers
- Created press releases, marketing promotions and direct mail pieces
CONFERENCE MANAGER
The TradeFair Group
Houston, TX
06.2003 - 06.2004
- Managed all aspects of conference development for six conferences
- Developed, organized and planned 12 conference tracks and 48 sessions for three-day ELECTRIC POWER 2004 Conference and Exposition
- Planned committee meetings and selected over 200 industry experts to participate on advisory boards
- Coordinated and managed 608 speakers, four co-located meetings and over 90 chairmen
- Selected and invited six power industry CEOs to participate in roundtable discussions
- Organized logistics and materials for each meeting, arranged spaces and took detailed notes for later dissemination to key stakeholders
- Sold Conference Attendance Group Plans - increased sales by 15% for ELECTRIC POWER 2004 reaching over 5,000 total attendees
- Fulfilled sponsorship needs for conferences and maintained conference and operational budgets
- Handled and managed all operations and logistics for three conferences and trade shows
- Created marketing promotions and direct mail pieces
• Supervised onsite team of caterers, audio-visual technicians and facility management team
MARKETING MANAGER
Hart Publications
Houston, TX
01.2000 - 06.2003
- Developed and executed strategic global marketing and advertising plans for four publications
- Planned, coordinated and produced yearly media kits
- Organized, developed and managed trade show efforts
- Participated in promotional activities and trade shows, working with advertisers and production managers, to market publications
- Planned and executed conferences, speaker forums and social functions for company
- Managed marketing budget and associated P&L to develop and execute marketing strategies, budgets and sales plans for business segments
- Tracked and produced monthly market share and competitive analysis reports
- Sold booth space for the Producing Property Exchange trade show and advertising space in the Colorado Oil and Gas Association Conference Program
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Flash Vos
Houston, TX
07.1999 - 01.2000
- Developed and carried out full marketing and advertising plan for product launch
- Made sales presentations to Fortune 500 companies
- Organized, developed and worked all trade show efforts
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Advertising
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TXSkills
- Excellent Organizational Skills
- Event Operations and Logistics Management
- Conference and meeting planning
- Project development and life cycle
- Strategic planning
- Budgeting, Forecasting and P&L Management
- Cost reduction strategies
- Vendor Sourcing, Negotiation and Contract Management
- Staff Management
- Virtual Event Execution
- Executive leadership experience
- Video Conference Endpoint Management
- Proficient in Google Office Suite, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Publisher, Zoom Webinars and Meetings, CVENT Registration, Photoshop, Canva
- Conference and meeting planning
Accomplishments
- Awarded by Hart Energy, the "Above and Beyond Award" for achieving company cost savings, the development of a new idea that generated revenue, and improved efficiencies
- Served hundreds of hours of community service
Certification
Certified Virtual Event Producer (CVEP) from iCohere
Affiliations
National Charity League
Mother's Against Cancer
ACTS Catholic Retreat Director and Core Team Facilitator
Quote
Do not go where the path may lead, go where there is no path and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Timeline
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - CONFERENCE OPERATIONS
Hart Energy
01.2011 - Current
DIRECTOR OF CONFERENCES
Hart Energy
01.2009 - 05.2009
CONFERENCE MANAGER
The TradeFair Group
06.2003 - 06.2004
MARKETING MANAGER
Hart Publications
01.2000 - 06.2003
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Flash Vos
07.1999 - 01.2000
Bachelor of Arts - Advertising
Sam Houston State University
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