Melanie Patek
Kansas City,MO
Summary
Dynamic professional with extensive experience in meeting and event coordination, notably at Cushman Wakefield, where I quadrupled sales post-pandemic. Skilled in vendor management and strategic planning, I excel in fostering collaboration and delivering exceptional customer service, ensuring successful events that meet organizational goals.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Alumni & Development Coordinator
UMKC Foundation School of Dentistry
Kansas City , MO
01.2026 - Current
- Coordinated planning and execution of alumni and development activities and events, enhancing participant engagement.
- Managed alumni records and facilitated KPI reporting within UMKC CRM, ensuring data accuracy and accessibility.
- Function as the primary contact for speakers at the Midwest Dental Conference. Once identified, prepare contracts, obtain all necessary signatures, and coordinate speaker requirements such as AV, room hosts, room setup, and ensure they receive honorariums.
- Serve as the main liaison for Midwest Dental Conference Exhibitors: assist with booth selection, verify exhibitor details for brochures, process booth payments, track booth personnel, and coordinate with the exhibitor furniture and AV vendor.
- Ensure the Midwest Dental Conference's continuing education offerings comply with ADA CERP and AGD PACE standards.
Senior Meeting Planner
Cushman Wakefield at Kauffman Foundation
08.2022 - 12.2024
- Quadrupled sales since starting in August 2022 returning revenues to levels seen before the pandemic with significantly smaller staff.
- Confirmed meeting requests from local and national nonprofits, government, education, and healthcare entities, ensuring alignment with conference center criteria.
- Coordinated catering, room setups, and audiovisual needs for clients, ensuring fulfillment of expectations.
- Fostered collaboration and transparency among catering and AV teams, leveraging their expertise to enhance service delivery.
- Addressed client concerns with diplomacy and tact.
- Developed and implemented training resources for new team members, including summer interns, temporary and full-time associates.
- Assisted with transition from EMS software to Momentus Elite.
Operations Coordinator/Events Management
Health Forward Foundation
01.2008 - 08.2022
- Managed event logistics for meetings, forums, and special events, liaising with vendors, venues, catering, and activities to adhere to budget parameters.
- Coordinated daily office operations, including building maintenance, equipment issue resolution, and office supply management to support workplace efficiency.
- Oversaw and developed a timeline to convert all paper documents to electronic documents.
- Worked with the development and compliance of records retention and document management policies.
- Developed a naming structure for electronic documents in the company's main computer file.
- Processed invoices and payments in Quickbooks for vendors and grantees, ensuring accurate financial management.
- Reconciled monthly credit card statements.
Interior Design/Organization Consultant
Self Employed Services
Kansas City, Missouri
01.2001 - Current
- Supported renovation and organization of residential and commercial spaces, enhancing functionality and aesthetics.
- Design practical floor plans and layouts that enable everyday activities to flow smoothly.
- Advise on choosing color schemes, paint tones, furniture, flooring, and fabrics.
- Addressed clients' functional and stylistic requirements within budget constraints, ensuring satisfaction and adherence to design goals.
- Coordinated with contractors, furniture suppliers, and decor vendors to streamline project execution and ensure design vision was realized.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Nutrition/Dietetics
Murray State University
Murray, KYAssociate of Applied Science -
Jefferson College
Hillsboro, MO05-1989
Skills
- Meeting/Events Coordination
- Project Management
- Vendor Management
- Contract Review/Execution
- Contract Negotiation
- RFP Management
- Financial Reporting
- Budgeting
- Nonprofit-Grant Experience
- Records management
- Strategic Planning
- Organization Control
- Customer Service/Hospitality
- Fundraising Strategies
Timeline
Alumni & Development Coordinator
UMKC Foundation School of Dentistry
01.2026 - Current
Senior Meeting Planner
Cushman Wakefield at Kauffman Foundation
08.2022 - 12.2024
Operations Coordinator/Events Management
Health Forward Foundation
01.2008 - 08.2022
Interior Design/Organization Consultant
Self Employed Services
01.2001 - Current
Some College (No Degree) - Nutrition/Dietetics
Murray State University
Associate of Applied Science -
Jefferson College