Rachel Grimes
Astoria Park Conservancy
Jackson,WY
1
Certification
17
years of professional experience
Experienced professional with 18 years in nonprofit and local government sectors. Expertise in community and economic development, enhancing engagement through strong customer service. Leader skilled in team supervision and process optimization, driving efficiency and impactful outcomes in diverse communities.
Work History
Welcome Center Manager
1 Year 5 Months- Manage daily hot springs operations for optimal efficiency, resulting in improved revenue generation and higher guest retention rates.
- Check facility, employee work and service levels to maintain compliance with organization and industry standards.
- Track trends and suggested enhancements to both challenge and refine organization's product offerings.
- Supervise creation of exciting merchandise displays to catch attention of hot springs guests.
- Oversee recruitment, hiring, and onboarding processes to ensure a skilled team capable of meeting organizational objectives.
- Track employee attendance and punctuality, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging employees to contribute ideas for operational enhancements.
- Cultivate a supportive and inclusive environment, enabling employees to thrive and deliver exceptional service to clients.
- Promote a culture of teamwork through effective leadership, open communication channels, and regular team-building activities.
- Handle problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
- Successfully resolve client concerns by actively listening to their needs and proposing viable solutions that met their expectations.
- Collaborated closely with other leadership team members to align goals, share knowledge, and boost overall organizational performance.
- Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
Fair & Fairgrounds Manager
6 Years 11 Months- Oversaw a team of three full-time and one seasonal staff to ensure efficient management and operation of fairgrounds facilities throughout the year.
- Resolved public inquiries effectively through direct engagement at the fair office.
- Facilitated streamlined communication by managing website submissions, phone calls, and emails.
- Engaged with county and town leaders, divisions, community partners, and the public to coordinate special fairgrounds events and manage routine operational activities.
- Directed maintenance initiatives for grounds and buildings, prioritizing timely repairs to maintain operational readiness for public use.
- Increased facility utilization by effectively managing rental requests. Achieved higher public participation by streamlining application processes and fee collection.
- Evaluated and prioritized capital project initiatives for fairgrounds facilities based on budget availability and strategic objectives.
- Oversaw the development and management of an annual budget totaling around $1 million for the fair and fairgrounds. Monitored all financial transactions to drive fiscal responsibility and ensure a balanced budget year-round.
- Facilitated comprehensive planning and organization of the annual county fair in partnership with a seven-member fair board.
- Streamlined monthly meeting agendas to enhance participant engagement. Delivered comprehensive meeting minutes that captured critical discussions. Enhanced board meeting packets by gathering relevant supplemental information. Achieved timely distribution of meeting packets, improving preparation and participation. Increased public transparency by posting meeting outcomes online. Strengthened partnerships by sharing crucial information with the board of county commissioners and community partners.
- Facilitated contractor research and information gathering to optimize service selection for the fair. Collaborated with fair board to analyze contractor options and influence decision-making on contracts.
- Directed execution of service provider and entertainment contracts during fair week to fulfill scopes of work and meet contractual obligations.
- Oversaw distribution and promotion of fair sponsorship information. Guided potential sponsors through various opportunities and benefits. Monitored and documented sponsorship revenue. Fulfilled commitments to sponsors by delivering agreed-upon benefits.
- Oversaw content accuracy and provided photo materials to graphic designer for fair book, facilitating successful publication for public access.
- Crafted and distributed engaging content across online, print, and social channels to effectively promote the fair.
- Coordinated the collection and promotion of entry forms, rules, and fees, ensuring compliance and smooth operation of fair events.
- Facilitated ticket sales for engaging fair night events and carnival attractions. Streamlined refund and ticket exchange procedures to enhance customer satisfaction.
- Ensured efficient management of all events and programs on-site throughout fair week to enhance attendee experience.
Executive Director
2 Years 4 Months- Managed operations of chamber and visitor center to enhance visitor experience for 30,000 annual guests.
- Led a team of one year-round, full-time and six part-time seasonal staff members.
- Developed and executed comprehensive organizational policy and procedure manual.
- Facilitated discussions with board of directors to implement and advance vision, mission, and strategic planning efforts.
- Organized and coordinated board committee and special project meetings.
- Organized meeting agendas, documented meeting minutes, and compiled supporting materials.
- Oversaw annual budget planning and management for $200k allocation.
- Oversaw creation and management of special event budgets ranging from $500 to $15,000.
- Facilitated event organization and served as primary point-of-contact for gatherings of 15 to 12,000 attendees, including breakfast round tables, luncheons, candidate forums, and community events.
- Fostered strong community partnerships by engaging with county commission, county planning and zoning, city council, city planning and zoning, travel and tourism, and state representatives. Drove collaborative decision-making through effective participation in high-level meetings. Cultivated productive relationships with key stakeholders to support community development initiatives.
- Engaged with community partners, donors, and elected officials to foster support for initiatives.
- Oversaw the execution of projects and initiatives focused on enhancing internet access and commuter transportation in Sublette County. Championed the establishment of the ‘Ready for Workforce’ student internship program at Pinedale High School. Directed and facilitated engagement efforts for the Pinedale lodging tax political action committee.
- Organized and led volunteer coordination for committees, special programming, and events.
- Leveraged electronic newsletters, social media, and online outlets to expand audience engagement and outreach efforts.
- Developed and submitted grant proposals while managing government contract relationships to boost overall revenues.
- Championed initiatives to represent and advance interests of local business community.
- Delivered informative talks to various audience sizes, focusing on chamber of commerce initiatives and business strategies.
Membership & Events Coordinator
5 Years 9 Months- Facilitated visitor inquiries by offering comprehensive information on dining, accommodations, and recreational activities in the area.
- Compiled and maintained records of visitor center engagement metrics, encompassing walk-ins, phone inquiries, and email communications.
- Maintained and updated member contact records and content within Chamber Master software to ensure accuracy and accessibility.
- Designed and implemented a weekly e-newsletter to strengthen outreach efforts and foster community connections through social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
- Disseminated member business announcements and promotions via e-newsletters, social media, and web platforms.
- Developed innovative programming initiatives to enhance member engagement.
- Drove membership growth initiatives to elevate chamber representation from 230 to 250 businesses.
- Spearheaded promotion of chamber events and programming via e-newsletters, social media, and web platforms.
- Developed and distributed advertising materials to enhance visibility of chamber events and programming.
- Executed successful events through meticulous planning of dates, venue selection, and guest speaker engagement. Produced compelling promotional materials that drove participant interest. Optimized advertising strategies to boost event visibility and attendance.
- Managed financial operations, including payroll processing, sales tax payments, and quarterly tax submissions to maintain compliance and operational efficiency.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Geography
Skills
Interpersonal Communication Proficiency
Community Engagement
Business Development
Team Leadership
Team Management & Collaboration
Decision-Making
Budget Management
Event Management
Computer Software Proficiency
Certification
Institute For Organization Management (IOM)
US Chamber of Commerce
Madison, WI
June 2016
Timeline
Welcome Center Manager
Astoria Park Conservancy
2025.03 - CurrentRead More
Fair & Fairgrounds Manager
Teton County, WY
2018.04 - 2025.03Read More
Executive Director
Sublette County Chamber of Commerce
2015.01 - 2017.05Read More
Membership & Events Coordinator
Sublette County Chamber of Commerce
2009.04 - 2015.01Read More
University of Montana
Bachelor of Science from Geography
Read More