Hi, I’m
SAIRA SUFI
Sterling,VA
Summary
Entrepreneurial and creative professional passionate about turning innovative ideas into tangible results. Experienced formulating and executing strategic plans, creating new products and services, and developing business opportunities. Track record of multiple successful business ventures and leading teams of professionals to maximize profits and deliver success. Determined, responsive and resilient.
Overview
16
years of professional experience
Work History
TEAM WATIENCE
Founder / Director of Operations
01.2017 - Current
Job overview
- Founded organization whose mission is to raise awareness and promote research of aplastic anemia and other rare diseases while providing support to patients and caregivers, in honor of son who succumbed to aplastic anemia in 2018
- Leverage social media and blogging to navigate the child-loss grieving process against cultural and societal expectations
- Raised public health awareness through social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
- Joined with partner organizations to raise $65K+ for healthcare research, $74K+ for national marrow donor program and ~$274K for diversity expansion fund through social media fundraising campaigns
- Brainstorm and execute social and community engagements to promote awareness and develop items such as caregiver packages
- Organize National Institute of Health (NIH) gift-donation celebrations
- Develop strong partnerships with other businesses to allow for collaboration and more significant opportunities for growth.
CORNERSTONES
Director of Volunteers and Community Engagement
01.2016 - Current
Job overview
- Hired to oversee and implement volunteer program, including coordination, recruitment and training
- Designated as event lead for Best of Reston, Cornerstone's main fundraising event; coordinated volunteers for one-time events and seasonal opportunities, such as gift and coat drives
- Designed and implemented orientation program to inform potential volunteers about organizational mission, opportunities and regulations
- Implemented detailed event timelines to optimize staff performance and accountability
- Worked with individuals and organizations to formulate plans to enable them to give back to the community, including evaluating how volunteers could become donors
- Raised $50K+
AMERICA 250
Events Specialist
01.2019 - 01.2020
Job overview
- Recruited to position on recommendation of previous supervisor
- Designed extensive event timelines and execution strategies for Executive Committee, Commission and Task Force meetings
- Designated as member of selection committee to choose firm to design 12 signature events by years' end
- Served as Team Lead for research and implementation of BoardEffect and Salesforce software platforms
- Executed and ensured proper distribution of Congressional appropriations requests
- Played key role in website development; created executive biographies
- Saved $25K by negotiating removal of venue cancellation fees surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic
- Selected as event POC for Commission meetings, including breakouts, receptions and dinners.
BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON
Senior Consultant / Event Manager
01.2009 - 01.2015
Job overview
- Hired on previous management recommendation to serve as task lead and event manager for diverse events, including nonprofit and governmental conferences, webinars and workshops ranging from 50-500 attendees
- Provided full life cycle project management, incorporating budgeting, content design, catering, registration, promotions and post-event reporting
- Submitted RFPs; served as venue POC and coordinated with event speakers and vendors on all logistics including content, payment, travel, lodging, restaurant and conference center arrangements
- Selected as project manager for high-profile, $300K National Defense University conference and workshop series composed of over 200 national and international attendees
- Improved client-team communications, fully detailing plans to ensure client needs were met; developed detailed event spreadsheet including tasks, team schedules and notes; created staging book to classify events, ensuring team stayed organized and synchronized
- Highlighted and ensured cultural and religious considerations for national and international attendees were understood and honored
- Consistently saved 10% on events through skillful supplier negotiations
- Worked with all levels of security to ensure protection for high-profile events.
JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON INAUGURAL CEREMONIES (JCCIC) / OBAMA FOR AMERICA / CENTER FOR SOCIAL LEADERSHIP
Tickets and Credentials Coordinator / Director of Policy Research / Director of Events
01.2008 - 01.2009
Job overview
- Served in a series of roles managing diverse events including nonprofit, youth leadership training and fundraising ceremonies, as well as the 56th Presidential Inaugural balls and Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) outreach events and campaigns
- Worked with Washington DC Convention Center to ensure event staff had needed access, Secret Service was informed of all special access arrangements, and event security understood proper badge classifications
- Created procedures ensuring GOTV programs were carried out, increasing Democratic voter turnout by 12%
- Arranged logistics for Presidential Inaugural Midwestern Ball, including Congressional seating and entertainment for over 6,000 attendees
- Prior role as Deputy Director of Events for Civil War Preservation Trust of Washington, DC.
- Conducted background checks on applicants, maintaining high standards of patient care through thorough vetting processes.
- Collaborated with department heads to identify areas for improvement in credentialing procedures.
Education
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSASLawrence, KS
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Minor in Women's Studies
05.2001
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUSINESSWashington, DC
Professional Certificate in Event Management
05.2010
NORTHCENTRAL UNIVERSITYSan Diego, CA
Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy
05.2026
Skills
- Event Planning
- Community Advocacy
- Non-Profit Management
- Resource Development
- Team Leadership
- Strategic Thinking
- Entrepreneurial and Innovative
- Ethics and integrity
- Visionary leadership
Affiliations
- Past Board Member, Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation (AAMDS)
- Past Board Member, Peaceful Families Project
Timeline
Events Specialist
AMERICA 250
01.2019 - 01.2020
Founder / Director of Operations
TEAM WATIENCE
01.2017 - Current
Director of Volunteers and Community Engagement
CORNERSTONES
01.2016 - Current
Senior Consultant / Event Manager
BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON
01.2009 - 01.2015
Tickets and Credentials Coordinator / Director of Policy Research / Director of Events
JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON INAUGURAL CEREMONIES (JCCIC) / OBAMA FOR AMERICA / CENTER FOR SOCIAL LEADERSHIP
01.2008 - 01.2009
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Minor in Women's Studies
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Professional Certificate in Event Management
NORTHCENTRAL UNIVERSITY
Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy
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