Tamara Sue Burns
Raleigh,NC
Summary
Experienced nonprofit professional proficient with organizing, prioritizing, and collaborating in an evolving, fast-paced environment. Meticulous attention to detail, dynamic communication skills, strong work ethic with flexibility, and willingness to go above and beyond for the benefit of the team and the mission. Detail-focused Assistant brings hands-on approach and amazing energy to meet task-based needs. Reliable, quick-paced and team-oriented nature streamlines background operations. Focused comprehension to accomplish projects and multi-task to meet concurrent deadlines and expectations.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work History
Staff Assistant
Duke Financial Economics Center
09.2018 - Current
- Consistently offered top-tier administrative assistance to the team at Duke Financial Economics Center with a focus on efficiency.
- Responsibilities span event coordination, meeting administration, communications, and student/staff management.
- Planned and delivered over 25 annual on-campus and virtual events, managing comprehensive event logistics.
- Managed DFE faculty and team meetings, including scheduling, note-taking, agenda distribution, and organizing steering committee meetings.
- Maintained communication channels through a weekly student news digest, event promotion, and CRM data tracking, ensuring consistent, timely updates to the DFE community.
- Assisted with DFE’s student engagement initiatives, including scheduling student advising appointments, maintaining event calendars, and overseeing student workers to ensure successful event execution.
- Supervised and trained student ambassadors, coordinated scheduling for the Duke in New York and Duke in London programs, and provided essential operational support, including reimbursements, and maintaining DFE databases.
- Through my role, I have developed a deep understanding of event logistics, project management, and stakeholder communication, contributing significantly to the center’s daily operations and long-term goals.
Development Manager
JDRF
06.2014 - 12.2015
- Managed JDRF Hope Gala, Ride to Cure Diabetes events, and year-round corporate fundraising for all events and supported ONEWalk lead and all other chapter events
- Planned, coordinated, and executed all aspects of meetings, presentations, pre-events, events, post-events, and fundraisers within budget and on schedule
- Selected, negotiated contracts, and coordinated with venues, caterers, florists, entertainment, AV, designers, and all other suppliers
- Wrote scripts, presentations, agendas for meetings and events as well as press releases and promotional pieces, as needed
- Designed and prepared paper and electronic invitations, reminders, and thank you letters
- Cultivated, stewarded, and guided corporate partners, volunteer leaders, and youth volunteers for event leadership and participation
- Filled leadership roles, staffed committees, provided training, established priorities, identified strategies to meet benchmarks, and communicated progress on all objectives to management and all parties
- Maintained accurate and complete calendars, and financial records and prepared reports
- Curated all print and electronic media and communications
- Developed and shared innovative 'best practices' for simplified events and more efficient processes
- The gala attained 140% of the revenue goal and expenses came in under budget
Special Event Coordinator (Temp)
JDRF
10.2013 - 12.2013
- Supported volunteers, mentored and coached team-building and fundraising activities
- Provided event-related operational and administrative support for Walk, Volunteer Management, and post-walk events
- Prepared deposits, entered data, trained volunteers on data entry, and ran reports with the CRM system
- Prepared weekly regional reports for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager
- Prepared volunteer and team awards for Walk wrap-up and Gala kick-off events
Special Event Assistant
JDRF
06.2010 - 12.2012
- Provided chapter staff with event, fundraising, and outreach support
- Created and executed team-building and fundraising events
- Recruited, coordinated, and trained volunteers for event support
- Wrote, edited, and distributed communications and maintained and updated mailing and event participation lists and databases
- Prepared deposits, entered data, and ran reports
Senior Technical Recruiter
Randstad
02.1997 - 04.2002
- Recruited top local, national, and international information technology candidates for every level of professional openings for local employers in every industry
- Screened and coached applicants
- Negotiated hiring for contract, permanent placement, and contract renewals
- Managed employees through placement, renewals, transitions, and termination handling various HR/personnel issues
Office Manager/Inside Sales/Course Material Developer
Qualtech, Inc.
06.1993 - 01.1997
Office Manager
Cross System Components
08.1993 - 06.1994
Office Manager
The Howell Company Commercial Real Estate
08.1990 - 08.1993
Office Manager
Hillcrest Memorial Park
05.1990 - 08.1990
Education
liberal arts - spanish
University of north carolina at chapel hill
Skills
- Reception duties
- Bookkeeping
- Microsoft office expertise
- Report generation
- Document management
- Scheduling
Timeline
Staff Assistant
Duke Financial Economics Center
09.2018 - Current
Development Manager
JDRF
06.2014 - 12.2015
Special Event Coordinator (Temp)
JDRF
10.2013 - 12.2013
Special Event Assistant
JDRF
06.2010 - 12.2012
Senior Technical Recruiter
Randstad
02.1997 - 04.2002
Office Manager
Cross System Components
08.1993 - 06.1994
Office Manager/Inside Sales/Course Material Developer
Qualtech, Inc.
06.1993 - 01.1997
Office Manager
The Howell Company Commercial Real Estate
08.1990 - 08.1993
Office Manager
Hillcrest Memorial Park
05.1990 - 08.1990
liberal arts - spanish
University of north carolina at chapel hill
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