Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Affiliations
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Tess Vismale, CMP, DES

Atlanta,United States
Tess Vismale,  CMP, DES

Summary

Event Rescuer – I am the superhero on the day of your event.


Hi, I’m Tess . #EventProfs call me to rescue their events at the ninth hour.


Early technology adopter in the Events space: Digital Events Certified since 2013, spent countless hours troubleshooting, supporting & educating people on their tech (software, hardware, tech stack setup).


MY WHY

As a kid, I followed my sister, a master cosmetologist for a major hair care company, on the road as she designed tradeshow experiences. The backstage logistics; working with models & A/V teams; the rush of managing the chaos. I caught the events “bug” – and haven’t looked back since. Eventually, I joined Macy’s Special Events doing fashion show production - a wonderful first step.


MY WHAT

Proudly now count 25+ years’ experience in event planning, production & technology. After being one of the earliest adopters of tech in the Events world, I began supporting people in the Events world through event tech training, ideation & execution.


MY HOW

My superpower is doing last-minute drop-ins for tech support & tech management on the day of an event, large or small. After running events at Spelman College (500,000+ attendees), I spent the last 10+ years at TEDxAtlanta as a Stage Manager. Went on to build & launch iSocialExecution, an event rescue & execution firm, with the guidance of my mentor, Dahlia El Gazzar. iSocialx was built to help event planners with technology & event production support when they need it most. Event professionals are like family to me – and I’m always ready to support the family.

Overview

32
years of professional experience
2
Certification

Work History

iSocialExecution, Inc

Founder & CEO
01.2013 - Current

Job overview


  • CLIENTS: #In-house planners & producers at private organizations, trade associations, academic institutions & event management firms
  • THINGS I LOVE:
  • Diversity & inclusion in the Events world
  • iSocialx is one of the premiere Event Rescue & Execution firms in the US
  • Whether it’s the month- of, week-of, or day-of an event, we drop in to support technology & production to ensure a seamless, drama-free event rollout
  • After spending years handling strategic planning & tech design/ implementation for the events of trade associations & private companies across the country (and beyond), we realized what our biggest strength was: rescuing event planners at the 9th hour when deadlines are at their tightest and stakes are at their highest
  • We’ve brought our award-winning event execution for live, virtual & hybrid events to anything from conferences, annual meetings, town halls, summits, and more
  • We also provide tech training, handle speaker management & tech rehearsals, and provide virtual event host/facilitator services

DAHLIA+Agency

Tech Whisperer
01.2015 - Current

Job overview

  • A Tech Bar is an interactive experience that assists attendees with how to better use their devices
  • Provide:
  • @ tech trends
  • @ tools, solutions
  • @ event mobile app support
  • @ education to meeting/event attendees
  • Deliver engaging presentations on topics:
  • @such as social media management
  • @current tech trends
  • @productivity apps

ExecOnline

Live Events Associate
12.2019 - Current

Job overview

  • Virtual administrator providing behind the scenes support for live interactive events hosted on a proprietary video sharing platform
  • Partnering with the ExecOnline Facilitator, the Live Support Associate & Senior Event Manager provides white-glove virtual meeting technical support to faculty, facilitators, and executive-level participants during virtual sessions to ensure a high-quality experience

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Senior Event Lead
06.2010 - 01.2016

Job overview

  • Responsible for training all Event Leads Effectively interact with clients (internal & external), caterers, wedding planners, vendors, etc
  • Ensuring excellent customer service and a top-quality experience at the Garden
  • Oversee vendor load-in and load out, including set-up, break down and clean up of the event
  • Supervise event personnel, including Garden Maintenance and Security staff.

Atlanta Technical College

Conference Center Manager
03.2011 - 04.2015

Job overview

  • Responsible for managing the logistics and operations for meetings, social gatherings and customized events at the Cleveland L
  • Dennard Conference Center in over 30K sq.ft
  • Of meeting space
  • Plan, develop and implement marketing programs to advance the conference center/training facility
  • Maintain financial records
  • Manage and supervise the setup of dining and meeting rooms for special events
  • Manage conference center staff.

Spelman College

Alumnae Programs Manager
01.2005 - 03.2011

Job overview

  • Steered a gamut of alumnae activities and initiatives to improve alumnae programs, ensuring college protocols, on-time, and quality deliverables within cost-effective budgets.
  • Drove marketing collaterals including newsletters and invitations for print, electronic media and the Internet. Involved as a key resource on the Website Development Committee.
  • Team Lead for alumnae online community, social network marketing, New Student Orientation (NSO), History & Traditions, Founders Day and Commencement-Reunion Partnership Committee (CRP).
  • Lead the recruitment and training of alumnae and student volunteers.

Macy's

Special Events Executive
01.1995 - 01.2005

Job overview

  • Coordinated and produced fashion shows and events; Designed and supervised fashion show productions, including identification of accessories and merchandise, music selection, lighting & wrote event run of show
  • Managed intricate backroom operations for flawless key accounts: Michael
  • Kors, Anne Klein, H Collection by Tommy Hilfiger, Steve Harvey neckwear line, Sean John, Shago
  • Seventeen Magazine, Phat Farm and Gigi Hunter
  • Director of Client Services
  • New Ideas & Images

Southern Education Foundation

Progam Assistant
01.1996 - 01.2000

Job overview

  • Created, developed and executed event marketing communication programs which included brand management; Designed marketing collaterals and launched strategies for premium events; Organized fashion shows for public relations photo shoots and fashion editorials; Managed key accounts: Church's
  • Chicken, The Rainbow PUSH Coalition, The Zora Neale Hurston Endowment Fund, McBride Research
  • Laboratories, Inc., Family & Children’s Dentistry
  • VIP and dignitary logistics management.

SEF - The Kresge Foundation

Event Marketing/Fashion Show Assistant
01.1996 - 01.1998

Job overview

TJMaxx

Event Marketing/ Fashion Show Assistant
01.1992 - 01.1996

Job overview

  • Imparted direction to event marketing plans
  • Organized fashion shows as a strong conduit between
  • Merchandising and Public Relations departments
  • Undertook analysis of sales trends and inventory levels for new store launches
  • Selected by President as Event Marketing Assistant from the previous position of Merchandise Analyst in a span of two years
  • Overhauled and revamped community fashion show programs, This covered 560 communities on a
  • Nationwide basis penetrating new markets
  • Implemented event marketing strategies for niche segments, creating a strong base for effective negotiations for small scale event sponsorships
  • Organized fashion shows for public relation photo shoots and fashion editorials
  • Orchestrated the Nationwide ‘Dress For Success’ program

Education

Georgia Institute of Technology

Project Management Certificate, Project Management
2016

University Overview

The University of Georgia

CMMC from Meeting Management
2011

University Overview

Spelman College

Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Psychology/Organizational Mgt
1991

University Overview

Skills

Skills
  • Event Management
  • Public Speaking
  • Event Production
  • Facilitator
  • Marketing
  • Event Technology
  • Customer Success
  • Voiceover
  • Relationship Building
  • Client Relations
  • Client Services

Skills

  • Event Management
  • Public Speaking
  • Event Production
  • Facilitator
  • Marketing
  • Event Technology
  • Customer Success
  • Voiceover
  • Relationship Building
  • Client Relations
  • Client Services

Accomplishments

Accomplishments
  • Scholarship Recipient - Digital Event Strategist Certification - Virtual Edge Institute
  • Meetings Trendsetter - Meetings Focus Magazine
  • Fellowship Recipient, Coalition to Back Black Businesses
  • 2023 Inaugural Tech Women of Impact Award Judge, Event Technology Awards
  • 2019-2021 Fellowship Recipient, Invest Atlanta & The Rockefeller Foundation
  • 2021 Named a “Meetings Trendsetter 2014” by Meetings Focus Magazine Shining Star Award (GaMPI)
  • 2013 Phenomenal Speaker Award, American Business Women’s Association, 2012
  • Phoenix Award Finalist for Shining Star of the Year - Georgia Chapter of Meeting Professional International (GaMPI) Jul 2014
  • Congressional Recognition Letter & Certificate - Congressmen John Lewis & Henry C. "Hank" Johnson Oct 2011
  • Who's Who in Black Atlanta 2012 - 2015 - Who's Who Publishing, Real Time Media
  • Fellowship Recipient, Invest Atlanta & The Rockefeller Foundation, 2021

Certification

  • Digital Event Strategist Certification (DES) - PCMA Issued Apr 2013 - Expires Dec 2023
  • Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) - Events Industry Council Issued Jul 2012 - Expires Dec 2022
  • Enhanced Digital Certification: Diverse Ownership - SupplierGATEWAY

Affiliations

Affiliations
  • Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
  • Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)
  • National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP)
  • Skäl International

Timeline

Live Events Associate
ExecOnline
12.2019 - Current
Tech Whisperer
DAHLIA+Agency
01.2015 - Current
Founder & CEO
iSocialExecution, Inc
01.2013 - Current
Conference Center Manager
Atlanta Technical College
03.2011 - 04.2015
Senior Event Lead
Atlanta Botanical Garden
06.2010 - 01.2016
Alumnae Programs Manager
Spelman College
01.2005 - 03.2011
Progam Assistant
Southern Education Foundation
01.1996 - 01.2000
Event Marketing/Fashion Show Assistant
SEF - The Kresge Foundation
01.1996 - 01.1998
Special Events Executive
Macy's
01.1995 - 01.2005
Event Marketing/ Fashion Show Assistant
TJMaxx
01.1992 - 01.1996
Georgia Institute of Technology
Project Management Certificate, Project Management
The University of Georgia
CMMC from Meeting Management
Spelman College
Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Psychology/Organizational Mgt
Tess Vismale, CMP, DES