VERN O'GARRA
Brooklyn
Summary
Event producer with a robust track record in managing high-profile events for C-suite executives. Expertise in budget management and cross-functional collaboration, delivering seamless large-scale activations and ceremonies. Proven ability to lead diverse teams, ensuring top-tier execution and client satisfaction.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
MarketSite Events Manager
Nasdaq
New York
01.2025 - Current
- Manage a team of MarketSite Event Producers and MarketSite Senior Event Producers
- Produce 50-60 Opening and Closing Bell ceremonies annually for listed and new listed companies onsite at the MarketSite in NYC
- Produce 3-5 remote bell ceremonies per year nationally and internationally
- Produce small and large scale activations in times square
- Produce events, investor days, analyst days, receptions, conferences and
- Work cross-functionally with internal teams such as broadcast, audio/visual, creative, social, PR, catering, security and facilities to make all events come to life
- Oversee budget management and resource allocation for event planning.
- Work very closely with c-suite executives from high market cap companies ($10B+) to make their events come to life
Analyst, Events & Production
Goldman Sachs
New York
11.2021 - 01.2025
- Lead event producer for the largest event platform within the firm's content strategy team
- Managed on-site event and video production, ensuring seamless execution across multiple formats
- Liaised with firmwide teams to coordinate and execute event and video production processes
- Generates call sheets, ROS, shoot cataloging for all crew & media management
- Payroll specialist for department and freelance staff - onboarding and financials
- Inbox management and fielding misc. production requests
- Managed shoot calendar, coordinated planning, location bookings, client outreach, and budget oversight
- Lead event producer for the largest event platform within the firm's content strategy team
Manager, Events
Open Sesame
Remote
03.2021 - 11.2021
- Virtual and in-person events manager for the entire brand overseeing US and EMEA webinars, virtual conferences, trade shows, conferences, road shows and events in conjunction with our partners and publishers
- Oversee all production, timelines, vendor outreach, budgets, execution & RFP's
- Webinar and event theme building and branding
- Seeking and securing speakers and sponsors
- Creating event programming and marketing campaigns to drive event registration and attendance
- Coordination and Management of all event logistics, timelines and tasks as necessary for event production and marketing
Senior Coordinator, Conferences
Goldman Sachs
New York
04.2018 - 03.2021
- Schedule, plan and execute meetings & events for all sectors & divisions of the firm to ensure client vision and needs are met
- Assess and offer creative suggestions and recommendations for production and programming and executing RFP writing, sales insights and marketing strategies
- Acquire all needed meeting and event info from clients including registration, production, A/V, catering, marketing initiative and work orders as well as any special requests
- Oversee timelines, vendor outreach, contracts and clearance, budget, venue management, guest lists, floor plans and all other services tied into each event and conference
Coordinator, Event Marketing
Viacom
New York
08.2017 - 02.2018
- Produced experiential events & activations for internal clients that met many unique and dynamic goals and needs for the network
- Support on all production elements including scheduling, timelines, venue research & management, premiums, budget, branding, menu, talent, activations, travel and all activities
- Request and review all RFP's and of all potential vendors and determine who is best fit for each project assigned
- Oversee all development, design and execution of events throughout all stages of planning
- Collaborating and communicating with cross functional teams to ensure brand alignment and overall success of the event
Senior Coordinator, Conferences
White & Case
New York
02.2017 - 08.2017
- Responsible for coordination and management of all assigned meetings and events from conception to completion
- Opening team for new conference center within the firm
- Maintains client contact in a friendly, timely and professional manner and insures all client expectations are met and exceeded
- Ensured appropriate communication through pre-event meetings with conference services, catering, AV and events team.
- Generating and distributing all necessary reports for pre and post event ROI
- Supports sales, senior management and human resources operationally
Manager, Operations & Events
Goldman Sachs
New York
06.2015 - 02.2017
- Managed food service operations for events and conferences, ensuring seamless execution and client satisfaction
- Facilitated client outreach and interactions, ensuring successful execution of all events and conferences
- Recruitment and onboarding of all catering, food service, event and conference staff
- Forecast, analysis and input of weekly and monthly sales for all events & food service ops
- Supported global marketing and branding initiatives within daily event operations to enhance service visibility
Education
Bachelor of Science - Hospitality Management, Dance
The Pennsylvania State University
State College, PA05-2013
Skills
- Event Strategy
- Event production
- Venue Coordination
- Speaker Coordination
- Audience Engagement
- Event marketing
- Budget management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Vendor Relations
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Client relationship management
- Team leadership
Timeline
MarketSite Events Manager
Nasdaq
01.2025 - Current
Analyst, Events & Production
Goldman Sachs
11.2021 - 01.2025
Manager, Events
Open Sesame
03.2021 - 11.2021
Senior Coordinator, Conferences
Goldman Sachs
04.2018 - 03.2021
Coordinator, Event Marketing
Viacom
08.2017 - 02.2018
Senior Coordinator, Conferences
White & Case
02.2017 - 08.2017
Manager, Operations & Events
Goldman Sachs
06.2015 - 02.2017
Bachelor of Science - Hospitality Management, Dance
The Pennsylvania State University