Laurel Welch, CMP

Experience

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  Marriott International

  May 2013 - Dec 2015

  • Contributed to a 2014 Event Satisfaction Overall survey score of 81.9, 11 points above brand standard• Managed day to day banquet food and beverage operations for a 613 room convention hotel with 32,000 sq. ft. of meeting space• Responsible for all purchasing and invoicing for banquet department; $22,000 monthly• Acted as a liaison between the banquet team, kitchen staff, and event management department, ensuring seamless collaboration• Scheduled banquet service staff, aligning with forecasted demand and service standards while optimizing profitability• Managed weekly schedule for department leaders such as captains, event concierge, and catering service team members Show less • Voyage is Marriott International's 12-18 month award-winning, global leadership development program designed with the next generation of university graduates in mind. Voyage offers a foundation of development, resources, and support for future leaders of the company across Marriott's portfolio of brands. • Acted as a banquet captain and assistant banquet manager, managing day to day banquet food and beverage operations for a 503 room convention hotel with 44,000 sq. ft. of meeting space• Increased Meeting Room Quality of Service Score from 81% to 93% by year end 2013• Evaluated associate engagement surveys to develop department plans and actions Show less

  • Banquet Manager

    May 2014 - Dec 2015

  • Event Food & Beverage Voyager

    May 2013 - May 2014
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  Cintas

  Dec 2015 - Apr 2017

  Account Executive

  • Partner of the Month July 2016• Grew assigned accounts 15% Q4 of FY16, achieving Sales Summit Club• Managed business relationships with customer accounts; ensuring the accurate and timely implementation of programs and services• Executed marketing strategies to promote Cintas products and services, contributing to revenue growth• Responsible for up-selling additional first aid supplies, safety products and training

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  Sage Hospitality

  Apr 2017 - Mar 2020

  • Increased food and beverage spend for 2019 assigned groups 37% over contracted minimums• Achieved a 100% Event Satisfaction Individual Planning survey score for 2019• Ensured complete success of events ranging from 10 to 3,000 attendees by serving as liaison between client and hotel operating departments for a 605 room convention hotel with 50,000 sq. ft. of meeting space• Developed, organized and distributed all communications related to planning and execution of group functions• Responsible for client menu planning, set up details, audio visual, rooming list management, and offsite transportation coordination Show less

  • Senior Meeting and Event Manager

    Apr 2018 - Mar 2020

  • Event Manager

    Apr 2017 - Apr 2018
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  Hammersmith®

  Jun 2020 - Aug 2021

  Event Manager

  • Solely responsible for the development, implementation, execution, and overall management of all internal and external events including budget management, vendor procurement, contract negotiation, permitting and onsite operations• Employee Recognition Committee Lead - Responsible for planning all internal events ranging from intimate team gatherings to full company retreats• Created, developed, and presented Lifestyle Service programs for stakeholder groups, enhancing community engagement opportunities• Successfully managed income and revenue streams for Lifestyle Services, including expense management and adjustments, while maintaining net profit• Scheduled, provided direction, and oversaw event staff when applicable, ensuring effective event operations Show less

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  Gaylord Hotels

  Aug 2021 - Nov 2022

  Senior Event Manager, Catering

  • Managed and coordinated convention service activities to client requirements for large group business programs, averaging 1,000-3,000 attendees for a 1,501 room convention hotel with 500,000 sq. ft. of meeting space• Applied knowledge of current cuisine trends to successfully design, plan and execute all food and beverage functions, maximizing group revenue• Forecasted group catering spend monthly; averaging within 3% accuracy estimated catering spend versus actual catering spend• Contributed and helped operate record breaking hotel occupancy for a single month, 92.4% June 2022, breaking Gaylord brand history • Contributed and helped drive group revenue for record breaking catering spend for a single month, $10+ million June 2022, breaking Gaylord Rockies history• Managed all aspects of assigned group business affiliate accounts, including contracting, space assignment, planning and execution• Secret Sauce Lead - Responsible for planning internal events for Gaylord Rockies Event Management staff• Managed an Event Management Administrator, fostering career growth and development. Show less

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  Relay Graduate School of Education

  Nov 2022 - now

  Director of Events & Operations, Professional Education

  • Manage the entire event lifecycle for approximately 75 program sessions and professional development conferences annually, across virtual, in-person, and hybrid platforms, ensuring seamless planning, execution, and exceptional events management.• Strategically develop event plans, negotiate contracts, secure facilities, and manage sponsorship agreements with partners, vendors, and stakeholders to ensure successful execution of future trainings, intersessions, and professional development conferences.• Led the process of creating and executing a robust communications strategy to be used by the instructional and operations teams to coordinate pre-work, assignments, and logistics across all programs, enhancing team enablement.• Collaborate with the Partnerships team to plan and execute partner communications, ensuring strong stakeholder engagement with districts, charter management organizations, and funding partners.• Implement strong project management systems and processes to enhance the efficiency of cross-functional team workflows, including participant enrollment, issue resolution, and tracking systems.• Analyze and interpret participant feedback through pulse checks and session surveys to continuously improve conference experiences, ensuring alignment with overall event strategy.• Manage event budgets up to $1.3M with financial responsibility and efficiency, ensuring alignment with overall strategic goals and optimal resource utilization.• Lead and manage a team of 2 full-time managers and an average of 2 contract operation consultants per event, ensuring cohesive collaboration and high-quality execution across all event lifecycle stages. Show less