Kate Knospe

Experience

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  The Nature Conservancy

  Jun 2010 - Oct 2010

  AmeriCorps Restoration Intern

  In this full-time internship position, I assisted with restoration efforts in the Sandy River watershed. Our team focused on the treatment of invasive Japanese knotweed while also surveying for and treating other invasive plants in riparian habitat. I also helped with landowner outreach procedures, youth crew supervision, and coordinating supplies for volunteer work trips.

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  The Nature Conservancy

  Jan 2011 - Nov 2013

  As the Volunteer Programs Coordinator, I juggled a variety of responsibilities. I played a role in the recruitment, screening, interviewing and placement of hundreds of volunteers in field and office opportunities across the state of Oregon, and coordinated dozens of weekend restoration projects as well as volunteer appreciation events. I created program resources, including training manuals, orientations, annual reports and monthly e-newsletters. I also contributed to social media efforts, posting twice per week to our page. Additionally, I handled volunteer inquiries from the community and served as an office receptionist each week to help with answering phones, facilitating meetings and general office management. Show less During this AmeriCorps service term, I assisted in the coordination and management of The Nature Conservancy in Oregon's statewide volunteer program. Our program oversaw about 700 volunteers serving approximately 45,000 hours per year in field and office positions across the state. My responsibilities included creating monthly e-newsletters, preparing supplies and logistics for weekend volunteer projects, handling volunteer inquiries, and helping with event planning and the screening, interviewing, and placement of new volunteers. Show less

  • Volunteer Programs Coordinator

    Dec 2012 - Nov 2013

  • AmeriCorps Volunteer Programs Assistant

    Jan 2011 - Dec 2012
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  City of Raleigh Municipal Government

  Jun 2014 - May 2016

  - Evaluated applications, granted permits, and issued invoices and evaluation forms for 75+ festivals, races, parades, and other special events hosted on City of Raleigh public streets and parks - Functioned as the primary liaison between clients, city departments, partner agencies, and community groups to coordinate City resources at events and ensure regulatory guidelines were met- Outlined financial information to clients, including application and venue rental fees, city services rates, fines, and other applicable costs to ensure upfront transparency of permitting expenses - Co-designed a comprehensive public access and event plan for Raleigh’s newly-acquired 308-acre downtown park Show less - Maintained scheduling for 325+ city-wide events hosted on City of Raleigh public streets and parks - Responded to client and citizen inquiries and feedback regarding the city permitting processes - Created 75+ department resources including a 40-page Special Event Planning Guide designed to navigate event producers through the municipal permit process- Spearheaded projects to enhance office functionality, such as initiating a GIS-based database, redesigning online applications, and streamlining the payment interface Show less

  • Events Manager

    Aug 2015 - May 2016

  • Special Events Office Coordinator

    Jun 2014 - Aug 2015
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  Saint Louis Zoo

  May 2016 - Jun 2019

  Special Events Coordinator

  - Manage the planning and execution of mission-driven Zoo special events, including donor and membership receptions, family-focused educational events, summer concert series, and holiday light festivals- Define, communicate, and oversee staff and volunteer support roles during event set-up, execution, and breakdown- Promptly resolve and adapt around issues to ensure a smooth, flawless event guest experience under any conditions - Collaborate with teammates, clients, and internal and external stakeholders to ensure events fulfill designated financial, sponsorship, cultivation, education, and community outreach objectives - Create post-event reports to outline key event metrics, highlight successes, and identify improvement opportunities - Manage annual event budgets, including processing purchase orders, tracking spending, handling vendor contracts, completing variance reports, and developing future budgets - Provide direction to entertainment, floral, and rental vendors to create optimal event ambiance - Support marketing and public relations staff in fulfilling promotional deadlines and outreach goals - Operate budgeting, event design, and ticketing software regularly Show less

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  Larimer County

  Jul 2019 - Feb 2020

  Education & Volunteer Specialist
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  The Gardens on Spring Creek

  Feb 2020 - now

  Manage the private and public event programs at The Gardens on Spring Creek, the community botanic garden of Fort Collins. This involves the management of our public events, such as concerts, holiday light festivals, fundraisers, and more, as well as all private event rentals such as weddings and corporate events. This role also involves the supervision of event department staff who support event planning and setup, client bookings, and day-of event facilitation. Plan and execute all public events at The Gardens on Spring Creek, including: - summer concert series featuring national acts- two-day holiday lights festival- garden party fundraisers- educational symposium- seasonal community events and more

  • Senior Supervisor, Public and Private Events

    Mar 2022 - now

  • Public Events Coordinator

    Feb 2020 - Mar 2022