Susan W.

Experience

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  MedEvent Management, Inc

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2008

  Managing Director & Events Manager

  I founded a successful company targeting the pharmaceutical sector, subsequently leading end-to-end event execution, from sourcing, contract negotiation, and reconciliation to metrics reporting.Additional Experience:Presentation Strategies Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC Senior Project ManagerDirected technical projects for pharmaceutical clients; resolved issues and overcame obstacles as liaison to audiovisual technicians. ContexMedicus Inc., Morrisville, NC ManagerLaunched and oversaw meeting planning department, growing department to churn $3M annual revenues and employ five-staff members.World Travel Inc. & BTI Americas Inc., Research Triangle Park, NCProgram ManagerServiced Glaxo Wellcome account, sourcing locations, negotiating contracts, coordinating logistics, and producing status reports. Show less

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  Experient Inc / BCD Meetings & Events (on-site at Cisco)

  Jan 2008 - Jan 2013

  Meetings & Events Manager

  Interfacing directly with event owners, I upskilled them on the effective utilization and customization of Jifflenow as SME, while managing the coordination of IT meetings throughout the North/South American regions. During this time period, I exceeded SLAs, negotiating with contractors, selecting vendors, and sourcing destination sites.• Revolutionized meetings on-site at Cisco by launching Jifflenow and establishing executive 1:1 meeting management as standard for global meetings and events, both company firsts. Show less

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  BCD Meetings & Events (on-site at Cisco)

  Jan 2013 - Jan 2015

  Senior Event Logistics Manager & Team Lead

  On-site at Cisco, I transformed face-to-face meetings amongst their executives, clients, and partners as the SME for Jifflenow - a customized online event technology scheduling tool. Playing a key role in updating the tool, I infused the feedback I received from Jifflenow staff, regarding user experience/recommendations, into the integration of salesforce with Jifflenow. On an ongoing basis, I actively contributed to projects and testing, while populating companywide event reconciliation metrics.• Cultivated, empowered, and led four-member team toward accomplishing SLAs by executing programs in adherence to budgets and objectives; provided appropriate resources and instilled accountability.• Exceeded client expectations, fulfilling SLAs by delivering projects to deadline and satisfaction; outlined timelines and action plans in collaboration with partners.• Demonstrated tool's flexibility, training staff on tailoring, testing, and implementing tool per event; aided staff with product upgrades.• Promoted tool's functionality at tradeshows, administering executive 1:1 management support in alignment with SOP and trained Cisco end users as required; designed SOP. Show less

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  BCD Meetings & Events

  Jan 2015 - now

  Dedicated to a group of clients in the financial sector, I delivered an average of 100 to 150 end-programs per year, from gathering requirements through to execution. This entailed satisfying stakeholder requirements by sourcing and procuring appropriate resources at optimal prices, while agreeing business and legal terms. Throughout this time, I built and expanded my professional network comprised of venues, hotels, and vendors, continually evolving relationships with vendors. As needed, I consulted business analysts, event planners, procurement specialists, and team members.• Achieved service level agreements (SLAs) on consistent basis by tactically negotiating average of +10% savings per contract; selected competitive bids and proposals through oversight of RFP process.• Improved processes by creating customized Excel spreadsheets to track RFPs and negotiated savings.• Originated effective document and file system, later implemented by events sourcing team/department; received client recognition for outstanding organizational abilities. Show less

  • Purchasing Manager

    Jul 2013 - now

  • Program Manager / Sourcing Specialist

    Jan 2015 - Aug 2020