Chris Akers, CMP

Experience

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  Capitol Events

  Jun 1996 - Jan 1997

  Event Planner

  Destination Management Company implementing aspects of corporate and association events in Washington, DC.

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  Impeccable Meetings & Events

  Mar 1997 - Aug 1997

  Event Planner

  Destination Management Company implementing aspects of corporate and association events in Philadelphia, PA.

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  Charlotte Arrangements

  Sept 1997 - Aug 1998

  Event Planner

  Destination Management company implementing aspects of corporate and association events in Charlotte, NC.

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  Presbyterian Hospital

  Dec 1998 - May 1999

  Executive Assistant (Foundation)

  Temporary position assisting the hospital's Foundation with fundraising events such as a golf tournament, holiday gala and fun run.

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  Discovery Place

  Jun 1999 - Aug 2000

  Development Associate

  Handled all fundraising events for local science museum including annual Gala, film openings and exhibit openings.

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  Special Olympics North Carolina

  Aug 2000 - Mar 2004

  Development Director

  Handled all fundraising events across North Carolina in effort to generate funds and awareness for Special Olympics. Events included Galas, Plane Pull and auctions among others.

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  EquiFirst

  Apr 2004 - Aug 2007

  Corporate Event Planner

  Sole planner for a 1,400+ employee national financial services company. Events and Meetings included 4 annual sales training meetings, international sales incentive trip, international operations incentive trip, hospitality at local PGA TOUR event, executive and leadership retreats, golf outings, trade show events for large national and regional shows and local office events. Maintained positive working relationships with executive leadership and external vendors & suppliers.

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  Creative Meetings & Incentives

  Aug 2007 - Mar 2008

  Program Manager

  Independent planner managing events including a 3-day 400+ person sales training meeting, a Grand Opening for a national retail chain and an air show featuring VLJs (very lightweight jets).

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  KPMG US

  Mar 2008 - Sept 2023

  Description: Implement strategic priorities across our business, including proactive relationships with key stakeholders. Operations, including matters related to human resources, finance and accounting, procurement, portal, process improvements and efficiencies. Content management, editing, and process.Key Responsibilities:• Connect KPMG Economics priorities with firmwide, functional and sector business priorities • Diplomacy and strategic stakeholder management• Manage intake process, including strategic decisioning and resource management• Logistical matters related to speaking engagements• Project management Show less •Strategic Partnerships: Work with stakeholders to strategically align events to achieve objectives; year-end reporting and forecasting for national lines of business, marketing, Managing Partner, L&D, citizenship, other key stakeholders•Event Management: Large conferences; C-suite forums; continuing education; industry events; local go-to-market events; L&D; employee engagement; recruiting; training and partner retreats; incentive programs; investor events; tradeshows; women’s events; fundraisers•Virtual Program Management: Multiple platforms with external and internal audiences up to thousands of attendees; full-production virtual programs working with 3rd party production; self-managed production on Teams, Teams Live, Webex, Skype and Zoom; Including home page/virtual environment, registration, branding, general session, breakouts, networking activities •Sponsorship activation: Wells Fargo Championship; 2017 PGA Championship; 2014 U.S. Men’s and Women’s Opens; Meet & Greets and Invitationals with PGA Professionals; client and employee golf outings•Team Leadership: Managed through 2 organizational transformations; evaluation of book of business and recommendation of SMEs and assignments; identifying growth & development opportunities for team members; leadership of team trainings & bi-weekly planning calls; Formal and informal mentor; transition and transition-back coach•People Management: Coaching and management of full-time direct reports; business cases for promotion; interviewing & hiring; oversight of performance development process: goal setting, interim and year-end review delivery, salary and variable comp delivery•Project and Program Management: Served as Onboarding Board Co-Chair; KPMG Family for Literacy (KFFL) fundraising program oversight; national golf hospitality activation management; Signature programs (virtual and in-person)•Executive Presence: Confident and comfortable with leadership, including national and local leaders and Partners Show less

  • Chief Of Staff, KPMG Economics

    Nov 2021 - Sept 2023

  • Associate Director - Strategic Relationship Management, Events and Meetings

    Mar 2008 - Nov 2021
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  Driven Brands Inc.

  Aug 2023 - now

  Senior Manager of Corporate Events

  Drive strategic recommendations in collaboration with retail brand presidents’ organizational objectives, marketing brand priorities, procurement sponsor/vendor partnerships, FP&A budget attainment, and learning & development goals. Create organizational efficiencies across brands and processes. Top line revenue growth and expense management. Key Responsibilities: • Guide strategic recommendations for venues and vendors that meet objectives within budget parameters• SMMP across brand portfolio including cross-brand, multi-event and cumulative reporting• Create consistency in feedback metrics to measure ROI year-over-year• Build business cases to substantiate event strategy and team building• Overall project management including creating and adherence to timelines and budgets• Source and manage third party and vendor partners• Process efficiencies around contracting, AP/AR, transient travel and other related components Show less