Christy Bares, CMP

Experience

• 

  Fabbrini’s Flowers

  Sept 2000 - Aug 2007

  Sales Associate/Assistant Wedding Coordinator
• 

  American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)

  May 2007 - Feb 2015

  • Responsible for convention center logistics for the annual scientific meeting of over 6000 people. Included budgeting, all arrangements with the convention center, caterer, general contractor and audio visual provider, as well as all space assignment and coordination of event specifications, onsite implementation, and post-meeting reports and reconciliation.• Managed the housing program for the annual scientific meeting. Worked closely with housing vendor to establish housing blocks, negotiate all contracts and addendums, execute a marketing plan, weekly reporting, carefully monitoring attrition, arrange staff/vendor/VIP reservations, assign concessions and upgrades, and all final billing.• Managed supplemental logistics for the annual scientific meeting. Included oversight of transportation, temporary staffing, photography, security, floral, coordination with the CVB, and communication to staff members to prepare them with the details necessary for the event.• Direct supervisor to the Meeting Planner on staff. Training and oversight of the Meeting Planner responsible for Board/VIP Meetings and several small meetings, as well as headquarter hotel operations and special events for the annual scientific meeting. Show less • Managed 1 large Board Meeting, 1 Educational Meeting and various small meetings annually. Included site search, negotiating contracts, space assignment and coordination of all event details, onsite implementation, and post-meeting reports and reconciliation.• Managed operations at the Headquarter Hotel and affiliate functions for the annual scientific meeting. Included negotiating space block, creation of meeting specifications, group resume, audio-visual and food & beverage arrangements, affiliate functions, on-site coordination, billing, etc.• Managed the social program for the annual scientific meeting. Included invitations, food & beverage arrangements, entertainment, transportation, amenities, script writing, awards and on-site coordination.• Oversaw VIP services for the Presidents and Executive Committee. Included working directly with the VIP members and their office staff on the planning and implementation of the Presidential site visit, hotel accommodations and ground transportation for Presidents and guests at the annual scientific meeting, organizing all logistical preparation materials, selection of award recipients and gifts throughout the year. Show less

  • Manager, Meetings & Convention Services

    Jul 2014 - Feb 2015

  • Senior Meeting & Special Event Planner

    Jul 2013 - Jun 2014

  • Meeting Planner

    Mar 2011 - Jul 2013

  • Meetings & Special Events Coordinator

    Aug 2007 - Mar 2011

  • Meetings Department Intern

    May 2007 - Aug 2007
• 

  ISACA

  Feb 2015 - Oct 2023

  • Provided strategic oversight of all in-person and virtual event execution and logistics. Oversaw hybrid conferences in North America and Europe and virtual conferences for Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Latin America regions. Included 100 in-person and virtual trainings, webinars, special events and board / committee / volunteer group meetings.• Managed all team operations, including budget management, contract negotiations, vendor management (including convention centers, hotels, audio-visual, food and beverage, general services contractor, mobile app, virtual platform), reporting, team development, and guidance.• Worked collaboratively across departments to create experiences that simultaneously met organizational goals and enhanced overall attendee experience through events. Ensured clear communication throughout planning cycles for association staff.• Guided implementation of company’s first hybrid conferences in both North America and Europe.• Redesigned team organization, roles, and responsibilities to fit evolving needs of association.• Created volunteer task force program to involve local members in development of regional events.• Served as product lead through organization’s digital transformation initiatives.• Worked with marketing leadership to launch new, enhanced conference brand and strategy in 2023 to support new strategic direction of organization overall. Show less • Oversaw all in-person events, including six conferences, three training weeks, and wide variety of VIP and volunteer leadership events including board meetings and global leadership conference.• Developed strategy around department roles and responsibilities in 2020 and hired, trained, and coached events and sponsorship staff. Adjusted for second re-organization in 2021.• Steered team through COVID pandemic to quickly pivot events from in-person to virtual, including on-job training for entire team on virtual event execution, while renegotiating numerous in-person venue / vendor contracts. Continuously evaluated event strategy through shifting pandemic environment to support best possible approach for events.• Partnered with chapter leaders in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania regions to host conferences locally, providing guidance, especially through pandemic.• Launched transitional rebrand with three global virtual conferences in 2021, including North America, European, and Oceania regions.• Developed and managed budgets for all in-person and virtual conferences and training weeks.• Recognized as strategic and forward-thinking, with ability to think holistically, identify potential problems, and proactively generate ideas for acceptable solutions. Show less • Provided overall management of domestic & international conferences including (but not limited to) sourcing, contracting, budget management, vendor management, and reporting.• Oversaw and enhanced the speaker program, including the Speaker Specialist role, for all conferences.• Developed and implemented an improved volunteer program for conferences. • Collaboratively launched the “CPE On Demand” program, capturing and repackaging conference educational sessions.• Coordinated with other departments on all items related to conference, including sponsorship, marketing, membership, product / content, and many others, to ensure goals were met at events.• Managed, trained, and coached several support staff and direct reports. Show less

  • Director, Event Operations & Services

    Jan 2022 - Oct 2023

  • Sr. Manager, Event Operations & Services

    Nov 2019 - Jan 2022

  • Conference Program Manager

    Feb 2015 - Nov 2019
• 

  Women in Aviation International

  Mar 2024 - now

  Director of Conferences and Events