Work Experience Prior to SD Enterprises and Events

Gordon Parks Elementary School

Director of Marketing and Development

August 2016 – March 2018

• Initiated a fundraising plan to include major donor cultivation, grant writing, donor growth opportunities and direct mailings for the purpose of fundraising
• Planned and managed the year-end appeal which included a mailing, social media and email blast platform
• Wrote and managed all media requests and press releases
• Migrated website to new platform including all content, pictures and design concepts
• Wrote all marketing materials including newsletters, flyers, brochures and ads
• Led all enrollment and recruitment efforts including ad buys and grassroots efforts of marketing
• Identified and recruited new individuals and organizations to introduce them to Gordon Parks and become involved with the school
• Assisted with identifying grants and writing grants as part of the development process
• Led all special events including Gordon’s Gathering and Celebrate our Neighbors intended to show appreciation for donors and community leaders
• Led social media plans and executed all social media activity
• Initiated and managed community partnerships including Kansas City Community Gardens, U.S. Engineering and UBC
• Identified and communicated with various potential donors including corporate donors, individual donors and non-profit organizations
• Conducted tours and engaged with various potential donors and volunteers in order to grow our donor base
• Recruited and organized classroom volunteers and mentors as part of the development process

Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation

Director of Events

August 2012 – August 2016

• Participated in and assisted with 2016 strategic planning process including stakeholders meetings, internal exploration meetings and other steps associated with the completion of a 5-year strategic plan
• Organized and executed the 2015 World Series Kansas City Royals parade including emergency planning, parade logistics and management of Royals staff, coaches and players
• Organized and executed all aspects of the first ever Relay the Way (the longest first pitch) to fundraise and bring awareness to the Urban Youth Academy
• Organized and executed all aspects of events throughout the year, including but not limited to the following owned events:
  • Kansas City Marathon
  • Thanksgiving Day Run
  • Big 12 Run
  • Youth Clinic Series
  • Father’s Day Run
  • Awards Banquet
• Led all budget decisions and daily management of all budgets related to events above
  • Increased revenue for all events listed above by an average of 15% annually starting in 2012
• Assisted with board management
• Hired three full-time staff members and performed annual reviews
  • Worked to develop departmental goals and growth strategies for staff
• Led all sponsorship efforts related to events listed above
  • Increased sponsorship revenues by an average of 20% annually since 2012
  • Initiated all sponsorship renewals
  • Identified new potential sponsors for Kansas City Marathon
• Managed 24 person volunteer local organizing committee for Kansas City Marathon
• Identified potential new events to own and operate
• Worked closely with Big 12 and ESPN to execute Kansas City’s Big 12 Run
• Oversaw all marketing, communications and public relations strategies related to all owned events
• Oversaw all strategies related to volunteer and participant recruitment

Kansas City Sports Commission / WIN for KC, Kansas City, MO

Assistant Director/Interim Director

December 2009 – August 2012

• Organized and executed all aspects of events throughout the year, including but not limited to the following details:
  • Marketing of all registration details (Camp WIN, Women’s Triathlon, Annual Luncheon)
  • Facilities logistics
• Assisted with budget management (department exceeded net budget estimate by $52,000 in 2011)
• Assisted with board management
• Assisted with personnel hiring and management
• Assisted with sponsorship solicitation and procurement
• Served on local organizing committee for Big 12 Basketball Championships (2010, 2011, 2012)
• Served on local organizing committee for 2010 NCAA Volleyball Championship
• Lead all volunteer committees associated with events (i.e. Camp WIN Task Force, Luncheon Committee, Triathlon Committee)

Bishop Ward High School, Kansas City, KS

Special Events Coordinator (Independent Contractor)

June 2008 – November 2009

• Organized and planned all event aspects of annual auction
• Marketing of event
• Management of hotel negotiations and planning
• Recruitment and management of more than 200 volunteers
• Budget management
• Donation and sponsorship acquisitions
• Rental of equipment and set-up of event
• Net profit over $250,000 (first time since moving event out of school)
• Organized and planned all event aspects of annual golf tournament and Cyclone Night (athletic department fund raiser)

Bishop Miege High School, Shawnee Mission, KS

Development and Special Events Coordinator

September 2006 – May 2008

• Organized and planned all event aspects of annual auction
• Marketing of event
• Recruitment and management of more than 300 volunteers
• Budget management
• Donation and sponsorship acquisitions
• Rental of equipment and set-up of event
• Net profit was over $400,000 (highest ever for event)
• Organized and planned all event aspects of annual golf tournament
• Marketing of event (increased participation numbers by 10% in 2007)
• Recruitment and management of volunteers
• Budget management
• Donation and sponsorship acquisitions
• Recruited and managed students to conduct annual phone-a-thon to increase annual fund
• Marketed and managed Dream House Extreme Remodel fundraiser
• Planned and executed Future of Miege Athletics capital campaign activities, including alumni outreach and engagement
• Recruited and trained more than 100 volunteers for campaign
• Managed and scheduled all volunteer activities
• Planned and managed all special events for campaign (i.e., kick-off, press conferences, rallies)
• Organized all Jackson County legislators regarding their activities with the campaign
• Initiated all yard sign production and distribution
• Managed various media events related to the campaign
• Set up and managed two campaign headquarters
• Managed three campaign staff members
• Liaison to various organizations for volunteer recruitment

Missouri Valley Conference, St. Louis

Director of Compliance and Community Relations

July 2002 – May 2005

Event Coordination Responsibilities:

• Organized and executed plans for NCAA championships (i.e. NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional, NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four)
• Served on local organizing committee for 2005 Men’s Basketball NCAA Final Four, simultaneously planning and executing the following:
  • Game operations at the Edward Jones Dome including facility move-in and set-up, credential management, locker room management, bands and cheerleaders
  • Sponsor receptions and events
  • March to the Arch, community outreach event involving 3,000 youth participants
  • YES Clinics, youth basketball clinics hosted at 4 St. Louis area facilities
• Planned and executed conference championships in selected sports at a variety of facilities

Community Relations Responsibilities:

• Managed the State Farm Just Read! community outreach program
• Conducted YES Clinics at selected championship tournaments
• Served as liaison to institutional academic services departments
• Monitored institutional programming organized on campuses for student-athletes
• Served as primary liaison to the MVC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

Compliance Responsibilities:

• Monitored and interpreted NCAA rules
• Monitored and reported NCAA violations
• Presented to coaches and administrators on sport-specific issues, especially those related to compliance and academics
• Administered National Letter of Intent program

Save Our Stadiums Campaign (North Star Marketing)

• Volunteer Coordinator, January 2006 – April 2006

Illinois State University, Normal, IL

• Department of Athletics, Graduate Assistant-Compliance and Marketing, May 2001-July 2002

Walt Disney World Company, Disney Sports and Recreation, Lake Buena Vista, FL

• Event Manager, 2000 U.S. Transplant Games, November 1999-August 2000
• Event Coordinator, 1999 National Senior Games, May 1999-November 1999

Illinois State University

• Masters of Science (Sports Administration), Normal, IL, Graduated May 2002

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

• Bachelor of Business Administration (Computer Information Systems), Whitewater, WI, Graduated December 1998

• Coordinated and managed special sporting events at Disney Sports such as Disney Marathon, College Football Awards Ceremony, and Bryant Gumble Celebrities Golf Classic (1998-2000)
• Member of St. Louis Local Organizing Committee for the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators convention (2002)
• Member of three-person team who managed and planned the Lewis and Clark Marathon and Half Marathon events (2002-2005)
• Volunteered at US Transplant Games (2002, 2004)
• Member of American Volleyball Coaches Association Board of Directors (May 2003-June 2005)
• Consulted with the American Volleyball Coaches Association on their NCAA and NAIA legislative issues (June 2005-May 2006)
• Member of Initial Eligibility Waiver Subcommittee-Transcript Change/Grade Change (January 2004-May 2005)
• Member of Kansas City Local Organizing Committee for the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators convention (2005)
• Coordinated all volunteer efforts for the 2006 Kansas City Rhythm and Ribs Jazz Festival working with the American Jazz Museum (February 2006-July 2006)
• Volunteer Coordinator for WIN for KC Women’s Triathlon (March 2008-December 2009)
• Member of WIN for KC Advisory Board (August 2006-December 2009)
• Member of Kansas City Local Organizing Committee for the 2006 WBCA Classic hosted at Municipal Auditorium and sponsored by WIN for KC (January 2006-November 2006)
• Member of Girls on the Run of Johnson County Board of Directors (November 2009-November 2010)
• Volunteer on St. Agnes Marketing Committee, St. Agnes Parent-Teacher Organization, Annual Auction Committee and St. Agnes School Advisory Council (October 2014- present)
• Co-chair of St. Agnes Annual Auction (2018 and 2019)
• Member of  the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) Gaudeamus Planning Committee (2019)