JENNIFER PRUSA
program director | project manager | meeting & event planner
marketer | communicator
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ABOUT ME
Working for small to mid-sized organizations and leading my own company has given me unique experiences and opportunities to develop a wide range of skills. I’ve been fortunate to contribute both high level strategy and tactical solutions. Communication and organization are the threads that run through everything.
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I take pride in blending know-how with people skills. I’ve worked with C-suite executives, boards of directors, committees, task forces, internal teams, and student volunteers. In working with any group, I put empathy at the forefront and ask myself what motivates these individuals, what are their biggest concerns, and how can we best reach our goal together.
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BIG IDEAS BROUGHT TO LIFE
As a marketing and event professional, I've had the joy of working with clients and organization leadership to develop strategy and execute the details that bring big ideas to life.
collaborators:
American Bakers Association, Retail Bakers Association
BEMA REBRAND
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collaborators:
Design Ranch, BEMA member task force
genres: newsletter, blog, press release, ad copy, script
collaborators:
100th Anniversary Committee, Video Soup
collaborators:
IPM Group, Melissa Saubers, Waldo CID
collaborators:
IPM Group, Erin Gabert
MY EXPERIENCE
Background & Expertise
January 2018 - May 2019
DIRECTOR OF MEETINGSÂ |Â BEMA
As the Director of Meetings, I coordinated details and vendors, including hotel contract negotiations, for five meetings annually ranging from 20 to 400 attendees with budgets up to $500,000.
Opportunities abound in small associations, and I was privileged to be a go-to partner for the Chairman of the Board, President/CEO and standing committees to plan Convention and Summit and implement strategic initiatives such as BEMA-U training program and BEMA Connect business speed dating concept. I also engaged and supported the members of BEMA’s Convention & Programs committee to develop program content and served as liaison for VIP and C-suite speakers assisting with logistics and helping them prepare for presentations.
January 2015 to December 2017 (full time)
May 2006 to December 2014 (contractor)
DIRECTOR OF MEETINGS & MARKETING | BEMA
In addition to the duties associated with BEMA’s meetings, I regularly developed and produced event marketing and attendee communication campaigns which included direct mail, email, social media, event app, and website channels. My writing, art direction and design skills helped BEMA to produce a dynamic collection of digital and print assets. This included a newsletter published three times a year for which I contributed articles and served as editor.
I worked closely with editors and content creators at trade publications to strengthen BEMA’s brand and contribute press releases regarding BEMA events and initiatives.
Some of the most rewarding opportunities in this role included
writing a combined video and live-scripted program for BEMA’s 100th anniversary gala to strengthen BEMA’s brand for key stakeholders in attendance
serving on a member/vendor task force to create a comprehensive rebrand for BEMA including market research, campaign development, logos, and assets culminating in a brand launch at the IBIE 2016 tradeshow
increasing attendance at our flagship meeting by 30% in a three-year period
January 2015Â - May 2019
IBIE EDUCATION
CO-MANAGERÂ | BEMA
IBIE gave me the opportunity to work with a team of dedicated professionals to increase the scope of its education program over two show cycles doubling the number of classes and serving 2,000+ attendees.
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Together with Andrea Henderson (chairperson), Lynn Schurman (co-manager), partners at the American Bakers Association, and other members of the IBIE Education Task Force, I designed and implemented a call for papers process, scheduling matrix, and speaker communication and preparation plan for 120 sessions. I also researched sources and recruited, trained, and organized over 125 student volunteers.
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The education task force collaborates with the registration, marketing, and show management teams to achieve an education revenue goal of $314,000. IBIE, a TSE Fastest Fifty Tradeshow, is a triennial show and is co-owned by BEMA. I served in this role for the 2016 & 2019 show cycles to date.
April 2005
to December 2014
PRESIDENT | CHAMELEON RESOURCES, INC.
Chameleon Resources was a team of freelance professionals who adapted a wide range of marketing and communication skills to our clients’ needs. We increased our clients' capacity to implement projects such as meetings, events, newsletters, brochures, public relations campaigns and more.
Client List
• Waldo Community Improvement District (Kansas City, MO)
• Schloegel Design Remodel (Kansas City,MO)
• BEMA, Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds (Overland Park, KS)
• The Sanitary Design Workshop (Overland Park, KS)
• Republic Machine (Louisville, KY)
• The EnSol Group (Erwinna, PA)
Prior to 2005
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
I have also been a proud member of the teams at two well-respected Kansas City companies, Wellington and Shick-Esteve.
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As an account manager at Wellington, I honed my skills as an event planner. At Shick-Esteve I worked on tradeshows, internal product launches, and employee appreciation events.
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EDUCATION
What I’ve Learned
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY
New Orleans, LA
Summa Cum Laude
Presidential Scholar
I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with a concentration in television production. With the goal of entering the educational television field, I worked with the education department to create a minor in elementary education. The Presidential Scholars program enabled me to engage with top professors and to create an undergraduate thesis project. My project was a television pilot for an interactive educational show on government and citizenship for fourth through sixth graders.
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CERTIFIED MEETING PROFESSIONAL
Events Industry Council
The CMP credential is recognized globally as the badge of excellence in the events industry. The qualifications for certification are based on professional experience, education and a rigorous exam. Certified Meeting Professionals are trained in best practices for ten domains including project management, financial management, event design, marketing and professionalism.
RECENT READS
Improving Every Day
Community | Peter Block
Fierce Conversations | Susan Scott
The One Thing | Gary Keller, Jay Papasan
Your Best Year Ever | Michael Hyatt
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat | Samin Nosrat
Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life (interpretation of the Tao Te Ching) | Dr. Wayne Dwyer
"What is my cage?
What is my fire?
Where are my feet planted?
Where must I leap?"