Beth C. Follmer, Certified Meeting Professional 

bethfollmer@gmail.com, 816-590-0228

 

Skills:  Creative concepts, media and video production, negotiation, logistics planning, budgeting, management of volunteers, vendor supervision and contract procurement. 

KEY STRENGTHS:

    • Superb project manager with delegation of work-plan collaboration
    • Forward thinker who fosters innovation and creativity, while also maintaining a clear sense of business objectives
    • Motivating trainer and leader to employees, volunteers, and vendors

 

FULL TIME WORK EXPERIENCE

WHOLE FOODS MARKET - ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION                                                                  September 2016- present

Regional Marketing and Community Manager, Kansas City market

·     Created metro – level marketing strategy for three Kansas City stores and implemented global marketing strategy for major promotions 

·    Hired a diverse group of Influencers to create content, promote sales, and create brand awareness for their followers and the Kansas City metro. Using focused engagement and organic strategies, Facebook and Instagram accounts experienced an overall 30% increase in followers in 18 months

·       Sourced and produced social hyper- local content for paid social media placement: Kansas City Chef Story cooking series videos and Facebook Live programming for brand awareness

·      Established mutually beneficial business relationships with community partners and local non-profit organizations to drive Whole Foods’ local social support directives.  Consolidated quarterly charitable giving recipients from 24 to 8 per year to create greater impact and streamline processes

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI - KANSAS CITY                                                                       February 2008 to June 2015

 Kansas City, MO

Director of Special Events, Henry W. Bloch School of Management

 ·       Portfolio: Includes convocation and graduation ceremonies, 500+ guest fundraising galas, new facility grand opening celebration, faculty retreats, documentary premieres, executive education for global clients, and student recruitment events

 • Quality and Attendance: Raised event quality and increased guest attendance by more than 50 percent by elevating Bloch School event standards and guest experience in all departments

• Negotiation: Used strong negotiator skills to streamline vendor processes for annual savings (examples include hotel and catering contracts, audio visual, video production, props/scene design, ground transportation, and staff management)

 • Creative: Designed media for event enhancement such as invitations, videos, and presentations to improve guest experience and deliver a cohesive Bloch School brand

• Management: Trained and supervised full-time and part-time staff, as well as event volunteers on meeting planning, event production, and attendee experience

 

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, Lincolnshire, IL                  March 2004 to September 2007

Residence Inn by Marriott, Waukegan, IL

Catering and Events Sales Manager

 

• Event Management: Manager of the Quarter for Quarter 3, 2007; Ranked No. 1 in “Event Management Team of the Year” for Marriott International  2007 (ranking determined by guest satisfaction surveys)        

• Organization: Delegated complex meeting agendas with Marriott operations staff to exceed client expectations

• Innovation: Created successful cross –selling program for events not booked through banquets department to sell to on-site restaurant or golf club

• Revenue Generation: Generated $1,000,000 annually for Marriott selling large corporate and nonprofit events, trade shows, golf outings and galas. Ensured profitable business by analyzing food and beverage costing tools to maximize revenue while maintaining best value for the client

 

EVENT CONSULTING and CONTRACTS:

Sundance Institute                                                                                      October 2012- February 2013

Park City, UT

Special Event Coordinator                                                                   

As an Events team, we produced over 70 events for the Festival including Awards Night, Filmmaker and Celebrity parties, and concerts all while working across a multilayered organization and in partnership with the City of Park City, Utah.

 

Planet Comicon, Kansas City                                                                                             March 2014 to August 2015

Event Planner

Managed event logistics, volunteers, and celebrity accommodations for the largest ever 50,000 attendee "Con!"

 

Collegiate Entrepreneurship Organization Convention                                                     

Event Director, Kansas City

Designing logistical plan and city-wide activities for 1,200 college attendees including entertainment, transport, and housing.

 

Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers Consortium                          

Event Director, Kansas City

Implemented and supported logistics for annual consortium (250 attendees). Ranked #1 in attendee satisfaction surveys for best consortium held.

 

EDUCATION

University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas                                                                 December 2003

   Bachelor of General Studies – Communication Studies 

      Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Convention Industry Council                  September 2012

           

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

·       2013-2014  Board Member, Kansas City Film Festival

·       2000-2014 William Inge Theatre Festival, Volunteer and Patron

·     

TECHNICAL SKILLS

·Social Media Management: SpredFast Management Tool

 Facebook: Ads, Facebook Live Production, Content Creation, Customer Care, and Analytics reporting

 Instagram: Food styling and photography, hiring Influencers, Instagram Story and Live production, and Analytics reporting

· Production: Office Tools: Slack, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Office Tools, Slack and Evernote. Mac and PC compliant. :)

· eCommerce: Mail Chimp, Squarespace, Eventbrite, eBay seller platform, Poshmark seller platform, Amazon: Fulfilled by Amazon program. 

 

Personal Interests:

At Whole Foods Market, we believe in hiring a Whole Person.  I love vintage and antique hunting, painting, art, Pilates, non-fiction reading, documentary film and stand-up comedy (watching, NOT performing).