PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

By Dizign
Owner

Plannernet
Meeting Manager

SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association)
Council Relations Director
Trade Shows Specialist
Show Coordinator
Show Coordinator (Show Management)
Marketing & Communications Assistant

Wes-Coast Marketing
Outside Sales Representative

California-Nevada Section,
American Water Works Association
Interim Program Manager

Truckin' Magazine
Editorial Assistant

University Mechanical & Engineering Contractors
Operations Assistant

Bill's Auto Parts
Pomona Truck & Auto Supply
Retail Auto Parts Counterman

By Dizign, Norco, California

Owner

• Under the company name of By Dizign, I provide administrative support, event planning, meeting management, and association management services as an independent contractor.

Plannernet, www.plannernet.com

Owner

• Provide meeting management services as an independent contractor.

SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association), Diamond Bar, California (1998-2007)

Trade association representing more than 7,000 companies in the specialty automotive aftermarket.

SEMA: Council Relations Director (2004-2007)

As association liaison to industry volunteer leadership, managed individual trade groups (councils), representing motorsports manufacturers; light-truck accessory, sport compact and automotive restoration industry companies; and women in the automotive aftermarket.

• Produced three-day "Media Trade Conference," increasing growth of exhibitor participation by 30%, and media participation by 15% each year. Responsible for all aspects of the conference, including exhibitor and attendee promotion, sponsorship sales, registration, meeting scheduling, all on-site logistics, coordination with facility staff, and supervision of additional on-site staff.
• Consistently exceeded sales goals for membership, event/program participation and sponsorships. Grew membership in each group annually from between 4 to 12 percent.
• Developed annual council and event budgets; executed projects and programs within each group's individual budget, under strict timelines.
• Produced receptions, breakfasts, networking events and meetings. Responsible for all aspects of each event, including themes, setup, promotion, script writing, coordination with facility staff, and acting as emcee.
• Produced seminar program to educate consumers and promote council-member companies.
• Hosted focus groups and panel discussions, providing valuable industry insights to members.
• Published a printed guidelines manual designed to help new companies succeed in the industry, ensuring the document's ease-of-use, grammatical accuracy and compliance to legal requirements and anti-trust laws.
• Participated in the development of a departmental manual governing the policies and procedures of councils.
• Wrote and edited council-related articles in the association's and external publications.
• Provided regular reports on council activities to executive management team and board of directors, communicating accomplishments and potential challenges.
• Launched program to communicate with race sanctioning bodies regarding technical rules.

During my employment at SEMA, I spent three years in the show department, first as a member of the show management team, then as a coordinator for the projects produced in-house when show management was again contracted to an outside company, then was promoted to specialist with different duties and additional responsibilities.

SEMA: Trade Shows Specialist (2001-2004)

• Managed the production and content of exhibitor directories and other printed materials for association-produced trade shows, ensuring on-time publication and content accuracy.
• Collaborated with the electronic communications department to develop new trade show website, including content and functionality.
• Participated on the development team of show-related exhibitor and attendee marketing collateral.
• Managed multiple special projects on behalf of the Vice President, Sales & Marketing.
• Provided content for exhibitor manuals and coordinated production with show management team.
• Managed photography of more than 1,200 new products showcase entries over a 3-day period.
• Assisted Special Events Administrator with the production of meetings and banquets.

SEMA: Show Coordinator (2001)

• Provided telephone and email assistance to trade show attendees, fielding as many as 80-100 calls and 50-75 email messages per day.
• Managed special events ticket order entry and fulfillment with 100 percent accuracy.
• Assisted with exhibitor directories and other show-related materials, including all copy editing.
• Assisted with exhibitor contract processing, space assignments and floor plan modifications.

SEMA: Show Coordinator/Show Management(2000-2001)

Member of the show management team for the SEMA Show in Las Vegas and other association trade shows during the time when SEMA produced its shows in-house rather than outsourcing to a show management company.

• Directed all aspects of media registration promotion and approval.
• Coordinated all exhibitor press conferences.
• Performed floor management duties on-site, including enforcement of display rules and regulations, and providing assistance to exhibitors as requested.
• Oversaw setups of various show features, including media centers and new products showcases.
• Executed additional special projects and events as needed.

SEMA: Marketing & Communications Assistant (1998-2000)

• Provided administrative support to the Vice President, Marketing & Communications, and other department managers.
• Served as editor of the association's weekly electronic newsletter.
• Contributed editorial and photographic content to the association's printed magazines.
• Proofread and copyedited association's annual Membership Directory and show directories.

Wes-Coast Marketing, Upland, California

Outside Sales Representative (2007-2008)

• Outside sales representative of twenty lines of specialty automotive equipment, primarily for light trucks, promoting sales and providing service to warehouse distributors and jobbers.

California-Nevada Section, American Water Works Association, Rancho Cucamonga, California

Interim Program Manager (2008)

• Managed planning and coordination of educational offerings.

Truckin' Magazine, Anaheim, California

Editorial Assistant

• Researched and wrote feature and technical articles, buyer's guides, and a monthly column.
• Served as calendar editor and new products editor.
• Attended, photographed and reported on special events.
• Responsible for grammatical accuracy and consistency of each issue.
• Provided secretarial support to magazine staff, including directing departmental mail, answering telephones, general correspondence.
• Served as relief receptionist for publishing company, operating a 15-line switchboard with approximately 50 extensions.

University Mechanical & Engineering Contractors, Anaheim, California

Operations Assistant

• Provided clerical and administrative support to Project Managers, including correspondence, contract change estimates, billings and lien releases, purchase orders, submittals, creating and maintaining spreadhseets, and maintaining job files.
• Assisted Accounting Department with payroll and accounts payable.

Bill's Auto Parts, Ontario, California
Pomona Truck & Auto Supply, Pomona, California

Retail Auto Parts Counterman

• Assisted customers with needed parts, utilizing paper and electronic catalogs.
• Oversaw inventory needs and placed orders with local and national warehouses.
• Created point of sale displays following manufacturers' plan-o-grams when required or utilizing my own designs.
• Managed product line changeovers.
• Reconciled cash, checks and credit cards at end of shift/day to register totals. Prepared bank deposit.