Van Vliet & Trap - Event DesignDirector Of Special Events
May. 2005 - Apr. 2014New York City• Created high-level event experiences for prestigious clients and annual galas such as ‘The New York Philharmonic Opening Night’, ‘Global Partners Dinner’, and the ‘Autism Speaks’ annual fundraiser. • Effectively managed and maintained event budgets ranging from $10,000 - $1,000,000.
• Drafted floor plans and created optimal event layout for receptions and seated dinners.
• Contracted as in-house event designer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, met clients on site regularly.
• Organized event logistics with event management teams of luxury hotels and cultural institutions including The Pierre Hotel, The St. Regis, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Waldorf Astoria, New York Public Library, Top of the Rock, Cipriani, Lincoln Center and more.
• Assisted in transforming a 70,000 sq. ft. event space from a blank canvas to a multi-room reception, dinner and after-party experience for 1000+ guests.
• Assisted in design and planning concepts for social, corporate and non-profit clients, including; Morgan Stanley, MoMA, Bulgari, Lincoln Center, Gucci, Autism Speaks, Rockefeller University.
• Responsible for on-site event management and delegating event set-up responsibilities to full time and free-lance staff.
• Responsible for hiring, training and retaining new candidates for job positions. • Organized and maintained several simultaneous events in various venues throughout Manhattan on a regular basis.
• Organized day-to-day functions of event studio, maintained, and hired and paid freelance