Additional Projects
My client had very specific needs for this meeting: orderly yet welcoming seating, congruous aesthetics with the venue, and the ability to move chairs around. This event allowed me to exercise functional yet beautiful minimalism.
This Client Appreciation Event gave me an opportunity to pull together great CORT products, work with some of my favorite vendors, and create beautiful spaces to show clients what's possible for their events. This showroom in 2018 focused on bright colors and gorgeous lighting.
This space in my 2018 Client Appreciation event was warm and luxurious, showcasing how the right furniture, decor, and lighting choices can create a romantic ambiance.
Feature Exhibition Events at The National Constitution Center
Grand opening event for the "American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition" exhibition. Attendees were encouraged to dress in 1920's style.
Mini branded tasting mugs for this ticketed beer tasting event in Spring 2013 during the run of the "American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition" exhibition.
Guests take a selfie at this opening event for the "1968" exhibition.
My first forays into event marketing were at the National Constitution Center, where I worked from 2006 to 2015. In addition to selling and marketing the museum as a private event space and managing full and part-time staff, I also worked alongside other departments including Exhibits, Interpretation, Development and Marketing to put on audience-building, publicly-ticketed events tied into 5 different feature exhibitions from planning to onsite execution.
Role: Event Lead + Collaborator
Goal: Build the museum's audience by attracting new patrons to the events
Key Metrics: Events routinely sold out, garnered significant press coverage and in post-event surveys for events connected to From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen in 2012, we found that an average of more than 30% of attendees had stepped into the museum for the first time ever, including a massive turnout of 1300+ guests at the exhibition opening party.
CORT Events
New Product Showcase Events
"Earth" themed reception space featuring a new furniture collection. This design was featured in Fall 2019 by national events publication BizBash.com as a fall event decor idea. Photo credit: Susan Beard Photography
Freeze dried snacks in a "Space" themed lounge area. Photo credit: Susan Beard Photography
New pieces shown with custom branding capabilities with bustling 30th Street Station as the backdrop at this pop art themed showcase. Photo credit: Ken Endt
In January 2018, I became the first Account Executive at CORT Events to host a regional pop up showcase for our newest products. The open-house style event was incredibly successful, and since then, I have hosted 2 product reveal events per year, with the most recent showcase taking place in January 2020. These pop ups allow me to have meaningful face time with my clients and prospects and allows them to "test drive" our latest offerings.
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Role: Event Lead
Goal: Create awareness of CORT's newest product lines and drive revenue
Key Metrics: On average, these pop ups garnered an ROI of 16x revenue over expenses, enabled me to have face time with 75-100 clients in less than 48 hours per event (compared to 8-12 max in 2 days of traditional sales calls), and dozens of photos and video assets for use in local and national marketing efforts.
PCMA Convening Leaders 2019
Opening and Closing Receptions
My client wanted a sleek futuristic look. White, silver and gray furniture vignettes complemented the dynamic lighting scheme and decor. Photo credit: Leeann Marie Photography
Pieces from the opening reception were re-purposed with a new color scheme at Heinz Field. Accents such as pillows and ottomans coordinated with 6 color blocked areas within the stadium concourse. Photo Credit: Leeann Marie Photography
Reception space set for over 3500 guests at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Photo Credit: Leeann Marie Photography
My client, The Event Group, was tapped to plan the opening and closing receptions for the Professional Conference Management Association (PCMA) annual conference in Pittsburgh, PA. The city was set to host thousands of convention and meeting planners and wanted to put its best foot forward in front of planners who could bring millions of dollars in economic impact to their destination by booking future meetings.
In addition to pre-event design work, I spent a week in Pittsburgh supporting my client and operations team through setup and breakdown of each event.
Role: Design Consultant + Onsite Support
Goal: Create the right look and feel for two events with over 3000 guests during PCMA Convening Leaders
Key Metrics: Rave reviews from the client, host city and attendees, a record month of revenue for my territory, which set the pace for an outstanding 2019.
MPI PHL VIRTUAL Lunch & Learn:
Event Design in a New World
First segment of the webinar, set in a physically distanced fireside chat.
My co-host, Nicole Benner, CMP and I during the first segment of the webinar, set in a physically distanced fireside chat.
My co-host, Nicole Benner, CMP, from the third segment of the webinar. Set in a news desk style that allowed us to be 6' apart.
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, CORT Events created resources, guidelines and best practices to share with clients. In addition to one-on-one consultations with my clients, I also successfully pitched, planned and executed an educational virtual event for the Philadelphia Chapter of Meeting Professionals International. This event was done in a TV broadcast style. Set in a studio with multiple seating sets ranging from talk show to news desk style, we incorporated "commercial breaks" for sponsors, virtual catering delivered to attendees, and live Q&A.
Role: Event Lead + Featured Speaker
Goal: Provide timely and relevant education on preparing for hybrid and in person meetings and events.
Key Metrics: Reach of 200+ attendees (more than double the average for in-person chapter education programs), overwhelmingly positive feedback on the content and style of the program, and numerous appointments set post event for event design consultations.
SPONSORSHIP ACTIVATIONS
At CORT Events, we often sponsor events in the community. It is my job to make sure all local sponsorships are strategic and deliver ROI. Click on each photo for a short description of the event pictured.
Feastival benefits the Fringe Arts Festival and draws in thousands of well-heeled Philadelphians for a taste of the city's top chefs' creations. In 2018, I created a VIP lounge area that reinforced CORT Event's design forward brand and entertained my top clients.
Vignette designed for a meeting of the local WIPA chapter to increase CORT's exposure to local social event and wedding planners. Featured on the CORT Events website and catalog. Photo credit: Rebecca Barger
An institution for the city's hospitality industry with over 1200 attendees each year, this is a signature sponsorship opportunity to showcase CORT Events products to to a massive audience of current and potential clients. Photo credit: Wise Owl Multimedia
testimonials
“Kellie was fantastic during the planning process for the opening and closing receptions for the PCMA Convening Leaders Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was a great resource, assisting in the selection of all the right pieces for the look and feel we wanted. With her help, we put Pittsburgh’s best face forward in front of conference attendees. She was so organized and helpful onsite – she even created a color-coded layout to assist with the onsite execution of the furniture setup. Kellie is one of the best in the business!”
Sheila Weiner
President, The Event Group
"Kellie is one of the most talented people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Her deep determination and passion for work are inspiring. Kellie is a natural leader with the innate ability to build rapport and develop strong connections with anyone she meets; all skills that have made her extremely effective and successful.
Kellie is also creative and thoughtful and puts her heart and soul into every project. I cherish the 8+ years that I worked with Kellie at the National Constitution Center and hope for our paths to cross again on future projects."
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Jen Darley, former VP of Operations,
National Constitution Center and
Owner of Jen Darley Consulting
Kellie is one of the most professional, humble and caring professionals I have ever had the privilege to manage. Her ability to multi-task is second to none. She took over a territory that was well established and immediately showed exponential growth. Her tenacity and strong follow-up skills placed her as one of the top three Account Executives within CORT Events.
Kellie developed the concept of pop-up showcase events, bringing CORT’s newest products directly to her clients. Teaming up with venues and other hospitality partners she created unforgettable experiences for the industry and CORT. This concept leveraged with her creative social media skills drove high quality clients and prospects to her events. These pop-ups delivered a very high ROI for herself and her partners, resulting in a long list of additional industry partners wanting to work with her on future events.
Michael Dornfeld,
former Regional Sales Manager,
CORT Events
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Kellie’s skills translate to virtual experiences as well as live ones; we had the pleasure of working together to plan and execute a virtual meeting for Meeting Professionals International, Philadelphia Area Chapter, and her knowledge of the planning process guided the flawless execution of the event. She crafted the agenda to include breaks that allowed us to highlight our sponsors while presenters moved throughout the different sets. Under her guidance, we created an experience for the audience that was worthy of attending, in a time when competition for virtual attention is fierce. In every endeavor she undertakes, it is always a pleasure to have Kellie's expertise
guiding the project.
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Nicole Benner, CMP, VEMM, PCA
President Elect,
MPI Philadelphia Area Chapter 2021-22
Kellie is a consummate professional, devoted to making every event a rousing success. During the years we worked together at the National Constitution Center, I saw how Kellie’s organizational skills, creativity, meticulous planning, and attention to detail resulted in extraordinary exhibition launch events. She has an innate ability to juggle numerous elements at once, while remaining poised and professional at all times. Every event Kellie planned was truly memorable (innovative photo booths, exquisite décor, exciting entertainment, delicious food and drink), and it was a joy to work with her and to see the results of her hard work.
Ashley Berke
former Director of PR,
National Constitution Center and
current VP of Communications,
Philadelphia Orchestra
Kellie has a keen eye for designing events both large and small. Her creativity and detail-oriented approach combined with her energy, people skills, and problem solving abilities, made for a great partnership between us and for memorable and successful events. No matter the budget her clients are her top priority. She has helped me create amazing and incredibly engaging events and experiences that have drawn rave reviews. She is sure to be a bright and inspiring asset
to any team or project.
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Jennifer Roberts
former VP of Membership & Events,
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau