PATTY

COEN

My main goal is to assist corporations, associations and non-profits in designing, planning and implementing their business meetings and events to achieve their goals and strategies. I have been an independent meeting planner since February 2000, and my company name is Great Chicago Events, Inc. My client base includes corporations, associations and non-profits that host meetings from 10 to 6000 people in international and domestic locations. One example is a meeting in 2015 when my team of 3 created a 6000 person meeting in 10 weeks that had 25 affiliates with no history. We had to start from scratch, revising the convention center and hotel specs and room placements along with writing all of the detail for each group and completing all other necessary marketing and housing issues. In the meantime, 4 other smaller meetings between 100 and 300 guests were occurring. Therefore, time management was an extreme asset. My skills and areas of expertise are stepping into that type of unusual situation to organize the particular details and create processes to bring efficiencies into the program. My skills include multiple computer programs and applications, team management, budgeting, and detail orientation along with a good sense of humor. One special skill is to troubleshoot problems before they occur and to fix things if anything does occur. I consider my personal and professional goals to always be active within the meetings industry and continue to learn new skills. During COVID, the PMP (Project Management Professional) and Scrum I designations were added to my resume. I enjoy learning and understanding new ideas and processes. In my spare time, I keep up with 18 nieces and nephews and their families as well as watching sports, exercising and reading. One of my latest adventures has been becoming a zoo monitor at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago