When I started working at HVS almost 20 years ago, I could not have known the interesting work I had ahead of me. Unlike many of my colleagues, I didn’t have a hospitality background. I was looking for a career change when I moved to Chicago after working as a social worker. In 2006, I joined HVS’s Convention, Sports, & Entertainment Facilities consulting division as a Marketing Assistant.

Now as Vice President of Business Development, I coordinate business development initiatives and client relationships for the HVS Convention, Sports, & Entertainment division. I work with a smart and curious team, as we strive to become trusted advisors to our clients. We work all over the world, frequently teaming with the local HVS offices. Getting to know and work with my international HVS colleagues is truly a wonderful part of my job.

One of the best parts of my job is the variety. It’s never a dull moment, as every market, project, and client are unique. The following are examples of my job tasks in a typical week:

  • Identify appropriate business opportunities for new and existing clients
  • Research target sectors, markets, and customers
  • Research and follow opportunities in the media and other lead sources for potential future projects
  • Establish initial contact with potential clients and municipalities to discuss our services and their needs
  • Research markets for a clear understanding of the project's history and any potential political sensitivities to create compelling reasons for prospective clients to engage with HVS
  • Partner with relevant team members (both within HVS and with other firms, such as architects) and work with their staff to gather qualification materials, determining scope of work elements
  • Work collaboratively with other HVS resources to define the approach and strategy for meeting the client's requirements
  • Handle the day-to-day management of opportunities from prospecting until the signed contract
  • Prepare proposals in response to RFP/Qs, following the specific requirements of each and ensuring proposal responses follow the guidelines and regulations documented in the RFP/Q
  • Prepare presentations for in-person interviews
  • Prepare presentations for conference speaker roles
  • Maintain our HVS Projects & Opportunities database
  • Provide ongoing support to our clients throughout the project