Monday, July 26, 2010

Details Matter!

Since I started my internship at Liggett, I've been assisting the brand management team in planning a corporate event that will be held in Cleveland in the fall. Although I've worked UD alumni events in the past, I never experienced the behind-the-scenes workload of planning and organizing event specifics until now.

In September, Liggett Stashower will be hosting Worldcom Public Relations Group's annual conference in the heart of downtown Cleveland. This three-day networking extravaganza will feature discussions of the latest PR trends, social media guest speakers, and a cocktail party at Liggett's chic office space. Worldcom guests will also have the chance to visit Cleveland's most reputable landmarks, including The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and critically acclaimed restaurants, such as Lola, Blue Pointe Grill, and Dante.

I've had the opportunity to participate in meetings with brand management execs and witness the hard work they've put into every detail. From securing hotels to booking musicians, Liggett employees seem to have a 360-degree view for planning a corporate event. After partaking in these meetings and having discussions with co-workers, I've realized how important it is to stay organized and prepare for the "what-ifs."

As a part of the Worldcom planning team, I truly feel that my assistance has been meaningful. For my first task, I wrote a dine-around-guide featuring 14 of Cleveland's best restaurants. This guide has been sent to Worldcom partners to spark excitement about experiencing Cleveland's unique dining attractions. I've also researched transportation services, received quotes, and created a pricing table for my team's review. My newest assignment is to research catering options for the cocktail party Liggett will host the first night of the conference. I've been in communication with various catering companies to ask for sample quotes and price points. To cover my bases, I've taken notes and written memos to make sure that I am doing my job as well as the other members on the planning committee.

What I've learned is that every detail matters, and I'm so glad that I am able to contribute to such an important and exciting event!


Rachelle Patsey
Brand Management Intern

1 comment:

Lucy said...

Excellent - you're so right, when it comes to any aspect of planning, be it project management, wedding planning, event planning, conference planning, budget planning, never EVER underestimate the importance of contingencies. It's like a mantra - contingency, contingency, contingency! It's the difference betwen absolute disaster and smoothing over a problem with relative ease. Good luck with your internship, I'm sure you'll end up going places :)