I've never really shared what my new job entails. For those that may not know, I recently switched from managing the CCU Bookstore (see link for Cincinnati Christian University) to serving as the Events Coordinator for Standard Publishing (see link to left). It's been a great transition...and a very "God-confirmed" transition. Because the transition happened in January, there really wasn't a good way to inform everyone who needed to know. Not like I could just send an addendum to our Christmas letter! :)
Anyway...I've tried to explain my job in spoken word. Most of the response has been a weird "I don't get it" stare or a shrug of the shoulders with "Okay, Robb....hope you like what you're doing" impression.
Events Coordinator may inspire thoughts of me setting up tables and chairs for millions of people at events hosted by Standard Publishing. I do coordinate the Energizing the Smaller Church Network conferences (yep, see the link to the left). These are great one-day events for small churches with great potential! It's pretty exciting to hear and see the enthusiasm from the staffs from these churches via email, participation at the events, and with contact afterwards.
Along with that "hosted" event, I also help decide which events, conventions, and conferences Standard Publishing should participate in. Once decided, the real job begins! Imagine a 10'x10' booth space at your normal convention (like the North American Christian Convention or the Children's Pastors Conference). Everything that is involved with getting that space filled with furniture, products, carpet, electricity, internet, staffing, and anything else is what I do. It's a huge process and it's quite an exciting array of responsibility. I work with a specific SP Marketing Manager and together we figure out all the specifics of each event.
What the job entails is a myriad of organization, planning, and following-up ~ while creating, collaborating, and branding in the process. The job itself is A LOT of paperwork. It also requires MUCHO input from others. It involves budgeting, financial follow-through, purchasing, filing, keeping track of a million tasks for each event, and then the fun stuff! Fun includes creating gift packs for product giveaways, working with a host of people, designing a booth's layout, programming cash registers, creating and simplifying processes, and doing a ton of "behind-the-scenes" things.
When I'm available, I head to some of the larger events. Responsibilities at the event includes setting up the booth space, displaying and selling the product, making connections with customers, tearing down the booth and getting it back to Cincinnati in one piece! :) If I'm unavailable to attend, then the "booth reps" are responsible for these tasks. It's a GREAT time! Most enjoyable, of course, is meeting and talking with our customers. I'm not much of an extrovert, yet I completely enjoy this part of the job! Now that I'm more behind a desk than a cash register, it's nice to get out and speak to the people we sell to!
One of the most fun parts of my job is working with the Marketing team! We have a great group! And yes, I'm a little biased on that. :) What a talented group of individuals!
And of course, I completely enjoy organizing all the crazy chaos during the work week! It's also great fun to apply my crazy and creative side to the perceived "boring" part of the job. I think my co-workers think I'm a little nuts ~ but I think they like it! :)
Anyway....life as Events Coordinator is FUN ~ Full of Unique Nuttiness!
