CHRIS A. CARPENTER
16 Dubost Court
Danville, CA 94526
Telephone: (925) 837-3092
Cellular Telephone: (650) 759-0173
OBJECTIVE
Having reached my professional goal as General Manager, I desire to use my developed industry background and broad experience in a major market position that involves decision-making in implementing strategies for the best use of a first-class venue and increasing the overall business through effective marketing techniques. In 2014 successfully took over Food Services operations increasing profits significantly. Our in-house operation is Creative Touch Catering & Food Services.
AREAS OF DEMONSTRATED EFFECTIVENESS
• Creativity in event design, ideas that increase revenues and fully utilize available resources.
• Industry knowledge and professional relationships, which result in successful programming and future event opportunities.
• Results-driven, aggressive in pursuit of business…highly visible to potential markets
• Working effectively with individuals at all levels (management, promoters, event planners, public officials, board members, industry/community groups and patrons).
• A decision-maker, fair and equitable in management of people, time and resources.
• Negotiating skills tied to competitive nature and the desire to achieve both personal and professional goals.
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
SAN MATEO COUNTY EVENT CENTER (SMCEC) – San Mateo, CA GM
August 2003 to present
A multi-purpose facility with 105,000 square foot Expo Hall, 50,000 square foot Fiesta Hall, 15,680 square foot Oak Hall, 15,680 square foot Cypress Hall, 14,000 square foot Redwood Hall, 6,500 square foot Sequoia Hall and our 6,500 square foot Meeting Pavilion. These facilities are all situated on our 48-acre campus, with parking spaces available for over 4,000 cars.
I am proud to report the following accomplishments:
• Successfully increased bookings and revenues, along with decreasing expenses for 2003 through 2014, with a budget set to accomplish the same results for 2015.
• Assembled a management team of professionals within a short period of time, whom are united in the successful operations of the San Mateo County Event Center.
• Successfully created a new facility name (San Mateo County Expo Center to the San Mateo County Event Center), logo and web site. Re-branded the facility creating a new synergy that played a role in increased bookings of new shows including corporate and entertainment events. New clients including Yahoo, Oracle, Nektar Pharmaceuticals, VISA, Mervyn’s etc.
• Authored a report and power point presentation for my board of directors and the San Mateo County Supervisors, which won their approval to grant $3 million in redevelopment funds directly to the San Mateo County Event Center in 2004.
• Working with my Operations Manager, we acted as General Contractors through the successful management of a $3 million improvements project to facilities and the overall campus. Composed, wrote and approved proposals for over 20 RFP’s on projects to meet deadlines for improvements and purchase equipment for the SMCEC. Many of the improvements were geared towards improving facilities and campus in an effort to attract new events. Already experiencing major success in the area of increased bookings.
• Involved with many community organizations within San Mateo County, including the San Mateo Area Chamber, San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Rotary and Leadership San Mateo.
• Recently completed the process of $6 million in renovations to existing facility(s) to house a Satellite Wagering Facility which has generated $1.6 million in net revenue since opening in August 2008.
• Successfully hired and trained a manager for our Satellite Wagering Facility (Jockey Club) in July 2008. Overall revenues from this operation are exceeding expectations allowing for the repayment of debt, support of the entire SMCEC Operation and increasing our reserve.
NOB HILL MASONIC CENTER (NHMC) –SF, CA EVP/GENERAL MANAGER
August 2000 to August 2003
A multi-purpose venue with a 3,200-seat theatre, over 25,000 square feet of exhibit and trade show space, conference and meeting space, a 4,000 square foot museum utilized for corporate receptions and a 563 stall parking garage open 365 days a year – 24/7.
• Successful in booking new business including corporate meetings, conventions, entertainment events, trade shows, concerts and family events.
• Negotiated with all clientele utilizing the NHMC and prepared contracts for all events.
• Responsible for the effective marketing of facilities to all potential business.
• Maintained a preferred caterers listing and received board approval to begin our in-house operation of concessions and some limited catering.
• Established an effective capital plan referred to as our Five Year Plan.
• Developed RFP’s for various projects including the selection and management of contractors to install a $1.3 million HVAC System, new boilers for the venue, a new state-of-the-art sound system for the theatre and water proofing for several areas of the facility.
• Developed and distributed an RFP for the selection process of a management company of our 563 stall parking garage. Received board approval to sell advertising in garage space – which included the development of sales material to market the space.
• Maintained a business relationship with Meeting Planners International, San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, International
Association of Exhibit Managers, San Francisco Hotel Council and International Association of Assembly Managers.
HP PAVILION (formally the San Jose Arena) DIRECTOR OF BOOKING AND EVENTS
November 1999 to August 2000
• Successful in booking and managing new business including conferences, corporate meetings and receptions, meetings, trade shows, concerts and family shows.
• Responsible for the negotiation of rental agreements.
• Prepared event notes that were distributed to all operations staff disseminating all pertinent information about specific events, along with calendar coordination and planning.
• Enhance the appeal of the HP Pavilion for conventions and conferences on my own, and through a partnership with the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau and Chamber.
SPECTACOR MANAGEMENT GROUP (SMG) November 1981 to December 1999
• Held management positions over my 18 year career with SMG at four premiere markets and assisted SMG Corporate in opening new facilities, the start-up of existing facilities and the development of new facility management contracts.
• Traveled to other SMG managed venues assisting with the management of special events, trade shows and conventions.
MOBILE CONVENTION CENTER (SMG) – Mobile, AL GENERAL MANAGER
May 1997 to December 1999
A 317,000 square foot convention facility, recipient of the “Planners Choice Award” for 1997 – 99.
• Prepared an aggressive 1997-98 fiscal year budget, projected to exceed the best operating year ever. We exceeded these projections through increased revenues and decreased expenses.
• Involved in the management of the Mobil Civic Center (10,000 seat arena, 2,200 theatre and a 30,000 square foot exhibit hall) and Ladd-Peebles Stadium (a 40,000 seat stadium – home to the Senior Bowl). These facilities were also managed by SMG.
• Advanced the synergies between the Mobile Convention Center and Civic Center staff, resulting in significant financial savings and increased customer satisfaction.
• Responsible for renewing the food and beverage contract that generates $4 million in sales.
• Managed three parking garages, providing well over 6,000 parking stalls.
KANSAS EXPOCENTRE (SMG) – Topeka, Kansas GENERAL MANAGER
August 92 to May 1997
A 235,000 square foot multi-purpose facility, including a 10,000 seat arena, an exhibition hall encompassing 67,000 square feet, a 24,000 square foot conference center (connected to a 216-room Embassy Suites Hotel) two community centers totaling 24,000 square feet and a 120,000 square foot livestock pavilion, all located on 88 acres of land owned by Shawnee County and managed by SMG.
• After assuming management responsibility, affected a major turnaround in operation and overall costs, dramatically increasing revenues and decreasing expenses.
• Appointed to lead the efforts in identifying and negotiating an agreement with a developer to construct a hotel on KS Expocentre grounds. Achieved our goal, through the development of an Embassy Suites Hotel that opened in 1997 and connected to the KS Expocentre.
• Worked with Shawnee County Officials and the Shawnee County Fair Board through the planning and management of the Shawnee County Fair and Exposition.
• Managed 28 full-time positions, including three directors, marketing, operations, box-office and finance personnel. Managed our in-house catering and concessions contractor that produced well over $2 million in annual revenues.
• In 1992, successfully lobbied the City and the Convention and Visitors Bureau for bed tax revenues for utilization in attracting conventions, trade shows and meetings to the venue. This in turn, benefited the county in increased revenues to hotels, restaurants and local businesses.
• Major events included several headliner concerts, NBA Exhibition Games, many trade shows including the annual Boat Show, Auto Show, RV Show, Gem and Jewelry Show and the highly successful Topeka Cider Days Festival. Due to the success of the Cider Days Festival, I
worked with the CVB Board on creating the Railroad Days Festival, a successful annual event.
PHILA. CIVIC CENTER (SMG) – Philadelphia, PA, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS January 1991 to August 1992
A 300,000 square foot contiguous exhibition space, 10,400-seat convention hall/auditorium and the 4,100-seat Pennsylvania Hall Auditorium.
• Attracted the Virginia Slims Tennis Tournament to the facility in 1991. This major event attracted the top eight seeds the first year and became an annual event for the entire venue.
• Managed the Philadelphia Flower Show for two years; a public event that drew in excess of 250,000 over the 10-day event. This is the premiere flower show within the United States.
• Negotiated the contract to bring INTERBIKE, a major tradeshow to the venue, successfully winning out over two other cities to showcase this world class event, which drew nearly 2,000 exhibitors and over 4,000 attendees.
• Increased revenues through additional bookings that I developed through a successful marketing campaign and the relationship developed with the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau and Chamber of Commerce. Decreased expenses through the detailed management of all major expenditures and the scheduling of labor.
SAN FRANCISCO CONVENTIONS FACILITIES, DIRECTOR OF FACILITY SERVICES
December 1989 to January 1991
A multi-site, multi-purpose facility including the Moscone Center, Brooks Hall and Civic Auditorium (now the Bill Graham Auditorium).
• Managed all operations, to include telecommunications, booth cleaning, theatrical services, business center, contract/facility security and traffic control.
• Prepared the annual budget and directed a staff of three managers, five supervisors, four crew leaders and up to 320 part-time personnel.
• In continuing to develop the venues in-house telecommunications system (1,000 line switch), contributed to the ultimate conversion to a switch allowing for a capacity of up to 1,500 telephone lines. Provided telephone service to exhibitors, including on-site programming, installations and service resulting in significant additional revenues for each event.
• Increased revenues for booth cleaning services that eventually expanded to area hotels.
SAN FRANCISCO CONVENTION FACILITIES SENIOR EVENT COORDINATOR
June 1987 to November 1989
• Managed four event coordinators and assigned myself or other staff to coordinate all event activities held at the Moscone Center, Brooks Hall or Civic Auditorium.
• Worked with architects during the planning and construction of the 40,000 square foot Esplanade Ballroom addition that opened in 1991.
Initially hired by SMG as Operations Crew Leader in November 1981, was promoted to Operations Supervisor in November 1982 and named Event Coordinator in April 1984. I became involved with the preparation of the 1984 National Democratic National Convention, and many other public and private trade shows, conventions, meetings and entertainment events.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
University of Nebraska and Southwest Community College – Lincoln, Nebraska. Areas of study included Mechanical Engineering. Other training: Oglebay School of Arena Management through IAAM and my Certified Meeting Planner designation. Recently (2006) bestowed with the Certified Facility Executive designation through the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM) – only 4% of the membership share this honor.
MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
Member – San Mateo Rotary (2003 to Present)
Board Member, San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce (2003 to Present)
Board Member, San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau (2003 – Present)
Board Member, San Francisco - Nob Hill Neighborhood Association (2000 – 2003)
International Association of Assembly Managers IAAM (1989 – Present)
IAAM District VII Treasurer (2003 to 2006)
IAAM District VII Assistant District Vice President (2006 to 2007)
IAAM District VII District Vice President (2007 to 2009)
Certified Facility Executive – Designation (2006)
Certified Meeting Planner – Designation (1995)
Meeting Planners International (1998 – Present)
San Francisco Conventions and Visitors Bureau (2000 – Present)
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce (2000 – 2003)
International Association of Fairs and Expositions (1993 – Present)
Board Member, Mobile Sports Commission (1997 – 1999)
Board Member, Mobile YMCA’s (1998 – 1999)
Board Member, Topeka Convention and Visitors Bureau (1992 – 1997)
Board Member, Downtown Topeka Inc. (1993 – 1997)
American Society of Executives
National Association of Consumer Shows
International Association of Exhibit Managers
PERSONAL DATA
Married, with two children Excellent Health Enthusiastic and Goal oriented