A Season of Transformation
Industrial Careers Building Grand Opening
The Objectives
Touted as the final major construction project of the College's 2018 bond program, the highly anticipated celebration of the completion of the Industrial Careers Building (ICB) marks COM's first successful general obligation bond in nearly 50 years. A historic moment, it was essential to publicly extend gratitude to voters and supporters of the bond that will forever leave an indelible mark on its community for generations to come.
"A Season of Transformation" was a simple yet bold thematic concept that I conceived to reintroduce guests to the community college they may have once known. The ICB Grand Opening will bring those words to life in an interactive and immersive production showcasing the new COM learning experience.
The Strategies
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Leverage elected officials, business leaders, alumni and other key influencers to participate and engage public interest.
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Identify and manage key subcommittee roles and responsibilities. Deploy a comprehensive time-bound event action plan to guide all related tasks.
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Generate positive media coverage about the impact that the College's new buildings and programs will have on meeting the long-term workforce and educational needs of the community.
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Collaborate with design team to create a clean and consistent look, feel and branding to visually illustrate the College's transformation through event signage, collateral and other relevant materials.
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Ensure that all related marketing materials maintain consistency in voice and messaging to align with event theme.
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Utilize a variety of channels to engage students, faculty, staff and community members for maximum participation.
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Maximize buy-in from faculty and students by utilizing them as event ambassadors and providing program tours and other hands-on demonstrations
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MailChimp direct email invitation, COM Weekly employee newsletter, News You Can Use student newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, COM website, student/employee emails, paid advertising (print and digital)
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The Results
With a record attendance of more than 250 guests ranging from legislative officials, business and industry leaders, media, alumni, students and employees, COM hosted a memorable grand opening event on October 22, 2022. The event was instrumental in shaping a positive public perception for community stakeholders by emphasizing the College's footprint and long-term commitment to transforming to meet the growing needs of the region. COM’s Industrial Careers Building grand opening event also won the bronze award for special events at the 2023 NCMPR District 4 Medallion Awards.
My Role
As the project manager and event organizer, I led the coordination of the event from conception, planning and execution while managing a team of more than 50 people from all levels of the organization.