HUGH WUNDERMAN

2195 Redmond Road Merrick, New York 11566 M: 516-242-4506

E: hughwunderman@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/HughWunderman

SENIOR EVENT PLANNER & MEETING PLANNER

Dynamic Senior Event Planner, Meeting Planner and Event Manager highly skilled at venue and vendor contract negotiations,
event sales and design, large staff hiring and training, management of large scale crews, events, meetings, seminars, trade
shows and fund-raising events. Excel in fast paced, high-pressure environments, prioritizing multiple responsibilities while
navigating complex corporate structures. Manage complex projects, tasks and deadlines, anticipating problems, developing
quick effective solutions. Think and act independently with professionalism, discretion and confidentiality. Large contact list of
premier worldwide vendors and specialty acts. Maintained and executed annual event calendars with event budgets up to
$800,000 per event. Design, management, production and special effects for high-profile events and venues such as, NY
Yankee World Series celebrations and ceremonies 2010 & 2011, Mayor Giuliani's NYC Centennial New Years Eve VIP Party,
NYCs Centennial Inaugural Ball in Times Square, The Metropolitan Opera House, Broadway, Studio 54. Managing high-
profile talent such as International Recording artist Taylor Dayne, and Sly and The Family Stones Grammy appearance and
comeback tour after 35 years in retirement. Trained and mentored 20 + successful event professionals and present industry
lectures on performer/agent protocols, relationships, and expectations. Union experience with IATSE Local 1, NY.


Negotiations Event Planning Experiential Programs Presentations Public Relations Branding Marketing
Corporate Sales Vendor Relations Talent Management & Wrangling Client Relations Communication
Consulting Merchandising Outsourcing Team Leadership / Motivation Procurement / Purchasing

THE JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL New York, New York 5/2011 10/2013
Largest Jewish nonprofit organization in the world.

Events Manager, North America
Established and managed the North American Events Department providing fundraising expertise to increase donations
and public exposure. Assisted the Marketing Department in development of a professional organizational branding and
identity in focus with goals and objectives. Increased exposure at agency events including Darkness to Light with Natan
Sharansky, Russian CEOs Fundraising Missions to the US, General Assemblies, Regional and National Shlichim
Keneseem, Celebrate Israel Parades, Conference of Israeli Professionals, P2G and School Twinning Conferences, etc.
Performed the event design, venue selection, procurement, direction, contract negotiations, event staffing, audiovisual
requirements, communications, event management, scheduling, guest list management, invitations and check-in
procedures, security, music, media, advertising, event sponsors and organizers. Aligned event themes with sponsor
fundraising goals. Arranged contract requirements for celebrities, speakers, dignitaries and talent. Developed materials
and promotions for a variety of events, galas and fundraisers. Created event displays, branded materials in road cases
to ensure a uniform look at events and their safe delivery to venues around the US and Canada.

Achievements:
Arranged and managed three of their largest events in November 2012 around the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.
Managed the General Assembly in Baltimore, Maryland, the Hillel Israel Fellows 10
th
anniversary event at the Israeli
Ambassador's home in DC, and the National Shlichim Kennes in upstate New York executing flawless events
around countless logistics, delivery obstacles, and geographies within a 2-week period.
Organized VIP reception in Miamis Convention Center for about a thousand guests with just two weeks lead-time.
Arranged the event vendors including alcohol, catering, decoration, photographer, booth design and layout. Pulled
off a successful, stylish, tasteful event garnering great media exposure.
Planned and held Darkness to Light fundraising event in Carmel, California commemorating the 25
th
anniversary
of prominent Israeli politician, human rights activist and author Natan Sharanskys release from communist captivity
and emigration to Israel as his new home. Held a VIP reception with dinner and live music, high-end kosher food
and an opportunity to meet and have their picture taken with Mr. Sharansky.
Created Jewish Agency brand awareness at the National Schlichim Kennes Conference with customized posters of
Israel with The Jewish Agency logo strategically placed around breakout rooms, hallways, utilizing branded
tablecloths, banners around the hotel and hotel lobby. Logos also appeared on video screens before each
presentation, on stage, and by the entranceways of each seminar room. Resulted in increased Shlichim success in
the field and greater reliance on The Agency in their enhanced training role.
Developed uniform event and fundraising materials to present a professional Jewish Agency image at all donor
events.
Premiered Ethiopian Art Exhibit of photos and historic video at the 2011 General Assembly and prepared the
Completing the Journey Art Exhibition for US tour.
HUGH WUNDERMAN Page 2 hughwunderman@gmail.com

GALA CREATIVE GROUP INTERNATIONAL, LTD. - A GALA EVENT Merrick, New York 2/2004 5/2011
Boutique special event planning, design and management firm, talent agent. 11/2013 Current

Senior Producer, Creative Director
Managed design, planning and execution of high-end events and functions for high profile corporate and private sector
clients. Secured qualified and reliable venues and vendors including caterers, live music and DJs, audiovisual, multi-
media equipment, event staff, shows and entertainment, staging, props, lighting, special effects, video and photography.
Negotiated with suppliers, vendors, and entertainers to ensure competitive prices and event performance. Met with
clients to determine priorities, needs for event branding, presentations, and execution to ensure satisfaction. Served as
final resource for protocol decisions on event design and maintaining client image. Introduced ROI methodologies,
technologies, metrics to reduce cost of production, prepare, manage and monitor event budgets, technical and
promotional needs. Maintained client branding at events, on invitations, correspondence, programs, and all collateral.
Determined proper equipment specifications for event requirements. Developed cutting-edge special effects including
environmental scenting, wireless video centerpieces, confetti and feather launches with indoor pyrotechnics for dramatic
presentations. Critiqued events for opportunities for improvement on future events.

Achievements:
Produced a Wedding and Tribute Show touring stadiums in India. Researched local and regional customs to avoid
conflicts, reacted to flight and show cancellations on the road, and held a successful tour without major incident.
Prepared entertainment for Yankees 1999 World Series VIP City Hall celebration with two days notice. Assembled
and played historic, comical and commercial audio clips resulting in a crowd- pleasing show. Achieved a
memorable event and was re-hired for the Yankees 2000 World Series VIP Celebration.
Developed last minute confetti shoot for the Industrial Joy of Pepsi promotional kick-off event, launching Pepsi blue
confetti over the Harlem Boys Choir with no rehearsal at the company headquarters cafeteria in Purchase, New
York. Designed the confetti launch to interface with their existing set and lighting installations. Achieved successful
launch at events conclusion in spite of a major snowstorm the day before the event affecting all deliveries.

Wunderman Productions Merrick, New York 10/1980 5/2011
Award-winning production company providing immersive and interactive experiences, corporate theatre
communications, team building and notable live events for the world's most successful companies.

Principal
Planned, developed, executed international as well as, domestic events, meetings, tradeshows, and incentive programs.
Handled event management including location, contract negotiations, proposal planning, staff selection and
management, transportation and hotel arrangements, and preparation of meeting materials and collateral. Provided site
and registration/database management for events with budgets ranging from $10,000 to $500,000 with 500 to 60,000
attendees. Saved clients an average of 35% on travel and entertainment expenses. Developed high profile corporate
and social and corporate team building events. Launched international recording artist Taylor Daynes career and
managed the comeback of legendary rock, funk, and soul band Sly and the Family Stone resulting in a 2011 Grammy
appearance and resulting tour. Maintain personal database of unique international performers, acts, and vendors.

Achievements:
Planned high-profile Hewlett Packard new product preview for 2,000 major east coast dealerships. Created a
custom laser show incorporating their latest products with futuristic music, followed by hands-on product
demonstrations in break-out rooms, and ending in a gala honoring those top dealers with huge sales written there.
Handled family picnics for the Nestls Corporation during a trying layoff period. Addressed low morale by creating
team competitions featuring high-energy event staff captains leading employees in bonding team building activities.

EDUCATION
BA Theatrical Technology and Design- 3.75 GPA
State University of New York SUNY Purchase, Purchase, New York
Business Administration- 4.0 GPA
Nassau Community College, Garden City, New York

AFFILIATIONS
Board of Directors, International Special Events Society, New York Chapter
Member of the Southampton Chamber of Commerce

COMPUTER SKILLS
Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop, Powerpoint, MAC & PC, Computerized Lighting Console Operation