Senior Manager, Event, Incentive, Conference; Strategic design from concept to post analysis:
Passionately increasing engagement by creating & enhancing the motivational drive of experience, incentive programs & events
My name is Ronni Burns. For over 20 years in the Meetings Incentives, Conferences & Events industry, always thrilling & challenging, has giving me a plethora of experiences stretching my skills, designs & concepts to engage & entice, unique ROI/ROEs to analyze & proven wins to pull from. (& did I mention creative!)
Let me share a bit of what I have done & let's explore how we can build more together, because I love what I do!
It began when a friend needed help with catering booths at surfing competitions in Huntington Beach, CA to several "Taste of.." festivals in Orange & Los Angeles counties. From there, the stressful, the demanding & the energetic environment, I was hooked. Since, I have had the honor of growing, learning, mastering & working with all industries, some as a 3rd party planner & some as an in house team member.
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We can't do everything alone; by openly sharing our ideas and experiences, we stimulate growth and spark innovation. Understanding our differences and similarities with genuine respect creates a collaborative atmosphere where everyone wins. Small gestures like sharing a smile or a heartfelt thank you with every team member—from volunteers and vendor partners to staff and even the CEO—build bridges and foster a strong sense of community. When we lift each other up and appreciate our collective journey, we don't just reach our goals—we surpass them together.
With current trends showing that not every award fits everyone, motivation needs to be uniquely thought through to truly incentify.
Designed & executed motivating incentive travel programs & gifting initiatives to boost engagement, leading to a 45% increase in sales for participating & engaged 25% more individuals program over program
Visiting over 30 countries with unique experiences in the local culture, connecting through Community Outreach opportunities & capturing unforgettable memories.
Produced enterprise-scale hybrid and virtual conferences; increased attendance from 2,000 to over 12,000, emphasizing inclusive experiences via multilingual platforms.
Streamlined & automated manual registration, communications & notifications processes, saving time & reducing errors/omissions by 90%
Introduced an engaging Conference App that was well-received with a 96% adoption rate within the 1st 3 years. With this, the multi-lingual interpretation was reinvigorated into the 21st century. By embedding the interpretation solution into the conference app, this saved 75% event over event. The in-person attending were able to use their own mobile devices & headsets for comfort & familiarity, while the virtual were able to select their preferred language in the app on their device.
Redesigning the typical large audience conference style into smaller sessions that addressed different topics, allows the attending to choose their education & experiential path. In some sessions, away with the front stage & podium, & in with unique seating & creative arrangements to entice curiosity & interest.
Recently, at the last minute, successfully managed & produced the Sales Force Annual Conference amid a significant budget cut from $1.5 million to $450,000 (3,000 in-person/3,500 virtual attendees); delivered the event under budget with 90% of 3500 survey responses rating 4-5 stars
Trends for 2025 show that guests want immersive experiences, not passive ones. To ignite their FOMO (fear of missing out), bringing unique ideas and options that elevate the WOW factor may look like a complete remodel. By engaging our audience deeply, with changes in set up or venue or color or shorter meeting times with more social escapes, this create unforgettable moments. Our goal is to exceed expectations and leave guests with cherished memories and a desire to return for more.
Multilingual events may miss the mark without interpretation consideration.
Another trend to keep with the desire to be involved, I create action stations & photo ops in the "expo" areas. Since social media is a way of life & connections, each of these action stations had the minimal tools to support "live" & recorded opportunities. This helped our event FOMO explode online & successfully increased our events 4-5 star ratings.
Successfully renegotiated multiple vendor contracts during the industry challenges of 2020-2022, saving over $2.7 million in penalty costs while maintaining great vendor partnerships. Respecting my vendor partners, we were able to come up with win/win solutions that allowed us to find more ways to support each other with cross Branding, increasing savings, increasing returns on the experiences, & decreasing waste.
My partnerships have been able to support fundraisers, increased experiences & allowed options for me to introduce new opportunities. With great relationships, many challenges can find simpler & quicker resolutions.
Managed multi-level event-conference budgets ranging from $20,000 to $15+ million, encompassing all phases from conception to post-analysis
Negotiated a 70% discount for the first five years per contract with Cvent - implemented merchant account & PNR travel integrations
Achieved average savings of 30+%, which included rebates to the master account, commissions, & partnership promotions to the master account
Recently, at the last minute, successfully managed & produced the Sales Force Annual Conference amid a significant budget cut from $1.5 million to $450,000 (3,000 in-person/3,500 virtual attendees); delivered the event under budget with 90% of 3500 survey responses rating 4-5 stars
Developed processes to review & reissue unused travel tickets/credits before booking new travel, saving over $650,000 in unused, expiring travel tickets/creditsImplemented monthly reviews & notifications to maintain ongoing balances under $15,000
Enhanced travel purchasing & negotiation power by consolidating & tracking all regional event, travel, & meeting bookings, reducing cancellation & attrition penalties by 35%
Introduced a tri-lingual recognition platform in 4 months—launched 2 months ahead of schedule
Having worked with Ronni as a support vendor to her events for 5 years, I gained the appreciation of her talents. From conception through operation, she knows what she needs and wants. More over what the attendee wants. Ronni would be a huge asset to any team.
~ Tim L.
Executive Vice President Global Meetings & Events
Red Rocket Studios
Ronni's exuberance and tremendous knowledge of the Hawaiian islands is both refreshing and impressive! Ronni's love for Maui and excitement she brings to the hospitality industry is contagious!
In all aspects of correspondence, both face-to-face and through social media, Ronni is a joy to interact with. I look forward to embracing her group business to Wailea, Maui or Waikoloa, HI and creating everlasting memories for her clients.
~ Rhoderika M.
Associate Director - Sales
Hyatt in Hawaii
Ronni’s exceptional work ethic, creativity, and leadership make her a true asset to any team. I wholeheartedly recommend her and am confident she will continue to excel in any future endeavor.
She was instrumental in transitioning an in-person convention into a fully virtual experience in just a few months, a complex task that she executed with limited resources. Her leadership and event planning expertise ensured that the virtual event was a resounding success.
~Julie M.
Vice President Salesforce Engagement
Tupperware
I can confidently say she is a rare talent. Ronni is a proactive and detail-oriented professional who not only meets deadlines with precision but also demonstrates unwavering commitment to her colleagues, clients, and the organization as a whole. Her enthusiasm and engaging personality make her a natural at building strong relationships, even with the most discerning clients.
Beyond being a dedicated team player, Ronni is a natural leader, motivator, and problem solver. She takes ownership of her work, delivers outstanding results, and consistently follows through on commitments. Her accountability, passion, and drive for excellence make her an invaluable asset to any organization.
~Rich S.
Vice President Business Development
Rallyware
Global & Domestic Event Strategy & Execution, Incentive Travel Design & Recognition Programs, Budget Management ($20K–$15M+) & Cost Optimization, Sourcing, Contract Negotiation & Vendor Relations, Sponsorship Development & Fulfillment, International/ Domestic Logistics & Multilingual Event Solutions, Hybrid/Virtual Event Platforms (Cvent, On24, 6Connex), Data-Driven ROI/ROE Measurement, AI & Emerging Event Tech Integration
Microsoft Suite including Teams, SmartSheets & Google Suite
Cvent Event Management Platform, Rallyware-Engagement Platform
Executive Leadership & Team Development, Cross-Functional Collaboration (Sales, Marketing, Finance), Distributor Engagement & Motivation, Strategic Vision & Change Management, Stakeholder Relationship Building, Creative Problem-Solving & Agility, Emotional Intelligence & Conflict Resolution, High-Impact Communication, Storytelling & Creativity, Resourceful, Avid Learner
