Corporate Events Manager
Bright MLS Inc, Rockville, MD, United States
Corporate Events Manager
The Corporate Events Manager is a senior individual contributor role and the heart of Bright MLS's events program. This role owns the full lifecycle of Bright's event strategy from high-impact shareholder and Board meetings to national industry conferences, trade shows, internal all-staff events, and everything in between. The Corporate Events Manager is responsible not only for flawless execution but for connecting every event to Bright's brand, strategic priorities, and measurable business outcomes. This role manages both in-person and virtual experiences and serves as the point person for Bright's participation in major real estate industry trade shows, ensuring cohesive representation and maximum impact across all channels. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, this role collaborates across all departments and levels of leadership and is expected to bring creativity, strategic thinking, and operational discipline to every engagement. Key Responsibilities
Event Strategy & Ownership Develop the creative vision for key events and translate it into cohesive agendas, experiences, and touchpoints that deliver high-quality, memorable moments while honoring scope, constraints, and budget. Own Bright's full event calendar, including internal staff events, Board and shareholder meetings, state and national industry conferences, and sponsorships. Develop and protect a clear strategic through-line across all event types, ensuring every event reflects Bright's brand, values, and business priorities. Act as a strategic partner to leadership, not just an executor bringing a point of view, asking the right questions, and shaping how and when Bright communicates through events. Connect event strategy to broader company initiatives including product launches, adoption campaigns, and the AI-native transformation roadmap. Planning & Execution Lead end-to-end planning and execution for all events, from concept through post-event follow-up, with consistent on-brand, on-budget delivery. Design and manage Bright's trade show and conference presence, including booth layout, visual experience, demos, staffing plans, and on-site lead capture workflows. Coordinate integrated pre-, during-, and post-event campaigns with Marketing, Customer Success, and Product/Sales to drive meetings, booth traffic, and timely follow-up on all qualified leads. Identification and management of speaking opportunities for executives and other leaders (submitting proposals, prepping speakers, aligning talk tracks to strategy). Manage all vendor sourcing, contract negotiation, and ongoing relationship management to secure the best pricing, terms, and service quality. Oversee logistics including venue selection, catering, A/V, travel coordination, promotional materials, and staffing for each event. Maintain inventory of promotional products, event collateral, and branded materials; manage procurement, invoicing, and budget reconciliation. Plan and deliver both virtual and in-person events and meetings, selecting the right format, technology, and experience design to best achieve each program's objectives. Source and manage professional speakers, facilitators, and emcees, and lead the planning and execution of high-end, multi-day Board of Directors retreats with a concierge-level experience. Own event budgets across all programs, creating clear forecasts and tracking reports, ensuring events are delivered within approved budgets and providing regular visibility into budget vs. actual spends for leadership Pivot quickly and calmly when circumstances change, resolving behind-the-scenes challenges before they reach attendees. Measurement & ROI Define and track meaningful event metrics beyond attendance counts including engagement, product adoption impact, and perception shifts. Develop structured post-event measurement and follow-up processes to make ROI scalable and visible to leadership. Provide analysis and recommendations to continuously improve event strategy and business impact over time. Collaboration & Cross-Functional Leadership Collaborate across Marketing, CSC, Product, and Executive teams to ensure Bright's products and initiatives are prominently and effectively represented at all events. Serve as a polished, confident host and ambassador for Bright at events, engaging comfortably with Board members, shareholders, association executives, and industry leaders while representing the company's business priorities. Proactively communicate event status, timelines, risks, and solutions to all internal stakeholders throughout the planning process. Technology & Innovation Lead by example in adopting and integrating I tools into event planning, content creation, measurement, and workflow efficiency. Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging event technologies, continuously bringing fresh ideas that keep Bright's events evolving. Champion the use of modern tools and platforms to improve how Bright plans, personalizes, and measures its event impact. Operational Excellence & Documentation Document vendor processes, event playbooks, and operational procedures to build institutional knowledge and ensure continuity of high-quality execution. Develop scalable strategies and pre-planning frameworks that position Bright for consistent, repeatable excellence across all events. Build and manage AI-powered event workflows and AI event assistants to improve efficiency and enable the events function to operate at scale. Qualifications
Required Minimum 5+ years of corporate and conference event management experience. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple large-scale events simultaneously, on time and under budget. Expert-level vendor negotiation skills with a track record of delivering meaningful cost savings. Exceptional organizational, project management, and time management skills with strong attention to detail. Ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of an organization, including executives and Board members. Executive presence and interpersonal skills that enable confident, relationship-driven interactions with Board members, shareholders, and senior industry stakeholders in high-visibility settings. Strong verbal and written communication skills; comfortable presenting to and partnering with senior leadership. Ability to remain composed and solutions-oriented under pressure and in fast-changing circumstances. Proficiency with event management tools, productivity platforms, and a working knowledge of AI tools for planning and efficiency. Preferred Experience managing national industry conference presence and trade show booth strategy. Familiarity with event ROI frameworks and data-driven performance measurement. Experience in a technology, SaaS, or real estate industry environment. Demonstrated use of AI tools (e.g., for ideation, content, logistics, or analytics) in a professional setting. The salary range for this position is approximately $90,000 to $115,000, based on experience, skills, and qualifications. This position is also eligible for annual performance-based bonuses. Our comprehensive benefits package includes individual and family health, vision, and dental coverage, 401(k) plan with employer-matching, and Paid Time Off (PTO) and holidays. It is the company's policy to recruit, hire, train and promote individuals, as well as to administer any and all personnel actions, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, disability, genetic information, ancestry, military status or any other unlawfully prohibited characteristic in accordance with applicable laws
The Corporate Events Manager is a senior individual contributor role and the heart of Bright MLS's events program. This role owns the full lifecycle of Bright's event strategy from high-impact shareholder and Board meetings to national industry conferences, trade shows, internal all-staff events, and everything in between. The Corporate Events Manager is responsible not only for flawless execution but for connecting every event to Bright's brand, strategic priorities, and measurable business outcomes. This role manages both in-person and virtual experiences and serves as the point person for Bright's participation in major real estate industry trade shows, ensuring cohesive representation and maximum impact across all channels. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, this role collaborates across all departments and levels of leadership and is expected to bring creativity, strategic thinking, and operational discipline to every engagement. Key Responsibilities
Event Strategy & Ownership Develop the creative vision for key events and translate it into cohesive agendas, experiences, and touchpoints that deliver high-quality, memorable moments while honoring scope, constraints, and budget. Own Bright's full event calendar, including internal staff events, Board and shareholder meetings, state and national industry conferences, and sponsorships. Develop and protect a clear strategic through-line across all event types, ensuring every event reflects Bright's brand, values, and business priorities. Act as a strategic partner to leadership, not just an executor bringing a point of view, asking the right questions, and shaping how and when Bright communicates through events. Connect event strategy to broader company initiatives including product launches, adoption campaigns, and the AI-native transformation roadmap. Planning & Execution Lead end-to-end planning and execution for all events, from concept through post-event follow-up, with consistent on-brand, on-budget delivery. Design and manage Bright's trade show and conference presence, including booth layout, visual experience, demos, staffing plans, and on-site lead capture workflows. Coordinate integrated pre-, during-, and post-event campaigns with Marketing, Customer Success, and Product/Sales to drive meetings, booth traffic, and timely follow-up on all qualified leads. Identification and management of speaking opportunities for executives and other leaders (submitting proposals, prepping speakers, aligning talk tracks to strategy). Manage all vendor sourcing, contract negotiation, and ongoing relationship management to secure the best pricing, terms, and service quality. Oversee logistics including venue selection, catering, A/V, travel coordination, promotional materials, and staffing for each event. Maintain inventory of promotional products, event collateral, and branded materials; manage procurement, invoicing, and budget reconciliation. Plan and deliver both virtual and in-person events and meetings, selecting the right format, technology, and experience design to best achieve each program's objectives. Source and manage professional speakers, facilitators, and emcees, and lead the planning and execution of high-end, multi-day Board of Directors retreats with a concierge-level experience. Own event budgets across all programs, creating clear forecasts and tracking reports, ensuring events are delivered within approved budgets and providing regular visibility into budget vs. actual spends for leadership Pivot quickly and calmly when circumstances change, resolving behind-the-scenes challenges before they reach attendees. Measurement & ROI Define and track meaningful event metrics beyond attendance counts including engagement, product adoption impact, and perception shifts. Develop structured post-event measurement and follow-up processes to make ROI scalable and visible to leadership. Provide analysis and recommendations to continuously improve event strategy and business impact over time. Collaboration & Cross-Functional Leadership Collaborate across Marketing, CSC, Product, and Executive teams to ensure Bright's products and initiatives are prominently and effectively represented at all events. Serve as a polished, confident host and ambassador for Bright at events, engaging comfortably with Board members, shareholders, association executives, and industry leaders while representing the company's business priorities. Proactively communicate event status, timelines, risks, and solutions to all internal stakeholders throughout the planning process. Technology & Innovation Lead by example in adopting and integrating I tools into event planning, content creation, measurement, and workflow efficiency. Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging event technologies, continuously bringing fresh ideas that keep Bright's events evolving. Champion the use of modern tools and platforms to improve how Bright plans, personalizes, and measures its event impact. Operational Excellence & Documentation Document vendor processes, event playbooks, and operational procedures to build institutional knowledge and ensure continuity of high-quality execution. Develop scalable strategies and pre-planning frameworks that position Bright for consistent, repeatable excellence across all events. Build and manage AI-powered event workflows and AI event assistants to improve efficiency and enable the events function to operate at scale. Qualifications
Required Minimum 5+ years of corporate and conference event management experience. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple large-scale events simultaneously, on time and under budget. Expert-level vendor negotiation skills with a track record of delivering meaningful cost savings. Exceptional organizational, project management, and time management skills with strong attention to detail. Ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of an organization, including executives and Board members. Executive presence and interpersonal skills that enable confident, relationship-driven interactions with Board members, shareholders, and senior industry stakeholders in high-visibility settings. Strong verbal and written communication skills; comfortable presenting to and partnering with senior leadership. Ability to remain composed and solutions-oriented under pressure and in fast-changing circumstances. Proficiency with event management tools, productivity platforms, and a working knowledge of AI tools for planning and efficiency. Preferred Experience managing national industry conference presence and trade show booth strategy. Familiarity with event ROI frameworks and data-driven performance measurement. Experience in a technology, SaaS, or real estate industry environment. Demonstrated use of AI tools (e.g., for ideation, content, logistics, or analytics) in a professional setting. The salary range for this position is approximately $90,000 to $115,000, based on experience, skills, and qualifications. This position is also eligible for annual performance-based bonuses. Our comprehensive benefits package includes individual and family health, vision, and dental coverage, 401(k) plan with employer-matching, and Paid Time Off (PTO) and holidays. It is the company's policy to recruit, hire, train and promote individuals, as well as to administer any and all personnel actions, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, disability, genetic information, ancestry, military status or any other unlawfully prohibited characteristic in accordance with applicable laws