CASE STUDY:

Regional Home Show Operations & Project Management

Driving Growth, Operational Excellence, and Stakeholder Engagement for a Revenue-Generating Nonprofit Event

Overview

For five consecutive years, I served as the operational and marketing co-lead for a large regional Home Show—one of the nonprofit’s primary revenue-generating events supporting staff funding and annual scholarship awards. My role blended project management, vendor and stakeholder relations, operations, and marketing execution, ensuring the event expanded steadily year over year.

My Role

As the Event Coordinator and Project Manager, I was responsible for overseeing the full operational lifecycle of the Home Show, including:

1. Vendor & Member Management

• Managed and maintained the complete vendor and member database.

• Oversaw contract generation, distribution, tracking, and compliance.

• Served as the primary communications lead for vendor inquiries, logistics, and updates.

• Increased vendor satisfaction through improved communication cadences and standardized onboarding materials.

2. Operational Planning & Logistics

• Conducted floor planning for 100+ vendor booths, optimizing visibility and traffic flow.

• Coordinated pipe-and-drape orders, booth infrastructure, and on-site layout execution.

• Managed volunteer scheduling for ticketing, event assistance, and hospitality.

• Worked closely with board members, sponsors, and facility staff to ensure operational alignment.

3. Marketing Strategy & Collateral Production

• Co-developed annual marketing strategy, adjusting channels and messaging based on performance insights.

• Produced all creative collateral including programs, signage, social media graphics, banners, and print ads.

• Supported sponsorship activation by developing co-branded materials and booth engagement plans.

4. Engagement Strategy & Attendee Experience

• Designed and executed attendee-engagement activities (raffles, prize hunts, premium booth challenges).

• Strategically highlighted member and premium booths to increase booth-level ROI.

• Delivered a more interactive and high-value experience for both attendees and exhibitors.

Challenges

The event relied heavily on manual processes for vendor tracking, contract execution, and layout planning. Growth increased operational pressure, requiring more structured coordination across logistics, marketing, and vendor relations.

Additionally, the event was a critical revenue source—meaning accuracy, efficiency, and execution quality directly impacted the nonprofit’s operating budget and scholarship fund.

Solutions & Project Management Approach

I applied structured project management practices to streamline planning, improve communication, and drive year-over-year growth:

• Planning & Workflow Management
  Built annual project timelines and standardized planning templates.
  Created a vendor communication workflow including pre-event, onboarding, and on-site information packets.
  Introduced more streamlined processes for booth assignment, contract tracking, and logistics coordination.

• Cross-Functional Alignment
  Facilitated coordination between board members, the marketing committee, volunteers, sponsors, and venue staff.
  Implemented regular check-ins and consolidated communications, reducing bottlenecks and operational friction.

• Data-Driven Improvements
  Analyzed vendor retention, booth sales, and attendee throughput to inform floor layout and sponsorship offerings.
  Used multi-year data to refine marketing channels, increasing reach and attendee engagement.

Impact

• Over five years, the Home Show experienced consistent, measurable growth:

Event Performance

• Increased vendor participation each year, selling out booths earlier annually.

• Grew sponsorship revenue, enabling expanded programming and scholarship distribution.

• Boosted attendee numbers, supported by enhanced marketing and improved event experience.

Operational Efficiency

• Streamlined vendor management and communication reduced logistical issues and increased satisfaction.

• Improved booth layout design enhanced traffic flow, vendor visibility, and attendee engagement.

Marketing Outcomes

• Produced professional, cohesive collateral that elevated the show’s brand and helped attract sponsors.

• Enhanced attendee experience through structured engagement activities, increasing dwell time, and booth interactions.

Results Summary

Area

Outcome

Vendor Growth

Sold out vendor spaces earlier each year

Sponsorships

Increased year-over-year sponsorship revenue

Attendees

Expanded total event attendance

Operations

Standardized processes reduced friction and increased efficiency

Event ROI

Strengthened the nonprofit’s operating budget and scholarship fund

Key Skills Demonstrated

• Project & Program Management

• Vendor & Stakeholder Coordination

• Event Operations & Logistics Planning

• Database & Contract Management

• Marketing Strategy & Creative Production

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Budget-Conscious Decision Making

• Process Optimization

Closing Summary

Serving as the co-coordinator and project manager of the regional Home Show allowed me to drive multi-year growth, strengthen operational processes, and elevate both the vendor and attendee experience. This experience showcases my ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder events with strategic oversight, creative execution, and a strong operational mindset—culminating in expanded revenue that directly supported the nonprofit’s mission and scholarship program.