Creating Memorable Experiences.
Swearing-In Ceremony
SCOPE: A private formal event held yearly recognizing both the outgoing and incoming Board of Port Commissioners officers. The event includes meal service, a program with multiple presentations and speakers, and is attended by elected officials, dignitaries, stakeholders and community partners. Port branding is included where appropriate, including the podium and on all screens.
CONTRIBUTION: My team designed and produced all event needs, including printed invitations, event programs, signage, program video and audio content, and decor. I also acted as the day-of show producer, executing the run-of-show with a full A/V team.
OUTCOME: The event has been running smoothly yearly for over a decade, even with changes in venues and board officers with their own visions and expectations.
Padres Beerfest & Oktoberfest
SCOPE: In an effort to raise game attendance, the organization was looking outside the box for ways to attract more fans to games. This included promotional items and themed pre-game events.
CONTRIBUTION: As part of the marketing team, I concepted and launched Beerfest, a pre-game event showcasing San Diego’s vibrant craft beer scene. I oversaw the branding as well as the event coordination, from connecting with local breweries to participate, to day-of event logistics.
OUTCOME: The event was an immediate overwhelming success, setting stadium records for pregame turnstile attendance, significantly increasing game revenue. Due to it’s popularity, it was made a yearly event and a second Oktoberfest event was added.
Illuminate the Bay Fundraising
SCOPE: A campaign to raise money to install a lighting display on the 30 pillars of the iconic Coronado Bridge in San Diego to showcase the brilliance of the bridge after dark. The cost of the project was estimated to be $16 million, which required a significant fundraising campaign. One key fundraising event included a private boat tour for high-level donors and potential donors, to view the the light testing up close.
CONTRIBUTION: As part of the six-person Illuminate the Bay fundraising committee, I assisted in coordinating the private boat tour, coinciding with the light test on three bridge pillars. My team also handled the design and production of all collateral and campaign materials.
OUTCOME: The light testing and boat tour helped gain significant momentum and lead to additional major donations. Unfortunately, momentum was lost during the pandemic and the project remains on hold.
#THatsMyBay Service Day
SCOPE: Host a yearly clean-up event, as part of the Port of San Diego’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship. The event would be hosted in five locations throughout San Diego Bay, each with it’s own set of logistics.
CONTRIBUTION: Every year, I was heavily involved in the planning and execution of the event. From strategy to logistics, to day-of execution and participation. Additionally, the design team I led was responsible for designing and producing all event needs, aligning the event with the existing #ThatsMyBay waste diversion management campaign.
OUTCOME: The #ThatsMyBay Service Day clean up event has become a signature occurrence with the Port’s yearly celebration of Green Port Month. In 2024, the event collected nearly 4,700 bounds of trash around San Diego Bay.
Other Events.
People of the Port Career Fair
Event
Created the name and led the design of the People of the Port Career Fair, a new yearly job fair to help people throughout the San Diego region learn about and apply for jobs along the waterfront. This included working with the Port's Human Resources department to coordinate event logistics including event signage and promotional assets.
Padres Fanfest
Event
Acted as an integral part of the Padres marketing team responsible for hosting a yearly FanFest event at PETCO Park, intended to officially kickoff the baseball season by opening up the ballpark to the general public to interact with players and the ballpark itself in unique ways. Each year, thousands of baseball fans would attend, requiring extensive logistical planning and crowd management.
Port Press Events
Event
Worked closely with the Port's Communications team in planning and executing a variety of press events, including groundbreakings, ribbon-cuttings, press release announcements, unveilings, etc. Events typically took place in various locations throughout San Diego Bay, presenting unique logistical challenges. My team was also responsible for design and documenting (video and photography) of each event.
Portside Community Academy
Event
Was part of the ongoing, cross-functional committee that managed the Portside Community Academy, a new educational program aimed at educating local communities on innovations in the maritime industry that are helping improve public health and quality of life on and around San Diego Bay. This included two cohorts per year, each with a series of instructional sessions in various locations, culminating in a graduation event on a chartered boat.
Wonderfront Wednesdays
Event
Partnered with local businesses along San Diego's Embarcadero area in the creation and execution of Wonderfront Wednesdays, a series of pop-up events and food & drink specials highlighting local Embarcadero businesses. This included the coordination and execution of a kick-off event with several local social media influencers and media, helping bring excitement and anticipation to future weekly events.
Taste of the Port
Event
The Taste of the Port event was a yearly event hosted by the Port of San Diego where guests could experience tastings from top waterfront restaurants, while watching three of San Diego’s best chefs square off in a live Top Green Chef competition. The event highlighted sustainable cooking including locally sourced ingredients and fresh fish. I worked closely with the Environment team to make the event a yearly success.
Maritime Month Events
Event
As part of the yearly Maritime Month celebration every May, I was heavily involved in the planning, promotion, and execution of a series of events throughout the month. These events varied, from internal staff events to public events and hosted bus tours of the Port's cargo terminals. Each event presented a unique set of logistical challenges.
Big Bay Boom
Event
For over six years, I worked directly with the event founder and executive producer of the Big Bay Boom, the largest annual fireworks show in California celebrating the July 4 holiday. The show simultaneously takes place in four different locations along San Diego Bay, drawing an estimated yearly attendance of 500 thousand people and providing a regional economic impact of $100 million yearly.
Harbor Police Department Open House
Event
The Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department hosts multiple open house events yearly, in an effort to continually recruit police officers and civilian staff. These events showcase a variety of HPD capabilities and provide an opportunity for interested applicants to meet and greet with officers and members of the HPD command team.
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