Employee Spotlight: Meet and Greet with Sylvia

For over eight years, Event & Sales Development Manager Sylvia Done has been working hard to give RMAI members experiences they will remember.

In addition to overseeing the planning process for all RMAI events like Annual Conference, Executive Summit, and Regional Events, she also has her hands in all things exhibits and sponsorship development.

“It’s something we all do as a group, everyone has a role,” she said.

She keeps a close eye on what portions of the event need attention and relays that to Communication Manager, Cheryl Nelson, to promote in various e-blasts.

“I like watching all the little pieces come together,” said Sylvia.

She works to sell the exhibit spaces for the Annual Conference and sells creative sponsorship ideas to members.

“I am always looking for ideas to help exhibitors and sponsors get the best value for their marketing dollars,” she said.

Many pieces go into planning a large-scale event including rooming, food and beverage ordering, registration and much more. The part she enjoys the most is the process of organizing and tracking the many components of the event and watching it come together.

“Being on site and seeing everything come together makes me very happy,” said Sylvia. “To know the attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors found success at the event gives me great pleasure. I love getting the members together and engaged and involved.”

Sylvia started her career as an executive assistant planning board meetings and fundraising events, ordering signs, booking reservations, and additional duties.

She also earned her Certified Meeting Professional designation which measures competence in everything from negotiating contracts and running registration to how many cups of coffee are in one pot.

After 18 years, she took a year off to stay home with her grandson before coming to RMAI.

When she first came to RMAI, Sylvia said the most important part of event planning was learning the members and learning the group to give them the best events.

“Sylvia has a unique ability to make sure marketing opportunities meet the needs of sponsors and exhibitors through a genuine desire to make every event the very best it can be and to deliver unparalleled value,” said Executive Director Jan Stieger.

In addition to event planning at work, Sylvia has been heavily involved in volunteering at her church for the last 25 years.

She works at the welcome station, helps direct traffic at the Christmas light show, helps with the summer car show, and other projects.

“They say I’m very good at volun-telling people what to do,” she joked.

Besides sewing, she also loves to spend her time with her three kids and four under 10-years-old grandchildren.

Sylvia Done volunteering with her church group.

“Being a grandma is one of the highlights of my life,” said Sylvia.

Sylvia and her husband of almost 40 years also enjoy riding bikes and spending time outside.

Sylvia said she looks forward to continuing to grow with RMAI and seeing what new ideas can come to fruition.

“I am always interested in growing attendance at the events,” she said. “I also would love to sell out the 2023 Annual Conference exhibit hall by Halloween.”