Brent Cotton

About Brent Cotton

My first job was at a Dairy Queen in Andalusia, Alabama. It was a great first-step into the business world for a kid in a small town and we made the best foot long hot dogs in town.maybe the state! We worked hard, made great food and had FUN! I learned two key principles.you must have great teamwork to be successful and a smile is contagious. My first job in the hospitality industry was at the Southern Medical Association. I really felt like I had found my calling and loved putting together conventions! I leaned that hard work and preparation are the keys to pulling off a successful event. If you are an event planner, the key word is plan. In my current role at the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitor Bureau, I can use all my previous experiences to really connect the dots for meeting planners and our local suppliers. Hard work, preparation and a smile will take you farther than you can imagine. I love helping people experience Birmingham and Alabama.sometimes for the first time and others for several times, but it never gets old! If I\'m not helping planners find the perfect meeting location.you\'ll probably find me running, biking or swimming around Birmingham or I might be listening to some music and having a craft beer at one of our local breweries.

Experience

1. Associate Director of Convention Services

   Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau

   Mar 2020 — Present

Education

• Auburn University at Montgomery

  Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Business Administration and Management

  1982 — 1990

• Lurleen B. Wallace Jr. College

  AS, Business

  1979 — 1981

Skills

• Hospitality
• Hotels
• Convention Services
• Destination Marketing
• Public Relations
• Social Media Marketing
• Sales Management
• Event Management
• Social Media
• Marketing Strategy
• Meeting Planning
• Business Development
• Online Marketing
• Hotel Management
• Sponsorship
• Association Management
• Marketing
• New Business Development
• Social Networking
• Sales
• Corporate Events
• Budgets
• Event Planning
• Registration
• Hospitality Industry
• Leadership
• Team Building
• Management
• Food & Beverage
• Sales Operations
• Customer Service
• Contract Negotiation
• Newsletters
• Tourism
• Marketing Communications
• Hospitality Management
• Market Planning
• Budgeting
• Trade Shows
• Negotiation