Heather Rainey

About Heather Rainey

Over the past 15+ years, I’ve led end-to-end marketing and client events across conferences, sponsorships, educational programs, and executive experiences, partnering closely with business development and leadership teams to bring ideas to life. My role often sits at the intersection of strategy and execution: translating goals into experiences that are well-run, on-brand, and genuinely valuable to clients.My work spans everything from venue sourcing and contract negotiations to registration systems, mobile apps, hospitality logistics, branded assets, and post-event reporting. I’m comfortable managing seven-figure budgets, negotiating agreements at scale, and building repeatable processes that reduce risk and make complex programs easier to run year after year.What I’m most proud of, though, is the experience itself, how attendees feel from the first invitation to the final follow-up. That’s why I focus heavily on client journeys, thoughtful programming, and using data and KPIs to understand what’s working and what can be better next time.I’ve led and mentored teams, partnered cross-functionally with design, PR, communications, and technology groups, and helped modernize event communications through CRM and marketing automation tools. I’m known for staying calm under pressure, solving problems quietly behind the scenes, and delivering events that feel seamless, even when they’re anything but. If you value events that are purposeful, polished, and thoughtfully executed, we’ll probably work well together.

Experience

1. Marketing Events Manager

   Alston & Bird

   Jan 2022 — Present · Atlanta, GA, US

   I led end-to-end event operations, overseeing everything from venue selection and vendor negotiations to registration systems, mobile apps, marketing materials, budgets, logistics, and post-event analysis. I managed the firm’s professional golf client ticket program, including major events such as the U.S. Open and the Masters, delivering premium client experiences and strengthening key relationships.I partnered with business development leaders to design educational programs and aligned agendas that supported marketing goals and increased audience engagement. I also standardized contracting processes to improve turnaround times and reduce legal and financial risk. In this role, I planned and delivered global client events with budgets exceeding $1M, led a small team, negotiated high-volume event contracts, and implemented modern event technology and KPI frameworks to improve performance, data quality, and overall impact.

Education

• University of New Hampshire

  Bachelor of Science, Hospitality Administration/Management

Skills

• Business Development
• Sponsorship
• Management
• Budgeting
• Marketing
• Strategic Planning
• Customer Relationship Management (Crm)
• Project Management
• Time Management
• Trade Shows
• Account Management
• Leadership
• Event Management
• Microsoft Office
• Marketing Strategy
• Customer Service
• Contract Negotiation
• Budgets
• Event Planning