Ryan Powell

About Ryan Powell

I love the process of visualizing an event, carefully planning all its stages, and bringing everything to life. Whether I’m researching the latest event industry trends, negotiating with vendors to accommodate my client’s requests, or providing leadership to event staff, I’m committed to providing world-class account service and executing events that leave lasting memories.As the Director of Business Development at Southern Exchange Ballrooms, I rely on my entrepreneurial spirit and interpersonal skills to drive growth and deliver actionable results. My ability to quickly identify each client’s needs and develop creative event solutions has enabled me to consistently increase my sales numbers and position the business for success.My joy as a professional, so far, has involved building solid relationships with key accounts, including the NFL, NCAA, Major League Soccer, and Turner Sports. I’m also able exercise my passion for sports as a member of the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Chapter of Women in Sports and Events (WISE) and as the Chairperson for all signature events.I’ve been blessed with exceptional understanding of business drivers, a supernatural ability to lead teams, and a belief that the best solutions are those that are both simple and powerful. I’ve built my career around effectively managing events and operations by clearly communicating my expectations (as well as the client’s) and building collaborative workplaces.

Experience

1. Hospitality Director

   Octagon

   Apr 2024 — Present · Atlanta, GA, US

Education

• Georgia State University

  Bachelor of Arts, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

  2002 — 2004

• University of Florida

  Master of Science - MS, Sport Management

  2020 — 2021

Skills

• Sales
• Event Management
• Event Planning
• Budgets
• Marketing
• Customer Service