Project Lead: Road to Executing the 100th Homecoming Celebration

Objective: In the role of Senior Lead Event Coordinator, I undertook a leadership position for Buxton's 100th Homecoming in 2023, leveraging my project management expertise to orchestrate a memorable and impactful centennial celebration.

Background: North Buxton is located near Chatham-Kent, Ontario, and is a place founded as a salvation for those in North America who were formerly enslaved. 2023 marked the 100th Celebration of the descendants of this community coming together over Labor Day weekend to pay homage to those who came before them. As a descendent of this community with a deep curiosity in learning more about where my Great-Grandfather grew up, I decided to take on a role as the Homecoming Coordinator. Excited to utilize my project management skills I hit the ground running and with a team of amazing people, was able to pull off one of the most successful events the community has ever had in less than 90 business days.

Project Deliverables: The various initiatives below resulted in over 5,500 attendees and $80,000+ in funding, showcasing effective project planning and execution capabilities.

Developed and executed a meticulous event management plan, outlining scope, budgeting, vendor management, logistics, and event marketing strategies.

2. Website Launch:

I oversaw the development and launch of the new homecoming website. Utilizing my knowledge of HTML and CSS as well as graphic design we were able to get a website live in the first 2 weeks of the project plan. Using an agile method, multiple iterations followed until the event date.

Website Link: https://100thhomecoming.com/home

3. Marketing Strategy

By collaborating with community partners like Blackburn Radio, Southwestern Ontario Tourism Council, and CBC News. We were able to launch a multifaceted marketing strategy that built awareness through multiple channels. Leading to one of the highest attendance numbers the community has seen to date. The highlights of the strategy included:

Leading high-click digital advertisement campaigns to drive website traffic.

Overseeing scripts for radio advertisements on multiple stations to ensure accurate messaging to the public.

Booking onsight media coverage to capture excitement before, during, and after the event.

Developed and executed a comprehensive event management plan including, scope outline, budgeting, vendor management, logistics, and event marketing.

Coordinated with the client and other stakeholders to ensure all project requirements were achieved on time, within budget, and to the specifications of grant funding.

Oversaw the setup and teardown of the event, including all equipment and staffing.

Provided on-site event management and coordination services to ensure the smooth execution of the event.

Provided a post-event analysis and report outlining the success of the entire project to be presented to internal and external stakeholders.

Outcome: The Buxton's 100th Homecoming in honing my proficiency in project management, from meticulous planning to seamless execution. By achieving and surpassing attendance and funding goals, creating a strong digital presence, and ensuring compliance and documentation, the event stands as a testament to my ability to lead and deliver successful projects that leave a lasting impact on the community.