Caron McConnon

Caron A. McConnon, originally a Washington, DC native is now living in Rome, Italy and is currently The Director of Business Development & Public Relations for Through Eternity Cultural Tours. Through Eternity will assist you with your obsession to travel and connect you to our passion for knowledge.

Caron has 25 + years experience in managing Key Partnerships and Affiliations in such global areas that include the United States, Canada, Australia, the Middle East and APAC areas. In her current role, Caron handles all aspects of new partnership agreements, affiliations and Public Relations for the Through Eternity Brand.

In addition to her current position at Through Eternity, Caron teaches Business English privately in Rome.

Her network of Affiliates and Industry Professional connections are extensive and their niches range across the Travel Industry….she is connected with agencies, travel business executives and the top travel consultants in every aspect surrounding the “World of Travel”. Before joining Through Eternity, Caron’s past experiences include exciting industry roles such as Global Affiliate Marketing Manager at Venere.com (Expedia Worldwide), The International Conference Project Manager at Vacation.com (an Amadeus Family brand member). Prior to starting her career in the Travel Industry, Caron spent 13 years as a Marketing and Business Development professional at the Society for Human Resource Management in the Metropolitan Area of Washington, DC.

Carons general background focuses on education & training within the seminar & program planning and development area; compiling annual data reports for market share, departmental operating plans and budget and membership retention campaigns. Personal attributes that contributed to positive outcomes include strong interpersonal skills and organizational ability, team building spirit and total dedication to the project at hand.

My passion is for my family, friends, the world of sports, travel, teaching Business English, wine tasting and shopping!


Contact Information
To contact Caron McConnon please email her directly at c.mcconnon.venere@gmail.com or connect to her via LinkedIn, Skype, Digg.com or Plaxo! She is waiting for the next great collaboration!
Caron’s Direct Dial in Rome, Italy at Through Eternity is +39 389 423 3538 or local Agents from the USA please call (203) 541 -0600

Employer:	Venere.com
Position:	Business Development-US Market Area Manager
Time period:	May 2008 - Present
Description:	• Currently building new Business Development collaborations with Sr. level partners throughout the Travel Industry. As an Area Manager for Venere (The Expedia.com European Division of online accommodations) I am in charge of contacting new potential partners in order to affiliate them within the Revenue Share or PPC models. As well I am the professional and technical Account Manager for each new Affiliate throughout my regions, assisting them through the integration processes with different solutions such as XML feed. Account advisor to all PPC partners in order to increase conversion rate and exposure for our brand.

Employer:	UET-Institute for European Tourism, RM, Italy
Position:	Work experience
Time period:	October 2008 - November 2009
Description:	Teaching Business English and e-commerce Courses at UET- Institute for European Tourism

Employer:	Informat, Rome, Italy
Position:	English Teacher & Translator for the Lazio Region. (Multiple Contract’s)
Time period:	September 2007 - April 2008
Description:	• Taught in a classroom setting for over 150 hours of Basic English level 1 to University Students within the Lazio Region. • Created all materials for online and in-house courses, to include tests, quizzes and exams. Counseled and tutored all students online through a teaching MSN account on a daily basis per my contract parameters. • Produced & recorded over100 hours of online lessons in English concentrating on subjects within the fields of New Economy, e-Commerce, Strategic Marketing and Business development planning, Business and life forecasting, Commercial Communications, Public Relations and EU & US legislation on all of the aforementioned subjects listed.

Employer:	Mebius.it, Rome, Italy
Position:	International Sales & Marketing Director for Mystery Shopping in Europe (Part-Time)
Time period:	September 2007 - April 2008
Description:	• Built recruitment website pages in English to hire Mystery Shoppers throughout the EU. Contacted, interviewed and hired /retained over 30 new employees for the company. Implemented and executed all aspects of the Shopper relations side of our European Mystery shopping business and network. Taught our Online Training course and reporting structures to all new employees and was the main point of contact for each shopper throughout the EU. Main clients were Esso (Exxon Mobile & Replay Jeans). • Created new processes for online marketing strategies and goals (short & long term), on a weekly basis assist and advise the Vice President of Sales & the President of the company on best business practices/processes within the US to take their company from Good to Great! • Lead personal for all internal and external communications within the English language. Incoming client inquires via email, fax, phone and web applications for service/contracts. • Planned and attended Industry trade show events in order to sell the MysteryClient.it product within Italy and the EU to the Hotel Industry. • Translated all marketing materials, brochures, presentations and client reports from Italian to English and in some cases additional languages depending on the clients needs (Spanish, French, Dutch and German).

Employer:	Vacation.com, Alexandria, VA
Position:	International Conference Project Manager (Contracted through Robert Half Int’l)
Time period:	December 2006 - June 2007
Description:	• Implemented and executed all aspects of the Supplier relations side of the Conference and Trade Show. • Created & taught language courses within the Conference Track on the diversity of languages spoken throughout the Tourism industry (English, French, Italian, German, Chinese and Arabic) to business owners and members of Vacation.com. Managed the project for translation of the course materials for each language. • Sold / Contracted and collected over $865,000.00 in sponsorship revenue dollars surrounding the main Conference events such as General Session food & beverage, entertainment services, stage production (ADM), trade show floor events and booth/seminar meeting room sales. • Trade Show floor Manager and direct contact for the Freeman Exhibitor shipping company regarding exhibitor services, marketing and extra events services inside the trade show (car placement, fire code, set up and break down regulations). • Graphics designer for all of the Trade show signage, marketing material insertions for events, ticketing and badge stock creation, 2008 promotions in Las Vegas, website page creation and updates. • Compiled bi-weekly Conference sales revenue forecasting reports for the CEO. • Main liaison to the Hilton Hotel in New Orleans for onsite planning, room block sales, AV requirements per event, contracts for private events inside of conference per customer. Tracked, budgeted and maintained all of the Conference accounts and payments for services, ensuring that all invoices were pre-paid. • Built and maintained strong customer relations with individual account representatives from each of the 154 Suppliers that attended the show. My client base consisted of top industry accounts such as Alamo & National, American Express, Amtrak, CCRA International, Central Holidays~ France Vacations, Hertz, G.A.P Adventures, Globus Family of Brands, Pleasant Holiday’s, Rail Agent.com and Rail Europe. • Created and executed a volunteer restoration project with Tourism Cares in New Orleans. Sold $25,000 in sponsorship commercial marketing space, obtained more then $15,000 in sponsorship supply items to run the event (gloves, hats, t-shirts, water, first aide, food & beverage on-site, transportation, photographer and video company). • Worked with local, national and trade press for exposure surrounding each of our events based inside and outside of the City of New Orleans.

Employer:	Democracy Data & Communications, Alexandria, VA
Position:	Sr. Account Retention Manager- PT
Time period:	December 2003 - November 2005
Description:	• Marketed new business development within the grassroots/lobbying field. • Contacted residual contracts to renew/upgrade services.

Employer:	The Society for Human Resource Mgmt. Alexandria, VA
Position:	Publication Marketing Manager & Assistant to the E-Media Officer (CPO)
Time period:	December 2000 - November 2007
Description:	• Compiled bi-weekly Ad Revenue Forecasting reports for Director of Sales and Marketing • As main liaison to the Internet Operations Department I tracked, budgeted and maintained all of the outsourced accounts (Qwest, Lexis-Nexis, Double-Click, Getactive.com, Stellent, Sogetti, Applied Theory) • Compiled annual data reports and surveys such as the ABM Cost of Publishing data reports, AdSystem Reports for Market Share, Departmental Operating Plans and Annual Departmental Budget sheets. • Supported project planning and project execution for the SHRM Annual Conference; organized and coordinated details for onsite book store; arranged on and offsite meetings with Executive Leaders/CEOs to include events in remote cities. • As the head administrator of the HR Consulting and Outsourcing Panel, scheduled planning sessions, conference calls; coordination of the yearly agenda and all updates with Panel Members. • Arranged travel for all members of Publications Executive Team to include portal-to-portal transportation and conference room accommodations. • Completed and returned to CPO’s management team, validated travel expense submissions; compiled data for annual expense reports. • Supported the CPO’s duties within the SHRM and additional board / committee responsibilities by accessing annual survey reports, compiling data and ensuring the Sr. level Publications Team met participation deadlines. • Fielded incoming requests and sales calls and resolved issues as appropriate on behalf of the CPO. • Headed our recruitment & placement team for inside and outside applicants to fill open positions within my department. • Observed strict confidentiality guidelines using the tact and diplomacy required by my position.

Employer:	Community Service
Position:	Volunteer Work
Time period:	December 1997 - November 2007
Description:	• Tourism Cares Restoration Project Manager- New Orleans, LA 2007 • ESL Teacher for courses offered in the Washington DC Metro area from 2005-2007 • Greater DC Cares, Project Manager, 2000-2007 • Race for the Cure, Co-Manager for the SHRM Corporate Team 1998- 2007 • SHRM Corporate Softball Team, Manager/Team Coach 2000-2007 • DC United MLS Team, Volunteer Manager of Gate Marketing & Promotions- 2000-2003 seasons

Employer:	Boat, US, Alexandria, VA
Position:	PT Evening & Weekends- Membership Marketing Asst. Manager
Time period:	December 1997 - November 2004
Description:	• Managed the Boat US Give-Away promotions Department • Quoted insurance rates and policies for private boat owners. • Awarded the highest honors in 2001 for turning insurance policy owners into members.

Employer:	The Society for Human Resource Mgmt. Alexandria, VA
Position:	Retention Specialist in Membership Marketing
Time period:	December 1993 - November 2001
Description:	• Managed all retention aspects for SHRM’s then- 165,000 members. • Handled eight separate monthly emails to current and former members. Facilitated mailing of monthly membership materials with mail house. • Updated material for the SHRM Membership web sites. • Solely responsible for deleting/updating membership retention lists through Marketing General Account. • Contacted former members in retention effort for our Sr. level Portfolio Group. Managed two out-sourcing telemarketing programs. • Maintained promotional files regarding the special programs for retention campaigns such as Member-Get-a-Member. Administered a Teaming for Success Program for over 500 local chapters. • Ran the faxed and postal membership surveys campaign for our Professional Emphasis Groups. • Used tact, diplomacy and interpersonal skills to effectively resolve member concerns

Sports:	American Football, Softball, Basketball, Hockey, Ultimate Frisbee, Swimming
Hobbies:	Shopping, Events, Cooking, Wine Tasting, Picture taking
Clubs:	Expats in Rome, AICR, Internations, LinkedIn Marketing Forums
Memberships:	SHRM, International Professional Business Woman