George Kong
Freelance Meetings & Events Manager,
Social Media Enthusiast, Personal Branding Specialist,
Curious Societal Observer, Futurist, Online Dater,
Florida-raised, Brooklyn-based,
Mover, Shaker, Good Times.
About GK- LinkedIn Profile
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- Hype Machine Music
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About GK
- Who is George Kong?
This January, George spoke/presented a breakout session at PCMA's Convening Leaders 2012 in San Diego. In August, 2011, George was featured as a 40 Under 40 by Connect magazine. Click here to read the full article.
He thinks too much, loves human interaction, and craves new experiences. With an education more diversified than most, he can hold his own at any cocktail party.
George bleeds Orange & Blue. Make no mistake, GO GATORS!
Before WordPress, Moveable Type, and Blogger, it was Greymatter. In the late-90s, George was creating ‘journal entries’ in pure HTML before ‘blog’ was a word. Sixdegrees.com was his first social network website. Friendster was followed by MySpace. University of Florida was one of the first schools on Facebook after Harvard. George has been riding the social media wave since before it existed. Once, Twitter got him a job.
George enjoys eating, dancing, photography, and knowledge. He is a self-described conference junkie and welcomes any reason to get dressed up.
George is a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). He proudly serves on MPI's Global Emerging Leaders committee as a Director of Membership.
If you follow StrengthsFinder 2.0, George is a: woo, communication, ideation, futuristic, input. The results are ridiculously accurate.
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Info
- SummaryDo you want fresh ideas that drive organizations/events towards its goals/objectives? Are you looking for an enthusiastically passion-driven addition to your team?
With the background and training in operations and the mind of a marketer, my experience has allowed me a unique view of the meetings and events industry. My dedication to my field can be seen in my involvement with industry groups such as MPI and PCMA, many of which were highlighted in Connect Meetings Magazine's recent 40 Under 40 article.
I recently spoke/presented a breakout session at PCMA's Convening Leaders in San Diego. I also currently serve on MPI's Global Emerging Leaders Committee and volunteer with a few MPIGNY committees.
For fans of Strengths Finder 2.0: Woo, Communication, Ideation, Futuristic, and Input. It is eerie how well it describes me.
I enjoy NASCAR and dancing, but not line dancing. I also have an active interest in: music, photography, college football, fashion, food, technology, and board games.
Interests in: Meeting Architecture, leadership development, meeting content development, facilitation, social dynamics, adult education, strategic planning, environmental impact, meeting design, branding, and measuring ROI and ROO.Specialties: on-site management, customer service, networking, branding, marketing, social media, meeting architectureExperience- PresentFreelance Meeting & Event Manager / Your Organization
- Nov 2010 - May 2011Business Development Manager / Song DivisionSong Division is the global leader in interactive song writing. They specialize in corporate team building, general sessions and experiential marketing.
- Represented Song Division brand in North America resulting in qualified leads and increased brand awareness. Developed relationships with various meeting, event and marketing organizations. - May 2010 - Sept 2010Director of Administration, Greater Orlando Area / Meeting Professionals InternationalAfter serving as the first active President of UCF's MPI student club, I became the first active student to ever serve on GOAMPI's Board of Directors.
I also was active on the Education Committee and the Marketing & Communications Committee. - Dec 2009 - Jun 2010Event Management Intern / Universal OrlandoSupported the Event Management department of Universal Orlando Resorts as they prepared for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter's Grand Opening Celebration. Focus was on external clients with events in Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk Orlando. Events serviced also includes WWoHP's Grand Opening Celebration's week worth of events.
- Aug 2008 - Feb 2010Server / Puff 'n Stuff CateringPuff 'n Stuff is the largest and most award winning caterer in Orlando. Duties as a server include but are not limited to set up, customer service, and break down of catered events. Examples of events include tented wedding receptions in the middle of rural fields, box seats at college bowl games, and holiday parties at clients' homes.
- Mar 2009 - May 2009Special Projects Coordinator / Event MallAn internship that taught me a lot about marketing, small businesses, and the importance of multiple revenue streams. Conceptualized and designed email marketing campaigns using iContact. Prepared storyboards for software rebranding. Promoted brands at festivals and events.
- Aug 2008 - Nov 2008Meetings Intern / Publicis Meetings USASupported a staff of event professionals as a part of the world's third largest communications group.
- Sept 2007 - Feb 2008Senior Talent Director / Talent Rock Holdings, LLCResponsibilities include coordinating for sales events and management of over a dozen employees on a phone bank sales floor. Also presented in front of audiences of over 120, monitored entertainment and modeling industry trends, and kept up with the activities of competing companies.
- Mar 2006 - Jul 2007Caterer / Celebrations CateringWith Celebrations, my main goal was to learn as much as I could about how a catering company operates. I achieved this by working in every position the company had available.
Starting in the kitchen with food prep, I worked my way up to manage my own crew in the evenings. Setting up, serving, and breaking down of catered events at various locations lead to managing my own team on site. My tour of duties also included a position in the office as an assistant to the office manager. - Mar 2006 - Dec 2006Band Manager / Fear Horse, LLCBand management for a group called Velveteen Pink included inventory management, road management, guerrilla marketing, and business management (includes setting up an EIN and neccessary business accounts).
- Aug 2002 - Dec 2005Shift Supervisor / Starbucks Coffee CompanyThe recipient of customer service awards, I also spearheaded the effort to drive the lowest budgeted store to lead the district in pastry sales per purchase. Responsibilities included retail operations, sales, inventory management, vendor relations, and staff performance.
Education-
2008 - 2010University of Central FloridaB.S. in Event Management
Activities: Meeting Professionals International, Professional Convention Management Association, Golden Knights Wine Society, National Association of Catering Executives -
2000 - 2005University of FloridaA.A.
Activities: Murphree Area Council - Nova
Additional Information-
Websites:
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Honors:- IMEX/MPI Future Leaders Forum at WEC 2010 Scholarship Recipient - Gary Davis Memorial Scholarship for MPI SEC 2009
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Interests:photography, economic trends, food & wine, music trends, investing, meeting architecture, meeting design
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Tweets
- Does 'secure the border' mean 'keep America white'? http://t.co/q4IOYn8v #cnn
- Do the conservatives know what the conservatives are doing? || Moochers Against Welfare: http://t.co/WbLM7n22
- source of racial income inequalities in innercities: an American nightmare http://t.co/dAIcDOms
- Daily Show tickets up for grabs! || http://t.co/AgxqE7PB
- The First Step To Building Your Personal Brand - Forbes http://t.co/fBicbime
- Obama's War on Pot http://t.co/BA7iHSZ2 via @rollingstone
- .@SEC_News: #NOsecretdeals for big oil. Plz release Sect 1504. No exemptions, no loopholes http://t.co/xIeKOqVZ @ONECampaign
- Top Ten Catholic Teachings Santorum Rejects while Obsessing about Birth Control | Informed Comment http://t.co/09StPO5Y
- Going to China? Strip all your electronics! || Electronic Security a Worry in an Age of Digital Espionage: http://t.co/tRsDco2V
- Just loved Skrillex & The Doors - Breakn' A Sweat (Zedd Remix) http://t.co/LyyFoGVL on @hypem
- I just unlocked the "Warhol" badge on @foursquare! Gallerific! http://t.co/s6f0k7gp
- I just unlocked the "Fresh Brew" badge on @foursquare! Coffeecoffeecoffeecoffee. http://t.co/9zsDyW8T
- I just unlocked the "Super Swarm Sunday" badge on @foursquare! Go team! http://t.co/n7ypLdcs
- Tennessee lawmaker booted from local restaurant over anti-gay remarks – LGBTQ Nation http://t.co/mPDfUvbA
- Florida Highway Pileup Kills at Least 10 People - http://t.co/TiRNERoE http://t.co/rqJnewVe
- I just unlocked the "Hot Tamale" badge on @foursquare! ¡Ay, caramba! http://t.co/PxnlV2Ky
- Are Expensive Batteries Worth the Extra Cost? | Wired Science | http://t.co/XRLD2OAA http://t.co/EBkRfjSO
- Google+ Is Way Bigger Than We Thought: It's Totally Going To Change How The Web Works (GOOG) http://t.co/6FqAblLN via @sfgate
- I just unlocked the "Jobs" badge on @foursquare! http://t.co/tprXPz0S
- UK student, without setting fot in America, faces 10 years in US jail for setting up 'illegal' website. || http://t.co/DkYLWbwm
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Loved Songs
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