George Kong
New Business Development Manager at Karl's Event Services, Meetings & Events Specialist,
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
- New Business Development Manager for Karl's Event Services -and- Director at Large for MPI Greater New YorkEvents Services | Greater New York City Area, USSummary
Do you want fresh ideas that drive organizations/events towards its goals/objectives?
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, some of which has been highlighted in Connect Meetings Magazine's 40 Under 40 article (August, 2011).
I spoken/presented a breakout session at PCMA's Convening Leaders 2011 in San Diego. I serve on MPI's Global Emerging Leaders Committee and on MPIGNY's Board of Directors as Director of Leadership Development.
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, crisis management, and measuring ROI and ROO.
Specialties: on-site management, customer service, networking, branding, marketing, social media, meeting architecture, tent structures, event equipment rentalExperience- Nov 2012 - PresentNew Business Development Manager / Karl's Event Services
Karl's provides a full range of event rental equipment including tents and canopies, tables, chairs, linens, china, and flatware. Karl’s Event Services maintains the largest clearspan tent structure inventory available in North America, along with a wide array of additional items such as HVAC/Climate Control and Power Generation equipment, flooring and staging, doors, hard wall, and glass wall.
- Jun 2012 - PresentDirector at Large / Meeting Professionals International, Greater New York Chapter
Director of Leadership Development from June 2012 through January 2013
- Oct 2010 - Nov 2012Freelance Meeting & Event Manager / Your Organization
- Jun 2012 - Sept 2012Special Projects / USTA
Assistied Special Projects at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in preparation for the 2012 US Open Tennis Championships
Areas of focus included: tents, trailers, storage pods, portable restrooms, golf carts, temporary bleachers, sponsorship activation, crowd control, and facility upkeep.
- Nov 2010 - May 2011Business Development Manager / Song Division
Song 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 International
After 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 Orlando
Supported 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 Catering
Puff '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 Mall
An 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 USA
Supported 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, LLC
Responsibilities 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 Catering
With 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, LLC
Band 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 Company
The 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
- RT @RaiderMax_11: Until @realDonaldTrump produces a birth certificate, I have no choice but to believe his given name is indeed #FuckFaceVo…May 03, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Just loved London Grammar - Wasting My Young Years http://t.co/mQ4FMwPzGw on @hypem
- Just loved Disclosure - Latch feat. Sam Smith http://t.co/NDRnZpaTN8 on @hypem
- Just loved Michael Jackson - Remember The Time (Louis La Roche Remix) http://t.co/zKT35byzqi on @hypem
- RT @ckanal: #NorthernLights ended up too far to the north for local viewing: http://t.co/GHONmVi74S So there you go. (via @NBCNewYork)
- Preach on, brother. Preach on. -- Ken Jennings: Watson, Jeopardy and me, the obsolete know-it-all http://t.co/plS1UvKtGN #TED #fb
- My work family just expanded internationally. http://t.co/Xt2so2mb5F
- An NBA Team Is Talking About Drafting A Female College Basketball Star http://t.co/9ZzBGvOOZZ via @BuzzFeedSports
- Just loved the bloody beetroots - S P A N K feat. TAI & Bart B More http://t.co/p27Y35zaJv on @hypem
- Just loved Cashmere Cat - Mirror Maru http://t.co/w4SAKKcWvJ on @hypem
- Just loved Diplo feat. Lazerdisk Party Sex - Set It Off (TheFatRat Remix) http://t.co/dtWd7TgxCf on @hypem
- Nancy Sinatra's As Tears Go By came on at the coffee shop and Nelly's It's Getting Hot in Here kicks off in my head. http://t.co/OtxU7Fmngo
- @SageBrooklyn your phone line is busy and you forgot rice with 2 of our curry orders!
- Just loved Destiny's Child - Say My Name (Cyril Hahn Remix) http://t.co/RGMB3S3QNK on @hypem
- Just loved Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - Wings http://t.co/N9YCxTjQ31 on @hypem
- Just ordered Chinese food delivery. It has not arrived yet. How come I already smell it? #icansmellthefuture #superpowersFeb 27, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- I just reached Level 3 of the "Bento" badge on @foursquare. I’ve checked in at 10 different Japanese Restaurants! http://t.co/ltr34mPv7j
- It's the mayor! Watching #bloombito speak at the NYC&Co annual meeting. @ Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center http://t.co/d304IiLFGk
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Loved Songs
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