VP, Meetings & Events

America’s Credit Unions; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

America’s Credit Unions in Madison, WI is seeking a seasoned VP, Meetings & Events to lead a high‑performing team and elevate our meetings portfolio across in‑person and hybrid formats. You will drive strategy, vendor management, contract negotiations, and attendee experience while aligning with the organization’s goals and budget.

This hybrid role covers GAC, signature events, and school/conference programs, requiring 10+ years in meetings, CMP preferred, and a track record of large

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management preferred or business, meeting planning, or similar field; or equivalent experience is required.
• CMP designation strongly preferred.
• At least 10 years in meetings and events planning with large audiences.
• Experience with non-profit meetings is desirable.
• Proven contract negotiation experience, including multi-million-dollar events.
• Successful supervisory experience and team development.
• Creativity in achieving meeting goals with innovative ideas and tech.
• Detail-oriented with strong program management from concept to on-site handoffs.
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to influence across teams.
• Financial acumen: forecasting, budgeting, variances and corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Establish and evolve strategy for Meetings & Events across in-person and hybrid formats.
• Define operations for meetings, including GAC and signature events.
• Collaborate cross-functionally on strategy, activation, and attendee engagement.
• Oversee hybrid platforms, timelines, and project management processes.
• Ensure consistent program management across Learning Events, Councils, and events.
• Lead design and execution of events, including venue selection and on-site logistics.
• Source, contract, and manage vendors; optimize value and ROI.
• Negotiate contracts with hotels and suppliers; maximize association benefits.
• Manage hotel/meeting industry contracts and travel-related arrangements.
• Provide team leadership, coaching, and professional development.
• Oversee budget, profitability, and revenue/expense considerations.
• Support event leaders to deliver exceptional attendee experiences.
• Contribute to financial success via event contracts and commissions.
• Conduct site visits and travel to support signature events.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Vendor management

Contract negotiations

Budget and forecasting

Project management

Communication skills

Data-driven decision making

Technology in event management

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in hospitality / business

Tools

CMP designation

Job description

Overview

America’s Credit Unions is a leading company in the Financial Services Trade Association sector, known for our advocacy on behalf of all Credit Unions. We fuel our employees’ professional growth at every level, committed to the financial well-being of every member and champion the credit union story.

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced VP, Meetings & Events to establish America’s Credit Unions as the premier/go-to meetings and events provider for the credit union industry through exceptional service, innovation and quality. As a dynamic people leader, the ideal candidate will guide a high-performing team to plan, organize, and implement America’s Credit Unions' meetings and events, while strategically overseeing hotel selections, contract negotiations, stakeholder relationships, and the overall attendee experience. This is a Hybrid Role based in Madison, WI

Responsibilities

• Establish, drive and continually evolve the strategy for Meetings & Events experience that reflects trends in the meeting experience industry while exceeding the needs and expectations of staff, members, and other event attendees through innovation and quality.
• Define and drive the overall meeting operations and strategy for all in-person and hybrid meetings – to include schools and conferences and America’s Credit Unions' GAC – so that the shared function delivers Best-In-Class Credit Union Solutions in support of the Strategic Plan.
• Work cross-functionally with colleagues on meeting/event strategy, conception, event operations and event activation, audience engagement and execution of virtual and hybrid attendance options.
• Partner with the Learning/Education team on the hybrid platform to oversee project management and timelines of each hybrid event and lead internal project management processes defining key milestones and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Ensure consistency in how programs are managed and run across Learning Events, Councils, and GAC.
• Understand overall trends in meeting and conference experience, bringing new ideas, unexpected experiences, and relevant technology to the table while also:
  • Ensuring consistency in experience for attendees across association programs.
  • Matching the experience to the learning objectives of the program, to include a focus on building advocacy capabilities.
• Lead design and execution of events including:
  • Signature Events (GAC)
  • Virtual events – recommend appropriate on-site location for virtual/hybrid production, estimate costs/expenses (internet, A/V, space needs, etc.) for producing events, and coordinating logistics support staff schedule.
• Lead sourcing, contracting, and vendor management.
• Establish and consistently apply a strategy for sourcing, contracting, and vendor management.
• Manage and partner with current vendors to ensure event needs are met from a provider relationship standpoint.
• Represent America’s Credit Unions and ensure that vendor relationships offer the most significant return for the investment.
• Manage relationships with sales offices and/or hotel management, as needed, attending industry events as requested/required.
• Negotiate: contracts that benefit the association and member credit unions; hotels and suppliers that fit the America’s Credit Unions brand.
• Manage and maintain other hotel/meeting industry contracts such as airline contracts, exhibit contractors, car rentals, etc. as necessary.
• Team leadership: provide leadership and supervision to staff, coach and mentor, and support professional development to enhance knowledge and engagement.
• Ensure efficient alignment and allocation among the team of meeting planners and Program Coordinators; define roles and responsibilities and communicate across the association.
• Oversee budget, financial and profitability; support and drive related budget components for signature events in partnership with the overall event owner.
• Support event leaders to maximize the experience while managing revenue and expense considerations.
• Contribute to the financial success of the association through hotel contract commissions for in-person events.
• Conduct travel that supports the goals of Meetings & Events; conduct site visits and site planning for signature events.
• Attend other events as required to support on-site experience and/or as the event Meetings Project Manager.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management preferred or business, meeting planning, or similar field; or equivalent experience in lieu of degree is required.
• CMP (Certified Meeting Planner) designation strongly preferred.
• At least 10 years of meetings and events planning experience, with a focus on attendee experience, exhibit hall sales and management, hotel/food/beverage/travel, and large-scale meeting planning up to 3,000 – 5,000 attendees.
• Experience in non-profit meetings and event planning is highly desired, but not required.
• Demonstrated success and understanding of contract negotiations in the conferences and meetings space, with at least five years of contract negotiations, including multi-million-dollar events.
• Demonstrated success supervising and developing a team; at least five years of prior supervisory experience.
• Creativity in meeting goals and delivering outstanding experience with examples of bringing new ideas and technologies to the meeting experience.
• Detail oriented with ability to manage programs from big-picture to details; well-prepared and documented handoffs to on-site contacts and vendors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to influence others across teams and stakeholders.
• Financial acumen: forecasting, budgeting, analyzing variances, and taking corrective actions.
• Leadership: setting clear expectations, mentoring, and promoting career growth.
• Project management: prioritization, realistic timelines, and composure under pressure.
• Data-driven and results-oriented; service oriented to internal colleagues and external partners.
• Technology: fluent in event management tools and current trends in meeting technology.

Note

If you are highly motivated and interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to apply today.

America’s Credit Unions is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment that celebrates diverse perspectives and promotes an equitable outcome for everyone.