Phone:

+(415) 823-4540

Email:

ashli@abuzz.events

© 2023 FlaTheme.

Ashli photo
About Me

Event | Experiential Producer + Planner

Freelance/Contract/Other

When you need help with an event, I'm your gal. I've led the charge on virtually every kind of event you can think of: Conferences, SKOs, World Tours, Road Shows, Experiential, Trade Shows, Offsites and Retreats, Parties, Launches, Partner Conferences, Fan Cons, Concerts, Leadership Summits and much more.

I've managed multi-million dollar, highly visible events from inception through successful conclusion. I've also been the lead on scrappy events that relied more on creative thinking than budget. If you have challenges, let me be the solution.

I'm flexible. I've worked for agencies, strategy firms, directly with clients, and have even done an inhouse position or two. Do you need to hand something off and just have someone who will for sure deliver while you focus on other things? Yup, I can do that. Do you need someone who is integrated with your internal team throughout the event planning and execution? Well, you are in luck - that is also something I do.

Oh, and I love a good spreadsheet and adore budgets.
Project Portfolio

Past Projects

I've been around the block (and the world) more than a few times and have led the charge on all kinds of experiences. Highlights below (not a comprehensive list):

  • 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019

    Sr. Producer, Campus Environmental - Dreamforce (Salesforce)


    Contract via George P. Johnson
    • Client-facing lead for Campus Environmental - partnered with Salesforce and guiding the agency team that turns the creative vision into reality.
    • Lead CE team and client meetings, manage timelines, production schedules, and SSOT
    • Allocate, manage and reconcile multi-million dollar budget
    • Source and manage vendors including fabrication, tech, exhibit services, AV and digital
    • Work with creatives and strategize execution methods to bring creative concepts to life for some of the most prominent BSOs across Dreamforce
    • In addition to above, Producer for the AI Basics zone in '23 and Investor Day in '21
  • 2021 - 2023

    Event Manager - World Tour 2023 (Contract) Event Manager - World Tour 2021 (Contract)


    Celonis

    Contract position overseeing venue research, event logistics, operations, graphics and the overall budget for the yearly World Tour in multiple cities in Europe, North America and Asia. Worked as a team member of the Celonis events team (remote).
    • Managed the multi-million dollar budget successfully
    • Researched and recommended brand-appropriate venues across multiple continents
    • Negotiated contracts and services for venues and vendors
    • Managed logistics and operations across multiple events, including graphics, F&B, transportation and registration
    • Worked closely with field marketing, content, sponsorship and other internal stakeholders to ensure event deliverables
  • 2018 - 2019

    Event Director - Crunchyroll Expo (Inhouse/FT)


    Crunchyroll

    Crunchyroll Expo brought together over 20,000 passionate fans of anime and manga for three days. I was responsible for every aspect of the success of the event and attendee experience, including the overall vision and strategy as well as the operational logistics.
    • Conceptualized, strategized, and directed the overall theme and story arch of the event, ensuring the audience journey was fulfilled from first touch forward
    • Implemented creative approaches to inspire attendees and bring brand to life, including creating an anime "city"
    • Developed a 150+ session agenda; researched, secured, contracted, and prepared speakers and moderators
    • Negotiated, contracted, and booked big name guests and bands, managing all logistical details
    • Secured, contracted, and managed all vendors including AV, security, the venue, registration, RFID and F&B
    • Managed the overall big picture, event team, schedule, staffing, information flow and M++ budget
    • Drove a successful 40% increase in audience YOY and a 160% increase in vendors
    • Led content and marketing efforts; developed FOMO campaigns and drove efforts to reach attendance goals
    • Singular point of contact for all internal teams – guided weekly company event meetings and managed SSOT
    • Worked with and set goals with all internal stakeholders, ensuring roles were understood and deadlines were met
  • 2021

    Conference Content | Speaker Operations Manager (Contract)


    NVIDIA via West Valley Staffing

    Contract position for NVIDIA’S GPU Technology Conference (GTC), held virtually in April 2021. Managed operations and digital execution for the content team for over 1700 sessions, including the shift from one digital platform to another, ensuring all data was correctly captured and transferred. Worked with a segment of panels and sessions to ensure session leader logistics were flawless. Analyzed post-event data and created reports.
  • 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

    Event Planner | Producer - Company Offsite


    Ampush

    Researched, negotiated rates and presented options and budget implications for site options. Booked and managed all flights, transportation and accommodations for 140+ employees. Secured venues and activities for evening events and teambuilding exercises. Handled all logistics, food and beverage, and AV needs. Managed budget.
  • 2016

    Event Producer - Levi Strauss & Company Leadership Summit


    Levi Strauss & Company

    Produced events and activities, created and populated app, and managed logistics for this gathering of executives from around the world. Worked with marketing to create networking events that resonated with executives. Produced a very successful company-wide concert with big name talent.
  • 2016

    Lead Producer - Tech Company SKO


    Tech Company - via agency

    Lead Producer of SKO for 500 attendees overseeing every aspect of event including budget, breakouts, audio visual, F&B, hotel block, registration, event website, graphics, and evening and social activities.
  • 2004, 2006 - 2019, 2022 - 2023

    Trade Show Manager | Event Manager - Forum


    Fair Trade USA

    Oversee this nonprofit’s presence at the Coffee Expo and other events. Managed the trade show presence, including the development of new booths, graphics, shipments, installation and dismantling, budget and hotel blocks. Also managed the producer conference attended by 300+ coffee growers from all over the world including audio visual, vendor management, translation, and F&B.
  • 2016 - 2017

    Senior Events Advisor | Producer


    SonicWall (Contract)

    Worked with internal teams to determine look, theme, content and promotional opportunities for trade shows. Drove internal deadlines, drove creation of trade show booth from strategy through fabrication, and got the project across the finish line (and under budget!)
  • 2014, 2015, 2016

    Sr. Producer/Team Lead for Tech Partner Conference


    Tech Company - via agency

    Producer (2014) and Sr. Producer/Team Lead (2015 + 2016) for conference bringing 800 Partners together for three days of sessions, speakers, 1:1 meetings, evening activities and more. Acted as primary client contact and led a team of event managers. Overall responsibility for every aspect of the event including staffing, graphics, agenda, scheduling, audio visual, F&B, hotel block, registration, vendors, budget, content, speaker logistics and more. Wins included:
    • Came in under budget – a first for this event
    • Introduced and managed a new and successful approach to networking events
    • Implemented and built the event app, updated the event website, and introduced new and innovative digital signage
  • 2014 and 2016

    Sr. Producer/Project Lead - California Farm To School Conference


    CAFF (Contract)

    Oversaw every aspect of event including site, selection, vendor management, registration, audio visual, agenda, F&B, graphics, website, communications, speaker selection and management and more or this conference for 350+.
  • 2014 and 2015

    Sr. Producer/Project Lead - Tech Company Partner Conference


    Tech Company via agency

    Lead Producer for Partner Conference (1400+ attendees) overseeing every aspect of event including venue logistics, budget, breakouts, 1:1’s, evening events, speaker logistics, F&B, registration, graphics, website, attendee communications, hotel block and more. Booked and produced concert with big name talent. Managed attendee session assignments, coordinating information flow via API from registration platform through personalized app, with great success.
  • 2014

    Sr. Producer/Event Planner - Coca Cola Executive Retreat


    Embarcadero Partners (Contract)

    Project Manager for this retreat for high level executives from around the globe, as well as the logistics for a Silicon Valley tour. For the retreat, I led the space selection process and created a productive and creative space, as well as managed all vendors and operational needs.
What People Say

I had the privilege of working with Ashli on a 45,000-attendee event. She was amazing. When Ashli joined the team, everything changed. She brought her experience, wisdom, and hard work to the table and made the event work far more smoothly... I have seen her work under extreme levels of pressure that most people would crack under, but she just suited up and got the job done. I can't recommend Ashli highly enough - if you are planning any kind of event, big, small, or somewhere in between, this is the woman you want managing it.

Ashli is a budget master and helped me come in under budget by nearly $250K on my latest program. She's a master at reviewing and understanding every detail of the event and/or meeting she's managing. I will gladly hire Ashli again in the future when ever I have the chance!

Ashli Lewis is a joy and so easy to work with, resourceful, efficient, and she just gets things done!

Get In Touch

Help is on the way...

Located in San Francisco, but manage events around the globe*
Phone: +1 415-823-4540
Email: ashli@abuzzproductions.com

*Here is a partial list of where I have planned events: Palm Springs, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Portland, Seattle, Long Beach, San Diego, Honolulu, San Jose, Silicon Valley, Chicago, New York, Reno, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Miami, Boston, Houston, Austin, Dallas, Atlanta, London, Paris, Copenhagen, Tokyo, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Amsterdam, Frankfurt