From the desk of Rachel Libra, Event Coordinator at the Bayfront Convention Center: One of the most rewarding benefits I have found by being an Event Coordinator is it allows me to work with a diverse group of people each and every day. The events I get to detail and coordinate vary from small corporate meetings, military balls, banquets, weddings and of course, conventions. I have had the opportunity to work on a few large conventions just during the last couple of months: Kiwanis International Convention, AFSCME District Council 85 Leadership Convention and the American Short Line and Railroad Association Eastern Region Convention.

One of the most important things one must keep in mind when presented with these conventions is that it’s important to be organized and extremely detailed when gathering information from the client. Conventions typically entail multiple breakout rooms, organized meals and banquets that often times have hundreds upon hundreds of guests. I am then faced with the responsibility to work with each group to gather all information, including but not limited to: room set-up, audio visual equipment, food and beverage needs, room diagrams and lastly, to make sure all aspects of the event are executed smoothly and on time.

With that being said, the functionality of these conventions would certainly not be as successful without the added support of our food and beverage and operation teams. Often times, although we put an immense amount of effort into all of the planning that goes into these conventions, some changes are unavoidable. Throughout the years, we have prided ourselves on being flexible and accommodating to all of our clients, including flipping entire rooms the day of an invent. We all work in conjunction to ensure the room set-ups and service exceed the client’s expectations in every way possible.

For years, Erie has been working to bring more diversity to the area and this is precisely what the Convention Center has allowed the community to do. Most groups we service here have brought hundreds of people to the ERie are and exposed them to the true beauty Erie has to offer. AS the 2015 year comes to a close, I am mostly looking forward to the new endeavors I will be exposed to as we begin the new year!