Willie Ratchford
Lawrenceville
Summary
Innovative Event Coordinator and Producer with 20 years of experience in all aspects of live events and entertainment production. Visionary creator, storyteller, and business operations manager demonstrated the ability to take an idea from concept to delivery to produce entertaining and inspiring pieces. Collaborative in working closely with strategic and creative teams to develop and deliver quality shows, events, entertainment, and content. Expertise in pre-production, production, postproduction, logistics, planning, special effects, and asset management.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Festival Coordinator
Buried Alive! Horror Film Festival
08.2024 - Current
- Delivered memorable experiences to attendees through exceptional attention to detail in planning and execution stages.
- Streamlined event logistics for improved efficiency by coordinating with vendors, sponsors, and internal departments.
- Ensured smooth festival operations through diligent oversight of site setup, teardown, and overall event management.
- Developed strong relationships with local businesses for sponsorship opportunities, contributing to increased funding.
- Booking and Invitations for celebrities and speakers.
Host and Producer
Yup That's Scary Horror Podcast
09.2021 - Current
- Improved guest satisfaction by welcoming visitors and providing exceptional service.
- Facilitated communication between kitchen and front-of-house to streamline service.
- Enhanced atmosphere with attentive service and personalized attention.
- Managed reservations to optimize seating and minimize wait times.
- Book all celebrities.
- Contributed to team success through effective communication and cooperation with coworkers and management.
- Developed schedules for production, editing, and duplication for timely delivery.
- Secured top-tier talent, ensuring high-quality performances across productions.
- Managed budget allocations to maximize resource utilization, avoiding overruns.
Executive Producer of Events and Entertainment
Fear Expo & HAuNTcon CONVENTIONS
01.2020 - Current
- Achieved seamless event execution through effective communication with vendors, caterers, and staff members
- Book all entertainers
- Created detailed timelines and budgets for events to meet all deadlines
- Developed creative concepts for various events to drive attendee engagement and deliver memorable experiences
- Trained and supervised event staff to complete tasks on time
- Managed administrative logistics of events planning, event booking, and event promotions
- Developed creative themes for events and created related activities to engage attendees
- Negotiated contracts with venues, vendors and suppliers to obtain best rates and services
- Spearheaded creative development for projects, leading brainstorming sessions and guiding the team in conceptualization efforts.
Executive Creative Producer
Deadly Dopamine Entertainment
07.2016 - 12.2019
- Streamlined event operations by developing comprehensive project timelines, checklists, and budget guidelines for team members to follow
- Elevated brand awareness through the strategic planning of unique, engaging events tailored to specific target audiences
- Fostered a positive working environment through effective team collaboration and clear communication of roles and responsibilities
- Ensured successful events through thorough pre-event site inspections, risk assessments, and contingency planning measures
- Exceeded revenue goals for events by identifying new sponsorship opportunities and cultivating relationships with potential partners
Executive Creative Producer
Blumhouse Productions
05.2012 - 10.2015
- Spearheaded creative development for projects, leading brainstorming sessions and guiding the team in conceptualization efforts
- Developed strategies for successful project execution, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality results
- Consistently met or exceeded project deadlines, demonstrating effective time management and organizational skills throughout the production process
- Selected artists, directors and crew members to work on films, television shows and albums
- Negotiated contracts with vendors and talent, securing favorable terms that contributed to the overall success of productions
Education
Bachelor of Science - Entertainment Business
Full Sail University
Winter Park, FL05.2021
High School Diploma -
Ranch Vista High School
Temecula, CA06.2002
Skills
- Digital Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Staff Management
- Customer Relationship Management
- Branding Campaign
- Development
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Event Planning
- Leadership
- Project Management
- Strategy Development
- Video Production
- Web Design
- Adobe Creative Cloud
- Canva
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Project Management tools
- Social Media management tools
- Video editing software
- Web design tools
- Google Analytics
- Email marketing platforms
- Collaboration tools
- Customer Relationship Management software
Timeline
Festival Coordinator
Buried Alive! Horror Film Festival
08.2024 - Current
Host and Producer
Yup That's Scary Horror Podcast
09.2021 - Current
Executive Producer of Events and Entertainment
Fear Expo & HAuNTcon CONVENTIONS
01.2020 - Current
Executive Creative Producer
Deadly Dopamine Entertainment
07.2016 - 12.2019
Executive Creative Producer
Blumhouse Productions
05.2012 - 10.2015
High School Diploma -
Ranch Vista High School
Bachelor of Science - Entertainment Business
Full Sail University
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