Do you want to have a successful event at Lone Star College-CyFair? The person to call is Events Planner Susan Wilkinson in the College Relations office.
“The job is challenging and different each day,” said Wilkinson, who joined LSC-CyFair in October as a temp and became full-time in May.
She works to ensure internal events such as: departmental meetings, speaker presentations, receptions and college celebrations; as well as external events, such as: Community Partners Day, business meetings, orientations, campus visits and more, run smoothly. Most of the work is behind-the-scenes scheduling, communicating and working with the LSC-CyFair events team including Catering, Facilities, Security and IT personnel as well as the meeting host(s).
“My best tip for a successful event is to start planning early, complete all paperwork, clearly communicate your meeting needs and follow up with any changes,” Wilkinson said.
A native Houstonian and Klein High School graduate, Wilkinson brings nearly 15 years of experience in event planning and coordinating (of meetings, trade shows, symposiums and conventions) as well as fund-raising and marketing to the college.
“With my bachelor’s in marketing from Abilene Christian University, I’ve had a well rounded marketing communication career working with large and small companies, writing technical literature and grants, serving as editor for several newsletters and being self-employed,” she said.
That career includes 10 years at Emerson Electric as Marketing Coordinator and four years as Marketing Director/Symposium Chair for Resolve of Houston, a national nonprofit organization that supports and advocates for those affected by infertility and considering adoption. In addition, Wilkinson has lobbied U.S. Congressional Members in D.C. for additional tax credits for adoptive parents; raised funds to provide scholarships for adopting couples; and raised funds through benefit dinners for Medina Children’s Home.
“After the birth of my twins Nathan and Natalie in 2000, I decided to leave my full-time position and spend some time with my newborns. I remained self-employed as a Marketing Consultant for eight years,” she said. “Last summer, I decided I was ready to return to full-time employment and applied at LSC-CyFair, where I have been taking my children to the library and walking the beautiful campus since it opened.”
Now full-time at LSC-CyFair, Wilkinson still works full-time at home as mother of eight-year-olds and wife of David Wilkinson, Cypress Woods High School Administrator and Head Athletic Trainer.
“I am a Girl Scout volunteer and work with the Boy Scouts; I teach the nursery class and volunteer at our church; I am a baseball mom and our family supports Cy-Woods in all sports,” said Wilkinson. “Go Wildcats!”
Wilkinson can be reached in person at CENT 155, by phone at 281-290-3937 or e-mail at Cy-Fair. Events.Planning@LoneStar.edu.