1. Thomas J. O’Dowd
32W180 Army Trail Road
P.O. Box 228
Wayne, Illinois 60184
630-513-1041
tjodowds3@att.net
SUMMARY
A conscientious and forward-thinking administrative professional who is detail-oriented and practical. Analytical with an
efficient communicator style, is an innovative problem solver. Self-motivated and adaptable, viewed as a diplomatic and
resourceful negotiator, a loyal team player, who gets along well with all levels of an organization. A perceptive and results-
oriented decision maker who is a tactful delegator and team builder. An enterprising planner, is also viewed as a constructive
colleague. A broad-minded thinker who is focused and has a diligent work ethic.
EXPERIENCE
Property and Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB)
(Former affiliate of Alliance of American Insurers)
Senior Marketing and Exhibits Manager, 2005 - Present Downers Grove, Illinois
Responsible for the strategic marketing and sales of the PLRB Annual Claims Conference and Regional Adjuster
Conference exposition sales and sponsorships; current combined exhibit sales exceeding 1.8 million dollars annually;
combined sponsorship sales exceeding 500,000 dollars annually; 2014 through 2016 total exhibit and sponsorship sales
exceeding forecasted budget by 15%.
Responsible for the operational, logistical, and data base management of PLRB’s four annual expositions; managing the
use of Expocad to allocate exhibit booths and reports and creating expo floor plans in collaboration with the exhibitor
services decorator.
Additional responsibilities include the co-management and allocation of convention center function space to program 110
educational sessions and food and beverage functions.
Responsible for the coordination of social media with traditional marketing plans to promote PLRB’s Annual Conferences.
Forecasted and managed an annual marketing budget of $250,000. Developed and managed a national data base of
2. Thomas J. O’Dowd
industry media contacts for distribution of monthly informational releases to the industry trade press. Responsible for the
regional adjuster conferences marketing and attendance promotions.
Managed the creative development of PLRB’s annual report and distribution to the Property and Casualty Insurance
Industry Forum, PLRB executive leadership, membership, and affiliate databases.
Administered the multi-state continuing education compliance and accreditation of PLRB’s on-site learning and distance
learning modules to meet PLRB’s membership’s professional claims adjuster licensing renewal requirements.
Responsible for the event management and administration of three Regional Adjusters Conferences, with an average
attendance exceeding 700 registrants and 90 exhibitors. Evaluated and facilitated speaker selection; coordinated
curriculum development and programming. Responsible for the development and line-item supervision of the $500,000
regional conference budget. Oversaw a 200% combined net profit in 2009 over 2008 budgeted projections; 150%
combined net profit in 2008 over 2007 budgeted projections.
Developed the Request for Proposals and initiated and researched destination availability for the 2006 through 2011
regional adjusters’ conferences; collaborated with PLRB legal staff to negotiate and finalize contractual agreements with
selected hotels, convention centers and ancillary vendor contracts. Managed PLRB’s 2006-2007 Charity Golf
Tournaments and administered its sponsorship campaign to benefit the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief
Fund.
PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
(Formerly Alliance of American Insurers)
Meeting Manager, 1998 - 2005 Des Plaines, Illinois
Managed the facilitation and execution of internal senior level committee meetings, Board of Governors Meetings, Joint
Executive Claims Meetings, and Annual Meeting: served as the staff liaison to the Strategic Planning Committee
responsible for committee and organizational development; developed sponsorship database and coordinated
sponsorship packages for suppliers.
Managed the Association of California Insurance Companies General Seminar logistics, graphic art and collateral development.
Facilitated the accounting of sponsorships and seminar revenues; due to expense controls, revenues increased 50% over
2003; organized and coordinated Continuing Education accreditation for attorneys, insurance agents and brokers.
Assistant Vice President, Director of Meetings and Conferences Downers Grove, Illinois
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3. Thomas J. O’Dowd
Responsible for the management and accountability of the $450,000 Public Affairs meeting services operational budget.
Managed a $50,000 first-time sponsorship solicitation of Alliance of American Insurers’ member companies to benefit the
2003 Annual Meeting, offsetting 20% of the meeting expenses.
Coordinated the development of a domestic and international reinsurers' database for membership solicitation and annual
meeting marketing strategies in 2002 and 2003. Expanded media visibility, industry promotion and corporate sponsorship
produced an increase in attendance and revenues of 35%. Increased 2001 Annual Meeting attendance by 15% and
revenues by 6% over 2000. Targeted solicitation of the reinsurer industry’s international database, increasing membership
by 5%.
Produced senior level management meetings and public policy seminars. Responsibilities included development of
educational objectives and speaker selection; served as advisory board and educational committees’ liaison. Responsible
for all supplier and vendor relationships and the fulfillment of contract negotiations; production of the social, touring, and
entertainment events and venue selection.
Managed the 2000-2001 first-time educational accreditation of the Alliance Annual Underwriting Conference by the
American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, Insurance Institute of America, contributing to a 20%
attendance increase over the previous three years and an additional increase of 11% attendance growth in 2002.
Responsible for the ongoing accreditation.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NEUROLOGICAL SURGEONS/CONGRESS OF NEUROLOGICAL
SURGEONS
Manager, Meeting Services, 1997 - 1998 Park Ridge, Illinois
Coordinated the Congress of Neurological Surgeons’ development and distribution of marketing materials to the Pacific
Rim Neurological Medical Societies, contributing to a 10% increase in its 1998 annual meeting attendance. Coordinated
the fulfillment of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting vendor and suppliers contracts. Supervised the
staff liaison to the CNS Annual Meeting educational program committee.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NEUROSCIENCE NURSES
Executive Director, Society of Trauma Nurses, 1997 Chicago, Illinois
Served as Executive Director of the Society of Trauma Nurses, under the multi-management structure of the American
Association of Neuroscience Nurses. Responsible for an operational budget of $250,000; increased membership by 10%
and decreased administrative expenses by 20%; expanded the scope of its chapters’ advocacy for contracted hospital
emergency room services, targeted specifically in the western United States.
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4. Thomas J. O’Dowd
Director of Meetings and Conferences, 1994 - 1997 Chicago, Illinois
Increased the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses’ 1995 - 1997 annual meeting sponsorship and exhibitor
revenue growth by 71% over the previous three years; coordinated the development of its annual meetings’ and
neuroscience nursing clinical symposiums’ educational and clinical content. Coordinated the educational content and
marketing of AANN’s Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN) accreditation seminars through increased chapter
involvement. Responsible for the fulfillment of all meeting management vendor and supplier contracts and production of
registration and marketing materials.
O’HARE HILTON HOTEL
Senior Sales Manager, 1992 - 1994 Chicago, Illinois
Managed and supervised the departmental interaction supporting the O’Hare Hilton’s On-Site Training program (H.O.S.T.)
to increase customer base, property familiarity, and customer retention. Exceeded 1993 Association and Corporate
segments’ sales revenue goal of $850,000 by 11%; exceeded 1992 sales revenue goal of $450,000 by 10%.
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
CHICAGO HILTON AND TOWERS HOTEL, Chicago, Illinois, Director of Facilities, 1988 - 1992.
MONTGOMERY WARD CORPORATION, Chicago, Illinois, Inventory Management Procurement, 1987 -
1988.
EDUCATION
Illinois Real Estate, Chicago, Illinois, Salesperson Examination, 2004.
Chicago Association of Realtors, Chicago, Illinois, Salespersons Pre-licensing Course, 2003.
Insurance School of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. INS 21 and 22 - Personal and Liability Insurance, 1992.
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. Marketing - Graduate level coursework, 1987 - 1988.
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Bachelor of Arts Degree.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Meeting Professionals International (MPI)/Chicago Area Chapter
MPI-CAC Marketing Committee, 2003 - 2004
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5. Thomas J. O’Dowd
MPI-CAC Mentoring Committee, 2001 - 2002
MPI-CAC Board of Directors, 1999 - 2000 and 2000 - 2001
MPI-CAC Vice President of Finance, 1997 - 1998
MPI-CAC Educational Conference Program Chair 1996 - 1997; MPI Strategic Task Force, 1997
AWARDS
Recipient of the 1999 and 2000 Alliance of American Insurers President’s Award.
SPECIAL SKILLS
Microsoft office technology and Excel.
PERSONAL
Musician enjoys reading and traveling, community and volunteer work.
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6. Thomas J. O’Dowd
MPI-CAC Mentoring Committee, 2001 - 2002
MPI-CAC Board of Directors, 1999 - 2000 and 2000 - 2001
MPI-CAC Vice President of Finance, 1997 - 1998
MPI-CAC Educational Conference Program Chair 1996 - 1997; MPI Strategic Task Force, 1997
AWARDS
Recipient of the 1999 and 2000 Alliance of American Insurers President’s Award.
SPECIAL SKILLS
Microsoft office technology and Excel.
PERSONAL
Musician enjoys reading and traveling, community and volunteer work.
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