With innovative courses and experiential learning, the Event Management program prepares students for successful and satisfying careers.  This might include producing events in the public, non-profit, or private sector as a:

• Wedding planner or other social event planner
• Meeting or conference planner
• Convention or trade show producer
• Community or cultural festival coordinator
• Sport or mega event manager
• Music festival or concert promoter

You might work for a company that supports the festival and events industry as a:

• Hospitality or hotel venue coordinator
• Services or equipment rental account executive
• Brand marketing specialist

Or there is a good chance you may work with celebrities, venture capitalists, and other interesting people as you improve people’s quality of life

We have a student government approved and funded club, Planning on Point (POP). Members regularly volunteer for local events, interact with event planners, and visit local venues. In the past year members have received funding to attend professional conferences hosted by the North Carolina Association of Festivals & Events in Charlotte and Cary, NC; HSMAI in Raleigh, the International Association of Conference Centers in Philadelphia; and the International Festivals & Events Association in San Diego. Additionally, several members have received funding to complete a bridal certification training course.

Our program was honored with Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards for the Best Event Management Bachelor Degree by the International Festivals & Events Association in 2016, 2017, and 2018

• H.I.S. Events, Honolulu
• Orlando Magic and Orlando City Soccer, FL
• New York Jets, NJ
• HPU Alumni Association, Campus Concierge, Community Events, NC
• Buckley Hall Events, NYC
• Marriot Waterfront Hotel, Annapolis, MD
• W Hotel, Dallas, TX
• Hyatt Regency Hotel, Greenwich, CT
• StarPower Talent, Ocean City, MD
• Event Planning DC, Damascus, MD
• Vanguard Events & Marketing, Raleigh, NC
• BMF Media, Hotwire, NYC
• Millennium Center, Winston-Salem, NC
• Henry & Proximity Hotels, Greensboro, NC
• Mac & B Events, Charleston, SC
• Something Perfect Weddings, Charlotte, NC
• Disney College Intern Program, Orlando, FL
• Disney Magic Kingdom Food & Beverage, Orlando, FL
• National MS Society – Greensboro, NC
• Archdale-Trinity Chamber of Commerce and High Point CVB, NC
• Baptist Children’s Homes of NC
• AGENC – Los Angeles, CA
• both High Point and Colonial Country Clubs, NC
• Fiddlers Elbos Country Club – Bedminster, NJ
• Several students have also gone on to graduate school

Dr. Vern Biaett, CFEE, Assistant Professor of Event Management is the curriculum coordinator and has been at HPU since 2014.  Previous experience includes 8 years as a faculty associate at Arizona State where he taught special event courses in a certificate program he co-created and 30 years as a practitioner including event manager for both the city of Phoenix Office of Special Events and the city of Glendale Marketing Department.  His favorite course – The Rhetoric of Festivals & Events – Experience Design where he introduces students to strategies used to create great experiences and the philosophical foundations of festivals and events.

Dr. Brianna Clark, Assistant Professor of Event Management joined the program in fall 2018.  She previously taught at Temple University and was a Division I athlete as an undergrad.  Her favorite course – The Administration of Festivals & Events where she instructs students in the finer points of leadership, volunteer management, and board governance.

Mr. Kim Strable, Adjunct Faculty has been with the program since 2015.  He is currently the CEO of the Greensboro Sports Commission and teaches Introduction to Event Management.

Ms. Diana Parrish, Adjunct Faculty has been with the program since 2017.  Her background is in board development and non-profit management and teaches Introduction to Event Management.

Ms. Jennifer Lambert, Adjunct Faculty has been with the program since 2013.  She has experience as a corporate event planner and teaches an Event Practicums.

Ms. Amanda Melniczek, Adjunct Faculty has been with the program since 2016.  She has experience producing community and business events for a Main Street foundation and teaches an Event Practicum.

Communication: This was the first event management program in the world housed in a communication school – employers value communication skills

Balance: Let your creativity loose and employ your analytical abilities

Composure: You will come to realize you can handle constant change and chaos when totally emerged in an event – and think it’s fun

Impact: When you produce events that impact individuals and communities you can get rich in many different ways

Value: If you work for yourself or an organization your entrepreneurial spirit will be valued