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Mark Sonder, MM, CSEP

ENTERTAINMENT EXECUTIVE

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Created an entertainment booking agency and production company that is a national leader in program services for concerts, corporations, associations, and facilities

• Provided entertainment for over 2000 events with over 10,000 participants

• Provided talent to producers for the NBC TV show "America's Got Talent" with weekly viewership of 12 million
• Exclusive Entertainment Contractor for the Washington (DC) Convention Center
• Authored the full-length hardcover book on entertainment programs and operations, "Event Entertainment and Production" (Wiley & Sons)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

MARK SONDER PRODUCTIONS, INC.

New York, NY / Linden, VA                        1985-Present

Mark Sonder Productions, Inc. is an award winning entertainment agency that delivers complete program packages to associations, corporations, facilities, casinos, and concerts.

Chief Entertainment Officer

• Talent Buyer for private and public events
• Advance stakeholder relationships
• Develop and implement marketing programs
• Contract entertainment and support Rider requirements
• Oversee budgets
• Supervise and develop entertainment staff, sales representatives and employees

VIEWPOINT INTERNATIONAL®

New York, NY                                           1997-2006

Acquired New York City's full-service premier event and destination management company. Custom designed and produced programs, special events, spouse programs, tours, transportation, show and sporting program tickets. Contracted venues for meetings, conventions, trade shows, exhibitions and incentives.

President and Chief Executive Officer

• Oversaw all departments of the firm, including: programs, special events, tours/ticketing/transportation, sales, entertainment, and production.
• Facilitated operations & logistics with all stakeholders and/or prospective clients
• Developed and implemented all multi-day programs, contracted with vendors, reviewed company contracts and payrolls, supervised and developed staff, account representatives and employees.

NEWSEUM

Washington, DC                           Opened January 2008-Present

 Recommended Entertainment Agency

• Supervised press and media opening, December 2007

THE TIMES CENTER

The New York Times Center, NY, NY  Opened October 2007-2010

 Official Audio Visual Supplier

• Supplied a wide variety of audio visual needs for a diverse clientele 
  
  

THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER

District of Columbia                               2000-2001

 Official Entertainment Contractor

• Provided high quality entertainment, customized for the needs of the convention center's clients

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Presented at over 70 national and international meetings, conventions, trade shows and expositions on topics related to entertainment programs and/or production.

PUBLISHED

• Book, "Event Entertainment and Production," the definitive reference for the industry and higher education institutions
• Name mentioned and/or contributed to 11 books
• Articles published in over 30 magazines
• Interviewed for over 20 articles in trade publications

AWARDS and HONORS

• Received over 25 awards and honors
• Awarded The Super Six Award (inaugural year) for Best Special Event Planning under $100,000

• Holds record for producing the most amount of headline entertainers for a corporate      event in the US as well as managing over 60 people for an event

ACADEMIC FACULTY

• University of Nevada at Las Vegas
• The George Washington University
• Stratford University
• Mount Royal University
• George Mason University
• New York University
• The University of the West Indies (Trinidad)
• Northern Virginia Community College

ACADEMIC PREPARATION

MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC, New York, NY

• Master of Music (M.M.) 1979
• Bachelor of Music (B.M.) 1978

Earned the professional designation of Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP)

• Current through 2015; inaugural class 1993

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Association of Entertainment Professionals Worldwide (AEP), founding member
• International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM)
• International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA)
• International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA)
• International Special Events Society (ISES), founding member
• Meeting Professionals International (MPI)