Melissa Vrana

Executive Director Performance Facilities and Events @ Central Piedmont Community College

About

As the Executive Director of Performance Facilities and Events at Central Piedmont Community College for over five years, I lead the management of four performing arts venues. This includes overseeing ticket sales exceeding one million annually and generating revenue for a 501(c)(3) organization. Our team collaborates with 175 rental clients, ensuring community access to live events while supporting college and student initiatives. With a career spanning over two decades and skills in external relations and classroom instruction, I am committed to fostering community engagement and enhancing educational experiences. My leadership focuses on creating seamless operations, exceptional customer experiences, and programs that align academic growth with real-world applications, ensuring the arts remain a cornerstone of learning and community connection.

Country

United States

City

Charlotte

Industry

Education Management

Skill

Historical Research, Classroom Instruction, External Relations, Workforce Education, Cultural Diversity, Creativity and Innovation, Gamification, Teamwork, Customer Engagement, Communication, Competitive Strategies, Strategic Planning, Management, Leadership, Customer Service, Request for Proposal (RFP), Presentations, Sales Strategy, External Clients, College Education Planning

Experience

Executive Director Performance Facilities and Events

Central Piedmont Community College

2020-10 - Present · 5 yrs 11 mos

United States

• Manage 4 performing art venues, overseeing ticket sales of over 1 million annually. • Generate revenue for a 501c3 managing 175 rental clients, providing community access for live events. • Lead college and student support initiatives, ensuring seamless operations and exceptional customer experiences.

Associate Dean Central Campus, Visual & Performing Arts and Hospitality Education

Central Piedmont Community College

2008-7 - 2020-9 · 12 yrs 3 mos

Charlotte, North Carolina Area

• Managed budgets for academic transfer offerings, theatre ticket sales, and foundation donations, totaling in successful program development and student success. • Developed online social media strategies for ticket sales, website management, and Box Office Management, resulting in increased revenue and student engagement. • Collaborated with Central Piedmont Foundation for outreach and fundraising, enhancing academic performing arts programs and student opportunities.

Director of ELearning

Central Piedmont Community College

2005-2 - 2007-7 · 2 yrs 6 mos

Central Piedmont Community College

• Managed online learning strategy for 9,000 fully online students and over 10,000 hybrid students. • Established CPCC's first full online and face-to-face orientation for eLearning. • Instituted Quality Assurance policies to ensure high standards of online education. • Provided faculty training for LMS systems Blackboard, Moodle, and Sakai.

Project Manager for ESSI

American Institutes for Research

2002 - 2004 · 2 yrs

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Developed and field tested open-ended and multiple choice questions for the NAEP. • Implemented improvements to the Adtracker publications review system in collaboration with the IT development team. • Created professional development training manuals for the Adtracker system.

History Instructor

Central Piedmont Community College

1999-8 - 2003-7 · 4 yrs

Levine Campus Central Piedmont Community College

• Developed and offered US History|Literature learning community with English department. • Created the first online history course and served as the Virtual Campus program chair for the department. • Led College Senate as President in 2002.