Annual Report

ANNU

AL RE

PORT

2013 SERVING

THOSE WHOSERVE OTHERS

relaxitshandled.com

4 | Opening Remarks

5 | Our Company 6................Vision, Mission, Values 7................Services 9................Commitment to Clients

10 | 2013 at a Glance 11..............2013 in Review 12-13.........Event Timeline 14..............Association Clients

15 | Our Team 16-17.........Relax Team at Work

18 | Get in Touch

TABLE OF CONTENTS“board’s fundraising goal as they demonstrated their ability to plan and smoothy execute a

...I KNEW WE WERE IN CAPABLE HANDS WITH RELAX, IT’S HANDLED in charge of the planning process. From the “big picture” to the minute details, The Relax staff

“Relax, It’s Handled played a key role in exceeding the

TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL EVENT.

was thorough, knowledable and timely.

JAY GRINNEYPresident and CEO, Healthsouth CorporationChairman, 2013 NCCJ Brotherhood & Sistershood Awards

Thank you very much for your interest in Relax, It’s Handled and welcome to our 2013 Annual Report.

We are excited about sharing our highlights and insights with you. The year 2013 was as exhilarating as it was challenging for our firm and the projects we managed on behalf of our clients.

We look forward to making 2014 our best year yet!

Sincerely,

ED FIELDS, MBA, IOMMANAGING DIRECTOR

IT’S TIME TO

,OUR COMPANY

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To provide volunteer leaders and not-for-profit executives with association and event management services that increase their income and deepen volunteer engagement.

To be a vehicle for team building, wealth creation, creative agility and fun for our team. To add value to the communities and organizations that we serve.

MISSIONTo inspire excellence in our team, our clients and our communities every wakeful moment.

RELAX

• Excellence, always• Candor and compassion• Do the right thing

VISIONVALUES

is an Association Management Company (AMC) that provides exceptional event and association management to membership-oriented nonprofit associations including professional, trade, and civic organizations. We add flexible capacity to mission-focused organizations in need of additional, experienced support. IT’S HANDLED

SERVICES• Time Saving Volunteer Committee Management• No Stone Unturned Project Plans and Timelines• Customized Graphic Design and Publications• Intelligent Social Media Management• Pushy Media Outreach (TV, Radio, Print, etc)• Smart Newsletter Creation• Meaningful Event Evaluation and Summaries• Thoughtful Budget Management• Diligent Venue and Vendor Coordination

,

• Professional Headquarter Office Services• Revenue Generating Certification and Education Program Management• Relax-worthy Event and Meeting Planning• Hands On Membership/Chapter Management• Fundraising Campaign Management• Experienced Board Support• Bookkeeping and Financial Management• Intelligent Social Media Management

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EVENT MANAGEMENTProducing fundraising events can be stressful. We bring experience and horsepower to the table to ensure no detail goes unnoticed and fundraising opportunities are maximized.

ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENTWe manage professional, trade and civic organizations. The organizations have no staff, so we step in by handling every phase of day-to-day operations. We professionalize their nonprofits and associations, giving them confidence and continuity, year-in and year-out.

As the President of the 2013 Birmingham Inaugural Foundation I found myself with an immediate need for an experienced event planner.

BOBBIE KNIGHTPresident, 2013 Birmingham Inaugural Foundation Board of DirectorsVice President - Birmingham Division, Alabama Power Company

TO MY DELIGHT, ED FIELDS AND HIS TEAM AT RELAX, IT’S HANDLED WERE READY AND WILLING TO DO WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO MAKETHE BIRMINGHAM INAUGURAL GALA A SMASHING SUCCESS.

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The volunteers we work with want to see results. These individuals understand that they are better serving their organizations if they recruit top talent – be they volunteer, full time staff or a professional management firm like Relax, It’s Handled. They stay out of nitty-gritty details and focus on governance, fundraising, relationship-building and industry advocacy.

Since 2007, more than 3,000 volunteers and leaders of 50+ organizations have been inspired, organized and supported by Relax, It’s Handled. We have an intimate understanding of what volunteers and executives need to be successful in collaborative, project-based situations. We have a holistic understanding of the nonprofit experience because we have served as staff leaders as well as volunteer leaders of nonprofit organizations.

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COMMITMENT TO CLIENTS

His team handled everything from vendor negotiations, budgeting, volunteer management, decor and worked closely with my staff team to ensure no gaps in communication. Equally important, my confidence in Relax, It’s Handled allowed me to focus on fundraising and ensuring our Mayor, City Councilors and School Board Members were made to feel special. Ed and his team were successful in bringing their mantra, Relax, It’s Handled to life. I couldn’t have had a better experience!

2013 AT A GLANCE ,11

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

The Brotherhood and Sisterhood Awards Dinner continued as Birmingham’s pre-eminent recognition awards for philanthropy and social justice. Hosted by NCCJ of Alabama, their Award recipient and Regions executive, Bill Horton (L), beams with pride alongside Awards Dinner Chairman and HealthSouth CEO, Jay Grinney. With no full time staff, Relax, It’s Handled worked hand-in-hand with a dynamic group of volunteer leaders to manage every aspect of the event.

On April 16, Staci Brooks helped launch Alabama Media Group’s Statewide Tour of their “I AM GOING ALL THE WAY” Photo Exhibit. Relax, It’s Handled helped coordinate 9 tour stops across Alabama! photo via AL.com

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Birmingham citizens, including several hundred adults and students removed 2.11 tons of debris from the West Birmingham section of Village Creek during the Annual Spring Clean-Up for Village Creek Society. Relax, It’s Handled provided very hands-on program support for VCS all year in 2013 thanks to a national grant from The River Network.

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Birmingham socialite, Deon Gordon of Chronicle Studios with former Miss Alabama, Kalyn Chapman James. Nearly 600 young professionals attended this UAB Minority Heath Research Center fundraiser at WorkPlay. The event featured live entertainment, casino, celebrity dealers, heavy hors d’ ouerves, silent auction and full bar. Relax, It’s Handled supported a large group of more than 30 young professional board members at every phase of the event.

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SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL TOURCNN’s Don Lemon with Sara Verser of Fox 6 (L) and Nan Baldwin of the Birmingham Business Alliance (R). Lemon served as keynote speaker for the Birmingham Association of Black Journalist’s Inaugural Mountaintop Awards. Relax, It’s Handled served as principal event planners, providing support and guidance to the BABJ Board of Directors for this one of a kind event held in conjunction with the City of Birmingham’s 50th Commemoration of the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement.

Alabama Media Group President, Matt Sharp, rappelled 17 stories down One Federal Place to benefit children with Cystic Fibrosis. Matt was just one of several “Edgers” who took the leap to raise money for this wonderful cause. Relax, It’s Handled played a key role in behind-the-scenes fundraising strategies.

Former Miss Alabama and current UAB Government Affairs Executive, Ceil Snow, in perfect form along with professional dance instructor, Fabian Sanchez. The 4th Annual Dancing With The Silver Stars is one of Birmingham’s marquee fundraisers. Proceeds benefit the UAB Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging, a department within the School of Medicine. Relax, It’s Handled supported fantastic volunteers and UAB planning staff. Our firm had significant responsibility in the areas of dancer schedules, audio-visual production management and media outreach.

Birmingham’s top theatre company -- Red Mountain Theatre Company (RMTC), produced a statewide stage performance inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter From Birmingham Jail. The performance featured RMTC Principal Actor, Cecil Washington, Jr. in 15 different locations throughout Alabama, including universities, churches and theaters. Relax, It’s Handled served as tour managers, coordinating venues, evaluations and connecting dots in general.

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Members of the Steering Committee for the Atlanta-based Southern Employee Benefits Conference (SEBC) enjoy a moment together at a Birmingham, Alabama symposium. Relax, It’s Handled coordinated venue logistics and supported the Atlanta-based Executive Director run their operations, including event management, bookkeeping and website updates.

Over 800 people attend the Birmingham Inaugural Gala honoring the City of Birmingham’s newly inducted Mayor, Birmingham City Council and Birmingham School Board.

Ed Fields with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International President, Jason Hoff, wife Kirstin Hoff and MBUSI Communications Manager, Feylicia Jerald. Relax, It’s Handled served as the principal event planner for the party for nearly 1,000 MBUSI Team Members and friends.

The Birmingham Venture Club Annual Meeting hosted over 500 attendees, including venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and professional service professionals. Relax, It’s Handled manages the Club -- from major programs, to bookkeeping to website updates -- we keep the 300 member Club running smoothly.

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Relax, It’s Handled provided a yoga instructor to provide hands-on instruction to help BSHRM members find relaxing poses and stress-relieving exercises in their offices.

visit www.relaxitshandled.com for current events!

All full service clients have meeting and event support from Relax, It’s Handled throughout the year. These four clients represent 3 regional conferences, 16 monthly luncheons, 21 board meetings and 2 major annual meetings.

OUR TEAM,BioAlabama is a statewide organization representing Alabama’s bio related industries, research scientists, clinicians and business professionals who are working together to foster, develop and support the life sciences in Alabama.

Founded in 1943, the Birmingham Society for Human Resource Management (BSHRM) has grown into one of the largest local chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management.

The Birmingham Venture Club is an association of business professionals who seek to increase the amount and quality of venture capital-related activities in the Birmingham area.

SEBC is a non-profit organization that provides educational events and networking opportunities for professionals involved in the employer-benefits industry.

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.birminghamventure.com205.588.1582administrator@birminghamventure.com

[email protected]

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ASSOCIATION CLIENTS

“What I love most about Relax, It’s Handled are the people we work with and the clients we serve. Our passion, skills and clients are the driving forces behind everything we do.”

“Spend a day at our office and you will quickly learn that there is NEVER a dull moment at RIH. Take our firm’s name literally; we work hard so our clients can relax!”

“It was an honor to work with incredible clients that have made such an impact on our community. It was satisfying to produce events that exceed expectations.”

KELLIE CLARK | PROJECT MANAGER

CAROLINE COLE | MARKETING MANAGER

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RELAX TEAM AT WORK

“Not only do I enjoy partnering with such an energetic firm, I thrive off of it. The Relax team always brings passion for events and I enjoy being a key partner.”

ED FIELDS | MANAGING DIRECTOR

“A client told this once and it couldn’t ring more true for 2013: ‘Work expands to fill the space allotted. I’m so glad that work expanded with Relax, It’s Handled. I loved our projects!”

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KELLIE HARPER | OFFICE MANAGER ASHLEY GRIGG | PROJECT MANAGER

“We know where the tough spots typically are; we maximize volunteer efforts and get great results.That makes people happy. And, that’s why leaders like doing business with us.”

MEREDITH DALE | SPECIAL PROJECTS

GET IN TOUCH, Main Office1500 1st Avenue North | Unit 4Birmingham, Alabama | 35203

[phone] 205.588.1565[web] www.relaxitshandled.com

For service inquires [email protected]

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