Creative Strategist & Project Manager

I’m Erik Halley, a creative strategist and project manager with 8+ years across event planning, film production, and organizational operations. My background spans Assessment & Quality Assurance, Project Management, large-scale event planning, scripted filmmaking, and building the workflows that keep complex projects on track. Currently serving as Director of Academic Programs at Austin Christian University. Founder of Deprived Creative.

Skills

Event planning & execution

Concept & Execution

Event marketing

Campaigns, social, email, SMS

Project management

Cross-functional, multi-track

Film & Production

Produce · Scripted · Photo & Video

Assessment & Quality Assurance

Program evaluation & improvement

AI workflow optimization

Ops, reporting, automation

Agentic Engineering

Building with AI, websites, tools, workflows

Vendor & sponsor management

Contracts, logistics, delivery

Tools

ClickUpAsanaMonday.comHubSpotMarketoSalesforceMailchimpAdobe Creative SuiteDaVinci ResolveSquarespaceAirtablePlanning CenterClaude AIChatGPTSlackMicrosoft SuiteGoogle Suite

Events & Project Management

From concept to execution.

A look at the events I’ve planned, managed, and delivered — including the systems, documents, and processes behind the work.

Featured events

Conference

Radiant Conference

4,000 attendees · Celebration Church

University

Graduation Ceremony

300 attendees · Austin Christian University

Recruitment

Preview Day

200 attendees · 4× per year · ACU

Logistics overview

Venue & setup

Bringmann Lobby & Auditorium
Floral arrangements stage & lobby
Catering mix & mingle reception
AV, screens, and lighting coordination
Seating and guest flow management

Ceremony management

Graduate rehearsal 4:30pm
Ceremony walkthrough personal lead
Certificate & diploma ordering
Core Value Awards coordination

Guest communications

Registration flow and RSVP management
Pre-event email campaigns to families
Event program design and printing
Door and auditorium open timing
Post-event alumni data capture

Post-ceremony

Photos & mix and mingle 30 min
Staff & freshman teardown huddle
Full teardown & cleanup 40 min
Alumni and donor data collection

My roles

Project ManagerEvent CoordinationVendor RelationsCreative StrategyProducerExternal & Internal CommunicationData Collection

Run of show

Time	Length	Item	Person
Pre-Ceremony
4:30p	60 min	Ceremony Walkthrough	Erik Halley
5:30p	15 min	Exterior Doors Open Mix & Mingle begins
5:45p	10 min	Auditorium Doors Open
5:55p	5 min	Five Minute Countdown
Ceremony Program · 70 minutes
6:00p	5 min	Welcome & Introduction	President Connor Champion
6:05p	10 min	Opening Worship Set Acoustic & vocals · one primary song + extended tag	Celebration Music
6:15p	1 min	Transition & Prayer	Chancellor Joe Champion
6:16p	14 min	Commencement Address	Chancellor Joe Champion
6:30p	1 min	Transition	Dr. Brent Shaw
6:31p	14 min	Conferring of Certificates 19 graduates recognized	Dr. Brent Shaw
6:45p		Conferring of Bachelor of Business Administration Claire Headrick · Hampton McDuffee · Walker Owens · Justis Zachary	Dr. Brent Shaw
6:46p	10 min	ACU Core Value Awards Excellence · Christ Centered · Service · Community	Ps. Avery Montgomery
6:56p	2 min	ACU Lions Games Winner	Ps. Avery Montgomery
6:58p	2 min	Closing Remarks & Prayer	Ps. Avery Montgomery
7:00p		Ceremony Conclusion
Post-Ceremony
6:50p	30 min	Photos & Mix and Mingle
7:20p	40 min	Teardown & Cleanup	Laura Beth · Staff & Freshmen

Event photography

← Back to Events & PM

Overview

4,000+

Attendees

12 mo.

Prod. Cycle

8+

Depts

Annual

Cadence

My roles

Photoshoot ProducerMarketing StrategyCreative StrategyBrand DirectionProject ManagerVendor RelationsCross-Dept. Liaison

12-month production schedule

Month	Phase	Key Activities	Owner
Strategy & Vision
Month 1	Discovery	Kickoff & Vision Setting Conference theme, leadership alignment, budget framing	Erik Halley
Month 2	Planning	Department Scope Assignment Assign owners across all 8 depts, set deliverable timelines	Erik Halley
Brand & Creative
Month 3	Brand	Brand Identity Development Theme visuals, color system, typography, asset kit	Creative Team
Month 4	Photoshoot	Annual Photoshoot Production Shot list, talent, location, shoot execution, asset delivery	Erik Halley
Month 5	Merch	Merch Design & Vendor Brief Product concepts, vendor sourcing, design approvals, production kickoff	Erik Halley
Marketing & Registration
Month 6	Launch	Registration Open & Campaign Launch Email, social, SMS campaigns go live across all channels	Marketing Team
Month 7	Push	Mid-Campaign Activation Retargeting, speaker announcements, attendee communications	Erik Halley
Month 8	Merch	Merch Production & Fulfillment Final product approval, inventory counts, delivery confirmed	Erik Halley
Logistics & Execution
Month 9	Vendor	Vendor Finalization AV, staging, catering, security, transportation confirmed	Erik Halley
Month 10	Ops	Run-of-Show & Production Book Full ROS built, staff briefed, volunteer assignments locked	Erik Halley
Month 11	Final Push	Final Registrations & On-Site Prep Guest communications, badge printing, setup coordination	Erik Halley
Conference Week
Month 12	Execution	Conference Execution & Post-Event On-site leadership, merch sales, teardown, post-event reporting	Erik Halley

Asset list process

Category	Campaigns
Step 1 — Asset Categories
Print — Vinyl Signage	10 Campaigns
Print — Foam Core Signage	5 Campaigns
Print — Cortex Signage	3 Campaigns
Print — Stanchion Signage	8 Campaigns
Print Handouts	12 Campaigns
Concourse Experience	15 Campaigns
Canceled	5 Campaigns

Item	Owner	Material	Location	Qty
Step 2 — Asset Detail and Ownership
Beam Vinyls (144inx14in)	EH	Vinyl	Connection Point	2
Large Wall Vinyl (336x144)	EH	Vinyl	Main Concourse	1
R Vinyl — Entrance Door (16inx17in)	EH	Vinyl	Exterior Doors	28
We Will See It Vinyl — KiDS Window	EH	Vinyl	KiDS Concourse	11
WO — Womens Bathroom (4x4.5)	EH	Vinyl	Blend Entrance	2
Coffee Cart Insert (46.75x10in)	EH	Vinyl	Multiple	1
We Will See It Mirror (34.5x11.5)	EH	Vinyl	Green Room	1
Happy Birthday Radiant Vinyl (8ftx4ft)	EH	Vinyl	Backstage	1
Ring Vinyls	EH	Vinyl	Main Concourse	3
Installation Fee	EH	Installation Fee	Vendor	1

Send to Print	Install / Delivery	Installation	Amount
Step 3 — Budget and Vendor Tracking
Feb 7	Feb 21	External	$165.25
Feb 7	Feb 21	External	$4,043.25
Feb 7	Feb 21	External	$460.00
Feb 7	Feb 21	External	$576.10
Feb 7	Feb 21	External	$41.25
Feb 7	Feb 21	External	$38.85
Feb 10	Feb 21	External	$254.00
Feb 10	Feb 21	External	$254.00
Feb 10	Feb 21	External	$103.75
Feb 7		External	$2,200.00
Total			$8,136.45

Status	Status	Status
Step 4 — Status Labels
In Progress	Asking for Quote	Arrived
Sent to Print	Already Own	Misprint
Update Needed	Ordered
Paused	Not Started
Completed	Canceled
	Waiting for File

Conference experience

Photoshoot

← Back to Events & PM

Overview

200

Attendees

4×

Per Year

Annual

Program

My roles

Project Manager Event Coordinator Vendor Relations Creative Strategist Hospitality Lead Production POC

Preview Day Brief

Item	Detail
General Information
Event Owner	Laura Beth
Project Manager	Erik Halley
Creative Lead	Kiersten Stockton
Finance / Operations	Steven Anderson
Date	April 11th
Event Time	9am – Noon
Location	Bringman Center
Registration	16 current · 50 goal
Attire	Business Casual
Vision
Goal	Overview & insight of Austin Christian University
Audience	Prospective Students & Parents
Action — Students	Apply to Austin Christian
Action — Parents	Sign up for Newsletter
General Schedule
7:30am	Food & Beverage POC Arrival
7:45am	Staff Arrival / F&B Arrival
8:00am	Student / Dream Team + Breakfast
8:15am	Station / Position Set
8:30am	Guest Arrival / Exterior Doors Open / Check-in
8:45am	Auditorium Doors Open
9:00am	Program Begins / Worship
9:15am	Prayer & Welcome
9:20am	Introduce President Connor
9:21am	Welcome & Presentation
9:38am	Introduce Pastor Joe
9:40am	Pastor Joe & Connor Interview
9:55am	Legacy Video
10:00am	Student Panel
10:40am	Breakout Session 1
11:00am	Breakout Session 2
11:30am	Fellow Friday Session Begins
12:15pm	Fellow Friday Concludes
12:30pm	Crawfish Boil
3:00pm	Taillights
Equipment
Bringmann Lobby LED screen · Auditorium LED screen · Production Suite AVL · Cameras (A74, A7III, Fx3, Fx6) · Microphones ×6 · Worship keys/guitar

Run of Show — March 27, 2026

Time	Length	Item	Person
Morning Setup
7:00am	—	Staff Call Time
7:15am	—	Student Call Time · CFA Breakfast
7:30am	—	Preview Day Rally + Worship Rehearsal	Laura & LB
8:00am	—	Exterior Doors Open — Breakfast Tacos, Coffee
Preview Day Program
8:30am	—	BC Doors Open
8:45am	—	Countdown Video
8:53am	2 min	Welcome & Prayer	Pastor Avery
8:55am	8 min	Worship Set	Ava
9:05am	3 min	Prayer & Transition	Sam Self
9:07am	6 min	Legacy Video
9:13am	20 min	ACU Vision Presentation	Connor Champion
9:33am	—	Hyper-Personalized Education Video
9:35am	10 min	APEX Interview	Connor & Dr. Hill
9:45am	—	Student Story Video	Katie & Kass
9:48am	15 min	Student Panel Discussion Zach Dean, Noah, Preslee, Campbell	Pastor Avery
10:03am	—	Dismiss to Groundbreaking	Pastor Avery
Groundbreaking Ceremony
10:25am	5 min	Countdown to Ceremony	Avery & Sam
10:30am	7 min	Opening Remarks	Pastor Joe
10:38am	35 min	John Maxwell Session	John Maxwell
11:13am	5 min	Closing & Vision of School	Connor
11:18am	5 min	Honor the Bringmann Family	PJ & Connor
11:23am	5 min	Reading: "The School That We See"	Connor
11:28am	—	Stake the Ground	Sebastian
11:28am	—	Take the Ground	Jaydin
11:31am	5 min	Official Groundbreaking & Prayer	John Maxwell
11:35am	—	Closing Thought	Pastor Avery

Day-of Staff Brief

Experience & Welcome Team

Staff Lead: Rheagan Champion / Steven Anderson
Foster high-energy welcoming atmosphere
Guide guests from parking to check-in
Manage pop-up signs at road entrances

Connecting Team

Staff Lead: Stephen Milani
Walk guests to check-in and sessions
Engage in genuine conversation
Help guests feel connected to ACU

Parking Team

Staff Lead: Lars Ostervold
Greet families at vehicle arrival
Guide to designated parking areas
Manage golf cart transport

Hospitality Team

Staff Lead: Erik Halley
Oversee all food & beverage stations
Breakfast, snacks, coffee, charcuterie
Restock plates, cups, napkins, beverages

Operations Team

Staff Lead: LB Shufelt
Keep event on schedule
Oversee check-in & welcome folders
Guide students between sessions

Media & Production Team

Media Lead: Kiersten Stockton
Production Lead: Mel Rivera
B-roll & photography capture
Audio, stage management, AVL

Event photography

← Back to Events & PM

Film & Production

Scripted films, documentary storytelling, music production/live recordings; click any thumbnail to watch.

Skills

ProducingPre-ProductionProject ManagementPost ProductionColor GradingEditingSound DesignFilmmakingPhotographyDirectorScriptwriterCoordinatingVendor RelationsHospitalitySet DesignDaVinci ResolveAdobe Creative Suite

Scripted

Story / Testimonials / Talking Heads

Legacy Film 2024

Legacy Film 2023

Legacy Film 2022

Music Videos & Live Recordings

Jesus You Alone