Rachel Elkes
Chicago
Summary
Relationship-driven professional with a background in sales development, event strategy, and client engagement. Proven ability to build trust with stakeholders, drive revenue through consultative conversations, and partner cross-functionally to deliver seamless customer experiences. Experienced in managing account engagement, influencing pipeline, and identifying growth opportunities across B2B environments.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Business Development Representative & Business Travel Consultant
TravelPerk
Chicago, IL
01.2026 - Current
- Build and nurture relationships with prospective and existing clients, acting as a consultative resource on travel and expense management solutions
- Partner with Account Executives and Customer Success teams to support account onboarding, engagement, and long-term adoption
- Identify client pain points and recommend tailored solutions, contributing to pipeline growth and future expansion opportunities
- Collaborate with marketing and events teams on strategic campaigns to increase client engagement and strengthen relationships
- Recognized for strong performance and promoted to Senior role based on consistent KPI achievement and cross-functional impact
Business Development Representative
TravelPerk
Chicago, IL
01.2025 - 01.2026
- Managed a portfolio of target accounts, driving engagement through personalized, account-based outreach strategies
- Built relationships with key stakeholders to understand business goals and align solutions to their needs
- Consistently exceeded outreach and meeting goals, achieving strong meeting-to-opportunity conversion rates
- Partnered cross-functionally with sales and marketing to ensure a seamless transition from prospecting to sales engagement
- Supported post-event follow-up and lead nurturing efforts to increase conversion and long-term engagement
Event Coordinator
City Experiences
Chicago, IL
06.2024 - 01.2025
- Managed end-to-end client relationships for 30+ large-scale events, ensuring alignment with client goals, budgets, and expectations
- Served as the primary point of contact, delivering a high-touch experience that drove client satisfaction and repeat business
- Developed customized event strategies that increased engagement and contributed to a 20% lift in repeat bookings
- Analyzed event performance and provided post-event reporting to inform future client strategy and ROI
- Negotiated vendor contracts and managed budgets up to $600K+, balancing cost efficiency with client experience
Technical Recruiter
Apex Systems
Chicago, IL
06.2022 - 06.2024
- Built and maintained relationships with candidates and internal stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor throughout the hiring process
- Managed multiple client-facing touchpoints, ensuring alignment between candidate experience and business needs
- Coordinated recruiting and branding events that increased candidate pipeline by 20%
- Partnered with marketing teams to support engagement strategies and track outcomes through CRM tools
- Awarded Rising Star for exceeding performance targets and demonstrating leadership
Event Management Intern
Cedar Rapids Kernels
Cedar Rapids, IA
04.2021 - 09.2021
- Supported execution of 60+ community and corporate events, ensuring a seamless guest experience
- Assisted with client coordination and on-site logistics to deliver high-quality events
- Created social media content that increased attendance and overall engagement
Education
Bachelor - Communication Studies
University of Iowa
Skills
- Account Management & Relationship Building
- Customer Retention & Expansion Strategy
- Consultative Selling & Needs Discovery
- Cross-functional Collaboration (Sales, Marketing, Customer Success)
- Pipeline Growth & Revenue Influence
- CRM Management (Salesforce, HubSpot, Bullhorn)
- Stakeholder Communication & Client Engagement
- Data Analysis, KPIs & Performance Tracking
LEADERSHIP & ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Social Media Chair — Delta Delta Delta Sorority
- Led social media strategy and event promotion, increasing engagement through targeted content
- Millennials Committee — Apex Systems
- Organized internal events and initiatives to improve employee engagement and communication
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Eligible to work in the U.S. without restriction
- Limited working proficiency in Spanish
- Interests: Relationship Building, Customer Experience, Data Analytics, Event Strategy
Timeline
Senior Business Development Representative & Business Travel Consultant
TravelPerk
01.2026 - Current
Business Development Representative
TravelPerk
01.2025 - 01.2026
Event Coordinator
City Experiences
06.2024 - 01.2025
Technical Recruiter
Apex Systems
06.2022 - 06.2024
Event Management Intern
Cedar Rapids Kernels
04.2021 - 09.2021
Bachelor - Communication Studies
University of Iowa