Business Development Representative

Forge is looking for a high-energy Business Development pro to help grow revenue across our portfolio of trade shows and conferences. You’ll be the person who finds the right companies to talk to, starts the conversation, and qualifies opportunities for our Account Executives to close.

If you like digging into research, testing what messaging works, and using tools like Gong and Salesforce to build a pipeline, you’ll fit right in. You’ll help create pipeline through modern outbound prospecting — combining research, signal-based targeting, and consultative outreach. This is a fast-paced, “learn by doing” role with clear coaching, measurable goals, and a strong path into an Account Executive career track.

Location: Alpharetta, GA or New York, NY (Broadway) — hybrid options may be available based on team needs.

Why this role matters: You’ll create the top of the funnel—turning target accounts into real conversations and qualified meetings that become event and sponsorship revenue.

Responsibilities

•Research net-new exhibitor and sponsor accounts using ZoomInfo industry intelligence, and signal-based prospecting (intent, trigger events, engagement signals.

•Build targeted lists and run multi-threaded outreach cadences (email, phone, social) while keeping clean notes and next steps in Salesforce.

•Qualify prospects through short discovery conversations—confirming fit, goals, decision process, and timing—so we focus on high-potential opportunities.

•Create personalized outreach that connects a prospect’s business goals to the value of Forge’s events (ROI, audience, leads, brand visibility).

•Partner closely with Account Executives for a smooth handoff—sharing research, key contacts, conversation notes, and recommended next steps.

•Collaborate with Marketing and attendee teams to share feedback on lead quality, personas, and campaigns—then adjust targeting and messaging accordingly.

•Stay current on industry trends, competitor events, and emerging categories; bring new ideas for who we should be selling to next.

•Occasionally support the close by stepping in to run pricing/package conversations when needed.

What we’re looking for

•0–2 years of experience in sales, customer success, recruiting, fundraising, hospitality, or another role where you had to build relationships and hit goals (internships count).

•Comfortable with outbound outreach (calls + email) and willing to practice, iterate, and get better fast.

•Tech savvy: experience using Salesforce (or another CRM) and confidence learning new tools quickly.

•Organized and self-directed—you can manage a daily outreach plan, follow-ups, and deadlines without things slipping.

•Strong communication skills: you can write clear, professional messages and speak confidently with new people.

•Be a consultative partner! Understand basic discovery methods (BANT) business pain, priorities, stakeholders, and decision process.

•Ability to travel up to 30% (some events require on-site time).

Success Metrics

•You will be measured on pipeline created, qualified opportunities, conversion, target account penetration, activity effectiveness.

Nice to have

•Experience with Gong, ZoomInfo, sales engagement tools, or list-building tools.

•Comfort with light data analysis (Excel/Google Sheets) to track activity and results.

•Interest in events, media, marketing, or B2B communities—and curiosity about how businesses grow.

What success looks like (first 90 days)

First 30 Days

•Learn markets, messaging, systems, and outreach standards.

60 Days

•Consistently execute outbound cadence and generate qualified meetings.

90 Days

•Create repeatable pipeline contribution and begin influencing targeting and messaging.

About Emerald

At Emerald, we strive to foster a diverse and inclusive community. We actively recruit and champion candidates who bring new perspectives from varied professional backgrounds and experiences, and we are intentional about ensuring a positive hiring experience for everyone. Our job postings don’t contain experience inflation, and most don’t require college degrees. Instead, they’re crafted to focus on outcomes and transferable experiences that are assessed in a structured interview process carried out by trained hiring teams.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Target Compensation: $60,000 plus Sales Incentive Plan eligible

Please note that this range reflects a reasonable estimate of the target compensation for this position. This range may ultimately vary based on a candidate’s qualifications and may be higher where required by applicable law.

We offer a competitive benefits package designed to strengthen our employees’ physical and mental health, including unlimited vacation for exempt employees, flexible working locations, 401(k) plan with a company match, medical/dental/vision coverage with inclusive provisions including transgender services and fertility benefits, parental and caregiver leave, dependent, commuter and FSA benefits, professional development programs like Toastmasters, and mental wellness tools.

If you need accommodation in our application process or have questions about our posted salary range, please email our Talent Acquisition team at [email protected].