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Work Background
Guard and GraceEvents Manager
Nov. 2023 - Oct. 2024Houston, Texas, United States• Developed and implemented the first comprehensive sales tracking and reporting system for private events, providing leadership with data-driven visibility into revenue performance and the foundation for setting data-informed annual revenue goals and performance benchmarks. • Coordinated end-to-end project planning and execution for corporate and social events by overseeing multiple cross-functional teams, ensuring seamless delivery, stakeholder satisfaction, and alignment with timelines and budgets. • Conducted a continuous optimization project to standardize workflows, process documentation, and tracking templates to improve internal coordination. • Conducted market research and SWOT analysis to evaluate private dining offerings and pricing, identifying opportunities to enhance existing packages, menus, and services to elevate client experience and strengthen market positioning. • Generated over $2M in event revenue by maintaining existing stakeholder relationships, securing new clients, and delivering high-quality outcomes aligned with stakeholder goals and needs.
Roka AkorPrivate Events Manager
Mar. 2023 - Nov. 2023Houston, Texas, United States• Managed planning workflows and event timelines for private dining, coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure client expectations, budgets, and operational capabilities were met. • Created and launched a hotel concierge incentive program to build relationships with Houston’s top luxury and business hotels, driving private dining referrals and increasing corporate traveler bookings. • Developed relationships with Visit Houston, destination management companies (DMCs), and executives across Houston’s key industries (energy, healthcare, finance, and technology) to promote Roka Akor’s private dining offerings and expand brand visibility. • Anticipated and resolved operational challenges by working closely with culinary teams, front-of-house staff, and vendors to adjust timelines, menus, and logistics, ensuring smooth event execution and positive client experiences. • Leveraged Tripleseat, a hospitality-focused CRM and event management tool, to track leads, manage proposals and contracts, generate BEOs, and provide leadership with real-time sales data and performance insights.
Le Colonial HoustonPrivate Events Director
Jul. 2021 - Mar. 2023Houston, TX• Exceeded annual sales target by 40%, driving over $720K in event revenue by leveraging consultative sales strategies, proactive client discovery, and customized event proposals to upsell premium packages and enhanced services aligned with client goals and event vision. • Cultivated strong client relationships through active listening, needs assessment, and clear communication, positioning myself as a trusted advisor and driving repeat business. • Led full event lifecycle management for corporate and social events, from initial client consultation and requirements gathering through planning, execution, and post-event evaluation. • Conducted post-event audits to capture client feedback, assess performance, and recommend process improvements to enhance future events and optimize internal workflows. • Facilitated cross-functional planning meetings with culinary, operations, and service teams to align on project timelines, clarify deliverables, and proactively identify and mitigate potential risks, ensuring seamless execution and adherence to both client expectations and internal quality standards.
Berg Hospitality GroupSales & Events Manager
Jan. 2020 - Jun. 2021Houston, Texas• Promoted from Events/Restaurant Manager at The Annie Café & Bar to Sales & Events Manager at corporate level. • Sold and coordinated events for all six restaurant concepts within the company: B&B Butchers, BB Lemon, The Annie Café & Bar, Turner’s, and BB Italia. Conducted site visits at each restaurant. • Achieved growth and hit sales targets successfully. • Prepared budgets and ensured adherence while sharing suggestions with peers on ways to enhance events while keeping company expense cost to a minimum. • Sourced and negotiated with vendors and suppliers. • Built and maintained customer relationships leading the events team to build long-term and value-based customer relationships that enable achievement of sales objectives. • Served as primary point of contact for large events and parties. • Kept an organized and updated file with Banquet Event Orders (BEO) for each booking to ensure a smooth event completion. • Collaborated with Executive Chefs on menu requests. • Collaborated with the Marketing team on developing promotional material that will aid the events department to develop more leads and sales.
The Annie Cafe & BarPrivate Events & Restaurant Manager (Berg Hospitality Group)
Aug. 2017 - Jan. 2020Houston, Texas Area• Coordinated details of events such as conferences, rehearsal dinners, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, charity events, surprise parties, business meetings, employee appreciation events. • Calculated budgets and ensure they are adhered to. • Responsible for day-to-day operations for an internationally acclaimed fine dining restaurant with a seating capacity of 360 and an average of 80 employees. Operations included event planning, office management, and ongoing staff training. • Negotiated restaurant buyouts for private events for groups up to 250. Created special menus and coordinated with multiple vendors to accommodate and deliver a unique set up for each event. Many events resulted in repeat business. • Organized holiday events by monitoring reservations, creating floor plans, determining rental needs and leading hostesses, other managers, kitchen and wait staff to deliver high level of service during busiest time of the year.
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