Denise A. Smith

Experience

• 

  Comfort Suites-Hanes Mall

  Jun 1998 - Aug 2001

  Sales Coordinator

  • Hired pre-construction• Provided stellar customer service/satisfaction while booking meetings and events• Handled customer complaints/inquiries effectively and professionally• Demonstrated excellent oral, written, time management, and organizational skills• Conducted sales/service contacts via telephone correspondence and outside sales calls• Operated computer program with ease while maintaining calls using the telephone switchboard• Performed shift balances, daily cashier operations, and audits when necessary• Aided professional growth by assisting the Director of Sales with group bookings and direct bills• Assisted DOS with promoting awareness of the hotel by making new contacts, searching for new leads, maintaining knowledge of competition, and remaining aware of economic trends affecting the hotel• Assisted with analyzing client and hotel data to prepare hotel packages and quotes to better sale the property Show less

• 

  Piercing Pagoda

  Oct 2001 - Nov 2007

  Area Sales Manager-Hanes Mall

  Demonstrated a strong belief in leadership by example; recruited, interviewed, trained, developed, motivated, and retained staff to achieve all store and personal sales goals including while holding employees accountable for meeting company customer service standards through:• Unit sales performance• Personnel management• Customer service• Merchandise presentation• Loss prevention• Expense control• Overall store administration• Demonstrated success and expertise in sales and merchandising• Provided supervisory skills and leadership experience through proven communication skills• Promoted open communication between management, employees, customers, corporate office personnel, mall management, and other retailers• Conducted inventory audits scheduled by the corporate officeSales Associate: (10/01-7/02)• Individual average sales were $170 per hour; daily deals up to $1800; monthly sales up to $43,000, depending on the season• Complied with banking, merchandise presentation, shrink goals, store maintenance, and loss prevention policies Show less

• 

  Hilton Garden Inn Winston-Salem/Hanes Mall

  Jul 2014 - Jul 2017

  Supervised the Sales and Catering Dept. while overseeing direct sales, marketing, public relations, advertising, catering, and event management of a beautiful 112-room hotel with 2300 sq. ft. of event space.HUMAN RESOURCES/COMPANY RELATIONS• Screened resumes for candidate recruitment and conducted pre-employment interviews.• Effectively trained and managed qualified staff members to meet the highest guest service requirements.• Developed staff through training and motivation, assuming a leadership role in the company.• Counseled employees to resolve problems quickly and appropriately while following all human resource policies, rules, and regulations.BUDGETING & FINANCE/PROFIT MANAGEMENT• Proven ability to meet or exceed yearly budgets and RevPAR goals and increase hotel ADR YOY.• Accurately forecasted revenues and occupancy changes based on changing market conditions.• Prepared quarterly and yearly departmental budgets, accurately reflecting the company business plan.• Forecasted occupancy fluctuations and direct selling activities to maximize revenue.• Continually analyzed and adjusted marketing plan/data to reflect market trends.• Produced departmental reports weekly to ensure accuracy and consistency on a timely basis.• Understood demand segments, sources of business for each, and balanced market segments by supply/demand.• Identified revenue opportunities and pursued them to maximize profitability.• Performed direct sales calls for group/large volume accounts or other accounts to supplement the property sales efforts as necessary and appropriate.I successfully remained the #1 hotel in my comp set during my tenure by promoting teamwork and creating guest loyalty. I also helped create new initiatives that were used company-wide, and I served as the company's Interim General Manager (8/2011-12/2011) while continuing my role within the property.Promoted to become a dual Director of Sales and Marketing at a second HGI property in Odessa, Texas. Show less My responsibilities included, but were not limited to:Directed supervision of the Sales and Catering Manager while overseeing the direct sales, marketing, public relations, advertising, catering, and event management of a beautiful 100-room Hilton Garden Inn with 4100 square feet of event space in Odessa, Texas.• Monitored departmental sales costs while creating new ways to bring in business with "out of the box ideas".• Performed cold and appointment sales calls- reaching goals on production report• Prospected to determine needs• Solicited by telephone directory, internet, etc.• Developed all leads• Serviced Accounts• Recommended and made referrals from existing accounts• Analyzed the ultimate potential of the account. Set specific goals for increasing the volume of business• Performed site visits• Provided high-quality products and services to guests• Listened to needs and obtained valuable operational information from each account to prepare accurate prep sheets and communicate the needs to the operational departments• Trained and educated accounts and their employees on the best way to utilize our property• Organized and followed-up• Used history and current knowledge for existing accounts• Handled client's complaints tactfully and expeditiously Show less

  • Director of Sales and Marketing

    Jul 2008 - Jul 2017

  • Director of Sales and Marketing-Support

    Jul 2014 - Dec 2015
• 

  N'Vision Consulting

  Jul 2017 - Oct 2023

  • Devised and implemented marketing campaigns across various channels, including print, broadcast, and online platforms, to ensure that products and services meet expectations and build brand credibility.• Created top-notch content such as articles, newsletters, and other digital materials, ensuring they align with strategic goals and maintain brand consistency.• Organized, planned, and executed large-scale events such as conferences, award shows/banquets, product launches, exhibitions, and photoshoots.• Contributed to social media projects from ideation through delivery, including identifying measures of success and managing content reviews, expirations, and additions.• Managed job postings on all popular job websites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, and Monster.• Supervised social media assistants and interns, screened resumes, conducted interviews, hired, and implemented training.• Managed multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring that deadlines and priorities were effectively balanced.• Monitored relevant data and results from digital communication tools to measure the success of campaigns and initiatives.• Developed and optimized digital communication plans aligned with organizational goals and objectives and managed digital communication tools, including email marketing, to effectively execute communication strategies.• Analyzed trends and analytics in social media and applied that knowledge to increase the presentation and response of the brand message, serving as a content implementer for all social media platforms.• Prepared all promotional materials such as sales literature, client brochures, mailings, print advertisements, website updates on all channels, store imaging and descriptions, coupons, and rebates as needed.• Worked closely with cross-functional teams to gather information, insights, and input for content creation. Show less N'Vision Consulting is a multifaceted company specializing in Marketing, Promotions, Events, Entertainment, and Brand Management/Development. Our team of experienced marketing professionals has diverse backgrounds, viewpoints, and talents. We strive to exceed our client's expectations by providing superior service. We use clever strategic thinking and originality in our approach to creative ideas, and we are fiercely committed to the success of our clients. Our effective methods are designed to meet their individual needs and provide the best possible work and results.. Show less • Organized, implemented, and executed various high-profile events, including prospect receptions and dinners, campaign events, fundraisers, town hall meetings, and campaign celebrations while maintaining professional discretion.• Developed and executed a comprehensive plan to meet fundraising goals through relationship building and solicitation from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation support.• Performed managing prospects and maintaining biographical information in a donor database.• Cultivated donors to increase profitability and enhance the donor experience.• Developed monthly reports for accuracy and to assist with reporting• Assisted with coordinating event logistics, including print and email with various donors, sponsors, etc.• Strategic oversight of the campaign events budget. Ensure all campaign events are executed on time and within budget• Developed a travel and event schedule, in conjunction with the Campaign Director, for scheduled appearances• Managed the event calendars and organized committee planning meetings• Prepared all promotional materials, as needed, including campaign literature, brochures, mailings, print advertisements, and website updates• Assisted with critical social media projects from idea through delivery, including identifying key measures of success• Assisted with designing engaging graphics and videos for each new social media campaign • Monitored trends and analytics in social media and applied that knowledge to increase the presentation and response to the brand message• Served as a content implementer for all social media platforms and created and pre-planned social media schedule• Assisted with the creation of fundraising letters, recommended ask amounts, peer-to-peer assignments, and tracking of results in collaboration with the Campaign Director• Performed other duties as assigned or requested to meet campaign goals and objectives Show less

  • Brand Manager - Maxwell Ventures

    Sept 2018 - Oct 2023

  • CEO/Founder

    Jul 2017 - Oct 2023

  • Director of Campaign Events - Kimbrough for Sheriff

    Jul 2017 - Nov 2018