Experience

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  Hooters of america corporate, inc

  Sept 2002 - Mar 2004

  Franchise coordinator & trainer

  Spearheaded delivery of marketing, PR and promotional expertise to franchisees worldwide. Served as first point of contact for potential franchisees, screened applications, compiled financial data, subsequently arranging all meetings with executive management. Conducted week-long training seminars for new franchise owners at the Atlanta site, traveled to franchises to provide ongoing marketing support. Prepared sales/trend, quality control, and cost reports; tracked marketing promotions using Excel and SPSS; analyzed results and formulated recommendations for individual franchises. Show less

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  American intercontinental university

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2007

  Associate director of admissions

  Managed staff of 10 admissions advisors in the recruitment and retention of students for the Atlanta campus of an international university. Delegated work responsibilities and monitored overall job performances to ensure meeting sales expectations and adherence to policies and procedures. Directed communications with prospects from initial contacts through campus visits, financial aid applications, enrollment, and orientation sessions to start of classes. Forecasted student starts for executive planning purposes with central management and regional VP's. Consistently met and/or exceeded all quotas. Met with students to discuss career goals, identified appropriate degree programs, and conveyed benefits of the university compared to competitor offerings. Developed and nurtured relationships with prospective students. Strategized PR initiatives with corporate partners (such as Ford, Bell South, and Coca-Cola) to encourage their employees to complete their degrees. Organized and managed participation in career fairs and trade shows, cultivating many solid leads.Accomplishments: Repeatedly requested by senior sales management to serve as trainer and mentor to new reps. Inspired sales reps to deliver outstanding levels of service and quality. Increased sales goal attainment of staff members by developing and constructing a new step-by-step student communication process. Won Vice President’s Choice Award for excellence in sales, service, and teamwork. Surpassed sales goals (140% of goal within 2 months of hire date), leading to Divisional Representative Award; achieved highest starts in Atlanta, April 2005, July 2005, and January 2006; elected to the 20 and Up Club for success in student retention. Show less

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  Grainger

  Oct 2008 - Feb 2010

  Director of marketing & public relations

  Devised and executed all PR & marketing strategies for multiple product lines for an importing and distribution company. Launched companywide long-term innovative and strategic communication plans to increase business and overall profitability for the company. Established and oversaw marketing budgets for community relations/corporate sponsorships.Accomplishments: Developed and ran creation of a new extensive and successful nationwide mass marketing program. Fueled growth by increasing company online prominence and accelerating the process to reach more target audiences. Awarded Commodity Marketing Vendor of the year 2009. Increased website traffic and inbound links by 173% through consistent promotion. Redesigned logo and instituted corporate identity program to achieve marketplace recognition with consistency in all graphics including brochures, flyers, line cards, and web banners. Nationwide travel to attend all industry trade shows and the successfully management of XL Screw's trade booth. Show less

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  Lisa swanson pr

  Feb 2010 - Jan 2017

  Freelance marketing consultant

  Provided unparalleled, all encompassing public relations and marketing services as a freelance cosultant using state of the art media tools and strategic platforms to guarantee brand maximum attention with the key audience(s). Goals for each account included a solid understanding of the company's objectives and pro-activeness in generating new ideas, effective communication of those objectives to have accounts acclaimed by the media thus achieving greater than ever brand awareness. Identifed and tapped into new channels to optimize ROI and fuel revenue growth. Worked closely with each client to identify professional goals to ensure strategic long term goals are developed or develop project specific communication plans. Achieved a strong, visible social media presence and develop concepts with viral potential. Continuously monitored online every aspect of IMC and ensure the success of client programs. Show less

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  Vinnies steakhouse & tavern

  Feb 2012 - Sept 2015

  Special event sales manager

  Efficient event sales manager with an ability to work independently in a changing and multi-tasking environment with numerous and competing deadlines. Working closely and liasing with key clients at every level of the business to ensure the precise delivery of events. Responsible for new streams of revenue generation and also encouraging repeat business. Developing, implementing and managing events. Maintaining a calendar of events for effective long term planning & management. Trained new and existing staff prior to all events ensuring all operations and duties were executed smoothly and as per clients’ guidelines. Creatively wrote each weekly newletters - audience of over 5,000. Maintained all social media accounts varying from Facebook and Twitter to OpenTable and Yelp. Accomplishments: Sold, managed and executed over 200 in house private events ranging in size from 20 guests to 150 guests. Every year sales have increased by a median of 8% increase since taking over this position. Successful creation and planning of the 2014 dining series, Meet the Maker, a series of farm to table events featuring local as well as national artisians and purveoyers. Organized an extremely successful Speakeasy Event partnering with well known Chapel Hill brewery, Top of the Hill, all to benefit Children's Flight of Hope. Raised over $20,000 in donations from the sale of tickets, donations and a silent auction. Spearheaded the fundraising for the North Raleigh St. Baldrick's event and raised over $30,000 in one succesful night. Show less

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  21c museum hotels

  Nov 2015 - Sept 2017

  Effective leader of a successful sales team directly responsible for the achievement of increased hotel revenues including room reservations and banquet & catering departments. Maintenance of ongoing awareness of future room night bookings, including group & catering pace and development and execution a hands-on game plan to increase top line opportunities. Successful in leading all aspects of client relations and sales lead generation through prospecting, online and print advertising and sponsorships. Production of annual budget and monthly forecasts as well as the development of the annual Strategic Sales & Marketing Plan. Accomplishments: Successfully identified and engaged companies that led to increased sales revenue YOY by 11% in 2017. Directly contributed to over three million in revenue in first nine months. Cultivated strategic alliances with fellow hoteliers to secure additional market share. Developed growth-oriented standards of best practices for productive leadership. Show less Top-ranked national sales manager recognized for contributions to territory expansion, new account development and record-setting sales figures. Possession of an in-depth understanding of the sales cycle process,focused on customer satisfaction throughout all stages. Experienced, “fearless” cold-caller and expert presenter, negotiator and closer. Oversee the collective coordination of all event information and responsible for account management, sales prospecting and business development. Prepare proposals for clients and maintain well-organized event records - build and maintain working relationships with internal and external partners, and leverage these relationships to deliver innovative and memorable events.Accomplishments: Set company record for quarterly sales at $500k, and surpassed that record the following quarter at $530k. Acquired 30 new accounts in the first 10 months and grew sales by 60 percent. Show less Responsible for preparing all event documentation and coordination with sales, various property departments and the customer to ensure consistent, high level service throughout pre-event, event and post-event phases of property events. Ensures all events have a seamless turnover from sales to service back to sales. Recognizes opportunities to maximize revenue opportunities by up-selling and offering enhancements to create outstanding events. Directs coordination of activities to prepare for the day of the event, as well as being the onsite manager on the day of the event. Show less

  • Director of Sales and Marketing

    Jan 2017 - Sept 2017

  • Sales Manager

    Apr 2016 - Jan 2017

  • Event Manager

    Nov 2015 - Mar 2016
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  Interstate hotels & resorts

  Oct 2017 - Mar 2020

  Corporate sales manager

  Responsible for the corporate group sales effort at the Raleigh Marriott City Center. Proactively solicited and qualified new business opportunities, built account relationships and increased property revenues through ADR, RevPar and participated in the communication between sales and the operations team to ensure the success of sales efforts and guest satisfaction. Assist new and existing team members with on going training and guidance.

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  The mobile garden

  Oct 2020 - now

  Owner

  🌵WNY Local Plant PopUp, Mobile & Online Shop!! 🪴 Plants Tall & Small right to your door!🌸🌿 Want to plan an event with us? Send us a DM!🌱