Paula De Pano

Experience

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  Cav Wine Shop & Cafe

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2008

  Marketing Executive

  - Developed and executed optimal sales strategies to achieve goals for a priornon-existing market which resulted in the restaurant cornering a key market- Capitalized on industry and marketplace trends to strategise solutions and enhancebusiness operations- Provided support for executive leaders and provided detailed reports for businessstrategies, while cultivating partnerships with luxury wine clients- Launched trade shows for client partnerships on time and within budget for betterexposure for the restaurant Show less

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  The Corner Kitchen

  Aug 2009 - Dec 2009

  Culinary Intern
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  The Fearrington House Country Inn and Restaurant - Relais & Chateaux

  Nov 2010 - May 2014

  Sommelier

  - Worked services recommending and up-selling options for wines by thebottle/glass, wine pairings, and customized experiences- Developed wine training service manuals and guidelines for the restaurant staff, aswell as detailing wine pairing suggestions for every course in the seasonallychanging menu of the restaurant- Directly involved with wine purchasing for the restaurant- Updated and maintained the restaurant's bar beverage menu and Wine SpectatorBest of Award of Excellence Wine List- Monthly inventory of the restaurant's wine cellar Show less

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  Eleven Madison Park

  Jul 2014 - Jun 2016

  Sommelier

  - Full-time senior sommelier at the 3 Michelin Star, NYT 4 Star Restaurant, voted #3 inthe World and #1 in North America by The World's 50 Best Restaurant for 2016Contributed to increase in wine sales during dinner service of over 100 guests byexpertly guiding guests by demonstrating thorough knowledge of the food,beverages and ingredients- Key wine team member involved in beverage cost management, ordering, inventory,and receiving for a wine cellar with a revolving inventory cost of approximately$2,200,000 using BinWise- Worked with management team on staff beverage and service education, includingwine, beer, spirits & cocktails, tea & coffee- Upheld standards of cleanliness, food handling and safety- Demonstrated genuine hospitality while greeting and establishing rapport withguests, upholding Forbes and AAA Service Standards- Followed safety requirements for alcohol service & state liquor laws Show less

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  The Fearrington House Country Inn and Restaurant - Relais & Chateaux

  Sept 2016 - Jan 2022

  Beverage & Service Director

  - Manage a world-class beverage program with a revolving inventory of $200,000,consisting of 1,500 unique wine labels- Work directly with vendors for proper sourcing of different wines for the village'sdifferent outlet needs, including bulk pricing for catering needs and retail shop- Create a pricing structure to maximize profits while maintaining quality winestandards expected of the property's caliber- Create an educational program for the dining staff to effectively interact with gueststo sell and up-sell different beverages- Teach and execute regularly sold out wine classes and wine dinners- Work in conjunction with Executive Chef in menu development for the restaurant andother dining outlets in the property- Directly work with Marketing and Events team to build and maintain client loyalty bydevising promotions and products according to seasonal needs and operationalbudget resulting in increased sales Show less

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  Fearrington Village

  Mar 2018 - Aug 2019

  Assistant General Manager

  - Part of top-level decision-making and strategic planning for the property, forgingproductive relationships with other managers and serving as the key advocate forvarious departmental issues- Enhance operational success through staffing, strong training, adherence to guestsafety and sanitation regulations and well-timed service- Setting realistic timelines for a wide-range of property events, keeping teams ontask to complete milestones according to schedule while maintaining project qualitywith hands-on management style- Resolve problems promptly and effectively to elevate guest satisfaction- Oversee hotel and restaurant inventory by ordering precise quantities of stock andexecuting corrective actions to drive profitability and lower costs- Manage budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules for a staffof 30, spanning five different departments (Restaurant, Catering and Events, InnReception, Housekeeping, Maintenance)- Provide staff with support and feedback through positive reinforcement andaccountability to achieve top guest and client satisfaction- Develop and execute relevant seasonal hotel packages and add-ons to maximizesales and reach monthly budget- Implement systems in Opera and Synxis for effective hotel reservations Show less

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  Rocks and Acid Wine Shop

  Dec 2022 - now

  Owner