Experience

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  Kimpton group- grand cafe/ponzu

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2005

  General manager and wine director

  • Served as Wine Director and Educator, overseeing the development of a thriving wine program with monthly sales ranging from $95,000 to $150,000.• Efficiently managed a monthly wine inventory valued at $69,000 to $90,000 while maintaining a consistent wine cost of 30-31%.• Spearheaded the execution of impactful marketing programs, enhancing brand visibility and attracting new clientele.• Successfully promoted from Manager to Assistant General Manager, reflecting exceptional leadership and performance.• Achieved remarkable annual revenue exceeding $8 million, showcasing strong business acumen.• Led monthly profit and loss meetings and actively assisted the General Manager in weekly P&L statements, contributing to informed decision-making.• Ensured the seamless maintenance of the restaurant, prioritizing guest satisfaction and optimal service standards.• Expertly managed labor costs within budget guidelines, optimizing staffing levels and financial efficiency.• Successfully established all current operating systems, improving overall efficiency and productivity.• Developed the operating budget for 2004, aligning financial plans with organizational goals.• Strategically reduced the GOP on the P&L from a loss of $29,000 in January to a positive outcome in December.• Exhibited strong leadership during a challenging chef transition, maintaining team morale and productivity.• Pioneered effective marketing strategies in collaboration with local concierge theatre companies, enhancing the establishment's reputation and attracting new patrons. Show less

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  Marriott international

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2008

  Wine director and general manager

  • Led comprehensive food, beverage, and wine education programs, ensuring a knowledgeable and skilled team.• Developed unique and tailored wine programs for all five restaurants, enhancing the dining experience for patrons.• Designed and implemented an efficient purchase order system, streamlining procurement processes.• Skillfully coordinated and executed offsite wine and food pairing events, generating positive brand exposure.• Organized quarterly staff trips to Napa and Sonoma, promoting team building and industry insights.• Spearheaded a successful initiative resulting in a revenue increase of over $500,000 in the first year.• Orchestrated VIP Wine Tasting events in collaboration with Sales and Event Departments, fostering valuable partnerships.• Took charge of all marketing, financial, and staff training activities at Molly's, contributing to its success and growth. Show less

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  San diego state university

  Jul 2006 - Dec 2023

  Business of wine advisor and wine educator

  • Educated and mentored diverse groups of students in wine-related courses, including Terroir of Wine, Italian Wines, French Wines, Sparkling Wines, and Dessert Wines, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.• Developed and curated engaging and informative course content, utilizing various teaching tools such as videos, quizzes, discussion questions, and tastings, to optimize students' learning experiences and knowledge retention.• Conducted classes in an organized and methodical manner, meeting time constraints and ensuring a conducive learning environment for students.• Collaborated with fellow instructors to maintain a cohesive and comprehensive wine program, regularly updating class materials to reflect changes in wine law, trends, and innovations.• Led strategic planning and development of the annual educational calendar, quarterly networking events, and bi-annual wine trips as President and Founder of the Woman's Wine Alliance.• Executed effective sales and marketing strategies, resulting in positive revenue growth and consistent top-ranking performance in the competitive wine industry. Show less

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  La jolla beach and tennis club

  Jan 2008 - Jan 2016

  Director of restaurants and beverage programs

  • Coordinated wine events with Sales and Catering, showcasing the venue as a prime destination for wine enthusiasts.• Developed and delivered comprehensive beverage education programs for all outlets, enhancing the guest experience and driving profitability.• Collaborated with chefs to create distinctive food and wine pairing events, fostering memorable dining experiences.• Curated and managed the banquet wine list, optimizing selections for profitability and guest satisfaction.• Established an exclusive members-only wine program for the Beach and Tennis Club, elevating the customer experience.• Oversaw the fiscal operations of restaurants, managing daily, weekly, and monthly sales with a focus on financial efficiency.• Conducted detailed annual and monthly profit and loss analysis for all food and beverage outlets, identifying areas for improvement.• Accurately forecasted financials for all outlets, including catering departments, ensuring effective planning and budgeting.• Developed unique beverage programs tailored to each outlet, enhancing their identities to maximize guest experience and profitability.• Maintained strict beverage cost and inventory controls, maintaining wine cost between 24-27% in all outlets.• Implemented AAA 4 Diamond Standards in dining rooms, exceeding expectations in service excellence.• Led food and beverage education at the property, conducting quarterly wine, beer, and cocktail programs.• Collaborated with the Marketing team to position the establishment as a premier destination for innovative beverage and dining offerings.• Enforced stringent sanitation standards for restaurants and catering areas, ensuring a safe and hygienic environment.• Efficiently manage inventory levels of front-of-house supplies, beer, liquor, and wine to meet demand and minimize waste. Show less

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  Women's wine alliance

  Jan 2011 - now

  Founder and president

  As President and Founder, I lead our Board of Directors. I oversee the development of our annual educational calander, quarterly networking events, bi-annual wine trips and our scholarship awards event. I also lead our strategic annual planning meetings where we plan one, three and five years out.

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  Regal wine company

  Mar 2016 - Jun 2023

  Wine sales representative

  • Delivered compelling Sales and Educational presentations, effectively engaging accounts and driving successful outcomes.• Skillfully executed weekly, bi-monthly, and quarterly sales goals, consistently meeting and exceeding targets.• Developed and implemented new sales strategies, resulting in substantial sales growth from $787,216 to $982,645 over 3 years.• Consistently ranked as the top-performing sales representative, achieving the #1 position in KPIR rankings.• Demonstrated proactive planning and market knowledge, adapting to current trends in both on and off-premise accounts.• Cultivated strong and diverse relationships with colleagues and clients in various settings, from fine dining restaurants to casual cafes, bars, and country clubs.• Featured in TV appearances promoting Jackson Family Wines, enhancing brand visibility and reputation.• Successfully managed and budgeted expenses, aligning with the brand's image and reputation in all appropriate accounts.• Achieved monthly, quarterly, and annual sales goals, showcasing a track record of results-driven performance.• Educated local teams on important brands and wine regions, empowering them to achieve their sales goals.• Generated exceptional revenue through one of the highest SPIRE revenues in December 2020, contributing over $43,000 in sales for the luxury portfolio.• Consistently ranked among the top three sales representatives in Regal Wine Company, exceeding expectations.• Expertly managed territories, overseeing wine orders, seminars for restaurant staff, accurate deliveries, credit management, and support for marketing events and wine dinners. Show less

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  Market restaurant & bar

  Nov 2021 - Oct 2023

  General manager and wine director

  • Developed and maintained a dynamic wine program that harmonized with the chef-driven concept of Market.• Created and executed successful Annual and quarterly marketing goals, driving sales growth.• Recruited, hired, and led the Front of House Service Team, delivering comprehensive training to ensure exceptional service standards.• Strategically scheduled employees to optimize coverage and streamline operations.• Oversaw and maintained Service Standards, conducting ongoing training to elevate service experience.• Executed exemplary service experiences, garnering positive feedback from patrons.• Monitored restaurant finances, tracking sales and expenses to maintain profitability.• Forecasted nightly business, proactively adjusting staffing needs for efficiency.• Enforced strict food handling regulations and guidelines, prioritizing guest safety.• Demonstrated expertise in budgeting, effectively managing monthly and annual expenses.• Skillfully resolved guest complaints, ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty.• Conducted monthly wine, beer, and liquor inventories, optimizing inventory management.• Managed labor costs within budget parameters, ensuring financial stability. Show less

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  Burtech family vineyard

  Oct 2023 - now

  General manager and wine director

  Building the Burtech Family Vineyard Brando Create a targeted account base of on/off premise accounts to showcase wineso Determine Wine Competitions to enter wineso Food/Wine Based Events to participate ino Booth Set Up, promo Material, Info, Awardso Create Buyout/ events Space- work with BF- for Pipeline/Vineyard- see belowo PR/Short and Long Lead Mediao Feature Storieso SOMM CON involvemento Create a seminar on how to build a wineryo Host events with wine professionals/blind tasting groupso Invite key MS, Industry Professionalso Set a Basic social media calendar of weekly postso Participate in Winery Operations- bottling, etcCreate Strategic Quarterly /Annual Sales and Marketing Plano Determine inventory/Budget for Expenses for eventso Create a calendar innovative and consistent wine events at Burtech Tasting Roomo Schedule New Special Events (work with Bryn??)o car shows, comedy, Octoberfest, holidays + all promoso Create new ideas for to generate wine club sign ups:o Wine & food paringso Special eventso Educational eventso Review Wine Inventory- use this to :o Create + update tasting room wine menu Monthly featured flight Weekly Specials By the glass Bottle updates according to inventory o Create all legacy + BFV packages each month: white club, mix club, red club, 2 bottle monthly, 6 + 12 bottle quarterly clubsWeekly Review with Tasting Room Manager of Wine Club Memberships, Events and Promotionso Set target Weekly Goal for New Membershipso Increase wine club memberships, Reach out to existing and past members with promotions.o Member sign ups/customer account set up and maintenanceo Website updates for events, new releases, etc. Show less