Summary of Qualifications

• Hospitality professional with eight plus years experience in the areas of customer service, management, sales and marketing
  
• Expertise in customer relations, catering sales, and special event coordination
  
• Reputation as a creative problem solver with the ability to identify opportunities to improve profitability
  
• Goal-oriented individual with excellent people skills and leadership qualities
  
• Ability to focus and remain calm in high stress situations
  
• A team player who is highly self-motivated, organized, industrious, dependable and punctual
  

Professional Experience

Uncle Julio's Rio Grande Cafe – Gaithersburg, MD 2004 to 2007

Washington DC Area Catering Manager

Managed preparation, organization and execution of catering events in the Washington DC Market.

• Hired, trained and scheduled catering event personnel for the Washington DC Market
  
• Managed Quality and Cost Control
  
• Assisted with marketing projects and special event coordination
  
• Maintenance of catering equipment, vans, and grills
  
• Washington DC sales increased 12% during time as Catering Manager
  

Uncle Julio's Rio Grande Cafe – Gaithersburg, MD 2002 to 2004, 2007 to 2008

Head Server, Bartender, Catering Captain

Showed hospitality to restaurant guests by attending to needs, desires, requests and any complaints

• Reconciled registers, receipts, and drawers at the end of night for restaurant
• Obtained Maryland ServSafe Food Certification and T.I.P.S. (Training for Intervention Procedures) Alcohol Certification
  

Chili's Restaurant – Harrisonburg, Va 2001 to 2002

Server

Waiting on guests to ensure prompt and proper service in a timely manner and friendly environment

• Responsible for ensuring exceptional service for every guest
  
• Learned and mastered suggestive selling
  

Staunton Health Department – Staunton, VA 2001

Health Services Internship

Shadowed employees in the field and worked on proposals and grants

• Worked with the following specific services: Communicable Disease Control, Dental, Environmental Health, Health Education, Medical and Nursing, Nutrition, Vital Records
  

Gateway National Recreation Area – Sandy Hook, NJ 1996 to 1999

Surf Life Guard

Guarded 5 main beaches covering approximately 2 miles, Certified in CPR and First Aid

• Handled daily high stress situations including the rescue of drowning victims, assisted and/or performed CPR, handled back and neck injuries, found lost children, and performed surprise practice ocean rescues
  
• Shared responsibility in upholding a record of not a single drowning on all 5 guarded beaches
  

Habitat For Humanity – Harrisonburg, VA 1997

Building Houses

Worked on the construction of houses for the less fortunate

Education

James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA Bachelor's Degree 2002

Major - Health Services Administration

Minor – Business

References Available Upon Request