Carrie McLaughlin
Denver,CO
Summary
- Culinary Specialist
- Food Broker
- Account Executive
- Event Chef Culinary Sales & Marketing
- Publicity & Events
- Recipe Development
- Catering Management
- Certified Sous Chef
- ACF Apprentice of the Year
- Relationship Development
- Happy Client Engagement
- Pizza Enthusiast
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Distribution Business Manager | Market Chef
Acxion Foodservice
Denver, CO
11.2023 - Current
- Negotiated contracts with suppliers to ensure competitive pricing for clients.
- Maintained relationships with current and potential customers, as well as vendors and distributors.
- Resolved customer complaints and issues by providing timely responses or solutions.
- Developed sales plans to target new markets and expand existing customer base.
- Developed creative ideas for special events or promotions involving food preparation or presentation.
Catering and Pizza Lead
Whole Foods Market
04.2023 - Current
- Boosted sales and broke store record of most pizzas sold in one shift
- Organized all catering and created effective new procedure ensuring every catering goes out perfectly and beautifully
Account Executive
Spothopper
08.2022 - 03.2023
- Prospect for new business opportunities by making 40+ daily cold calls, setting meetings, holding meetings and following up on leads in order to ensure pipeline sufficiency
- Built and nurtured 30+ strong customer relationships with local businesses within first 6 months
- Explain complicated software features to Restaurant Owner clients through effective product demos conducted in-person, over the phone, and via Google Meet
Culinary Specialist / Food Broker / Account Executive
Total Source Food & Equipment
06.2019 - 08.2022
- Developed and capitalized on new opportunities for growth by monitoring distributor sales, listening to, analyzing, and identifying customer needs
- Achieved an 80% increase in sales within the first month of launching a new pizza crust product
- Increased customer conversions by making compelling sales presentations to the customer base as well as distributor sales representatives
- Fostered brand loyalty by maintaining and growing ongoing relationships with customer base
- Represented the full line of Food Service products to Sysco's customer base
- Event lead & Chef for food shows & offsite events
Personal Chef & Event Catering Chef
Lettuce Cook Personal Chef Services
06.2017 - 06.2019
- Leveraged expertise in catering and the culinary arts while acting as the event catering chef for several high-profile events, including fashion shows and cannabis promotions
- Developed recipes and menus for clients with special dietary needs and allergens
- Shopped, prepared, cooked, cooled, and portioned meals weekly
Cake Decorator / Barista / Prep Foods Team Member
Whole Foods Market
03.2015 - 09.2018
- Achieved Top Sales ranking in the region while overseeing the high-volume daily production of Whole Foods Market’s most popular cake
- Drove sales and delivered exceptional customer service while acting as a versatile team member, assuming duties as needed to cover all areas of the customer experience
- Yielded a 25% decrease in customer complaints by enhancing customer relations
Marketplace Assistant / Operations Assistant
Event Management Group, Downtown Denver Partnership
07.2010 - 09.2018
- Engaged with 300+ vendors for Taste, resolving all issues and compliance
- Streamlined communications for the Parade of Lights operations from 2011 to 2014
- Delivered world-class event services by going above and beyond in all leadership duties
Lead Pastry Chef / Live Action Supervisor
Centerplate, Mile High Stadium
07.2014 - 01.2016
- Designed, prepared, and executed 3 to 4 different dessert menu options with 450-500 pieces total for each home Broncos game
- Impacted 850-1,000 guests every Broncos home game by supervising 5 live cooking action stations on United Club Level at Mile High Stadium
- Mobilized a team of 8 to 10 cooks organizing logistics, food preparation, food service, breakdown, and menu development
- Took charge of catering and service for the Bud Light Champions suite on game days
- Developed menus and recipes for high-end desserts for catering and suites
Chef Apprentice / Prep Cook
Centerplate/Colorado Convention Center
06.2011 - 07.2014
- Leveraged experience in all major aspects of the high-volume kitchen, baking and pastry, and hot side with a focus in sauces, desserts and special dietary needs
- Developed a full range of high-quality vegan and special dietary needs (gluten-free, allergies, etc.) recipes for high volume production
Audience Insights Specialist
New Hope Natural Media
10.2009 - 05.2010
- Increased customer engagement and bottom-line growth by developing high-impact email marketing campaigns and webinar projects
- Boosted sales and industry connections by attending the Nutracon Conference
- Achieved high levels of customer satisfaction by steering client relations
- Grew customer loyalty and retention while enhancing the buying experience by developing a VIP Buyer Program that matched ingredient suppliers with major food manufacturers
- Drove promotional event success by leading marketing and registration
Education
Bachelor of Science - Mass Communications
Towson University
Towson, MDSkills
- Budget creation
- Decision-making
- Customer retention
- Partnership development
- Business generation
- Customer relationship management
- Safety protocols and procedures
- Customer service
- Cross-functional communication
- Operations management
- Customer relations
- Vendor engagement
Technologiescertificationsawards
Excel, Microsoft, Canva, Outlook, Salesforce, CRM, Workday, ADP, Sous Chef Certification - American Culinary Federation Apprenticeship, Web Systems Specialist Certification - University of Baltimore, Baltimore County, Apprentice of the Year - American Culinary Federation Apprenticeship
Priorexperience
- Publicist & Marketing Coordinator, Interior Concepts Electric Factory Concerts/Live Nation
- Promotions Coordinator & Executive Sales Assistant, Sony Music Entertainment - Epic Records
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Distribution Business Manager | Market Chef
Acxion Foodservice
11.2023 - Current
Catering and Pizza Lead
Whole Foods Market
04.2023 - Current
Account Executive
Spothopper
08.2022 - 03.2023
Culinary Specialist / Food Broker / Account Executive
Total Source Food & Equipment
06.2019 - 08.2022
Personal Chef & Event Catering Chef
Lettuce Cook Personal Chef Services
06.2017 - 06.2019
Cake Decorator / Barista / Prep Foods Team Member
Whole Foods Market
03.2015 - 09.2018
Lead Pastry Chef / Live Action Supervisor
Centerplate, Mile High Stadium
07.2014 - 01.2016
Chef Apprentice / Prep Cook
Centerplate/Colorado Convention Center
06.2011 - 07.2014
Marketplace Assistant / Operations Assistant
Event Management Group, Downtown Denver Partnership
07.2010 - 09.2018
Audience Insights Specialist
New Hope Natural Media
10.2009 - 05.2010
Bachelor of Science - Mass Communications
Towson University
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