Ciara Johnson
Atlanta,Georgia
Summary
Innovative Design Specialist known for high productivity and efficiency in task completion. Possess specialized skills in graphic design, user experience optimization, and digital content creation. Excel at communication, teamwork, and adaptability, ensuring seamless project executions and creative solutions. Skilled Procurement Manager with proven experience in overseeing and managing procurement processes. Strengths include developing cost-effective strategies, negotiating contracts, and ensuring timely delivery of goods and services. Notable impact achieved through optimizing supply chain operations and fostering strong supplier relationships for quality assurance.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Program Design Specialist
YES, an ALTOUR Company (Internova Travel Group)
05.2022 - 10.2024
- Source hotels on behalf of Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 clients, based on client's requested needs for their program through Cvent's platform and through partnerships with various hotel's National Sales Representatives
- Guide clients to ensure all logistical aspects of the program have been addressed
- Create availability reports consisting of sleeping room rates, resort fees, food and beverage minimums, room rental, and subsequent additional property details to present hotel bids to client
- Negotiate contracts and concessions with hotels and 3rd party suppliers
- Plan multi-day site visits to preferred properties by booking air travel, ground transportation, sleeping room reservations, dining and setting up meetings with Destination Management Companies and shortlisted hotel properties
- Oversee proposal creation by partnering with Altour's team to include full program pricing, location overview, budget, entertainment, Team Building Activities, off-site events, with applicable photos of properties, location, and décor, etcetera
- Prepare budget, outlining all costs associated with the program including hotel accommodations, air and ground transportation, audio-visual, décor, entertainment, and off-site events
- Prepare a file turnover and conduct meetings with operations to review all program specs and nuances
Event Sales Manager
Swan Coach House, Forward Arts Foundation
06.2021 - 11.2021
- Drive sales, contract events, collect deposits, detail Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) on TripleSeat (formally Gather) for a well-known historic property comprising four private event rooms as well as a restaurant which was available for buyouts
- Conduct site visits for potential referral partners including Atlanta based Destination Management Companies (DMC), Fortune 500 Companies, and meeting and event planners
- Received up to 20 Requests for Proposals (RFPs) per day brought in without paid partnerships
- Executed up to 17 events per week, with the majority of events taking place between Friday and Saturday, weekly
- Integrated the Swan Coach House from Gather to TripleSeat, implemented new Standard Operating Procedures including the scheduling weekly BEO meetings, created a BEO board for our chef, and communicate events taking place to all entities within the building which hadn't previously taken place, submitted updates for website including an integrated system for RFPs
- Began creating SOPs for temp workers
- Drove profitability by increasing menu price points by adding in a starter, thus increasing event revenue for all events by 33% up to 50%, utilized LinkedIn to connect with event planners to obtain future business, and set up networking events to take place at the Swan Coach House with the intent to drive corporate business as the Swan Coach House is primarily social business
- Began to book corporate events as well as rehearsal dinner and weddings
- Future Marketing slotted for 2022: Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau to host networking event for 2022 (was pushed from October 2021 due to COVID concerns), host a group of 50-60 unaffiliated planners to come in for a happy hour and tour venue as well as planning to host a WIPA meeting
- Clients: Equifax, Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, Reynold's Ladies Club, and National Charity League
Community Relations Manager
Enlivant, Northstar Place
08.2020 - 05.2021
- Partner with the community's Executive Director and Regional Director of Sales and Marketing to implement sales strategies
- Responsible for updating lead database (STAR) and keeping current for steady potential resident outreach
- Build and maintain relationships with future residents and their families, walk family through each step in the contract and move in process, coordinate with Northstar team for a smooth transition
- Cultivate relationships with referral partners including discharge planners, care coordinators and social workers in an effort to increase occupancy
Catering Sales Manager
Legacy Ventures, Dos Bocas and Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown
05.2017 - 03.2020
- Responsible for sales, planning, and execution of meetings and events in a 14,000 square feet of event space in a 242-sleeping room, city center, Hilton Hotel property
- Communicated clients' needs to the banquet team, chef, and hotel staff through detailing BEOs via Sales Pro, creating diagrams on Social Tables, email, and verbal communication efforts for group sales contracted groups as well as my own groups
- Conducted site visits, created proposals through Cvent and Meeting Broker, negotiated and contracted groups from all markets for groups up to 250 attendees
- Created sales report by breaking down monthly and yearly forecast, tracked and summarized client charges and billing details
- Solicited business through networking events, email, LinkedIn, and client relationships
- Exceed 2019's $620,000 F+B budget by 10% resulting in highest F+B sales to date, and exceeded 2018's $520,000 F+B budget by 11%
- Increased 2017 projected end of year F+B budget by 15% within 6 months
- All budgets exclude room rental profitability
- Clients: Planned Parenthood, Delta, Coca-Cola, Children's Tumor Foundation, American Cancer Society, Keenan's Kids
Sales Manager
Mike Whittington and Associates, Inc., Destination Management Company- Atlanta, GA
03.2016 - 05.2017
- Respond to RFPs, full proposal development for tours, entertainment, transportation, décor, spousal outings, venue and menu selection, contract development
- Plan and oversee transportation logistics of ground transportation, meet and greet services, and private transfers
- Solicit potential business through ACVB Convention Calendar, networking with the ACVB sales team, and hotel sales managers to solicit the business of corporate and association clients
- Assist ACVB Sales Team with city-wide site visits by overseeing site visit logistics, setting up site visits of off-site venues, and providing a general knowledge overview of the city
- Planned event for 200 for founder of Network Under 40, Darrah Brustein, aiding with all event logistics
- Clients: Marfan Foundation, R.T
- Booklovers, Drug Policy Alliance, Cain Travel, CFL Flooring, Rotary
Event Planner, Internship
Downtown Development Authority- Sault Ste. Marie, MI
06.2014 - 04.2015
- Planned, executed and managed logistics of ten Downtown festivals and events, attracting thousands of attendees, resulting in record sales and increased participation by 53%
- Solicit vendors through mailings, cold calling, and in person to volunteers, businesses, and potential vendors
- Created and maintained database of supplier contact information, release forms and budget utilizing MS Excel
- Secured sponsorships and donations from local business owners
- Wrote press releases for newspapers and radio stations, newsletters, and social media content
- Represented Downtown Development Authority in radio and newspaper interviews
- Worked directly with Downtown Manager, Visitor's Bureau, City Officials, Lake Superior State University administration and student body, and 50 local business owners
Education
Master of Business Administration -
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste. Marie, MI05.2026
Bachelors of Science in Business Administration - Entrepreneurship
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste. Marie, MI05.2015
Skills
- Global sourcing
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Financial Acumen
- Strategic Sourcing
- Demand planning
- Cost Analysis
- Price Negotiation
- Budget Planning
- Vendor acquisition
- Analytical Thinking
- Multitasking
- Vendor invoicing
- Logistics Management
- Oversee vendors
- Forecasting
- Risk Management
- Active Listening
- Time Management
- Vendor Management
- Analytical Skills
- Negotiation expertise
- Data Analytics
- Negotiation Strategies
- Profitability Optimization
- Key account development
- National account management
- Lead Generation
- Sales Tracking
- Pipeline Management
- Risk Mitigation
- Market and competitive analysis
- Sales process engineering
- Market research, forecasting, and analysis
- Financial records analysis
- Complex project negotiations
- Verbal and written communication
- Direct Sales
- Sales expertise
- Review of contracts
- Relationship Building
- Exceeds sales goals
- Excellent communication skills
- Detail Oriented
- High attention to detail
- Venue Selection
- Vendor coordination
- Event design
- Menu Planning
- Catering Coordination
- Vendor and contract negotiations
- Event sales
- Transportation and logistics coordination
- Event staff management
- Budget Management
- Deadline Management
- Catering management
- Budget Development
- Stakeholder Management
- Supplier Relations
- Vendor Relationship Management
- Transportation Management
- Procurement Management
- Strategic Planning
- Project Management
- Project development
- Productivity Improvement
- Project Planning
- Permit processing
- Cross-functional coordination
- Purchasing and procurement
- Data review
Certification
- Hospitality and Tourism Management Certification- Florida Atlantic University- Boca Raton, FL April 2020
- 2017, 2018 and 2019
Accomplishments
- Awards- Finalist, Catering Sales Manager of the Year
- June 27, 2019
- Panel Speaker- IAEE, Young Professional Spotlight Luncheon
- October 2016-2019
Affiliations
- Bureau Buddy- Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau
- October 2016- March 2017
- Ambassador- Network Under 40
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Program Design Specialist
YES, an ALTOUR Company (Internova Travel Group)
05.2022 - 10.2024
Event Sales Manager
Swan Coach House, Forward Arts Foundation
06.2021 - 11.2021
Community Relations Manager
Enlivant, Northstar Place
08.2020 - 05.2021
Catering Sales Manager
Legacy Ventures, Dos Bocas and Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown
05.2017 - 03.2020
Sales Manager
Mike Whittington and Associates, Inc., Destination Management Company- Atlanta, GA
03.2016 - 05.2017
Event Planner, Internship
Downtown Development Authority- Sault Ste. Marie, MI
06.2014 - 04.2015
- Hospitality and Tourism Management Certification- Florida Atlantic University- Boca Raton, FL April 2020
- 2017, 2018 and 2019
Master of Business Administration -
Lake Superior State University
Bachelors of Science in Business Administration - Entrepreneurship
Lake Superior State University
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