Clement Ojugo
Big Bear Lake,CA
Summary
Dynamic hotel management professional with over 25 years of experience, currently serving as Head of Finance and Accounting at SNOW SUMMIT SKI CORPORATION. Expertise includes overseeing financial operations for three prominent resorts—Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, and Snow Valley—with a strong emphasis on revenue management, budgeting, and operational efficiency. A published author of several books and literature, dedicated to implementing strategic initiatives that enhance operational performance, improve internal audit scores, and foster leadership development within teams. Proficient in customer service operations, pricing strategies, and labor management, committed to driving organizational value and facilitating sustainable growth.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Finance/Accounting
Big Bear Mountain Ski Resort
04.2022 - Current
- Oversee relationships with multiple businesses: Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, Snow Valley.
- Selected achievements and distinctions:
- Acquisition of Snow Valley in 2023 and integration of systems and human capital
- Increased internal audit scores from 75% to 85% through leadership training, accountability, and SOP compliance
- Improved EBITDA from 42% to 47% through ROI, pricing, and labor management
General Manager
Seven Gables Hotel
10.2016 - 04.2022
- Lead, manage, and hold accountable hotel goals and objectives
- Oversee the operations functions of the hotel and profitability
- Lead all key property issues including capital projects, guest satisfaction and any refurbishments need
- Handle guest and team member complaints overseeing guest service recovery procedures
- Responsible for the preparation, presentation and achievement of hotel budgets, marketing and sales plan and capital budget
- Selected achievements and distinctions:
- Increase EBITDA results from 34% to 42% through RevPar increase, Retail and Internal Controls
- Improve guest satisfaction results from 87% to 91% through employees training, incentives and guest amenities
- Improve Financial Reporting through system integration
- Raised Employees satisfaction index from 72% to 91% through training and incentives
- Marketing Achievements:
- Successfully position the property as one of the finest Meeting Retreat in Pacific Grove.
- Successfully exceeding transient penetration index by over 12 index points.
- Successfully exceeding local comp set rate index by 10 index points and RevPAR by 12 index points
- Successfully position the property as one of the best social venues in Pacific Grove. Increase wedding by 14% year after year
- Created monthly departmental marketing meetings, to explore every sale opportunity by departments and did not rely only on the traditional marketing dept. to explore sales opportunities.
- Actively involved on the daily aspect of marketing for executive retreat groups and leisure travelers
- Actively involved in groups prospecting, site visits and on-site events.
- Personally, called on clients with prospects and tentative bookings on a weekly basis to ask for the business.
- Personally, traveled to incentives houses, client’s offices, etc to ask for business
- Designed a high performing sale driven culture with high accountability and results
- Facilitate revenue growth and supporting the execution of direct sales/marketing plans throughout
Sr. Director of Finance
Omni Hotel – 451 Rooms
07.2012 - 10.2016
- Oversee relationships with multiple businesses, internal departments and corporate finance/IT offices. In charge of financial leadership training programs for career development and succession plans. In charge of internal audit, IT, balance sheet, forecasting, budgeting and financial reporting.
- Selected achievements and distinctions:
- Developed three young graduates in four years: to accounting management positions for other Omni Hotels
- Increased internal audit scores from 80% to 87% through leadership training, accountability, and SOP compliance
- Improved EBITDA from 29% to 33% through ROI, menu costing and pricing, labor management, and checkbook
Sr. Director of Finance
University of Southern California
05.2010 - 06.2012
- Oversaw Radisson Hotel Operations and Sales/Marketing, Foodservice and Bookstore financial and operational reporting, including balance sheet, forecasting, budgeting, internal controls, and menu costing/ pricing. Managed two divisional financial controllers and their respective teams of twelve associates
- Oversee multi-function controllers
- Oversee the operations functions of the hotel, Book Stores and USC Foodservice operations
- Lead all key property issues including capital projects, guest satisfaction and any refurbishments need
- Handle guest and team member complaints overseeing guest service recovery procedures
- Responsible for the preparation, presentation and achievement of hotel budgets, marketing and sales plan and capital budget
- Lead, manage, and hold accountable
GM/Finance Director
Delaware North Companies, Inc.
02.2000 - 04.2010
- Queen Mary - 314 rooms
- Asilomar Conference Center – 411 rooms
- Old Town San Diego – Foodservice and Retail
- Sequoia National Park – 182 rooms
- Yosemite National Park – 894 rooms
- Oversaw facility improvement accounts for the California Department of Recreation and regional financial forecasting budgeting, and reporting for three business units including 24 associates. Implemented state and federal regulations governing parks operation. Opened new properties.
- Grew facility improvement account from $7 million to $11 million through investment options and relationship banking for the government
- Increased combined EBITDA results from 21% to 38% through pricing strategies and contract modifications
- Developed financial training programs for managers and parks superintendent
Food and Beverage Cost Controller
Westin Century Plaza Hotel – 1100 Rooms
08.1997 - 02.2000
Assistant Director of Finance
Westin Century Plaza Hotel – 1100 Rooms
06.1992 - 04.1995
Education
Master of Science -
City University, Barbican Center and South Bank Polytechnic
London01.1984
Master of Science - undefined
London School of Accountancy
London, U.K.01.1983
Skills
- Proficient in MS Excel
Affiliations
Board Member- Hospitality Financial Technology Professionals
EDUCATOR
- Adjunct Professor - Monterey Peninsula Community College - 2002 and 2003
- Adjunct Professor - San Francisco State University - 2000
- Taught Food and Beverage Service Management class covering all aspects of “front and back of the house”: menu planning cost controls, financial forecast, budget, computer training, sanitation and costing.
ADDITIONAL
- Volunteer Activities: Classical Music Benefactor / contributor – Los Angeles Dream Orchestra
PUBLICATIONS
- Author: Practical Food & Beverage Cost Control, Albany, NY: Delmar, 2010. This four-year college text addresses the steps necessary to make F&B operations financially successful.
- Author of Destined for Greatness and Fear Factor – a Guide to Overcoming Adversity through Faith and Love
Interests
Sports, Physical Fitness, Music, Books, Travel
Timeline
Head of Finance/Accounting
Big Bear Mountain Ski Resort
04.2022 - Current
General Manager
Seven Gables Hotel
10.2016 - 04.2022
Sr. Director of Finance
Omni Hotel – 451 Rooms
07.2012 - 10.2016
Sr. Director of Finance
University of Southern California
05.2010 - 06.2012
GM/Finance Director
Delaware North Companies, Inc.
02.2000 - 04.2010
Food and Beverage Cost Controller
Westin Century Plaza Hotel – 1100 Rooms
08.1997 - 02.2000
Assistant Director of Finance
Westin Century Plaza Hotel – 1100 Rooms
06.1992 - 04.1995
Master of Science - undefined
London School of Accountancy
Master of Science -
City University, Barbican Center and South Bank Polytechnic