Dana D. Railey
Houston,TX
Summary
OVERVIEW OF RELATED EXPERIENCE Talented Owner with excellent marketing, customer service and facility oversight skills and more than 30 years of experience. Highly effective and comfortable working with people at all levels in organization. Hard-driving business leader offering skill in strategic business planning and team development. Skillfully recruit and train employees at all levels to meet customer and business demands. Articulate, forward-thinking and resourceful in meeting unique needs. Energetic Kitchen Manager enthusiastic about working with high-performance teams. Personable, responsible and hardworking professional. Dedicated to innovative dishes, effective budgeting and top-of-the-line customer service. Seasoned Catering Manager with passion for creating quality food experiences. Skilled at managing employees and organizing large-scale events, including weddings and banquets. Well-known for delivering excellent dishes and customer service, resulting in business growth. Efficient Catering Manager with extensive knowledge of dining and leadership. Service-centric event planner and client advocate dedicated to service excellence. Innovative and quick problem solver with outstanding eye for detail and organized scheduling. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Owner General Manager
Kings Blu Jam Cafe
Spring , TX
01.2017 - 04.2022
- Managed day-to-day business operations.
- Consulted with customers to assess needs and propose optimal solutions.
- Trained and motivated employees to perform daily business functions.
- Enhanced operational efficiency and productivity by managing budgets, accounts and costs.
- Created and monitored promotional approaches to increase sales and profit levels.
- Recruited, hired and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
Real Estate Agent
King & Associates
Spring, Texas
05.2015 - 01.2017
- Managed contracts, negotiations and all aspects of sales to finalize purchases and exceed customer expectations.
- Communicated with clients to understand property needs and preferences.
- Maintained connections with clients to encourage repeat business and referrals.
- Negotiated, facilitated and managed real estate transactions.
- Advertised client properties through websites, social media and real estate guides.
- Developed and maintained relationships with clients through networking, postcards and cold calling.
Catering Sales Manager
Hyatt North Houston
Houston, Texas
11.2013 - 04.2015
- Organized corporate meetings, special events and social occasions to satisfy client requirements and increase facility revenues.
- Collaborated with clients to confirm event details such as setup logistics, decorations and food and beverage selections to fulfill client requests.
- Participated in planning meetings, site visits and vendor evaluations to enhance quality of client services.
- Performed service and menu upgrades and upselling activities to meet predetermined revenue objectives.
- Utilized hospitality associations, business journals and Internet resources to obtain current industry knowledge.
- Determined facility, services and staffing needs to establish framework for successful event execution.
- Achieved sales goals and service targets by cultivating and securing new customer relationships.
Sales Events Coordinator
La Jardin Event Venue
Houston, TX
08.2009 - 08.2012
- Managed administrative logistics of events planning, event booking and event promotions.
- Evaluated existing plans, processes and events planning services to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Supervised onsite team of caterers, audio-visual technicians, and facility management team.
- Fulfilled contractual obligations for rehearsal and day of event coordination.
- Coordinated florists, photographers, videographers, musicians, officiants and ceremony participants during rehearsals and pre-ceremony, ceremony and reception events.
- Organized logistics and materials for each meeting, arranged spaces and took detailed notes for later dissemination to key stakeholders.
- Attended bridal industry events to promote services and build relationships with prospective vendors.
- Interviewed clients to understand event scopes of work, establish budgets and determine timelines for venue selection, guest list finalization, and rehearsal, ceremonies, and receptions.
General Manager
The Lodge At Shirley Acres
Spring , TX
03.2007 - 08.2009
- Oversaw balancing of cash registers, reconciled transactions and deposited establishment's earnings to bank.
- Identified problems, conducted troubleshooting and sought repair or maintenance support to keep restaurant equipment operational.
- Effectively managed payroll and timekeeping, and paperwork for new hires and terminations.
- Conducted health, safety and sanitation process evaluations to identify and remedy any violations immediately.
- Purchased adequate quantities of food, beverages, equipment and supplies.
- Led and directed team members on effective methods, operations and procedures.
- Strategically developed effective marketing plans to increase sales and profits while managing costs.
- Clearly and promptly communicated pertinent information to staff, such as large reservations or last minute menu changes.
Education
Associate of Arts - History, Math, Life Science Among Other Topics
West Los Angeles College
Culver City, CA05.1993
Skills
- TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SKILLS
- Proficient in
- Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Delphi, ENVISION,
- Industry Expertise
- Executive Leadership
- Flexible and Adaptable
- Customer Service
- Self-Motivated
- Excellent work ethic
- Decision Making
- Data Entry
- Cooking Procedures
- Monitoring Food Preparation
Timeline
Owner General Manager
Kings Blu Jam Cafe
01.2017 - 04.2022
Real Estate Agent
King & Associates
05.2015 - 01.2017
Catering Sales Manager
Hyatt North Houston
11.2013 - 04.2015
Sales Events Coordinator
La Jardin Event Venue
08.2009 - 08.2012
General Manager
The Lodge At Shirley Acres
03.2007 - 08.2009
Associate of Arts - History, Math, Life Science Among Other Topics
West Los Angeles College
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