Donata Davis
Fairburn,GA
Summary
Dynamic hospitality and client engagement leader with over 20 years of experience in enhancing guest experiences, event strategy, business development, and marketing across diverse sectors, including higher education, wellness, luxury residential, and entertainment. Proven track record in driving revenue growth and service expansion while transforming teams into high-performing units. Expertise in crafting innovative marketing strategies, securing strategic partnerships, and developing programs that align with organizational goals to boost customer loyalty. Recognized for collaborative leadership, adaptability, and a results-oriented approach that fosters innovation in guest services and cultivates long-term client relationships.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Director, Conference & Program Services | Marketing & Communications
Georgia State University
01.2015 - Current
- Direct conference services and intern housing programs generating $2.8M annually, achieving 100% revenue growth over tenure.
- Oversee the recruitment, onboarding, and career development of diverse staff, including 30–40 student employees, 3 graduate assistants, 2 conference coordinators, a marketing specialist, and Mellon & Yardi Scholars, fostering a high-performing, service-driven team culture.
- Lead internal and external partnerships, doubling intern housing and large-scale long-term group participation.
- Develop branding campaigns that increase market awareness and drive partnership acquisition for Conference Services, resulting in a 40% increase in organizational client acquisition and retention.
- Design targeted communication flows and customer journeys that improved conversion by 30% for conference and intern clients.
- Conduct leadership, branding, and customer experience workshops for 10+ peer institutions within the University of Georgia’s Partnerships.
- Leverage CRM and dashboards (Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Starrez, Housing Director) to manage client sale cycle, forecast trends, track KPIs, and support strategic planning.
- Ensure all departmental marketing and communications align with University design and brand standards, collaborating with PR, Marketing, and Communications teams.
- Lead the Housing Marketing team, setting annual strategy and ensuring consistency across digital, print, and social channels.
- Founded and oversee the Housing Social Ambassadors program, expanding resident engagement by 25% year-over-year.
- Direct marketing staff and ambassadors in designing and promoting community-wide campaigns that increase residential engagement and strengthen campus-wide visibility of housing programs.
Director of Lifestyle & Concierge Services
NFC Amenity Management
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Directed concierge and lifestyle operations across 3 luxury residential communities and 2 high-end spas, serving 1,500+ residents.
- Developed SOPs adopted regionally, reducing service inconsistencies by 40%.
- Created a residential loyalty program with local shops, eateries, and vendors, generating cross-promotional partnerships that boosted vendor sales by 25% and increased resident engagement scores by 60%.
- Designed intentional recruitment and hiring strategies to attract talent aligned with service excellence standards.
- Developed structured training programs to onboard, coach, and position staff for advancement within concierge and hospitality services.
- Created career development pathways, aligning employee strengths with operational roles to boost performance and reducing turnover by 20%.
Founder & Director
Nu Vision Group / Elise & Co. Event Management
01.2008 - 01.2015
- Founded and directed boutique entertainment and events company producing 20+ national, large-scale, high-profile events annually across multiple U.S. markets.
- Designed and executed experiences for celebrity, corporate, and family audiences, balancing exclusivity with service excellence.
- Sourced and managed 100+ performers, vendors, and creative professionals nationwide.
- Secured up to $500K+ in sponsorships per event (monetary and in-kind) from major labels, independent vendors, and service providers.
- Created sponsorship decks, fundraising campaigns, and partnership proposals aligned with client goals.
- Directed client relationship management, marketing strategy, and business development to ensure repeat engagements.
- Increased event attendance by 60% year-over-year through sponsorship activations, client-centered event design, and targeted marketing campaigns.
Marketing & Program Manager
Pritikin Longevity Center
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Managed the program development and implementation of 'Taste of Pritikin' and Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehab (ICR) programs, expanding services, increasing program participation by 30%, and generating supplemental revenue.
- Shortened the sales cycle for Pritikin’s wellness program enrollment from 4–5 months to 2 months, improving client conversion by 40%.
- Trained 10+ concierge, reception, and porter staff to embody Pritikin’s customer-first service culture, raising staff satisfaction scores by 15%.
- Directed branding initiatives reinforcing Pritikin’s mission, aligning communications and guest experiences with wellness outcomes, increasing guest referral rates by 20%.
- Expanded the Gift Shop and launched online retail offerings, curating wellness-aligned exclusive Pritikin products and apparel, boosting supplemental revenue by 40%.
- Created signature guest experiences and activities reflecting Pritikin’s wellness philosophy, increasing repeat visits by 25%.
- Designed marketing campaigns amplifying guest success stories, strengthening brand credibility and generating 25% more referrals.
Casino Services Supervisor
Seminole Hard Rock Casino
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Managed guest service operations for 200+ VIP and premium player clientele, ensuring elevated experiences and incentives that strengthened loyalty.
- Collaborated with player development executives to design retention strategies, boosting repeat visits by 20%.
- Leveraged guest data to identify service improvements, increasing satisfaction scores.
Member Care Manager
Vantage Hospitality Group
01.2007 - 01.2009
- Client advisor to hotel owners, aligning with brand standards and improving long-term loyalty, strategy, satisfaction, and retention.
- Produced ROI reports and quarterly action plans, improving occupancy by 15% for underperforming properties.
- Managed 100+ independently owned hotel accounts, focusing on business operations, marketing.
Education
MBA - Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Georgia State University
01.2022
B.S. - Travel & Tourism & Hospitality Management
Johnson & Wales University
01.2014
A.S. - Communications
Broward College
01.2006
B.A. - Residential Design
Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale
01.2004
Skills
- Customer Experience Strategy
- Guest Relations & Retention
- Event & Program Management
- Business Development
- Sponsorships & Partnerships
- Talent Recruitment, Training & Development
- Financial Acumen & Revenue Growth
- Marketing Strategy & Branding
- SOP & Process Development
- CRM Tools
- Business administration
- Staff development
- Team operations
Certification
- Graduate Certificate, Disruptive Innovation & Entrepreneurship – Georgia State University | 2023
- Scrum Master Certification – Bearded Eagle | 2021
- Graduate Certificate, Project Management – Georgia State University | 2018
- Graduate Certificate, Marketing Research & Analysis – University of Georgia | 2017
- ServSafe Certification & Food Service Sanitation Manager | 2011
- StrengthsFinder: Positivity | Developer | Futuristic | Restorative | Strategic
Timeline
Assistant Director, Conference & Program Services | Marketing & Communications
Georgia State University
01.2015 - Current
Director of Lifestyle & Concierge Services
NFC Amenity Management
01.2013 - 01.2015
Marketing & Program Manager
Pritikin Longevity Center
01.2011 - 01.2014
Casino Services Supervisor
Seminole Hard Rock Casino
01.2009 - 01.2011
Founder & Director
Nu Vision Group / Elise & Co. Event Management
01.2008 - 01.2015
Member Care Manager
Vantage Hospitality Group
01.2007 - 01.2009
B.S. - Travel & Tourism & Hospitality Management
Johnson & Wales University
A.S. - Communications
Broward College
B.A. - Residential Design
Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale
MBA - Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Georgia State University