Jamie Graham
Las Vegas
Summary
Dynamic hospitality leader with over 8 years of progressive experience in managing conference and event operations, actively pursuing a Director of Catering role. Expertise in strategic event planning, negotiation, and team leadership consistently results in exceeding yearly upsell targets and driving revenue growth. Committed to scaling catering operations while enhancing service excellence across the organization. Proven ability to foster collaborative environments that elevate guest experiences and operational efficiency.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Catering & Conference Service Manager
Durango Resort - Station Casinos
09.2023 - Current
- Architect and enforce comprehensive policies and procedures for Catering & Convention Services to ensure operational excellence and regulatory compliance.
- Provide strategic leadership to the catering and convention services team, directing end-to-end event planning, coordination, and flawless execution.
- Led service operations to enhance customer satisfaction and streamline processes.
- Serve as the primary client advisor—assessing needs, proposing tailored service solutions, and curating elevated menu and experience recommendations. Managing over 50 calls and emails daily.
- Shadowed departmental P&L and fiscal controls, forecasting budgets, optimizing spend, and ensuring all operations remain within approved financial parameters.
- Command all event logistics, supervising setup, staging, and strike to guarantee timely, professional presentation of event spaces and equipment.
- Uphold and elevate service quality standards to consistently exceed guest expectations and drive customer satisfaction metrics.
- Delivered continuous training, mentorship, and performance development to strengthen catering team capabilities and operational consistency.
Conference and Event Manager
MGM Resorts International
10.2021 - 09.2023
- Promote, direct, and lead company core service standards
- Coordinate and prepare all Proposals, BEO’s, resumes, pre planning meetings and overseeing groups while onsite, pre planning site visits, limos, amenities, site inspections etc.
- Worked directly with Banquets Operation Team and Culinary Team to share expectations of our clients and guest and always provide centric service through the “Culture of Yes”
- Handled multiple and concurrent contract negotiations to maximize volume, revenue, and profit
- Generated new business through Catering only leads, maximizing competitive profitability
- Mentor Executive Meeting Managers and Hourly Coordinator to develop and prepare for advancement
- Exceeded Departmental catering budget for Q1 and Q2 for 2022 and on track for 2023
- Increased customer service surveys, obtaining an average of 4.8 for overall service and experience
- Participate and support company engagements through continued trainings and volunteer opportunities
Executive Catering Sales Manager
SM Global
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Managed and Coordinated targeted catering sales efforts
- Worked directly with clients to facilitate all of their food and beverage needs for the event
- Managed up to 1 million-dollar contracts
- Executed an event from setup to breakdown. Managed employees on the floor and would assist operations oversee the event thoroughly
- Develop existing business and solicited new catering contracts
- Conduct Sales presentations for the client prior to the event date
- Long Beach Convention Center
Director of Marketing Sales, Cool Image Water (Family Owned)
NetSuite
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Field Work and marketing to generate new sales
- Coordinates marketing events such as police benefits, fire outreach, nonprofit fundraisers
- Deliveries of private label water and 5-gallon water service using a 20-foot box truck with forklift
- Maintained a well-organized office using programs such as NetSuite, QuickBooks 2017 and creative suite
- Manages a small warehouse with water inventory
- Oversee the production, staff and quality control of a 15,000 sqft. water bottle plant
Event Manager-Sales/Catering
The Grand Event Center of Long Beach
06.2014 - 01.2017
- Coordinates events such as cooperate, wedding birthdays etc
- Venue tours, building proposals, process all contracts and deposits
- Traveling to offsite events to inspect and ensure productivity from start to finish
- Weekly internal sales meetings with emphasis on future BEO’s
- Finalizing details using social tables
- Working closely with operations, inputting cash bars, making cold calls for possible bookings and rebooking
- Drive sales goals to meet monthly and yearly contractual goals
- Assisted in payroll and time cards, invoices, general office duties using software programs such as: Caterease, Social Tables, Paycom, POS, Hot Schedules, FSA
Outreach Worker III/Health Educator
Long Beach Health Department
10.2012 - 04.2014
- Provides direct assistance in the maintenance and quality assurance of communicable diseases
- Enhanced Surveillance with case investigation (Case Management)
- Direct outreach and maintains liaisons with special populations in the community including conducting field visits to clients
- Assists clinical staff with community-based education classes and or events
- Acts as a liaison between clients, potential clients and other social agencies
Disease Intervention Specialist-Nursing
CA Department of Public Health
09.2011 - 10.2012
- Job Duties included: Provided direct assistance in the maintenance and quality assurance of communicable diseases
- Data entry of all laboratory report, confidential morbidity reports, enhanced surveillance forms
- Data transfer to state headquarters, triage intake of Gonorrhea surveillance data
- Maintained and orderly file system for all STD/HIV reports
- Traveled to various field offices and inter-jurisdiction for meetings, coverage, seminars, branch meeting
Education
Bachelor's degree - Nursing
Cal State Long Beach
Long Beach, CA06-2014
Bachelor of Science - Nursing Administration
Long Beach City College
Long Beach, CA05-2009
Diploma - Medical Assistant
Newbridge College
Long Beach, CASkills
- Leadership Experience & Team Collaboration(8 years)
- Creative Direction (10 years)
- Event Planning & Management (8 years)
- Proficient in Amadeus (5 years)
- Catering (8 years)
- Event marketing
- Problem-solving
- Multitasking and Organization
- Hospitality Guest Service
Timeline
Catering & Conference Service Manager
Durango Resort - Station Casinos
09.2023 - Current
Conference and Event Manager
MGM Resorts International
10.2021 - 09.2023
Executive Catering Sales Manager
SM Global
01.2019 - 01.2020
Director of Marketing Sales, Cool Image Water (Family Owned)
NetSuite
01.2017 - 01.2019
Event Manager-Sales/Catering
The Grand Event Center of Long Beach
06.2014 - 01.2017
Outreach Worker III/Health Educator
Long Beach Health Department
10.2012 - 04.2014
Disease Intervention Specialist-Nursing
CA Department of Public Health
09.2011 - 10.2012
Bachelor's degree - Nursing
Cal State Long Beach
Bachelor of Science - Nursing Administration
Long Beach City College
Diploma - Medical Assistant
Newbridge College
Awards
Leadership in The Spotlight Service Award – 2023
Show Stopper Award 2023