John Schendt
Orlando,FL
Summary
An experienced Team Leader, Project Coordinator and Beverage Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the entertainment and hospitality industry. Skilled in Project Management, Mixology, Customer Service and Leadership. A strong production, operations and service industry professional who has worked for multiple world-renowned companies.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Beverage Manager
Loew's Portofino Bay Hotel
Orlando, FL
10.2024 - Current
- Directed and integrated beverage programs across multiple bars on property, aligning with brand standards and guest expectations
- Oversaw the execution of non-alcoholic, beer, wine, and spirits activations and initiatives, driving improved product knowledge and consistency
- Collaborated on the conceptual design of beverage menus for Universal Studios Orlando Resort Hotels marquee events, aligning offerings with event themes and enhancing guest experience through innovative drink selections
- Designed and maintained comprehensive SOPs for beverage training and development
- Curated a diverse beverage portfolio through thoughtful sourcing strategies and effective substitution planning
- Maintained a strong on-site presence to support teams and evaluate program implementation and guest impact
- Managed the bars KPIs, guest feedback surveys and guest recovery situations
Bartender
Thrive Cocktail Lounge & Eatery
Orlando, FL
07.2024 - 05.2025
- Served high customer volumes during special events, nights, and weekends.
- Managed cash handling duties responsibly, ensuring accurate accounting at the end of each shift.
- Maintained extensive knowledge of cocktail recipes and preparation techniques, ensuring high-quality beverage menu.
- Boosted beverage sales, designing and promoting range of signature cocktails.
Bartender Lead & Trainer
The Hangry Bison
Winter Garden, FL
02.2024 - 10.2024
- Served high customer volumes during special events, nights, and weekends.
- Managed cash handling duties responsibly, ensuring accurate accounting at the end of each shift.
- Developed loyal clientele by consistently delivering outstanding service and engaging in friendly conversation.
- Trained new staff on bar procedures, cocktail recipes, and customer service standards, ensuring consistent service quality.
- Assisted with inventorying beverage stock and bar supplies.
- Developed creative drink menus, incorporating seasonal ingredients and popular trends to attract customers.
Bartender Lead & Trainer
JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
Orlando, FL
06.2022 - 02.2024
- Served high customer volumes during special events, nights, and weekends.
- Managed cash handling duties responsibly, ensuring accurate accounting at the end of each shift.
- Contributed to a positive work environment through effective teamwork and communication with colleagues.
- Enhanced overall guest experience by promptly addressing concerns and resolving issues professionally.
- Trained new staff on bar procedures, cocktail recipes, and customer service standards, ensuring consistent service quality.
- Increased customer satisfaction by providing excellent service and crafting high-quality cocktails.
Bartender & Trainer
The Lake Nona Wave Hotel
Orlando, FL
12.2021 - 10.2022
- Served high customer volumes during special events, nights, and weekends.
- Managed cash handling duties responsibly, ensuring accurate accounting at the end of each shift.
- Trained new bartenders on drink preparation, product promotion, garnish preparation, and sanitation protocol.
- Educated customers on drink options, making personalized recommendations based on preferences or dietary restrictions.
- Hosted private bartending classes and events for guests at the resort.
- Assisted the banquets team with special events and buyouts.
Bar Manager & Bartender
Blackstone Social, Segreto & Social
Omaha, NE
01.2020 - 12.2021
- Manage and lead a team of up to 10 bartenders, bar-backs, and security to ensure a safe and efficient bar operation.
- Assist the GM with the weekly liquor and supplies order.
- Train new bartenders, bar-backs and security to brand standards.
- Provide attentive, fast and engaging customer service with our guests.
- Develop new cocktails for the bars seasonal menus.
- Coordinate and host private and public events.
- Ensure accurate tip outs and cash deposits at the end of each shift.
Traveling Exhibits Coordinator
The Omaha Children's Museum
Omaha, NE
06.2019 - 10.2021
- Coordinate the sale, production and delivery of the museum's interactive exhibitions, both permanent and traveling, valued up to $500k
- Deliver project estimations, purchase orders and change orders to clients
- Book and coordinate the Traveling Exhibits department domestic and international travel while ensuring it adheres to the set travel budgets
- Create and manage the traveling exhibits department annual budget
- Travel 20% of the year to lead museum exhibition installations and attend conferences to build and retain client relationships and networks
- Develop exhibition sale and rental contracts, change orders and NDAs for clients.
LEGO Model Production Project Manager & Team Lead
Merlin Entertainments
Lake Wales, FL
11.2015 - 02.2019
- Lead, manage and develop a team of 50 direct reports.
- Oversee the production of complex LEGO Brand models to Merlin Entertainments standard
- An active member of the project estimation team delivering quotes, budgets and creating project workbooks for clients
- Ensure project budgets are adhered to while maintaining a world class quality that meets the consistency and safety standards of the LEGO Brand
- Manage workbooks and matrices for projects valued up to $5MM
- Lead and participate in onsite installations of major domestic projects.
Attractions Coordinator, Supervisor & Trainer
Walt Disney World Resort
Orlando, FL
04.2013 - 10.2015
- Lead a team of up to 30 direct reports within the attractions daily operation.
- Ensure a safe and efficient operation, while maintaining The Walt Disney Company's standard for guest courtesy and world-renowned customer service.
- Interact with upward to 15,000 guests through daily operation and maintain a professional and calm approach resolving guest conflicts and issues.
- Effectively operate the attraction at max capacity to achieve the highest guest satisfaction.
- Train new employees within the attractions operation and safety guidelines.
Education
High School Diploma -
Papillion Lavista South High School
Papillion, NE01-2012
Skills
- Communication
- Detailed Oriented
- Adaptability
- Interpersonal
- Leadership
- Organization
- Time Management
- Team Building
Certification
TIPS Certified
ServSafe Food Handler Certified
Additional Information
Universal Orlando Resort Hotels – Halloween Horror Nights (2025)
- Designed and executed innovative alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktail menus aligned with immersive event themes to enhance guest experience.
Loews Hotels – Portofino Bay Hotel (2025)
- Developed and launched three distinct and diverse cocktail menus, featuring creative flavor profiles and inclusive options to engage a wide-ranging guest demographic.
- Curated and implemented a premium wine program featuring over 120 varietals, meeting Wine Spectator standards to elevate quality and depth of selection.
JW Marriott, Grande Lakes (2023)
- Supported the development and execution of an elevated cocktail menu designed to meet Forbes Travel Guide standards for luxury service and presentation.
Blackstone Social – Blitzen! Holiday Pop-Up Bar (2021)
- Created and delivered a festive, themed cocktail for an immersive holiday experience, contributing to the bar's seasonal concept and guest engagement.
Lincoln Children’s Museum (2021)
- Developed and presented cost projections totaling $80K for multiple interactive children's exhibits, aligning with educational and engagement goals.
Washington Pavilion – Sioux Falls (2020)
- Created and delivered a $500K budget proposal for Grow It!, a large-scale interactive agricultural exhibit, ensuring financial and creative feasibility.
Upcountry History Museum (2019)
- Managed cost projections, production, and delivery for a $100K interactive dinosaur exhibition, balancing educational value with immersive design.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Bay Area (2018)
- Led the estimating team in developing $1MM cost projections for all LEGO model content, ensuring thematic consistency and project viability.
LEGOLAND Water Park – Gardaland (2018)
- Oversaw the $5MM production and delivery of LEGO model content throughout the park, maintaining creative integrity and delivery timelines.
LEGOLAND Florida – Pirate Island Hotel (2018)
- Directed estimating efforts for $2MM in LEGO model content, supporting the successful launch of a fully themed hotel experience.
LEGOLAND Korea (2018)
- Managed end-to-end production and delivery of LEGO model content across the $5MM theme park buildout, ensuring on-time, on-brand execution.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center – Columbus (2017)
- Supervised the $500K production and installation of LEGO model content throughout the attraction, ensuring alignment with creative and budget goals.
LEGOLAND New York (2017)
- Oversaw a $5MM project for the production and delivery of LEGO model content across the entire park, ensuring thematic cohesion and operational efficiency.
Accomplishments
Thrive Hospitality Fall Cocktail Competition
Thrive Cocktail Lounge | Orlando, FL | August 2024
Original Cocktail | S'more Old Fashioned
Original Cocktail | Pumpkin Spice Cocktail
Finalist - Both Cocktails Featured On Fall Menu
Wormwood Wars Malort Cocktail Competition '
Gnarly Barley | Orlando, FL | October 2023
Original Cocktail | Grapefruit Malort Spritz
Competition Participant
Marriott International, Master Of The Craft Cocktail Competition
JW Marriott, Grande Lakes | Orlando, FL | April 2023
Original Cocktail | Starfruit Gimlet
Second Place
Manhattan Experience Woodford Reserve Cocktail Competition
Copper Shaker | Tampa, FL | April 2022
Manhattan Recipe | Sazerac Infused Manhattan
Original Cocktail | Honey Pear Manhattan
Regional Finalist - Runner Up
More Taste, Less Waste Mount Gay Cocktail Competition
Hoja Taqueria | Miami, FL | March 2022
Original Cocktail | Clarified Coconut Milk Punch
Southeast Regional Finalist - Runner Up
Old Fashioned Week Elijah Craig Cocktail Competition
Segreto | Omaha, NE | October 2021
Old Fashioned Recipe | Apple Spiced Cinnamon Old Fashioned
Highest Voted Old Fashioned Recipe In Nebraska
Negroni Week Campari Cocktail Competition
Mercury | Omaha, NE | September 2021
Negroni Recipe | Cara Cara Orange Negroni Sour State Finalist - Voted Crowd Favorite Cocktail
Timeline
Beverage Manager
Loew's Portofino Bay Hotel
10.2024 - Current
Bartender
Thrive Cocktail Lounge & Eatery
07.2024 - 05.2025
Bartender Lead & Trainer
The Hangry Bison
02.2024 - 10.2024
Bartender Lead & Trainer
JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
06.2022 - 02.2024
Bartender & Trainer
The Lake Nona Wave Hotel
12.2021 - 10.2022
Bar Manager & Bartender
Blackstone Social, Segreto & Social
01.2020 - 12.2021
Traveling Exhibits Coordinator
The Omaha Children's Museum
06.2019 - 10.2021
LEGO Model Production Project Manager & Team Lead
Merlin Entertainments
11.2015 - 02.2019
Attractions Coordinator, Supervisor & Trainer
Walt Disney World Resort
04.2013 - 10.2015
High School Diploma -
Papillion Lavista South High School