Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Languages
Accomplishments
Certification
References
Timeline
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Kacie Rebecca Lambert

Los Angeles,CA

Summary

Hospitality professional with 15 years of diverse experience in the industry, specializing in community engagement and education. Known for crafting innovative cocktails and culinary experiences that honor rich traditions while enhancing guest satisfaction. Proven ability to inspire and motivate teams, driving a culture of creativity and excellence in service delivery. Aiming to leverage expertise to contribute to the continued growth and vitality of the hospitality sector.

Overview

10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Bacardi Portfolio Ambassador

Team Enterprises
Los Angeles, CA
08.2022 - Current
  • Company Overview: Bacardi Portfolio Ambassador
  • Developed strong working partnerships with key advocacy accounts in the LA industry and expanded their engagement with our brands
  • Coordinated ambassadors to collaborate as a cohesive team for executing extensive trade-focused impactful engagements
  • Successfully completing all necessary reporting & administration responsibilities
  • Conducted meetings with beverage directors to explore collaboration opportunities and strategically deployed appropriate ambassadors to execute brand-specific activations
  • Demonstrating comprehensive expertise across all brands within the Bacardi portfolio and conducting numerous training sessions incorporating the full range of brands
  • Coordinating, assigning responsibilities, and overseeing large-scale activations across all brands in partnership with the top 50 bars globally, leveraging the talents of Florida International University students and our National Brand Ambassador Team
  • Collaborating with individual brand teams to strategically plan and execute localized events that emphasize brand engagement within key market segments
  • Bacardi Portfolio Ambassador

Beverage Director

Gracias Madre
Newport Beach, CA
09.2021 - 08.2022
  • Organized the largest bartenders competition ever held in Orange County hosting 17 competitors, 5 Iconic Judges from LA, Orange County and New York and welcoming over 250 beverage professionals
  • Created and managed all media outlets, invites and RSVP platforms
  • Maintains communication with Liquor Sponsor, Created cocktail menu and batched all cocktails for the event
  • Managed all staff for the event
  • Implementing a new beverage program focused solely on agave spirits with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients and originality
  • Organizing and putting systems in place for streamline preparation, service and scheduling
  • Responsible for Liquor percentages, declining budgets, forecasting, PnL reporting and evaluations
  • Creating a yearly calendar of events for the restaurant and social media outreach
  • Curator of Gracias Cantinero; industry focused events that collaborate with brands and spirits to bring the community together
  • Cultivating a team environment while training staff to perform to the highest standards of technique and hospitality

Head Bartender

Pie Society
Costa Mesa, CA
10.2020 - 09.2021
  • Responsible for seasonal menu development, training and execution
  • Building specialty and classic cocktails for both bar guest and servers in a fast paced environment
  • Maintaining high standards of hospitality, service and organization
  • Constant communication with staff and upper management

Bartender- Events Director

Subject NYC, TBK LLC
New York, NY
02.2017 - 03.2020
  • Menu research and expansion
  • Developing, designing and running a weekly charity bar program (TBK Try Being Kinder)
  • Coordinating with brands to create engaging activations focused around education, highlighting spirits and giving back to the community

Head Bartender

The UP & Up/ Stay Gold
New York, NY
01.2015 - 11.2018
  • Responsible for creating a high quality, high volume, low waste cocktail program with ongoing cocktail research and development
  • Performing managerial duties such as food and liquor ordering, scheduling and inventory
  • Creating an ongoing educational program for all staff in house as well as coordinating with brand representatives
  • Working closely with public relations to highlight specialty events and collaborations

Education

BS - General Psychology

Vanguard University
Costa Mesa, CA
01.2006

Skills

  • Interpersonal Insight
  • Product recommendations
  • Team management
  • Customer education
  • Brand awareness
  • Cross-cultural collaboration
  • Customer engagement
  • Booth and display setup
  • Media relations
  • Event coordination
  • Social media management
  • Brand imaging
  • Product knowledge
  • Demonstrations

Affiliations

  • Imbibe Magazine
  • Punch Magazine
  • OC Foodies
  • New York Post
  • Edible LA
  • Orange Coast Magazine
  • USA Today 10 Best
  • KTLA 5
  • Liquor .Com
  • Eater NY
  • The Manual
  • Vine Pair Magazine
  • CBS News

Links to all included in my personal website provided below

Languages

English
Native/ Bilingual

Accomplishments

  • I had the privilege of mentoring five bartenders from various regions across the United States in the "Better Bar for Tomorrow" classes, where we presented a sustainable bar concept. The team that excelled in this initiative was awarded the. opportunity to travel to Miami to bring their concept to life. Our bar concept, Vagabond, emerged as the winner, allowing us to meet the following year for a successful pop-up event.
  • I was invited to return as the leader for the Better Bar Tomorrow initiative. My responsibilities included developing a batching schedule for all presentations, welcome cocktails, lunch breaks, and farewell events. Additionally, I oversaw the organization of breakout group activities, where participants collaborated to create a menu that incorporated the insights and skills gained throughout the seminars.
  • In 2024, I was invited join the events team early to assist with the planning process. In this role, I was responsible for designing all outdoor bar setups, ensuring functionality without the use of plumbing. I facilitated the approval of designs and coordinated the procurement of all necessary assets to bring these
    concepts to fruition. Additionally, I developed cocktail recipes and menus independently, where bar partners were not involved.
  • I also created a comprehensive schedule for all Portfolio Ambassadors, Patron Ambassadors, Multicultural
    Ambassadors, and Canadian Ambassadors. This included a detailed daily timetable with clickable links to individual schedules, which featured descriptions of their specific roles during each time slot. By collaborating closely with 13 Shakes, I organized the garnish breakdown and batch quantities for each day and time at various bars. Furthermore, I was present on- site at the beginning and end of each activation day, overseeing setup and breakdown for the entire event with multiple events in the same space per day.
  • My most significant accomplishment this year at Tales of the Cocktail was fostering connections and
    providing mentorship to the students from Florida International University (FIU). I was continually impressed by their passion and eagerness to learn about the industry, cocktails, and effective work
    practices. From the outset, I established rapport with these students, guiding them in understanding their roles and instilling confidence in their daily responsibilities on-site. If they represent the future of our industry, I am overjoyed about what lies ahead, and I am grateful to have been a part of it
  • Developed a new standard design for National Account Cocktail Presentations for Applebees. Designed and presented to Applebees National beverage directors.
  • Successfully designed, launched, staffed, and managed multiple bar restaurants in New York City. Focused on team building and provided comprehensive education and training in various areas, including spirits, food pairings, industry trends, sustainability best practices, and more.

Please feel free to click through the recaps on my website of all activations I personally organized and activated

Certification

  • West Hollywood City Council recognized Kacie Lambert with a Certificate of Recognition for the organization of the Jones Takeover, a fundraisers in support of Jone's Cafe, West Hollywood.
  • Top 50 Bartenders, New York City, 2015, Time Out Magazine

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Bacardi Portfolio Ambassador

Team Enterprises
08.2022 - Current

Beverage Director

Gracias Madre
09.2021 - 08.2022

Head Bartender

Pie Society
10.2020 - 09.2021

Bartender- Events Director

Subject NYC, TBK LLC
02.2017 - 03.2020

Head Bartender

The UP & Up/ Stay Gold
01.2015 - 11.2018

BS - General Psychology

Vanguard University
Kacie Rebecca Lambert