Meghan Garofolo
Chicago,IL
Summary
Executive Assistant skilled at offering high-level administrative support to senior-level staff. Also skilled in sales and account management. Expert in travel management, expense tracking and schedule coordination. Expertly assists executive team using exceptional communication and organizational skills. Detail-oriented administrative professional with superb people-skills and public relations experience. Business-savvy with excellent decision-making skills. Highly confidential. I have been able to use my EA/PA skills to transfer into a more sales focused role with my current employer.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Manager/Sales Lead
Shred415
08.2022 - Current
- Demonstrated exemplary customer service by engaging clients on sales floor.
- Offered hands-on assistance to customers, assessing needs, and maintaining current knowledge of consumer preferences.
- Mentored team members to enhance professional development and accountability in workplace.
- Generated repeat business through exceptional customer service and responded to customer concerns with friendly and knowledgeable service.
- Developed strategy to increase sales and drive profits. Increasing sales by almost 20% from 2022 to 2023.
- Strengthened merchandising and promotional strategies to drive customer engagement and boost sales.
- Opened and closed location and monitored shift changes to uphold successful operations strategies and maximize business success.
Executive Assistant/Personal Assistant
Free the People/Matt and Terry Kibbe
07.2018 - 07.2022
- Provide direct executive support to CEO, President and Free the People Team
- Main point of contact for Executives and FTP team
- Provide direct personal support to Matt and Terry Kibbe, Founders of Free the People
- Schedule meetings and travel both work and personal
- Procure talent for FTP video series "Kibbe on Liberty" featured on BlazeTV
- Coordinate and schedule KOL interviews and arrange logistics for talent
- Keep track of filming/video release dates, video release forms and talent information
- Responsible for all FTP merchandise fulfillment and shipping
- Provide additional support to FTP team when needed at conferences, meetings or video shoots.
- Handled confidential and sensitive information with discretion and tact.
- Managed executive calendars, scheduling meetings and appointments and coordinating travel arrangements to optimize time.
Executive/Personal Assistant to Private Family
Brown Legacy Group/Stephenson Family
08.2012 - 12.2015
- Arranged domestic and international travel plans and itineraries.
- Oversaw personal and professional calendars and coordinated appointments for future events.
- Maintained appropriate filing of personal and professional documentation.
- Provided general administrative support including scheduling meetings, making travel arrangements and managing documentation.
- Displayed absolute discretion at handling confidential information.
- Provided multifaceted services to career professionals by running errands, managing mail, scheduling appointments, and arranging transportation.
- Kept detailed track of household and maintenance inventory and schedules.
- Communicated with internal departments, vendors and contractors to discuss schedules, project requirements and upcoming appointments.
- Coordinated international and domestic travel logistics including flight itineraries, hotel reservations and car services.
- Handled logistics, catering, agendas and travel arrangements for meeting and event planning for board of directors, president and executive vice president.
Executive Assistant – Operations and Engineering, Capital Planning Manager
Hyatt Hotels Corporation
02.2011 - 06.2012
- Administrative Assistant Responsibilities
- Manage SVP of Operations NA, VP of Engineering and Corporate Director of Engineering's calendars, schedule appointments, arrange conference calls, webinars, travel and expense reports
- Support in monitoring department budget, reconcile corporate card statements; and process department payables
- Maintain and publish departmental travel calendar, organization charts and functional presentations
- Assist in the preparation of various presentations to hotels, corporate management and owners
- Schedule and coordinate department meeting, create agendas and maintain minutes
- Capital Planning Manager Responsibilities
- Create timeline of key events, enter all corporate recommendations and directives, update hotel cost factors, and manage users (GM's, DOE's and Controllers at all North American Properties)
- Responsible for maintaining and enforcing deadlines, and making sure that all hotels are following proper steps with their submissions
- Provide support of iCaps program and help manage capital planning process throughout the year.
- Managed executive calendars, scheduling meetings and appointments and coordinating travel arrangements to optimize time
Personal Assistant to Managing Partner/Proprietor (Temporary Position)
Carl Thoma/Van Duzer Vineyards
01.2010 - 12.2010
- Provided direct personal support to Managing Partner of Thoma Bravo and Proprietor of Van Duzer Vineyards
- Created and maintained inventory and managed four separate wine collections
- Coordinated the logistics of shipping and receiving wine
- Proactively acquired new vintages and special release editions of wine by establishing new vendor relationships while selling and donating wines from personal collection at owners discretion
- Effectively marketed and expanded Van Duzer Vineyard's presence in Chicago market by working with National Sales Manager and local distributors to introduce wine to new and existing venues
- Completed detailed research projects relating to personal subject matters, wine collecting, rare and precious art, Charitable Foundations, and University Art programs.
- Oversaw personal and professional calendars and coordinated appointments for future events.
- Maintained appropriate filing of personal and professional documentation.
Insurance Account Representative and Office Coordinator
State Farm Insurance
12.2007 - 12.2009
- Educated clients on insurance policies and procedures.
- Analyzed customer needs to provide customized insurance solutions.
- Met with customers to provide information about available products and policies.
- Calculated premiums and established payment methods for sales.
- Finalized sales and collected necessary deposits.
- Worked with sales team to collaboratively reach targets, consistently meeting or exceeding personal quotas.
- Generated leads through cold-calling, networking and other outreach methods.
Sales – Account Manager
Mechdyne, Inc.
02.2007 - 11.2007
- Created proposals for new and repeat customer business transactions.
- Contacted regular and prospective customers to explain product features and solicit orders.
- Negotiated prices, terms of sale and service agreements.
- Contacted new and existing customers to discuss new products and services. First person within the company to sell a system within first 90 days of employment.
- Met with clients, delivering presentations, and educating on product and service features and offerings.
- Attended industry shows, conventions, and other meetings with primary mission of expanding market opportunities.
- Prepared sales presentations for clients showing success and credibility of products.
Executive Assistant to CEO
Ubiquity Brands, Inc.
04.2006 - 01.2007
- Provided direct support to Chief Executive Officer, Mr
- Jeff Dunn (former President of Coca-Cola NA) and back-up support to Chief Marketing Officer, Ms
- Kris Malkoski (formerly of Proctor and Gamble)
- Proactively managed and completed all expense reports for both Chief Executive Officer and Chief Marketing Officer
- Effectively managed all personal finances and home maintenance for Chief Executive Officer
- Scheduled all domestic and international travel and coordinated, organized and implemented departmental outings, parties, and meetings
- Developed new vendor relationships, that resulted in cost savings of over $10,000 in office expenses.
Executive Assistant / Treasury Management
BlueStar Energy Services, Inc.
12.2004 - 04.2006
- Reported to and provided direct support to co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Mr
- Aaron Rasty
- Managed the receivables and payables of approximately $6 million dollars per month and all incoming and outgoing wires and ACH's up to $3 million per transition
- Spearheaded the action plan to streamline the AP/AR process, resulting in decreased processing time of 20 hours weekly
- Managed and administrated two separate bank implementation processes with National City (now MB) and Bank of America
- Devised first company Orientation & Training Handbook and created policies and procedures for the Treasury Department
- Acted as back-up for the Accounting Department with all monthly, weekly, and daily cash flow projections, account maintenance and bank reconciliations.
Office Manager / Executive Assistant
1st Capital Banc
05.2002 - 11.2004
- Provided direct executive support to CEO, Richard Bass
- Organized and planned all travel arrangements, nationally and internationally
- Oversaw office of 25 employees
- Planned and hosted all employee parties and outings
- Responsible for running all employee background checks and verify licensing
- Hired and trained administrative staff
- Responsible for acquiring all in state and out of state licensing
- Provided support for payroll manager, IT and Human Resources
- Created new employee handbook and orientation policies.
Education
Associate of Arts -
Marshalltown Community College
Marshalltown, IA01.2002
Associate of Arts -
Hawkeye Community College
Waterloo, IA01.2001
Skills
- Confidentiality Maintenance
- Meeting Planning
- Calendar Management
- Executive Support
- Attention to Detail
- Effective Communication
- Problem Solving
- Event Coordination
- Project Management
- Interpersonal Skills
- Client Relations
- Resourcefulness
Community Affiliations
- Friends of Blaine, Secretary 2023/2024
- Friends of Blaine, Vice President 2022/2023
- Friends of Blaine, Vice President 2021/2022
- Gateway for Cancer Research, Associate Board Member – Research Chair
- Gateway for Cancer Research, Demand Cures Gala Committee Member
- Gateway for Cancer Research, Golf Outing Board Member
Timeline
Assistant Manager/Sales Lead
Shred415
08.2022 - Current
Executive Assistant/Personal Assistant
Free the People/Matt and Terry Kibbe
07.2018 - 07.2022
Executive/Personal Assistant to Private Family
Brown Legacy Group/Stephenson Family
08.2012 - 12.2015
Executive Assistant – Operations and Engineering, Capital Planning Manager
Hyatt Hotels Corporation
02.2011 - 06.2012
Personal Assistant to Managing Partner/Proprietor (Temporary Position)
Carl Thoma/Van Duzer Vineyards
01.2010 - 12.2010
Insurance Account Representative and Office Coordinator
State Farm Insurance
12.2007 - 12.2009
Sales – Account Manager
Mechdyne, Inc.
02.2007 - 11.2007
Executive Assistant to CEO
Ubiquity Brands, Inc.
04.2006 - 01.2007
Executive Assistant / Treasury Management
BlueStar Energy Services, Inc.
12.2004 - 04.2006
Office Manager / Executive Assistant
1st Capital Banc
05.2002 - 11.2004
Associate of Arts -
Marshalltown Community College
Associate of Arts -
Hawkeye Community College
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