Laura Hilfinger
Commerce
Summary
I have experience in the hospitality industry as well as sales and education. No matter what job I have, I give it my all and I bring a positive attitude that is contagious. I work hard to meat goals and pride myself in having a positive impact on the people I work with and company I work for.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Literacy Paraprofessional
Country Oaks Elementary School
09.2023 - Current
- Perform Acadience assessments for all students at the school (grades JK-5) to determine which students require tier 2 support from our team
- Collaborate with teachers to identify student needs and set learning goals
- Provide reading and writing support to small groups of students in grades JK-5 using a variety of literacy programs (such as UFLI, Word Connections, Flyleaf and Science of Reading)
- Help maintain organization of all teaching resources within the literacy room including books, student worksheets and learning activities
Account Manager
Detroit Automotive Technologies
09.2016 - 01.2022
- Managed a diverse portfolio of accounts in the automotive industry (including OEMs and other Tier 1 suppliers) ensuring timely communication and effective problem resolution
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless delivery of products
- Received RFQs from the customer and worked diligently with the cost team to provide a competitive quote
- Negotiated contracts with favorable terms for both the company and clients, driving mutual success
- Recognized as a top performer among piers by consistently meeting sales targets and obtaining sales records for the company
- Attended automotive industry conferences and events, establishing valuable networking connections and potential partnerships
Administrative Assistant
Detroit Automotive Technologies
09.2014 - 09.2016
- Performed a plethora of administrative duties including greeting visitors, answering phones, answering emails, writing memos and managing calendars for all account managers and engineers
- Was in charge of scheduling meetings and reserving conference rooms for each meeting taken place at the office
- Coordinated travel arrangements for account managers/engineers as needed
- Offered financial support by processing invoices, handled expense reports and other basic bookkeeping tasks
Pastry Chef
The Inn at St John’s
01.2012 - 09.2014
- Prepared decadent desserts and pastries for banquets of up to 3,000 guests
- Created dessert menu for 5ive restaurant based on ingredients available seasonally and made sure restaurant was stocked with each dessert daily
- Ordered all ingredients and dry goods needed for the pastry kitchen and kept track of inventory
- Trained and managed two other pastry chefs in the kitchen
- Attended weekly BEO (Banquet Event Order) meetings to understand dessert needs and expectations for all events taking place that week at the hotel
Pastry Chef
The Baronette Renaissance Hotel / Toasted Oak Grill and Market
05.2009 - 01.2012
- Prepared cornbread and pizza dough daily for Toasted Oak Restaurant
- Created dessert menu and made sure restaurant was stock daily with all dessert needs
- Prepared and plated desserts for all banquets at the hotel (for up to 800 guests)
- Met with guests to determine their dessert needs and helped set the dessert menu for events
- Created beautiful and delicious wedding cakes for wedding receptions taking place at the hotel
Event Coordinator
Lansing Lugnuts
02.2008 - 05.2009
- Sold private events for the ballpark for up to 1,000 guests
- Consulted with each client to understand their theme and expectations for the event
- Prepared estimates and processed invoices for events
- Directed set up and breakdown of each event and managed each event to ensure all issues resolved quickly and efficiently
Intern
MichiganVacation.org
05.2007 - 09.2007
- Took reservations over the phone for all hotels and vacation rentals managed by the company
- Checked in and out all guests staying at our properties and handled all issues during their stay
- Communicated with housekeeping to ensure all rooms were clean prior to guest check-ins
Education
Associate's Degree - Culinary Arts
Schoolcraft College
Livonia, MI05-2011
Bachelor's Degree - Food Industry Management
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI05-2009
Skills
Effective communication
Calm and patient demeanor
Teamwork and collaboration
Goal oriented
Issue resolution
Timeline
Literacy Paraprofessional
Country Oaks Elementary School
09.2023 - Current
Account Manager
Detroit Automotive Technologies
09.2016 - 01.2022
Administrative Assistant
Detroit Automotive Technologies
09.2014 - 09.2016
Pastry Chef
The Inn at St John’s
01.2012 - 09.2014
Pastry Chef
The Baronette Renaissance Hotel / Toasted Oak Grill and Market
05.2009 - 01.2012
Event Coordinator
Lansing Lugnuts
02.2008 - 05.2009
Intern
MichiganVacation.org
05.2007 - 09.2007
Bachelor's Degree - Food Industry Management
Michigan State University
Associate's Degree - Culinary Arts
Schoolcraft College