Lisa Baffo
Nashville,TN
Summary
Experienced hospitality and events professional with 15+ years of leadership across catering, hotels, and high-volume food & beverage operations. Proven ability to manage large-scale events, lead cross-functional teams, oversee staffing and budgets, and deliver exceptional client experiences from planning through execution.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Events
Dream Events and Catering
Nashville, TN
08.2022 - Current
- Serve as primary point of contact for assigned clients, managing all communication from booking through event execution
- Coordinate and lead all client, venue, and vendor meetings for assigned events
- Oversee flawless event execution by training, developing, and supervising servers, bartenders, and event staff
- Interview, hire, onboard, and train employees within the events department
- Direct a team of event specialists managing day-to-day operations for events under 450 guests
- Act as lead for all events exceeding 450 guests
- Review, approve, and adjust all booked events to ensure operational feasibility and client satisfaction
- Prepare and submit internal documentation in accordance with company workflows and SOPs
- Lead weekly internal department and company meetings
- Handle and resolve client concerns and complaints professionally and efficiently
- Collaborate closely with the culinary team on menu development and on-site execution
- Conduct all client tastings for both proposed and booked events
- Maintain and strengthen relationships with clients, venues, and vendor partners
Catering Operations Manager
Wolfgang Puck Catering
Los Angeles, CA
10.2018 - 06.2022
- Responsible for reaching out to clients to ensure their vision and needs come to life for the event.
- Creating rental order needs (working with Chef’s during this) and sending to partner rental companies. Double checking these orders once confirmed.
- Scheduling staff based on budget, times, and necessity. This includes, servers, bartenders, captains, drivers, housemen
- Creating floor plans, if needed, and assigning staff to sections.
- Creative ability for décor on buffet stations and other areas if client requests
- Working with Chef on designing kitchen for offsite events as well as what vehicles to put food items in.
- Onsite contact from load in to load out for client.
Assistant General Manager
Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill
Los Angeles, CA
05.2018 - 10.2018
Assistant General Manager
Plan Check Kitchen + Bar
Los Angeles, CA
03.2017 - 05.2018
Food and Beverage Manager
STK (The One Group) W Hotel
Westwood, CA
03.2016 - 02.2017
Executive Meeting Specialist
Westin Hotel at LAX
Los Angeles, CA
01.2015 - 03.2016
Assistant Food and Beverage Manager
SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills
Los Angeles, CA
06.2012 - 07.2014
Education
Bachelor of Science - Hospitality and Tourism, Event Management, Business Administration
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA05.2012
Skills
- OpenTable
- Micros
- Aloha
- Reserve
- Serve Safe
- ABC Permit
- Google and Microsoft proficient
Timeline
Director of Events
Dream Events and Catering
08.2022 - Current
Catering Operations Manager
Wolfgang Puck Catering
10.2018 - 06.2022
Assistant General Manager
Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill
05.2018 - 10.2018
Assistant General Manager
Plan Check Kitchen + Bar
03.2017 - 05.2018
Food and Beverage Manager
STK (The One Group) W Hotel
03.2016 - 02.2017
Executive Meeting Specialist
Westin Hotel at LAX
01.2015 - 03.2016
Assistant Food and Beverage Manager
SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills
06.2012 - 07.2014
Bachelor of Science - Hospitality and Tourism, Event Management, Business Administration
San Francisco State University