Mercedes Jones
Director
Santa Rosa,CA
Summary
Professional with strong background in executive support, adept at managing complex schedules, coordinating meetings, and handling confidential information. Highly skilled in communication, organization, and problem-solving, ensuring seamless office operations. Focused on team collaboration and achieving results, adapting flexibly to changing needs and priorities. Dependable and resourceful, consistently delivering high-quality outcomes.
Diligent Executive Director/Assistant with background in providing comprehensive support to senior executives. Successfully coordinated high-priority projects and streamlined office operations. Demonstrated proficiency in calendar management and travel arrangements.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Director
The Rice Trader
01.2019 - Current
- Responsibilities include all company marketing and sales from the bottom ground concepts and creations, including final full print, digital, and online. Full website design, backend administration, maintenance, including new sales-oriented and driven projects to expand the company and its value. Increased customer satisfaction, use, and commitment to being a client.
- Composing, analyzing, editing, and publishing daily and weekly global data and market intelligence reports.
- High-level sales with over $500K annual income base expectations. Consistently made the required quota for the past 4 years with great growth potential in light of an extremely volatile market. Worked with and gained trust of international, private, public, and high government sectors. Consistently increased the value and reputation of the company for future and continued relations.
- Ran international business conferences, including concepts, original designs, venue, location, onsite ocular, contracts, workup, P&L overviews, all operations, functions, placements, accounting, staffing, video production, directing, editing, onsite production, pre, lie, and post marketing.
- All social media platforms. Content creation, tracking, and increased value and followers from 100 to over 9K. Increased Master Contact Database from 2,500 to over 31,000 to date.
- Created and utilized a conference company mobile app.
- Lord Of Rice Competition (2023-2025) development, chefs, judges, location, operations, tickets and sales, all marketing, sponsors, and media coverage.
- MY & FY Agendas and Management include:
- 1. Mercedes Jones: Steering The Rice Trader into a New Era of Global Influence and Innovation
- 2. From Vision to Execution: The Mercedes Model
- 3. Data as a Compass
- 4. Conferences with a Difference
- 5. Social Media and Storytelling: Scaling from 100 to 9,000
- 6. Global Relations and the Art of the Possible
- 7. Building the Brand from the Ground Up
- 8. The Data Engine: Daily and Weekly Global Intelligence
- 9. Numbers That Speak
- 10. The Conference Machine: From Concept to Curtain Call
- 11. Social Media: From 100 Followers to a Thriving Community
- 12. Pioneering Tech: The Conference Mobile App
- 13. The LOR Competition – A Culinary Celebration
- 14. Managing the Million-Speaker Calendar
- The Business Engine: Accounting, Contracts, and Culture
- 15. VIP Experiences: Private Dinners & Strategic Meetings
- 16. The Ripple Effect: Revenue, Reputation, and Relationships
Wine Educator
Ram's Gate Winery
Sonoma, CA
05.2020 - 07.2023
- Developed and delivered engaging wine education programs for diverse audiences.
- Facilitated tastings and guided discussions to enhance customer knowledge and appreciation of wines.
- Collaborated with winemakers to create informative content on wine production processes.
- Trained staff on wine varietals, tasting techniques, and service standards to elevate customer experience.
Wine Specialist
Jackson Family Wines
Fulton, CA
05.2017 - 05.2020
- Educated customers on wine selections, enhancing their purchasing experience and satisfaction.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with key clients, fostering loyalty and repeat business.
- Coordinated wine tastings and events, showcasing product offerings to diverse audiences.
- Analyzed market trends to inform promotional strategies and optimize inventory management.
- Delivered exceptional customer service to enhance client satisfaction and drive repeat business.
- Utilized point-of-sale systems to process transactions efficiently and accurately.
- Maintained product knowledge to assist customers in making informed purchasing decisions.
- Collaborated with team members to achieve sales targets and improve store performance.
- Trained new associates on sales techniques, operational procedures, and customer engagement strategies.
- Analyzed sales data to identify trends and recommend inventory adjustments for optimal stock levels.
Education
Associate of Arts - Language Arts Education
University of Hawaii At Manoa
Kailua-Kona, HI06-1991
Open Water Scuba Instructor - Underwater Open Ocean
PADI
Kailua-Kona, HI05-1990
Skills
- Relationship building
- Strategic planning
- Verbal and written communication
- Decision-making
- People management
- Revenue growth
- Operations management
- Project management
- Team management
- Creativity and innovation
- Strategies and goals
- Project coordination
- Data analysis
- Customer relations
- Customer service
Accomplishments
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Achieved Daily, and Yearly Projections and P&L for the company by introducing Excel, Salesforce, Cvent, and others for business development and tracking tasks.
- Created a Company and an international conference mobile app for thousands of global clients and sponsors to use.
- Created and maintained various company websites.
- Created, analyzed, wrote, edited and published for a high level marketing intelligence report for the global rice industry.
- Resolved product issue through consumer testing.
- Supervised team of 40 staff members.
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Full Professional
Italian
Limited Working
Japanese
Elementary
Interests
I enjoy:
- Ocean Kayaking
- Cycling
- Reading
- Writing
- Traveling
- Cooking
- Gardening
I love learning and applying:
- Digital Art and Animation
- Participating in cultural exchange programs and homestays
- Exploring famous landmarks, historical sites, and cultural attractions in a new destination
- Documenting and sharing travel experiences
- Historical Exploration
- Getting involved in local advocacy groups to promote positive change in the community
- Offering time and support to shelters for the homeless, women, and animals
- I enjoy sketching and drawing, which helps improve my creativity and attention to detail
Timeline
Wine Educator
Ram's Gate Winery
05.2020 - 07.2023
Director
The Rice Trader
01.2019 - Current
Wine Specialist
Jackson Family Wines
05.2017 - 05.2020
Associate of Arts - Language Arts Education
University of Hawaii At Manoa
Open Water Scuba Instructor - Underwater Open Ocean
PADI
2023 - 2025 Global Speaker at International World Rice Conferences
I thrive at the intersection of people‑first service and results‑driven strategy, turning every customer interaction into an opportunity to add real value to the organization. Whether I’m untangling complex problems, designing incentive programs that spark motivation, or injecting positive energy and accountability across teams, I see each challenge as a chance to build something better. My fluency in Spanish and Italian—honed through rigorous academic study—adds a multilingual dimension to my collaborative style, allowing me to support, grow, and learn alongside diverse stakeholders while keeping ethical considerations front and center. I’m a disciplined listener who welcomes direction, yet I’m equally comfortable leading projects and guiding individuals toward forward‑thinking, sustainable outcomes. In every role, I bring a relentless drive to empower people, elevate performance, and create an environment where both the organization and its people can flourish.