Oliver Christy
Business Owner/ Director of Operations
AUSTIN,TX
Summary
Seasoned CEO with a proven ability to align business strategy with operational execution, driving efficiency, revenue growth, and market expansion. Over nine years of experience leading high-performing, cross-functional teams in the entertainment and e-commerce sectors, overseeing project lifecycles from initiation to completion. Innovator in immersive escape room design, leveraging data insights and customer feedback to refine experiences and maintain a competitive edge. Hands-on experience with Machine Learning, implementing algorithms to enhance digital platforms and optimize system performance. Adept at strategic planning, process optimization, and change management, with a track record of reducing costs, enhancing productivity, and maximizing ROI. Skilled in digital marketing, risk mitigation, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring seamless collaboration across teams and partners. Passionate about customer experience, quality assurance, and continuous improvement, driving long-term business success through innovation and data-driven decision-making.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Operations
Escape Room Madness
06.2016 - Current
- I lead a team of 16 employees, creating a collaborative, results-driven environment where everyone is empowered to succeed. I conduct regular performance reviews and provide feedback that helps individuals grow and the team as a whole improve. By customizing training to fit each person’s strengths and development areas, I ensure continuous learning and skill-building. My focus on accountability, open communication, and team engagement has contributed to a 15% increase in employee retention since 2020, along with boosted productivity and morale.
- Proactively identified and capitalized on emerging market opportunities by continuously monitoring industry trends, competitor activity, and customer preferences. Leveraged market research, data analytics, and industry insights to inform strategic decision-making and drive business growth. Developed targeted strategies to attract new clientele, enhance product offerings, and strengthen the brand’s position in the market. Stayed ahead of industry developments through networking and attending industry events, ensuring the company remained adaptable and competitive in an ever-evolving landscape.
- Drove the expansion of market presence by forging strategic partnerships with key industry players such as Groupon and TripAdvisor, creating opportunities for collaborative growth and increased brand visibility. Led the development and execution of targeted marketing campaigns tailored to specific customer segments, leveraging data-driven insights to optimize reach and engagement. Enhanced customer acquisition and retention by implementing innovative engagement strategies, such as personalized communications, loyalty programs, and responsive customer service initiatives, all aimed at fostering long-term relationships and maximizing lifetime value.
- Optimized financial decision-making by refining the budget and ensuring effective utilization to maximize efficiency and profitability. By closely monitoring costs, identifying areas for improvement, and reallocating funds where needed, I worked to enhance the overall financial health of the business. Partnering with Groupon in 2023 resulted in a 12% increase in revenue, contributing to both short-term profitability and long-term financial sustainability.
- Built brand reputation by consistently optimizing the customer experience, ensuring satisfaction at every touch point to drive a high volume of five-star online reviews. Formed high-impact partnerships with reputable brands such as Groupon and TripAdvisor to expand reach and build credibility. Focused on delivering exceptional service and value, creating positive customer interactions that contributed to strong ratings and long-term brand loyalty.
- Designed, developed, and implemented immersive and interactive escape room experiences, incorporating innovative puzzles, storylines, and themes to enhance player engagement. Continuously researched and updated game offerings based on industry trends and customer feedback, ensuring fresh and challenging experiences that drive repeat business and maintain a competitive edge. Collaborated with a creative team to refine game mechanics, optimize set designs, and improve overall player satisfaction.
- Successfully negotiated and managed strategic vendor relationships to secure cost-effective and high-quality solutions for essential supplies, ongoing maintenance, and facility upgrades. Collaborated closely with key stakeholders to understand organizational needs and worked with suppliers to streamline procurement processes. Utilized market research and data analysis to identify opportunities for cost savings, negotiated favorable terms, and ensured timely delivery of goods and services. Led efforts to evaluate and select vendors based on their ability to meet quality, service, and cost criteria, contributing to improved operational efficiency and budget control.
- Led talent acquisition and management, successfully interviewing and onboarding 50+ employees. Implemented strategic hiring processes, reducing employee turnover by 24%.
- Developed and maintained a structured onboarding program that ensured smooth transitions for new hires and helped them integrate quickly. Created a supportive environment focused on growth and professional development, resulting in higher employee satisfaction and long-term retention.
Digital Marketing and Product Development Lead
Escape Room Madness
06.2016 - Current
- Led the end-to-end product development and management for six flagship products over a span of nine years, driving more than $12 million in lifetime revenue. Partnered with cross-functional teams to leverage data insights and customer feedback, continuously refining product offerings to enhance user experience and maximize market impact. Demonstrated a strong ability to innovate and optimize products, contributing significantly to overall business growth and customer satisfaction.
- Collaborated with a cross-functional team to develop a more efficient advertising strategy and optimized budget allocation. By analyzing past campaigns, identifying areas for improvement, and applying data-driven insights, we streamlined ad spending without compromising reach or effectiveness. As a result, we successfully reduced the advertising budget by 8% in 2021, improving overall cost efficiency and contributing to better resource utilization for the company.
- I have hands-on experience with Machine Learning (ML) and have implemented it directly on my website. This involved using ML algorithms to process data, develop models, and continuously improve system performance. By integrating ML, I enhanced user interactions and automated various processes, allowing the system to learn from data and make smarter predictions without the need for constant manual updates.
- I developed a risk feature within our booking software that tracks and analyzes user behavior in real-time to detect potentially fraudulent purchases. For instance, if a customer’s booking information, such as billing address or payment method, deviates from normal patterns—such as multiple bookings made in quick succession or from different locations—it triggers an automatic alert for further review. Additionally, the system cross-checks payment details with a database of known fraudulent accounts and flags suspicious activity, allowing our team to intervene before the purchase is processed. Since implementation, we have detected over 700 high-risk payments and limited dispute activity to 0.38%.
- Developed, designed, and implemented a user-friendly website to enhance user experience and drive organic traffic. Managed front-end development using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and selected Python for server-side operations, database management, and data processing. Built and maintained a robust back-end infrastructure with Python, handling user authentication, dynamic content generation, and API integrations. Utilized Python to automate data processing tasks, streamline content updates, and improve site performance by optimizing server-side operations and ensuring efficient resource management.
- Utilized Mailchimp to effectively engage a targeted email list of 50,000 customers, delivering tailored content and promotional offers. By crafting compelling sales campaigns and package deals, I drove customer engagement and increased conversions through cost-effective digital marketing strategies, boosting overall sales and customer retention.
- Directed digital marketing and advertising efforts for nine years, managing Google Ads, social media campaigns, and website promotions. Oversaw a monthly ad spend budget of $30,000–$45,000, partnering with platforms such as Tripadvisor and Groupon to drive an annual revenue increase of $120,000+.
Education
Associate of Business Management - Business Management
El Paso Community College
El Paso, TX08-2017
Skills
Leadership & Operations
Project Management Team Leadership & Training Change Management Risk Mitigation Workflow Optimization Process Improvement
Marketing & Sales
Digital Marketing Google Ads & Social Media Campaigns Customer Retention Strategies Strategic Partnerships Market Analysis
Finance & Business Strategy
Budgeting & Cost Control Contract Negotiations Financial Management Business Planning Vendor Relations Performance Evaluation
Technical & Product Development
Website Development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python) Machine Learning Integration Data Analytics Product Lifecycle Management
Languages
Spanish
Limited Working
English
Native or Bilingual
Interests
- Playing Sports
- Swimming
- Cars
- Nutrition
- Web Development and Design
- Gym Workouts
- Design and Build Websites
- Machine Learning
- Coding- Python, Javascript, CSS
- Developing Bots For Discord Server
- Learning new and emerging digital trends and technology
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
On-SiteRemoteHybridImportant To Me
Career advancementCompany CultureHealthcare benefitsStock Options / Equity / Profit Sharing401k matchSoftware
Python
JavaScript
HTML
CSS
Machine Learning (ML)
Software Development (Risk Features)
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Director of Operations
Escape Room Madness
06.2016 - Current
Digital Marketing and Product Development Lead
Escape Room Madness
06.2016 - Current
Associate of Business Management - Business Management
El Paso Community College
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