Preston Coghill
Atlanta,Georgia
Summary
Having outstanding customer service skills gives me the ability to lead and manage a diverse group of people. Continuing to be creative and have a keen sense of smell and taste. Team-oriented General Manager/Manager. Background includes business operations, Culinary, Floral Design and Marketing. Extensive food service, catering and floral design experience. I am a goal driven professional with 30 years of significant progressive food service and floral design/buying experience, expertise that is highly applicable to management, including the ability to deliver outstanding food, personalized client services, cultivate strong business relationship, make real time decisions and resolve issues in a way that propels innovation and growth. Phenomenal ability to plan, supervise, and handle events with great attention to detail. Impressive organizational, communication and multi-tasking skills. Strong project management and training skills. Skilled in developing marketing strategies and selling floral and catering services. Skilled in preparing and monitoring budgets. Talented Floral Designer accustomed to overseeing and executing unique creations, including centerpieces, bouquets and arrangements. Highly communicative employee with expertise helping customers execute floral visions. Creative individual with extensive understanding of plants and flowers. Energetic Floral Designer brings complex design ideas to fruition, exceeding client expectations. Specialist in special events such as banquets, weddings and corporate dinners. Designs and arranges floral displays, bouquets and arrangements aligned with holiday trends and customer requests. Knowledgeable about balloons, candy and gift baskets, as well as corsages, boutonnieres and wrist bouquets. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Floral Designer/Manager of Operations
Fresh Structures Floral Design Studios
08.2023 - Current
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by creating visually appealing and unique floral designs tailored to individual preferences.
- Increased repeat business by providing exceptional customer service and consistently delivering high-quality floral arrangements.
- Streamlined the design process for efficiency, implementing effective time management strategies and prioritizing tasks.
- Collaborated with event planners to create memorable floral installations for weddings, corporate events, and special occasions.
- Mentored junior designers in advanced techniques, fostering a collaborative and supportive team environment.
- Consistently met tight deadlines for large-scale orders, coordinating logistics to ensure timely delivery and installation of arrangements.
- Developed strong relationships with suppliers to negotiate favorable pricing on premium flowers and materials without compromising quality.
- Maintained a clean and organized work environment, adhering to safety standards and minimizing potential hazards for staff and customers.
- Offered friendly and efficient service to customers, handled challenging situations with ease.
- Consulted with clientele to discuss special occasion floral designs for weddings, funerals, and other events.
- Worked closely with clients to understand their needs and design flower arrangements that perfectly match their vision.
Founder
A Place In The Heart Theatricals Inc
02.2017 - Current
- Find funding for the Organization
- Program Management - Manage all Programs and Projects
- Create a 3-5year strategic view that allows all staff, volunteers, and board members to understand the short-term future of the organization, its programs, and key factors for success
- Fundraising - Develop and execute an annual fundraising plan that includes donor database management, donor communications, major gifts solicitation, corporate sponsorship, grant applications and reporting, and donor stewardship (thank you process)
- Budgeting - Work closely with the Finance Committee of the board to develop annual program-specific and organizational budgets
- Managed all cash flow, accounting and recordkeeping while ensuring that sound fiscal processes and procedures are established and maintained
- Collect and write all event recaps with details and key highlights
- Writer, Director, Producer of Stage Play 'OLDTIMERS the Musical'
- Director and Producer of Stage Play 'Easily Spoken'.
- Developed strong partnerships with key industry players, contributing to an increased market presence.
- Spearheaded marketing initiatives that effectively communicated brand value propositions, resulting in higher customer acquisition rates.
- Managed risk effectively by implementing comprehensive policies and procedures to mitigate potential threats to the business.
Store Manager
Flowers of Distinction
03.2017 - 01.2023
- Improved customer satisfaction through staff training in customer service and product knowledge.
- Increased store profitability by implementing cost-saving measures and efficient inventory management strategies.
- Maximized sales by creating innovative visual merchandising displays and store layouts.
- Managed daily operations to ensure smooth functioning of the store, maintaining a clean, safe environment for customers and employees.
- Streamlined purchasing processes, negotiating with vendors for better prices and payment terms.
- Implemented a loyalty program that boosted repeat business and increased overall sales revenue.
- Conducted regular performance reviews for staff members, providing constructive feedback and opportunities for growth.
- Oversaw loss prevention efforts, minimizing shrinkage by implementing effective security measures and training staff on proper procedures.
- Collaborated with event planners to provide stunning floral arrangements for weddings, corporate events, and other special occasions.
- Established effective sales strategies that drove store traffic during key holiday seasons such as Valentine''s Day, Mother''s Day, and Christmas.
- Expanded department offerings by introducing new products like exotic flowers or unique home décor items that attracted diverse clientele segments.
- Trained employees on customer order taking and basic floral arranging.
- Inventoried plants and flower care supplies and ordered more.
- Worked closely with clients to understand their needs and design flower arrangements that perfectly match their vision.
- Transported and set up floral arrangements for large-scale functions, comprising weddings, funerals, and banquets.
Floral Ordering Supervisor
WYNN Resorts
01.2008 - 08.2012
- Ensure the creation, installation and maintenance of our floral arrangements meet the Wynn Floral Department Design Standard
- Responsible for overseeing day to day operations and providing training and support for the staff, as well as providing leadership to enhance employee engagement and guest satisfaction
- Daily responsibilities can include but not limited to: ordering product, assisting in floral production, floral maintenance, event set ups and strikes, assisting in customer service when receiving and processing floral phone orders, ensuring employees are in compliance with policies and procedures while adhering to Wynn Standards
- Assists with floral design and creation, floral maintenance, event set up and strikes
- Assists with customer service when receiving and processing all floral orders
- Product quality control, inspection and assurance
- Responsible for managing line level staff
- Responsible for effectively managing many different personality types
- Instills a calm environment when under pressure
- Responsible for providing support to florists by training, mentoring and supervising florists in various areas of responsibility
- Responsible for financial planning, forecast, labor, and payroll for areas of responsibility
- Maintain files, computer documents, and keeps work areas clean and well organized
- Be an active member of the Hotel Division management team
- Provides clear direction, establishes goals and appropriate time frames, manages overall guest satisfaction, and monitors progress to achieve desired results
- Focus on key drivers of employee engagement and guest satisfaction
- Consults regularly with all levels of management within the company to provide constructive feedback to other departments to help enhance the guest experience
- Coordinates with all levels of management to maintain the highest level of guest service standards
- Ensure staff is equipped with all tools to serve the guest's needs
- Effectively deal with internal and external guests, some of whom would require levels of patience, tact and diplomacy
- Responsible for addressing guest issues
- Responsible for training, conducting employee performance evaluations, and overall development of all staff
- Responsible for all inventory, equipment, administrative supplies and any necessary items within the Floral Department
- Maintain a complete knowledge of industry through continuing education.
Education
Associate of Science - Business Administration And Management
Strayer University
Washington, DCBachelor of Arts - Culinary Arts
Johnson & Wales University
Providence, RI05.1994
Skills
- Budget Administration
- Order Placement
- Floral shop assistance
- Customer Orders
- Floral and plant knowledge
- Creative merchandising and display
- Special occasion decorative pieces
- Flower arranging
- Sales and Marketing
- Floral Arrangement Techniques
- Silk Flower Design
- Funeral Floral Design
- Floral Sculpture Design
- Event Planning Expertise
- Floral preservation techniques
- Wedding Floral Design
- Time Management
- Team building
- Organizational Skills
- Excellent Communication
Accomplishments
- Consistently exceeded daily sales targeted by 10-25%
- Met Monthly Sales goals for 14 month budget straight
- Maintained low employee turnover rate
- Nominated for a 2014 Emmy Award for non-profit organization
- Nominated for a 2010 NAACP Theatre Festival Award
- Letter of Recognition from Governor Roy Cooper
Affiliations
- Convention Services Association
- ISES, International Special Events Society
- WPLV, Wedding Professionals of Las Vegas
- LVHA, Las Vegas Hospitality Association
- DSA, Destination Service Association
- NACE, National Association of Catering Executives
Equipment Programs
- Reserve Interactive Hospitality Program
- MS Word
- MS Excel
- MS PowerPoint
- MS Microsoft Office
- Dove
- Tele Flora
- Skype
- Microsoft Publisher
- Delphi Program
Freelance Projects
- Mr. John Sanders,Co-Founder of Apple Computers
- Gospel Singers Pastor Shirley Caesar and Pastor John P. Keys
- R&B artists Patty LaBelle, Gladys Knight, and Jamie Foxx
- Tyrone Nesby of the NBA Basketball Player
- Macy's Department Store (Fashion Show Mall)
- Hampton Inn & Southwest Event Center (Las Vegas)
- V-Theater David Saxe Production Planet Hollywood Casino (Las Vegas)
- Alicia Keys
- R&B Group Dru-Hill
- Bellagio hotel and casino
- Paris hotel and casino
- Caesars Palace
- Imperial Palace
- Flamingo Hotel and casino
- New York New York Hotel and Casino
- Wynn Properties
- Marina Pachas
- Southern Wine and Spirits
- Loews Hotel and Resort at Lake Las Vegas
- Cantaletto Restaurant
- Las Vegas Venetian
- Gorgias Restaurant
- Sir Elton John at Caesars Palace
- City of Henderson
- Turnberry Towers West
- James Pickens Jr - Dr. Webber from Grey's Anatomy
- Sonya Eddy - General Hospital
- Pat Neely - From Down Home with the Neelys
Education Certifications
- Johnson and Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island
- Classes with the North Carolina Department of Human Services Health Inspection
- Certification in Serv - Safe for North Carolina, Las Vegas and California
- Classes with Cater Source in Las Vegas
- TWIC Card
- State of Nevada Health Card/Food Handlers
- Greenville North Carolina Small Business Classes through Pitt Community College (Quickbooks, Payroll and Hiring/Firing, Art Means Business, Developing a Marketing Plan, Pricing Your Product, Startup Assistance)
Timeline
Senior Floral Designer/Manager of Operations
Fresh Structures Floral Design Studios
08.2023 - Current
Store Manager
Flowers of Distinction
03.2017 - 01.2023
Founder
A Place In The Heart Theatricals Inc
02.2017 - Current
Floral Ordering Supervisor
WYNN Resorts
01.2008 - 08.2012
Associate of Science - Business Administration And Management
Strayer University
Bachelor of Arts - Culinary Arts
Johnson & Wales University
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