Sherry Charlton
Queens
Summary
Highly effective and results-driven consultant with 15+ years of combined corporate and entrepreneurial leadership in Business Continuity Planning (BCP), strategic operations management, and global travel program consulting. Expert in developing and executing strategic resilience programs that mitigate risk, optimize complex operations, and drive measurable business growth. Proven track record leading digital transformation, managing cross-functional teams, and building high-value partnerships. Specialized in crisis management, workflow design, and leveraging technology to enhance client experience and achieve operational excellence in dynamic environments.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Agency Owner / Accredited Host
Sherry Destinations Travel
New York
07.2016 - Current
- Founded, scaled, and managed all operations for a multi-agent travel consultancy, specializing in hosted group travel, destination events, and custom high-end itineraries.
- Drove a 30% year-over-year increase in bookings through strategic supplier contract negotiation and the development of high-retention client service models.
- Recruited, trained, and mentored a team of independent contractors, effectively expanding the agency's national operational footprint and sales capacity.
- Led the digital transformation of agency operations by implementing and integrating CRM (Travel Joy, Travefy) and virtual collaboration tools to streamline service delivery.
- Designed client onboarding systems, digital marketing campaigns, and service workflows, resulting in optimized efficiency and enhanced client satisfaction.
- Oversaw comprehensive financial management, forecasting, and vendor relationships for multimillion-dollar annual travel program sales.
Franchise Owner / Travel Consultant
Cruise Planners
New York
10.2012 - 05.2018
- Managed end-to-end business operations, including strategic marketing, sales, supplier negotiations, and direct customer relationship management.
- Designed and successfully sold complex international vacation packages, group tours, and destination events tailored to niche market needs.
- Cultivated strategic relationships with key travel partners and vendors, securing competitive pricing and exclusive perks that enhanced the client value proposition.
- Spearheaded new product promotions and targeted marketing campaigns that increased new customer acquisition by 25% within the first two years of operation.
- Delivered exceptional service recognized for driving high repeat business and referral rates across a loyal client base.
Manager, Business Continuity Planning
Time Inc.
New York
08.2008 - 01.2013
- Directed company-wide business continuity strategies, ensuring operational resilience across multiple corporate divisions.
- Designed and implemented recovery frameworks, risk assessments, and simulation exercises to test emergency response readiness.
- Partnered with executive leadership, IT, and risk management to align BCP efforts with corporate goals and compliance standards.
- Led annual disaster recovery testing and facilitated training for recovery teams and department heads.
- Supported crisis management operations during incidents requiring full or partial activation of BCP protocols.
Senior Business Recovery Specialist
CIT Group
New York
01.2007 - 03.2008
- Oversaw business continuity initiatives for 30 business units, ensuring compliance with regulatory and internal standards.
- Developed business continuity awareness programs and coordinated crisis management planning for firmwide implementation.
- Administered BCP tools and facilitated coordinator training sessions to standardize response processes.
- Participated in industry-wide conferences and contributed to improving firm-wide resilience practices.
Assistant Treasurer / Business Continuity Analyst
Mellon Bank of New York
New York
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Managed BCP planning efforts for 36 business units and coordinated contingency testing and simulation exercises.
- Oversaw integration of new business lines into continuity programs and supervised one of the bank’s backup trading sites.
- Developed testing documentation, analyzed results, and presented improvement recommendations to senior management.
Contingency Planning Specialist / Supervisor, Market Data Services
TD Ameritrade
Jersey City
01.1995 - 01.2006
- Led BCP planning efforts for 98 departments, ensuring recovery time objectives and regulatory compliance.
- Conducted business impact analyses and managed end-to-end recovery testing (call tree, simulation, vendor testing).
- Directed a six-member team overseeing market data systems, vendor contracts, and operational cost reductions.
- Managed implementation of order entry and quote retrieval systems while coordinating with IT and business units.
- Collaborated with business units and vendors to strengthen risk mitigation and continuity strategies.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science (Minor: Spanish)
State University of New York at Oswego
Oswego, NY, USASkills
- Microsoft Office Suite
- LDRPS 9 & 10
- Travel Joy CRM
- Travefy
- Asana
- Trello
- Mondaycom
- HubSpot CRM
- MS Teams
- Zoom
- Slack
- BCP Web
- RiskWatch
- SharePoint
- Canva
- Meta Business Suite
- Mailchimp
- Google Analytics
- Social Scheduling Platforms
- Google Workspace
- Reporting Dashboards
- Corporate Travel Planning
- Risk & Resilience Strategy
- Client Experience Optimization
- Global Event Logistics
- Strategic Planning
- Business Continuity
- Risk Management
- Client Relationship Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Operations Optimization
- Process Optimization
- Leadership
- Team Development
- Business Development
- Client Acquisition
- Digital Marketing
- Social Media Strategy
- Event Management
- Travel Program Management
- Budgeting
- Financial oversight
- Crisis management
- Incident Response
- Workflow Design
- Process Improvement
- Vendor Negotiation
- Contract Negotiation
Certification
- Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP), DRII
- CPR & AED Certified
Affiliations
- Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
- Member, Association of Contingency Planners (ACP)
Timeline
Agency Owner / Accredited Host
Sherry Destinations Travel
07.2016 - Current
Franchise Owner / Travel Consultant
Cruise Planners
10.2012 - 05.2018
Manager, Business Continuity Planning
Time Inc.
08.2008 - 01.2013
Senior Business Recovery Specialist
CIT Group
01.2007 - 03.2008
Assistant Treasurer / Business Continuity Analyst
Mellon Bank of New York
01.2006 - 01.2007
Contingency Planning Specialist / Supervisor, Market Data Services
TD Ameritrade
01.1995 - 01.2006
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science (Minor: Spanish)
State University of New York at Oswego