STEVEN A. LAUSCH

The Victory Connection, LLC is a company that was created to help business professionals cultivate, strengthen, and drive growth and customer base through strategic relationship-building initiatives. With an emphasis on leveraging interpersonal skills to build trust and rapport with clients, partners, and stakeholders, The Victory Connection consistently seeks out
opportunities to contribute expertise in fostering authentic connections to elevate organizational success.

Key Competencies:
• Relationship Cultivation: Proven ability to develop and nurture strong, lasting relationships with clients, partners, and key stakeholders. Skilled in understanding and addressing individual needs to build trust and loyalty.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, enabling effective engagement with a wide range of audiences. Capable of articulating complex ideas in a clear and compelling manner.
• Networking: Extensive experience in networking at industry events, conferences, and online platforms. Proficient in identifying and capitalizing on networking opportunities to expand professional connections.
• Strategic Partnerships: Successful track record of identifying and negotiating strategic partnerships. Skilled in aligning organizational goals with partner objectives for mutual benefit.
• Client Engagement: Proactive approach to understanding client needs and challenges. Ability to foster collaborative relationships, positioning oneself as a trusted advisor and partner.
• Adaptability: Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing business landscapes and evolving market conditions. Capable of identifying and capitalizing on emerging opportunities.
• Market Insight: Strong research skills with the ability to stay informed about industry trends, market dynamics, and competitor activities. Utilizes insights to inform strategic decision-making.

Guaranteed Rate is a U.S. residential mortgage company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and is the eighth largest retail mortgage lender in the U.S. Since its founding in 2000, Guaranteed Rate has helped hundreds of thousands of homeowners with approximately $100 billion in home purchase loans and refinances and $18 billion in 2015 alone. In 2013, Guaranteed Rate was listed as one of the fastest growing companies in Chicago and continues to keep growing.

• Idea generation and execution to optimize Guaranteed Rate's relationship and partnership with the realtor community, and working with our Events/Marketing Departments.
• Collaborate with VP’s in order to grow their business partners through prospecting, farming, and follow up activities.
• Enter VPs referral partners through Guaranteed Rate's CRM software.
• Responsible to help VPs add value and growth to annual sales volume.
• Responsibilities include: hosting broker tours, weekly visits to real estate offices, and setting weekly new agent meetings.
• Work closely with agents to help create marketing material specific in building their business.
• Spearhead joint charity campaigns with agents.
• Create trust between realtors and loan officers by maintaining and strengthening past and present client relationships

Maritz is a sales and marketing services company that designs and operates employee recognition and reward programs, sales channel incentive programs, (including incentive travel rewards and customer loyalty programs. It also plans corporate trade shows meetings and events, and offers a customer experience technology platform. Maritz Travel is a leader in achieving business results through the effective use of meeting, event and incentive travel programs.

• Providing customer service and logistics for domestic and international meetings, events and incentive trips.
• Manage global client accounts such as: Automotive-New Car Show Conventions-Cadillac, Lexus, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan/Big Pharma/Medical-New Product Drug Launch Global conferences-Novartis, Astrazeneca, Pfizer, Wyeth/Tech Conferences-Apple, Dell, Microsoft, HP Global Conferences/Sporting Events-Masters Golf Tournaments, Super Bowl Championships, British Open Tournaments, Indianapolis 500 Car Series Race, Brickyard 400 Car Race, Kentucky Derby, NBA All-Star Game.

• Responsibilities include managing/supporting client events by providing an extension of their onsite teams. Trained in all aspects of event execution, including executive handling, contract & supplier management, crisis management and billing reconciliation.
• Execute onsite operations, training, and logistics for corporate meetings and incentive group travel ranging from 15-15,000 guests for a variety of Fortune 1000/500 companies while working closely with their top executives and management team.
• Travel worldwide as Program Lead or Assist to manage all aspects of Program Operations, including but not limited to hospitality/registration/customer service, food & beverage, meetings, hotel room blocks, audio visual, transportation, activities, and executive handling.
• Manage and verify client budgets while partnering with hotels and Destination Management Companies.

SBC is a global design and general contracting company focusing on mix-use, medical, fit out, shopping malls, residential and commercial high-rise.

• Ensured the effective mobilization, planning and delivery of various projects and activities through management of assigned resources in line with agreed service levels and customer satisfaction targets.
• Developed a detailed and comprehensive project mobilization plan for the Ski Dubai refurbishment project.
• Implemented processes and QC/QM procedures for each project and key activity and ensured the safety plan is adhered to.
• Provided the client, Majid Al Futtaim, with daily, weekly, and monthly reports.
• Communicated directly with the team, client contacts, suppliers, and sub-contractors with regards to all re-measured works.
• Monitored the project to ensure the designers and contractors complete within the agreed time schedule and budget.
• Prepared all monthly status reports to the client to include, program, costs, quality, problems and remedial action.

Ruth's Chris Steak House is an upscale fine dining establishment chain of over 140 steakhouses across the U.S. and in several international locations. Ruth's Chris is currently the largest luxury steakhouse company in number of locations, operating income, and overall profit.

Business Development Manager

• Identify, engage and secure ideal locations within key developments for Ruth’s Chris Steak House in the Middle East region.
• Responsible for bringing awareness and expanding the Ruth's Chris Steak House brand in the GCC region.
• Closely monitor daily operations in the current franchise location.
• Built relationships with key UAE Hotel Executives, GM’s, F&B Directors, Real Estate Developers, Hospitality Groups.
• Leverage knowledge of the market and competitors, identify and develop Fine Dining unique selling propositions.
• Coordinate the logistics of the project to ensure timely completion including liaising with vendors and ground suppliers.
• Work with Fine Dining/RC internal team to ensure that project, administrative and legal prerequisites are fulfilled within a timely manner.

ETD provides experienced, professional on-site staff, (Travel Directors), for corporate meetings, dinners, conventions, trade shows, incentive programs, sporting events, pharmaceutical launches, CME events, and beyond.

Freelance Events Manager

Responsible for the production of events from conception through to completion. Events including:

• Exhibitions and fairs; Festivals; Conferences; Promotions and product launches; Fundraising and social events.

The Majestic Isle Casino is an entertainment venue located in Dickensen Bay, St. John’s, Antigua-Barbuda. It caters to tourists and local Caribbean guests and offers the finest entertainment, food, and casino experience on the island.

Sales and Event Manager

• Responded to sales enquiries and processed bookings.
• Proactively sold venue.
• Account management of existing clients, (high end customers), to grow revenue.
• Actively sought and supported marketing opportunities for the casino.
• Responsible for event planning, supervising and delivery.
• Collaborated with other departments and operational teams to ensure a high quality event delivery.
• Facility Management mobilization and coordination.
• Invoicing, payment tracking, and financial reporting

Novo Medical specializes in providing cutting edge medical devices, services, and solutions to Hospital C-Level Executives, Nursing Directors, Surgeons, Hospitals, Ambulatory Centers, Emergency Departments, and Clinicians.

Regional Sales

• Launched a new division of the company to drive regional growth and expand customer base.
• Generated business selling specialty compounded drugs and transdermal pain creams.
• Managed all revenue aspects; budgeting, sales, organization, coordination and the quality of services delivered.
• Developed and maintained business relationships to facilitate market opportunities and business partners.
• Identified and delivered sales revenue with year on year growth.

Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, L.L.C. (MDL), is a CLIA certified infectious disease laboratory with multiple state licenses specializing in PCR technology.

Senior Sales Executive

• Responsible for maintaining and growing client base consisting of hospitals and physicians, focusing on Women's Health through cold calling, referrals from existing clients, and marketing initiatives.

Accomplishments:

• Achieved 112% of sales goals in 2011
• Developed and delivered customized sales presentations to physicians, clinics, and group practices resulting in the sale of 42 new accounts in 2011.
• Provided on-site education and training for client’s clinics.
• Physician and clinic network expansion.
• Product utilization training.
• Monitored sales performance and reporting.

Chicago-based iExplore is a trusted source for adventure & experiential travel inspiration, producing original, insightful and passionate storytelling to challenge its readers to explore their world and come back different.

Ranked the #1 website for adventure and experiential travel with over 1 million unique visitors monthly, iExplore has been named “Best Adventure Travel Website” by Forbes Magazine for seven straight years. Our website has also received awards from Travel & Leisure Magazine, Time Magazine and Yahoo.

Sales Consultant

• Maintained and opened new revenue channels.
• Custom built 140 adventure and experiential travel packages in over 90 countries.
• Management of 3rd party travel trade partners and suppliers.
• Averaged US$60k per month in gross sales with 20% conversion rate of leads.
• Leveraging Travel Channel, Expedia, Travelocity, Lonely Planet, CondeNast, Frommer’s relationships and channels.
• Website content sourcing and contribution.
• End to end financial management and reporting.

• Manage business development and expand operations.
• Senior Lead TD roles: Managed a team of 5-50 staff-making staff schedules, was the main liaison with the client contact on-site, hotel representative, local ground supplier lead staff, venue lead staff.
• Other TD roles while traveling worldwide: Lead transportation TD on programs with multiple waves and managing up to 10-15,000 pax, Lead TD of activities consisting of arranging golf, fishing, spa, city tours etc., Lead TD of VIP’s arranging offsite dinners, executive meetings, transportation, Lead TD of rooms on 1000-5000 pax programs.
• Account Manager and worked closely with Maritz Program Managers, Senior Maritz Account Executives.
• Incentive travel program management and ground operations.
• Loyalty program rewards travel program management and ground operation.
• Ground supplier management.
• Plan and execute independent meetings.
• Arrange Executive meetings and travel planning.
• Relationship development with prospective ground suppliers.
• Managing cost effective programs and financial reports and invoicing

Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, the House of Blues is a 367 room individualized, upscale hotel. The complex offers two sizzling music venues, four different and delicious restaurants, a cool 36-lane bowling alley, a working marina and new health club.

Head Concierge

• Guest Relations and request management.
• Currency exchange supervision.
• Transportation management and planning for all guests.
• Event support and coordination.
• Supervision and training of deputy concierges, baggage porters and doormen.

Club Med, is a French public limited company specializing in the sale of all-in holidays at a number of "vacation villages" which it owns and operates in a number of exotic locations around the world.

Gentil Organisateur (GO): Chief of Land Sports

Worldwide executive search firm specialized in CEO and senior level appointments.

• Club Med locations worked: Huatulco, Mexico; Port St. Lucie, Florida; San Salvador, Bahamas; Turks & Caicos Islands.
• Planned and supervised daily guest adventure excursions.
• Managed resort activity and entertainment crew.
• Club Med Village recreational activities committee member