Executive Assistant

DARLA E. BLAKES

**** ***** ****** ***** #***, San Diego, CA 92108

Home: 619-***-**** Cell: 619-***-****

***********@*****.***

“Organized and Thorough Executive Assistant”

PROFILE

Executive Administrative Assistant with 15+ years of diverse and progressive executive

administration experience deployed to dynamic business organizations

Advanced interpersonal skills with the ability to interact professionally with multiple levels

Excellent communication and organizational skills (both written and verbal)

Team oriented, self-motivated and able to multi-task

Strong PC skills: Microsoft Office Suite 2010 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

TOBIN BLAKES GROUP - SAN ANTONIO, TX 2010 – Present

Artist management firm providing music consulting services for singers, songwriters, and musicians

Founder Personal Manager

Recruited by unsigned up-and-coming and established artists, producers, songwriters and labels to help

them create a sustainable brand and become successful entrepreneurs in the music and entertainment

industry. Offering advice and assistance in areas such as public relations, publicity, business negotiations,

marketing, promotion and distribution, selection of agents/agencies and overseeing all areas related to the

artist’ career. Successes include:

• Built a new music business model that helps independent artists navigate through the modern music

industry.

• Received recognition from music industry professionals for developing and implementing an

innovative strategic marketing plan that led to the successful international launch of an independent

artist’ music career.

• Led a cross-functional team of 7 in the promotional campaign of artist’s debut CD, increasing brand

awareness by 50% within 30 days of new product release.

KPMG LLP - DALLAS, TX 2006 – 2008

Multinational Big-4 Accounting firm with 152,000 professionals, 8,600 partners in 156 countries and $23.3 billion

in revenues

Senior Administrative Assistant

Hired to serve as the on-site administrator for KPMG’s Audit Practice Partners and 30 staff accountants at

a major technology client site in Dallas. Responsible for partnering with leadership in the daily business

activities and project coordination while handling sensitive and confidential information in a professional

proactive manner. Fostered relationships with key business executives, customers and stakeholders.

Results include:

• Implemented creative strategies to improve the overall work environment, planned and coordinated

team meetings, events and activities. Turned a challenging environment into a positive and fun place

– creating a sense of community and camaraderie while increasing staff morale.

• Reduced security badge processing time from 10 days to 3 days by defining and implementing new

departmental policies and procedures for the team’s on-boarding process.

• Enhanced document retrieval time and improved office efficiency and productivity by consistently

adhering to the company’s records management and regulatory compliance policies.

LA MADELEINE INC., DALLAS, TX 2005 – 2006

Privately owned Dallas-based French-themed restaurant chain with 2,300 associates and 60+ locations throughout

the United States

Executive Assistant

Provided comprehensive and high-level support of a responsible and confidential nature to the Chief

Marketing Officer, Vice President of Finance/CFO; and secondary support to the President, COO, and

Board of Directors. Managed multiple complex calendars, scheduled meetings and facilitated video

conferences, created presentations and spreadsheets, and coordinated all travel requests.

Special project results:

• Creatively designed custom invitations and coordinated 2 new store opening events with over 300

customers, city officials, and celebrities in attendance.

• Developed a color-coded, numeric filing method that eliminated misfiles and reduced retrieval times

by 40% while increasing efficiency and productivity.

• Learned new marketing research tools, initiated and executed their use to help the company make

informed decisions about its customers and markets, saving the company $52K annually in research

outsourcing costs.

REYNOLDS AND REYNOLDS COMPANY, PLANO, TX (FORMERLY THIRD COAST MEDIA) 2002 – 2005

Provider of business management software for auto dealers in North America, 4,300 associates worldwide, $500

million in revenues

Executive Assistant

Demonstrated high-level administrative support of a responsible and confidential nature to the Vice

President of Reynolds Web Solutions (formerly the CEO of Third Coast Media). Oversee the day-to-day

operations of this 60+ associate’s regional office including handling and resolving administrative tasks

and special projects. Results include:

• Served as Human Resources liaison between regional and corporate office. Developed processes and

procedures for new hires and trained on existing policies to streamline productivity. Strategically

handled decisions and tasks on Executive's behalf.

• Effectively answered a switchboard of 15 incoming lines while routing customers with 100%

accuracy and professionalism.

• Reduced monthly accounts receivables by 20% through attentive customer relationship management

and proactive collection initiatives.

OTHER RELEVANT EMPLOYMENT

Accenture, Dallas, TX Administrative Assistant/Analyst 2000 – 2001

Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Dallas TX Administrative Assistant 1997 – 2000

Ericsson Inc., Richardson, TX Marketing Assistant (contractor) 1996 – 1997

Corporate Executive Offices, Plano, TX Executive Assistant/Office Manager 1992 – 1996

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Board of Directors, Treasurer 2001 – 2002

North Texas Affiliate

EDUCATION & HONORS

LeTourneau University, Longview, TX Bachelor of Business Administration, 2006

Honors Graduate: Cum Laude, GPA 3.58

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