Catherine Ames

*** ****** *****, ******* ****, IL, 60012

815-***-**** acs84r@r.postjobfree.com

Business Profile

An accomplished Executive Director with ten years experience in Customer Service, Operations Management, Budgeting, Leadership, Grant Writing, Team Management, Events Management, Fundraising & Client Relations, Accounts Payable/Receivable.

Leader with strong interpersonal, communication and decision-making skills. Ability to establish and maintain strong alliances; exceed customer expectations; lead and motivate team members; community outreach, strategic planning. Self-motivated, positive, solution minded with team building leadership based on integrity and excellence. Strong advocate for underserved, this is a lifelong passion.

Professional Experience

McHenry County Music Center, Crystal Lake, IL Aug 2005-June 2015

Executive Director/Operations Manager-MCMC -MCYO & Music Academy

MCMC has been in the business of making great music and giving superior young musicians an opportunity to learn from area top musicians & performance opportunities for over 35 years. As the only employee, I handled all operational, managerial, financial & administrative duties while I worked at MCMC. All other faculty were independent contractors (10-15 faculty members) which I hired.

Selected Accomplishments:

Successfully developed two programs for underserved families, with financial support which lead to an increase in membership of over 20% in the first year it began and up to 25% in the following year

Generated annual foundation support totaling at least 27% of organizational income (met or exceeded annual budgeted amount)

Reduced employee cost by 50% by incorporating all duties as the Executive Director

Reduced performance cost by 75% by finding better & more inexpensive venues

Won the Illinois Council of Orchestras “Youth Orchestra of the Year” in 2011

Retained 99% of faculty members from 7-10 years (in an industry where there is usually a high turnover rate)

Operations Management

Managed the administrative processes of all areas of the organization; Music Academy (7 studios), Youth Orchestras (3 levels), Chamber Music (5-9 groups), Sage String Scholarship Initiative, Music Moves Mountains Program

Scheduled for all areas of the organization; private lessons through Music Academy; auditions (entrance and seating), rehearsals, performances, venues, music for the Youth Orchestras; chamber coaching for all chamber groups; all students in the SSSI & MMM programs

Identified & sought qualified candidates for the SSSI and MMMP; MCYO; Music Academy

Budgeted for all programs

Developed & managed all professional relationships between MCMC & the communities

Interviewed & hired faculty members

Handled any & all issues which arose with members (clients) with the utmost care/concern]

Handled all Accounts Payable, Receivable/Billing, Payroll

Welcome Stitchery (specialized embroidery shop in Crystal Lake, IL) October 1996-October 1997 (left due to pregnancy)

1.Customer service; helped locate desired items, order items, ring up purchases

2.Inventoried stock

3.Kept store appearance neat and tidy

Woodward & Lothrop (Tyson’s Corner, Virginia) 1987 (moved to Maryland)

1.Worked in the Dress Department helping customers with their purchases, keeping inventory in order, ringing up customers’ purchases, cleaning up dressing rooms, etc.

Skills

Microsoft Office including Word; Excel (basics); Quickbook (basics); Board relations, Grant writing, Customer Service, Event Planning, Scheduling, Bookkeeping-Accounts Payable/Receivable, Outlook, Customer Service

Education

George Mason University (Accounting/Management) 3 years; degree not completed

REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST