James Misel

ad4a6j@r.postjobfree.com 330-***-**** Wooster, Ohio 44691

Management professional / Specializing in team development, sales and training

CAREER PROFILE

Capable and loyal professional events manager and Director of Catering and Conferences with progressive, comprehensive experience, delivering sales and creating unique experiences in the hospitality industry Known for effectively persuading clients to the best outcome for their needs while still meeting organizational goals Excels at building long term relationships with customers, vendors and staff Highly supportive leader; genuinely caring for team members and direct reports; productively mentors and provides direct assistance to teams Proven sales generator accomplished by maintaining annual events while enticing new revenue streams and events

SKILLS

●Sales – Creates unique sales initiatives which generate revenue; adept at promotional sales events and boosting new sales with service-driven experience

●Relationship Building – Cultivates and grows existing relationships and drives new client acquisition through consistency and performance

●Strategic Brand Building – Capably develops marketing campaigns around designed initiatives to include website and brochure campaigns

●Team Development and Leadership – Experienced overseeing and directing a staff and crew of up to 50 people to meet the desired outcomes for events; hires and trains individuals to become cohesive teams that deliver excellence and achieve awards

●Technology – Proficient in the use of Sabertooth software; knowledge of Microsoft Windows software

SELECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS and AWARDS

Led culinary team in winning the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS) 11 times

Recognized by NACUFS as being Best in the Country 3 times

Nominated and runner up for the Ashland County Chamber of Commerce Hospitality of the Year award

Headed department that became an annual revenue generator for Ashland University; exceeded budget expectations every year with the exception of COVID year

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Ashland University 2/1995 – 9/2021

Director of Catering and Conferences

Sales Activities

●Oversaw approximately 1,300 annual events; activities included selling, planning, staffing, executing, and invoicing these bookings

●Secured a 25% growth of new business for the University and maintained repeat business through sales calls, networking and advertising

●Oversaw and planned all of the major campus annual events including; Homecoming, Parents Weekend, Graduation, and the Alumni Annual Dinner

●Planned and executed numerous large donor events, on and off campus, that helped secure gifts and pledges for the university

●Collaborated with other sales professionals to solicit, negotiate, and book new business resulting in additional streams of revenue

●Consistently outperformed sales and revenue vs. the 2 million dollar budgetary expectations

Operations Oversight

●Developed a strong internal safety culture by Chairing the Dining and Conference Safety team for 10 years

●Collaborated with various departments on campus to maintain facilities and how best to meet clients needs, including technology upgrades; such as wifi, projectors and audio upgrades to allow for professional client presentations.

●Worked in conjunction with a wide variety of vendors to stay current and ahead of new products in the field

●Met with internal marketing and design staff to create unique sales and marketing products for the department

Team Development

●Hired, trained and mentored a wide variety of personnel across diverse positions; created a cohesive team to meet expected departmental goals

●Operated a highly successful internship program, which focused on conference services. This was a 1.1 million dollar a year revenue generator

●Selected various staff on a consistent basis for professional development, seminars, and occasional to travel to conferences

●Encouraged open dialogue with the staff to assist in the daily operation of the facility

●Empowered staff to be trained in a variety of daily operational tasks that allowed them to assist the guests as and when needed

Additional experience as a manager in several national chain restaurants

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Youngstown State University – Youngstown, OH

ServSafe Certified

Trained in a wide variety of industry software

VOLUNTEER and COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Inaugural member and multi year service on the Ashland County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Chair of Ashland County Convention and Visitors Bureau (for two years)

Committee member for a major fundraising event of the Akron Regional Foodbank, in conjunction with the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Multi year advisor for the Ashland County Joint Vocational School- Culinary program

Volunteer cook for Friendship Meals

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