Executive Chef Beverage Director

CORPORATE EVENTS MANAGEMENT

Creative, results-driven manager with 20+ years of success in

event, PR, catering, meeting, and program management. Superior record of promoting brand messaging, executing large-scale events, containing costs, increasing revenues, and exceeding corporate and client objectives.

Demonstrated expertise in planning and managing start-up events and hospitality venues, from concept through launch and operating management.

Adept at all elements of event oversight, including menu planning, logistics, guest relations, theme/program development, advertising, F&B management, purchasing, and publicity. Demonstrated expertise in:

Event & Facility Start-up

Client Relationship Management

Revenue & Profit Growth

Savvy Contract Negotiations

Budgeting & Expense Control

Philanthropy & Charity Events

Long-Range Planning & Execution

Positive Media Relations

Multitasking & Project Coordination

Empowering Leadership

NOTEWORTHY RELATIONSHIPS & PROJECTS

EXPERIENCE

General Manager & Events

Food and Beverage & Activities Manager

NAUSHAB AHMED

15571 Millano Circle Naples FL 34110 • 312-***-**** • ************@*****.***

• Events: Oprah Winfrey’s 50th Birthday Celebration & Legends Ball, White House Easter Egg Roll, Aspen Food & Wine Classic, Chicago Gourmet, South Beach Food & Wine Festival, New York City Food & Wine Festival, and Diamond Resorts Foundation Annual Charity Events.

• Joanne Tratoria: Planned from inception through opening, a NYC restaurant owned by Lady Gaga and her parents Joe and Cynthia Germonatta, including design, buildout, and selection of furnishings, crockery, and cutlery. Executed menu planning and a wine and spirits program; hired executive chef and all kitchen and front of house staffs. Organized pre-opening party with Ryan Seacrest and Lady Gaga and private events with Oprah Winfrey, Tony Bennett, Katie Holmes, and Sting.

• Diamond Resort Tournament of Champions (formerly Brian Gay Tournament): Played significant role in the startup, execution, and expansion of this prestigious charity event that has grown from a two-day to full week event since 2014. Planned and executed parties at the Mystic Dunes location for up to 2000 guests, featuring sit down dinners with celebrity chefs Art Smith and Calvo and concerts by Darius Rucker, Lee Brice, Cole Swindell, and Jana Kramer. This event is now part of the LPGA tour and will be televised on NBC and the golf channel. In the past 4 years the event has raised over $3 million for the presenting sponsor The Florida Children's Hospital.

• Travel: Consulted with Chef Art Smith on 10-day Baltic cruise to Stockholm, Estonia, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Copenhagen. Planned cooking classes, demonstration, and five-course dinner for 100 people.

• Celebrities: Interacted with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Jacques Pépin, Emeril Lagasse, Todd English, Martha Stewart, Jean George, Art Smith, Dan Barber, Bobby Flay, and numerous sports figures. DIAMOND RESORTS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS ORLANDO FL 2013 to 2022 Planning and Execution of the event: Overseeing of all aspects in the planning of the Event. Hiring the caterers, for both the Golf Course and the 5- day parties and concerts at The Mystic Dunes Resort, including Jake Owen and Toby Kieth. Working with all our sponsors (liquor, food and the major donors), keeping in accordance with the strict Covid policies in place. BLUE DOOR KITCHEN & GARDEN RESTAURANT, Chicago IL 2018 to 2020

• Management of all Operations of the Restaurant: Overseeing all day-to-day operations, including hiring of a new chef & sous chef. Hiring and training of new staff, bartenders and hosts. Booking and executing all special events and increasing revenue of special events.

• Cost Savings and Revenue Growth: Updating Wine Program and curation of the Cocktail List. Lowering food and beverage costs, while increasing revenue in the last 6 months by 15%. DIAMOND RESORTS INTERNATIONAL, Las Vegas NV 2012 to 2018

• F&B Oversight: Direct food and beverage operations for 12 Florida, Virginia, Tennessee, and Arizona area properties, including full-service restaurants, gas grills, bar/cocktail lounges, and pool bars. Director of Public Relations: Events & Sponsorships Director of Store Operations and Special Events

• Cost Savings: Collaborated with corporate executives on reducing expenses and losses, including decreasing costs at Los Abrigados Sedona by approximately $176K in one year.

• Revenue Growth: Initiated major effort targeting the wedding market with $250K increase at the Mystic Dunes Orlando. Booked and executed 15 weddings at Los Abrigados and 8 each at Mystic Dunes and Historic Powhattan Resort Virginia. Established wedding and event program at Maui property. Boosted 2104 revenues at Mystic Dunes’ two pool bars by $105K.

• Special Events: Totally organized and implemented Diamond Resorts Foundation Annual Charity Events, including Brian Gay Invitational Golf Tournament, featuring sports figures and celebrities and including tournament, meals, awards banquet, and concerts.

• Chef Series: Planned and executed the start of Diamond Resorts’ Chef Series, a four-course meal with a celebrity chef in various locations across the USA. This included planning the menu with the chef, site inspections, and working with that particular location to execute the event.

NAUSHAB AHMED

312-***-**** • ************@*****.*** • Page Two of Three

• Corporate-Sponsored Events: Collaborated with Tropics and Casamigos Tequila executives on introducing their products on a national scale at all properties, including Hawaii, Las Vegas, and Palm Springs.

• Facilities Improvement: Facilitated planning and execution of pool bars at Los Abrigados, Scottsdale Villa Mirage, and Mystic Dunes, including total remodel (choosing equipment, menu and beverage planning, and tasting). Overseeing total remodel at Historical Powhattan to add a Coffee and Tea Outlet.

• Team Leadership: Hired, trained, mentored, and supervised assistant F&B directors and executive chefs. Consulted on menus and multiple drink specialties.

• Rooms: Conducted onsite inspections of 3 to 5 rooms weekly at each facility per the Diamond Resorts’ checklist; monitored housekeeping to ensure rooms were ready for the guests.

• Quality Assurance: Performed Quality Assurance Audits with independent auditors twice a year for Rooms, Activities, and Food & Beverage divisions.

ALLEN BROTHERS, Chicago, IL 2007 to 2011

• Public Relations: Recruited to develop brand awareness, create a defined corporate marketing strategy, establish a public relations department, and manage philanthropic outreach and charitable endeavors for a gourmet meat company.

• Business Growth: More than doubled corporate sales from $400K to $1M in 2010. Worked with Catalog Division to showcase and highlight products during the holidays and for gift giving, with 30-40 products launched.

• Visibility Enhancement: Secured product mention and promotion on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Good Morning America, among others. Created and approved timing of advertising in Niche Media and at Niche Media Cover Events, including John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Robert Redford, and the Hampton Clam Bake. Gained coverage in Saveur, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, and Dining Out magazines.

• Company Promotions: Challenged with rebuilding and rebranding company’s image, achieving buy-in from founders and team members, and creating and launching programs within budget. Collaborated with national media companies, TV and radio networks, world-renowned chefs, wine companies, and social media outlets. Managed advertising budgets.

• Sponsorships: Negotiated, organized, and executed participation at Aspen Food & Wine Classic, Chicago Gourmet, and South Beach and New York City Food & Wine Festivals. Nurtured relationships with 50-60 participating chefs, managed product delivery, approved display and media, and coordinated logistics.

• Community Give Back: Controlled budget of corporate philanthropic program, represented firm, and provided product and logistical assistance for charity events, such as Vital Bridges, Chef and the City, Common Threads World Festival, Equality Illinois Gala, and Maggie Daley’s After School Matters.

• Major Product Introduction: Launched Emeril’s Red Marble Steaks, an Allen Brothers Company. Managed contract negotiations with Chef Emeril’s team, and organized prelaunch event at South Beach Wine and Food Festival 2010, followed by launch event at MSLO (Martha Stewart) headquarters in June 2010 with attendance by 50 different media outlets. BRIDGE KITCHENWARE, New York, NY 1999 to 2007

• Operations Management: Hired to direct business planning and development for New York City's preeminent restaurant supplier, involving sourcing merchandise from Europe, achieving inventory targets, replenishing merchandise, planning and executing special events, and coordinating publicity and public relations.

• Business Growth: Took store from five years of losses to profitability in two years. Increased store volume 50% by maximizing client relationships with chefs, including Jean George and Dan Barbour. Rebranded catalog to target the retail consumer and grow the home chef line of business.

EDUCATION

• Event Planning & Management: Organized the new store’s grand opening party in 2000. Represented and volunteered at various charity events in New York City region.

• Product Placement: Secured mention of store items in Gourmet Magazine, Bon Appétit, New York Times Wednesday Food Section, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur Magazine, and Food & Wine Magazine. Earlier experience: Store Manager & New Store Deployment Team Leader with Williams-Sonoma, Food & Beverage Director at the Bar Harbor Inn, and Director of Catering with Private Affairs Gourmet Catering, 1985 to 1999. FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, Tallahassee, FL

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Hotel & Restaurant Management

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