House/estate manager

Annie Harshman

Estate Manager / Personal Assistant / Personal Chef / Child Care

Los Angeles, CA

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

970-***-****

PROFILE

Dedicated and resourceful professional with over 14 years of comprehensive experience in personal assistance, estate management, and childcare. Proven track record in enhancing family dynamics and children's well-being through tailored support and innovative engagement strategies. Expertise in household operations, including meal preparation, organization, and home maintenance, while fostering a nurturing environment for families. Skilled in managing complex transitions, such as estate relocations and the organization of long-term belongings, ensuring seamless integration into new living spaces. Committed to building strong relationships with families and providing a high level of service with integrity, warmth, and professionalism. Recognized for implementing effective solutions to everyday challenges and maintaining a harmonious household atmosphere.

EXPERIENCE

Estate Manager / Personal Assistant / Personal Chef / Child Care Collins-Black Residence, Topanga, CA 2021 - 2025

- Managed household operations for a busy family, demonstrating reliability, consistency, and a positive attitude in a variety of tasks.

- Oversaw childcare responsibilities for two high-needs Twice Exceptional (2E) children from ages 2 and 3 until ages 5 and 6: Engaged children through creative educational activities and fostered a nurturing environment that emphasized life skills development. Worked towards emotional and physical regulation through the use of body tools and exercises curated by the family's Occupational Therapists. Crafted developmentally appropriate activities, games, and creative play. Allowed the children to assist with tasks such as tightening screws, changing lightbulbs or batteries, sweeping or mopping floors, using the vacuum, power washing the patio, cooking or baking, and cutting vegetables. Every opportunity was used to develop fine motor skills, creative problem-solving, sensory experiences, and a feeling of contributing to the household.

- Shopping and Meal Preparation: Ensured the home was always stocked with all essentials. Shopped and prepared food for a range of dietary needs. Portioned, seasoned, and vacuum- sealed steak and chicken for easy sous vide preparation of a carnivore diet for one family member. Prepared all meals for the Blueprint meal plan for one member of the family. Prepared, portioned, and froze meals for the children for easy use, such as soups, mini paleo pancakes, paleo cookies, healthy popsicles, and frozen yogurt treats. Encouraged the kids in hands-on meal planning and preparation, fostering discussions about nutrition, creating our own recipes, our microbiome, composting, gardening, and farming. Encouraged the children help with tasks like making pancakes, lemonade from freshly harvested lemons, spreading their own butters and jams on toast, chopping their own fruits and vegetables, and pouring their own drinks or milks.

- Assisted in harvesting and processing fruit and vegetables from over 100 fruit trees, a full garden, and chickens on the property, including: washing, chopping, freezing, cooking, gifting, and donating produce and eggs.

- Coordinated and executed deep cleaning and organizational projects: Organized household spaces such as kitchen cupboards, pantries, butler's pantries, closets, storage areas, garages, and sheds to streamline systems and enhance overall household efficiency.

- Liaised with maintenance personnel to schedule and oversee home repairs and improvements, ensuring that all tasks were completed to a high standard.

- Home Repairs: Executed small home repairs as needed, including changing lightbulbs or smoke detectors, installing or tightening hardware around the home, simple plumbing tasks such as snaking a drain or addressing a pipe leak under a sink, adjustments to doors for proper closing, installation of weatherproofing on doors and windows, simple electrical repairs such as changing out a faulty outlet, paint touch-ups, and minor woodworking repairs. Proactively identified and implemented solutions to everyday challenges, contributing to a smoothly running household.

Coordinated with household staff to ensure the seamless execution of homeowner requests. This included tasks such as: very strict food waste separation for on-site composting, labeling various items and always putting them back in the correct places for easy access, ensuring linens and towels were in the correct rooms, and implementing interactive checklists for the employer's peace of mind and ease of communication. Cultivated strong relationships with family members, demonstrating a deep care for their well- being and a commitment to improving their quality of life through thoughtful and attentive service.

With mindfulness of the employer's introverted nature, I cultivated a caring space with clear boundaries around small talk and interactions in common spaces such as the kitchen.

- Maintained high standards of integrity and trustworthiness, providing peace of mind to the family while handling sensitive tasks.

- Supported in caring for the family's elderly cat: ensuring he had access to all rooms of the house as well as the outdoor space and maintaining general awareness of his location at all times. Providing him with a wide range of different meal flavors and styles, approaching meal and snack times with great patience, allowing him to smell and choose between various food options. Other tasks included administering medication, refilling prescriptions, and pet sitting when the family was away.

- Facilitated the smooth transition of the family into their newly acquired estate, managing the complex process of sorting through and organizing 20 years of accumulated belongings left by previous homeowners.

- Conducted a comprehensive inventory assessment of items, categorizing belongings into keep, donate, and discard groups, ensuring a thoughtful approach to the family’s needs and preferences.

- Developed and implemented an efficient organizational system for retained items, enhancing accessibility and usability in the estate.

- Collaborated with local charities and donation centers to ensure the responsible donation of usable items, fostering a community-oriented mindset while decluttering the estate.

- Provided ongoing support and guidance to the family during the transition period, addressing emotional challenges associated with sorting through personal belongings and establishing a sense of home in the estate.

House Manager / Personal Chef

Krista Vernoff, Los Angeles, CA 2010 - 2021

- Household Management: Successfully managed all aspects of household operations for over a decade, including grocery shopping, meal preparation, calendar management, extensive animal care for cats and dogs, annual services for all home appliances, upkeep of air filters and purifiers, general handyman tasks, acting as the point person for all external providers and vendors, and maintaining a tidy and peaceful living environment. Developed and implemented efficient systems to enhance organization and functionality within the home. Worked extensively with executive assistants and nannies to ensure a smooth work-to-home life transition.

- Meal Preparation: Prepared healthy and delicious meals for five family members, tailored to dietary needs and preferences, prioritizing nutritional well-being. Demonstrated creativity in cooking and consistently introduced new recipes to keep meals enjoyable and varied. Worked with many special dietary needs such as pescatarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and certain food sensitivities such as garlic and onion. Made two separate meals per evening based on providing for the mentioned restrictions while still allowing other family members to enjoy foods such as steak, chicken, lamb, pasta, and gluten- and dairy-based ingredients. Maintained careful cross-contamination practices for dietary needs. Hosted frequent dinner guests and parties, ranging from one additional guest to 30+ guests. Assisted in meal preparation when the employer wanted to prepare special dishes themselves, including shopping, washing and prepping ingredients, organizing the space, and scheduling other household staff around the use of the kitchen, as well as being available if they needed me to take over the project at any point.

- Event and Party Planning: Helped to plan and host a variety of parties, ranging from intricately themed birthday parties to dinner parties, pool parties, holiday parties, crafting parties, and music nights. Planning and preparation included: shopping, food and beverage preparation, activity planning, managing vendors, managing rental equipment, and hiring additional support when needed, such as bartenders, lifeguards, and servers. Provided wardrobe support including shopping/ordering, rentals, returns, and, in situations where items couldn’t be found, drafting and sewing elements of outfits for situations such as themed birthdays or Halloween.

- Pet Care: Cared for three cats and two dogs over the course of 11 years. Assisted with end- of-life preparation and care for an elderly cat. Provided daily care for two cats, including feeding, veterinary care, flea and other medications, and ensuring they were inside before dark each night for their safety. Helped transition the two cats to a new home after my employer remarried and had to prioritize the needs of her stepchild with severe allergies. Continued regular visits, maintained veterinary care, and administered monthly flea medication for the cats in their new home. Provided care for two dogs, including specialty dietary needs for allergies, feeding schedules, veterinary care, weekly bathing, brushing, and hair trimming, and scheduled regular mobile grooming services.

- Childcare Expertise: Lived with the employer for 5.5 years before she remarried, to help her feel safe and supported in raising her child as a single mother. Engaged with her child through creative and meaningful play, fostering their imagination and development. Utilized a nurturing and respectful approach to encourage learning and set appropriate boundaries. Held household boundaries around chores, sugar restrictions, and screen time limits. Managed the child’s nighttime routine, including packing a lunch for the next school day, bathing, oral care, and transition into her bedtime routine with either myself or her mother. Supported the family’s choice of family bed sleeping by lying in bed with the child until she was fully asleep during the nights I was responsible for her bedtime routine. Fostered a lasting trust and connection with the child as they aged and grew. Assisted in planning and preparation for any school or creative activities that required specific items to complete. Stepped in with any transportation or chaperone needs for special classes, activities, or playdates as needed.

- Travel Planning and Assistance: Worked alongside executive assistants to plan and execute all elements of travel for work or pleasure, including schedules, flights, drivers, and housing. Traveled with the family as needed, including traveling with my employer or separately with the child when needed. Provided travel assistance remotely when not traveling with the family.

- Organizational Skills: Unparalleled organizational abilities, effectively coordinating household tasks, staff, and schedules to ensure smooth daily operations. Utilized proactive communication to keep family members informed and involved, identifying areas that needed updated systems and worked with the household to find a more streamlined way to move forward. Deep organization of physical spaces such as: libraries, pantries, kitchens, closets, and offices.

- Home Maintenance: Managed all home maintenance, renovations, and repairs. Worked alongside and oversaw: architects, general contractors, electricians, plumbers, interior designers, upholsterers, painters, and more to ensure the smooth and timely completion of all projects, big and small.

- Home Repairs: Executed small home repairs as needed, including changing lightbulbs or smoke detectors, installing or tightening hardware around the home, simple plumbing tasks such as snaking a drain or addressing a pipe leak under a sink, adjustments to doors for proper closing, installation of weatherproofing on doors and windows, simple electrical repairs such as changing out a faulty outlet, paint touch-ups, and minor woodworking repairs.

- Assisted the family in transitioning smoothly into a new home following the employer's marriage, ensuring that the integration of new family dynamics with stepchildren was seamless and supportive. Coordinated the organization and unpacking of household items, creating functional spaces that catered to the needs of both the employer and her stepchildren while maintaining a sense of familiarity and comfort. Developed personalized routines and schedules to accommodate the varying needs of the family, fostering a nurturing environment during this significant life change. Liaised with moving services to ensure timely delivery and setup of furniture and belongings, overseeing the entire process to alleviate stress for the family. Created a welcoming atmosphere by thoughtfully arranging shared spaces and ensuring that each family member's preferences were considered, promoting harmony and collaboration in the new household. Provided emotional support and guidance to the family, helping them navigate the challenges of blending households while reinforcing positive communication and collaboration among all family members.

- Professionalism & Warmth: Enhanced the role of traditional household staff by providing a unique blend of care, structure, and joy. Established strong relationships with family members and other staff, contributing to a positive and nurturing home environment.

- Transformative Impact: Played a crucial role in alleviating the burdens of household management, creating a supportive atmosphere where families can thrive. Recognized for being a dependable and trustworthy presence within the home. Children’s Program Assistant Director

The Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY 2010 Season 04 - 11

- Collaborated in creating daily curriculum for the children's programs at a holistic learning center, enhancing engagement and learning for children ages 3-12.

- Supervised activities such as swimming, kayaking, canoeing, nature walks, gardening, edible flower gardening, story time, arts and crafts, games, indoor and outdoor playtime, and creative play, ensuring safety and inclusion of all participants.

- Carefully adhered to dietary restrictions and allergies for various participants during daily snack times.

- Managed inventory and organization of program supplies efficiently. Assistant Artistic Director

The Institute of Dancing Arts, Grand Junction, CO 2000 - 2010

- Taught up to 20 classes per week in ballet, tap, contemporary dance, ballroom, and swing dancing while collaborating with the artistic director on curriculum development, performance choreography, rehearsals, music and costume choices, studio schedule, and classes offered.

- Provided private lessons for students of all ages and ensured student placement aligned with their strengths as well as age.

- Supported the artistic director in various studio operations, organization of props, supplies and costumes, cleanliness of the dance studio, bathrooms, and changing areas, and transporting items and students for many performances, big and small, throughout the community, such as outreach programs at care centers, parades, special events such as the local children’s choir, opera, the Nutcracker, and annual performances for our senior performing company.

High-End Housekeeping and Detailing

Self-Employed By Referral Only, Grand Junction, CO 2007 - 2010

- Delivered meticulous housekeeping services in many high-end homes throughout western Colorado, ensuring the highest possible client satisfaction.

- Developed trust and rapport with clients by adhering strictly to their specific instructions and needs with an understanding and sensitivity towards having specific desires, needs, or compulsions around what, how often, and how well specific tasks are handled.

- Conducted deep cleaning and reorganization tasks of various areas of the home to improve household functionality.

SKILLS

- Estate Management

- Personal Assistance

- Meal Preparation and Nutrition

- Child Development Activities

- Household Maintenance and Repairs

- Event Planning

- Organization

ACHIEVEMENTS

- Successfully implemented developmental activities for children with special needs, enhancing their emotional and physical growth.

- Managed multiple staff and household operations leading to improved efficiency and family satisfaction.

References:

Kimberly Collins-Black 310-***-****

Jon Collins-Black 323-***-****

Krista Vernoff 213-***-****

Sandra Benson, Children’s Program Director 2010 217-***-**** Diane Revie, Artistic Director, The Institute of Dancing Arts 970-***-****

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