Executive Assistant with Veteran Leadership Experience

CERENA KIM CRUZ

**** ****** ****

New Albany, IN 47150

Phone: 502-***-****

E-mail: ***********@*****.***

OBJECTIVE

Dynamic and mission-driven U.S. Army veteran with extensive leadership experience committed to service, integrity, and teamwork. Seeking a strategic role within a forward-thinking organization that values vision, innovation, and measurable results. Recognized for driving operational excellence, empowering teams, and achieving sustainable growth. And eager to contribute proven leadership, discipline, and business acumen to advance organizational success.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Utilizes 20+ years of extensive leadership experience, as well as, incorporating outstanding business to deliver exemplary performance even in the most demanding, controversial and complex assignments. Committed to fostering a cohesive and productive workplace environment. Versatility, adaptability, and willingness to tackle new responsibilities and multi tasks; self-assured, detail-oriented, assertive, self-confident, and loyal.

Financial Management capabilities encompass Budgeting and Cost Controls, and Quality Improvement Processes and Procedures.

Technical Proficiencies include Microsoft Office Suite: MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint; Outlook, People Soft, OnQ, Choice Advantage, and FOSSE.

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

General Manager

Country Inn & Suites – FIRC GROUP

Asheville, NC Apr 2021 – Nov 2025

Spearheaded all aspects of daily operations and functions surrounding Sales and Revenue Management; Controllables: Wages and Expenses; Hiring, Training, Discipline; Safety and Risk Management, Loss prevention; Business Plan and Budgets. Manages, maintains and maximizes top line revenue. Directs, supervises and coordinates expenses, achievement of and growth of market share, Guest Satisfaction Scores, and Associate development.

Spearheaded various aspects of a hotel that has made over 2 million dollars annually, over the last 2 years, with an outstanding house profit margin.

Assistant General Manager

Cambria Hotel – FIRC GROUP

Asheville, NC Oct 2020 – April 2021

Expertly assisted General Manager in all aspects of hotel operations including accounts payable, accounts receivable, human resources, payroll, engineering, facility, valet, housekeeping, and laundry.

Director of Operations

Liberty Group Hotels

Tampa, FL Feb 2019 – Oct 2020

Responsibility for overseeing the General Managers of each hotel, and overall operations of all hotels, human resources management, revenue management, inventory management, vendor relations, record preparation and presentation, guest and association relations, property management, labor and cost review.

Area General Manager

Liberty Group Hotels

Fairfield Inn & Suites July 2015 – Jan 2019

Jeffersonville, IN 47130

Control and manage all aspects of daily operations and functions surrounding Sales and Revenue Management; Controllables: Wages and Expenses; Hiring, Training, Discipline; Safety and Risk Management, Loss prevention; Business Plan and Budgets. Manages, maintains and maximizes top line revenue. Directs, supervises and coordinates expenses, achievement of and growth of market share, Guest Satisfaction Scores, and Associate development of two hotels.

Responsible for the training, quality assurance and financials of (4) Marriott hotels that have made over 4 million dollars annually, over the last 2 years, with an outstanding house profit margin. Consistently exceeded flow through goals each month, focusing on increased market share.

Dual Property GM

Liberty Group Hotels

Fairfield Inn & Suites/TownePlace Suites Oct 2011 – July 2015

Jeffersonville, IN 47130

Spearheaded all aspects of daily operations and functions surrounding Sales and Revenue Management; Controllables: Wages and Expenses; Hiring, Training, Discipline; Safety and Risk Management, Loss prevention; Business Plan and Budgets. Manages, maintains and maximizes top line revenue. Directs, supervises and coordinates expenses, achievement of and growth of market share, Guest Satisfaction Scores, and Associate development of two hotels.

Spearheaded various aspects of two hotels that have made over 3 million dollars annually, over the last 2 years, with an outstanding house profit margin. Received “clean slate” letter from Marriott for both hotels in Dec 2011

Consistently exceeded flow through goals each month, focusing on increased market share.

GENERAL MANAGER

Liberty Group Hotels

TownePlace Suites by Marriott Sept 2009 – Oct 2011

Jeffersonville, IN 47130

Spearheaded all aspects of daily operations and functions surrounding Sales and Revenue Management; Controllables: Wages and Expenses; Hiring, Training, Discipline; Safety and Risk Management, Loss prevention; Business Plan and Budgets. Manages, maintains and maximizes top line revenue. Directs, supervises and coordinates expenses, achievement of and growth of market share, Guest Satisfaction Scores, and Associate development.

Spearheaded various aspects of a hotel that has made over 2 million dollars annually, over the last 2 years, with an outstanding house profit margin. Brought Hotel out of Red Zone status with a “clean slate” letter in Dec 2011.

Consistently exceeded flow through goals each month, focusing on increased market share.

CONTROLLER

Market House Development, LLC

Fayetteville, North Carolina July 2006 – April 2009

Responsibilities include accounting and financial reporting functions, including GL, financial statements, A/P, A/R, billing and collection, payroll tax returns.

I oversaw coordinating, planning, and reporting on the financial activities of our organization. I oversaw the accounting, bookkeeping, and auditing departments. I supervised record keeping and set up controls to ensure efficiency and honesty. I reported directly to the president of the company. As the controller, I also put together the financial reports that were sent out of the company. These included annual reports to stockholders, tax returns, and reports to government agencies.

GENERAL MANAGER

Fairfield Inn by Marriott October 2003-July 2006

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Spearheaded all aspects of daily operations and functions surrounding Sales and Revenue Management; Controllables: Wages and Expenses; Hiring, Training, Discipline; Safety and Risk Management, Loss prevention; Business Plan and Budgets. Manages, maintains and maximizes top line revenue. Directs, supervises and coordinates expenses, achievement of and growth of market share, Guest Satisfaction Scores, and Associate development.

Spearheaded various aspects of a hotel that has made over 2 million dollars annually, over the last 3 years, with an outstanding house profit margin.

Consistently exceeded flow through goals each month, focusing on increased market share.

Served as General Contractor for recent 1.5-million-dollar renovation to the entire hotel over the course of 6 months, as well General Manager duties.

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER

Fairfield Inn by Marriott International August 2000 – October 2003

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Expertly assisted General Manager in all aspects of hotel operations including sales, budgeting, revenue management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, human resources, payroll, engineering, facility, housekeeping, and laundry.

Selected from Fayetteville FFI as AGM to travel to other Fairfield Inn properties to train new GM’s on Sage accounting principles and help prepare them for their Sage Compliance audit.

Single-handedly responsible for getting the hotel set up on the Central Contractor Registration website, to allow the hotel to bid and accept any military contracts which were instrumental in our high revenues over the last 3 years.

GUEST SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE / SUPERVISOR

Fairfield Inn by Marriott International February 1998 – August 2000

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Processes documented and updated all check-in and checkouts of guests, ensuring optimal guest satisfaction. Coordinated, planned and presented the GSR’s weekly schedule. Identified, established and resolved guest problems that occurred during their stay at the hotel. Trained, instructed and mentored new associates. Maintained, organized and updated all front desk files. Managed, organized and documented group sales. Effectively cross-trained in housekeeping and maintenance. Actively served as Housekeeping Supervisor for a year during this same time period.

Received award at annual Marriott GM Conference for Top Score for all 2000 FFI Training School attendants.

Graduated Fairfield Inn Training School with honors in October 2000, Class Valedictorian with an average of

99.82%.

FINANCE SPECIALIST

U.S. Army February 1996 – March 1997

Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

Performed, managed and supervised comprehensive duties pertaining to disbursing, travel, military pay, foreign national pay, internal control and civilian pay operations.

Graduated with honors at U.S. Army Finance Training School in March 1996, Valedictorian for maintaining

an average of 100%.

EDUCATION

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 1992 – 1996

Baylor University, Waco, Texas

CRIMINAL JUSTICE 1990 – 1992

Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, Hawaii

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Sage Hospitality Resources November 2001

Management Essentials and Behavioral Interviewing, Denver, Colorado

Fairfield Inn by Marriott October 2000

Management Training Center, Atlanta, Georgia

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