Executive Director, University Events & Hospitality

DAVE JAGSARRAN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HOSPITALITY & CATERING OPERATIONS

Multi-Million-Dollar Operations P&L Leadership Guest Experience Convention & Event Excellence ********@*****.*** +1-838-***-**** Albany, NY EXECUTIVE PROFILE

Executive hospitality leader with progressive leadership experience directing luxury hotel operations, convention services, food & beverage, catering, conference management, and large-scale hospitality businesses across Hilton Hotels, Marriott International, Sodexo, Compass Group, Aramark, and higher education institutions. Proven success managing multi-million- dollar operating budgets, full P&L accountability, large cross-functional teams, and high-profile client relationships while consistently improving profitability, operational performance, guest satisfaction, and organizational growth. Recognized for transforming complex hospitality operations into high-performing business units through strategic planning, financial stewardship, labor optimization, service innovation, and exceptional execution of corporate conventions, luxury events, institutional catering, and premium guest experiences. Extensive expertise leading operations serving 15,000+ guests, negotiating high-value vendor agreements, improving EBITDA, strengthening commercial partnerships, and cultivating leadership teams that consistently exceed operational and financial objectives. A trusted executive partner to ownership groups, senior leadership, meeting planners, corporate clients, universities, and hospitality stakeholders, known for delivering measurable business outcomes while preserving world-class service standards. EXECUTIVE HIGHLIGHTS

$25M+ Revenue Portfolio 250+ Team Members Led

$8M+ Operating Budget 450+ Events Annually

15,000+ Guests Served 98% Event Execution

16% Revenue Growth 11% Margin Improvement

650K Vendor Savings 30+ Years Leadership

CORE COMPETENCIES

Executive Leadership P&L Management Convention Services

Hospitality Operations Budgeting & Forecasting Guest Experience

Hotel Operations Client Relationship Management Financial Analysis

Business Development Cost Control & Profitability Revenue Growth Strategies PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Hilton Albany Albany, New York

Director of Convention Services & Events January 2026 – Present Direct all convention services, banquet operations, corporate meetings, social events, and client engagement initiatives for one of Albany's premier Hilton properties, overseeing end-to-end event execution, financial performance, guest satisfaction, and cross-functional operational excellence.

• Direct convention services supporting approximately $12M+ in annual banquet, catering, meeting, and event revenue, ensuring consistent profitability while maintaining Hilton luxury service standards.

• Spearhead strategic planning and flawless execution of more than 450 corporate conferences, conventions, weddings, government functions, and social events annually, consistently achieving over 98% event execution accuracy.

• Administer departmental operating budgets exceeding $8M, implementing forecasting disciplines and labor optimization initiatives that improved departmental operating margins by an estimated 11%.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary workforce of more than 90 banquet associates, event managers, supervisors, and service professionals, improving employee engagement while reducing annual turnover by nearly 18%.

• Elevated guest satisfaction scores from 91% to 96% through service recovery enhancements, standardized event planning procedures, and proactive client communication throughout the event lifecycle.

• Introduced data-driven operational dashboards monitoring labor productivity, banquet profitability, event pacing, and client feedback, enabling executive leadership to improve forecasting accuracy and decision-making.

• Coordinated VIP conventions, executive board meetings, association conferences, and luxury gala events accommodating guests, delivering seamless execution across multiple simultaneous venues.

• Collaborate directly with ownership representatives, corporate executives, meeting planners, tourism organizations, and community stakeholders to strengthen Hilton's market presence, resulting in a 24% increase in corporate event bookings.

• Championed continuous process improvement initiatives that shortened event planning turnaround by 22%, enhanced interdepartmental coordination, and increased planner satisfaction ratings across key corporate accounts.

• Ensure full compliance with Hilton brand standards, OSHA regulations, food safety protocols, contractual obligations, and risk management procedures while maintaining exceptional operational consistency during high-volume convention periods. Sodexo Dining Services – University At Albany Albany, NY Executive Director, Catering Operations July 2023 – September 2025 Directed all aspects of university catering, conference services, and hospitality operations for a high-volume campus, overseeing financial performance, operational strategy, client engagement, and service excellence across institutional and special events.

• Directed a comprehensive catering portfolio generating more than $8 million in annual revenue, implementing financial controls and procurement strategies that reduced operating expenses by 12% while preserving premium service standards.

• Orchestrated commencement ceremonies, presidential functions, conferences, and institutional events accommodating more than 15,000 guests, consistently delivering flawless execution across multiple venues and service teams.

• Administered annual departmental budgets exceeding $6.5 million, strengthening forecasting accuracy and resource allocation while improving overall budget performance.

• Redesigned catering workflows and event planning processes, reducing event preparation time by 20% and increasing operational efficiency across culinary, logistics, and banquet teams.

• Expanded partnerships with university executives, academic departments, and external organizations, contributing to a 19% increase in repeat catering engagements and conference bookings.

• Guided a workforce of more than 85 culinary, banquet, and hospitality professionals, improving employee engagement, productivity, and leadership succession while reducing turnover by approximately 15%.

• Evaluated guest feedback, operational KPIs, and service metrics to implement continuous improvement initiatives that elevated client satisfaction scores from 90% to 96%.

• Negotiated vendor agreements and purchasing contracts valued at more than $3 million annually, generating approximately

$420K in annual savings through strategic sourcing initiatives. Compass Group North America – Chartwells Higher Education Charlotte, NC Hospitality Engagement Director January 2020 – September 2023 Provided executive leadership for hospitality engagement strategies, campus dining operations, conference services, and client experience initiatives across multiple higher education environments.

• Directed hospitality engagement initiatives supporting dining operations exceeding $18 million in annual business volume, improving client satisfaction while strengthening institutional partnerships.

• Examined customer experience analytics across multiple campuses and implemented targeted service enhancements that increased guest satisfaction ratings by 18% within two academic years.

• Coordinated execution of more than 600 annual campus events, conferences, and VIP functions, ensuring exceptional operational consistency and on-time delivery across cross-functional teams.

• Optimized workforce planning and labor deployment strategies, improving labor productivity by 14% while maintaining superior guest service standards during peak operational periods.

• Introduced innovative dining engagement campaigns that increased student participation by 22%, driving additional retail and catering revenue opportunities.

• Cultivated collaborative relationships with university executives, faculty leadership, and student organizations, contributing to long-term contract stability and expanded hospitality services. Aramark – LIU Post Campus Brookville, NY

General Manager September 2016 – January 2020

• Revitalized an underperforming hospitality operation managing approximately $10 million in annual revenue, increasing overall sales by 21% through strategic marketing, menu innovation, and service enhancements.

• Administered comprehensive operating budgets exceeding $7 million, consistently meeting financial objectives while improving departmental profitability through disciplined expense management.

• Delivered high-profile university functions, celebrity appearances, fundraising galas, and executive events serving more than 5,000 guests, maintaining exceptional client satisfaction.

• Directed a multidisciplinary workforce of over 100 culinary, retail, catering, and hospitality professionals, strengthening employee retention and developing future operational leaders.

• Leveraged operational analytics and customer feedback to redesign service delivery models, increasing guest satisfaction by 17% and improving operational efficiency.

M.A.R. Air Food INC. – JFK International Airport Jamaica, NY Restaurant Operations Manager September 2014 – August 2016

• Launched the flagship Cascata Italian Restaurant concept for Delta Airlines, successfully introducing a premium dining experience that exceeded first-year revenue expectations by approximately 15%.

• Directed daily restaurant operations generating more than $5 million annually, consistently achieving financial targets while maintaining superior guest service performance.

• Supervised and developed over 70 culinary and front-of-house professionals, strengthening operational consistency and reducing employee turnover through structured coaching programs.

• Standardized restaurant operating procedures and quality controls, improving order accuracy and reducing guest wait times. PREVIOUS CAREER

Director of Catering & Conference Services - Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY December 2002 – July 2014 Conference & Banqueting Manager - New York Marriott Marquis, New York, NY July 1991 – December 2002 EDUCATION

Bachelor in Restaurant, Hospitality & Business Management Adelphi University Garden City, NY Completed

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY Completed CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS

Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) ServSafe Food Protection Manager (Valid through 2030) New York State Food Handler Certification CaterTrax Certified Administrator Caterease Event Management Software Certification Tripleseat Event Management Software Certification Certificate in Menu Planning – Association of Food Technology TECHNICAL SKILLS

Hospitality & Event Systems: CaterTrax • Caterease • Tripleseat • Delphi • Event Management Systems Business Applications: Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) • Microsoft Teams • SharePoint Operational Expertise: Budgeting & Forecasting • Financial Reporting • KPI Dashboards • Labor Analytics • Revenue Analysis • Food Safety Compliance • Inventory Control • Procurement • Vendor Management

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