Professional Manager

Stuart G. Bufferd

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

Wheatley Heights, NY 11798

631-***-**** or 516-***-**** cell

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

SUMMARY: Experienced, proactive, results-oriented management professional with proven track record in business development, operations, sales, marketing and accounting to leverage diverse background in Travel/Hospitality and other Consumer Service related industries. Expertise: P & L management, conception and implementation of revenue-producing products and services, adept negotiating and problem solving skills, exceptional relationship builder.

EXPERIENCE:

January 2010 - Present Business Consultant

 Established corporate travel policy for $500 million financial services company

 Reengineered reservation procedures and practices

 Supervised vendor consolidation for maximum cost savings

 Created forms for T & E reimbursement

February 2007 – January 2010 Fischer Travel Enterprises – New York, NY Controller

• Directed funds management of $10,000,000.00

• Administered health insurance benefits & 401k plan

• Established internal security protocol for staff credit card usage

• Negotiated reduced credit card processing fees resulting in $50,000.00 + annual savings

• Processed A/R and A/P daily and monthly General Ledger postings

• Prepared bi-weekly payroll for staff of 21

• Restructured health insurance plan resulting in 15% annual cost reduction

• Negotiated 20% increase in commission revenue from vendors

• Prepared monthly reports such as Sales Commissions by Agent, YTD sales comparisons and P & L statements

May 1998 – February 2007 Creative Travel International – Melville, NY General Manager

• Developed daily operations plan for sales, reservations, supply management and accounting

• Supervised daily staff of 14 and Independent Contractor Sales force of 85 agents

• Established relationship with Mega Agency to increase air commissions by 60%

• Negotiated yearly group air contracts to handle 500+ student group

• Restructured service fee plan resulting in 20% increase in sales volume

• Negotiated cruise space for numerous groups with multiple cruise lines

• Established Agency Service Fee structure which increased bottom line 25%

• Created Sales Agent Training Manual for Travel Agent Training

• Created Operations Manual for office accounting practices

September 1995 – May 1998 Leaders in Travel, Ltd. – Great Neck, NY General Manager

• Facilitated daily operations which includes sales, reservations, marketing and accounting

• Supervised staff of 20 inside and 40 outside agents

• Increased commission levels by 25% through contract negotiation

• Developed service fee structure that increased bottom line by 45%

• Negotiated new CRS and Back Office Accounting contracts

• Responsible for transition to new accounting system including training of staff

• Directed operational merger of agency acquisition and integration of additional staff

• Created and executed sales presentations to prospective clients

August 1981 – September 1995 Travel Mood of Jericho, Inc. – Jericho, NY Co-Founder

• Increased sales from start-up to 4 million in 3 years

• Managed staff of 10 agents

• Established CRS network and procedures for multi-office chain

• Responsible for daily operations including sales, marketing and accounting

• Created presentations to prospective corporate clients

• Negotiated air, car, hotel & vendor contracts which resulted in 28% increase in commissions

• Cultivated lasting client relationships

EDUCATION: B.S. in Business Administration – University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT

Major – Marketing Minor – Accounting

SKILLS: MS Word, Excel, Outlook, & Power Point. CRS experience in SABRE and Worldspan, TRAMS back office accounting, QuickBooks, LinkedIn, and Internet.

REFERENCES: Personal references furnished upon request.

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