JENNIFER J. CASTEL

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

Kinnelon, New Jersey 07405

201-***-**** cell

o15l3n@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY OF

QUALIFICATIONS:

Senior Account Manager/Sourcing Manager, who is detailed, organized and customer focused.

Has strong negotiation skills and is self-motivated. Strong interpersonal and team leadership skills with the desire to apply experience while managing accounts, projects and overseeing the bottom line.

CAREER HISTORY:

June 2009-

March, 2012 Panera Bread, LLC/Villa Enterprises, Morristown, NJ

New Jersey Market

Regional Catering Sales Manager

• Direct Sales-Strategic planning, cold calling, sales presentations, networking, effective closing sales techniques

• Key Account Management- Manage key corporate pharmaceutical catering accounts, i.e. Takeda, Abbott Labs, Sanofi-Aventis as well as other healthcare organizations and corporate businesses

• Actively attend networking events for business development purposes

• Manage CRM application database to obtain essential data relevant to customer sales, catering orders and identify 90 day out accounts

• Successfully increased annual sales by 30% through business partnership development

• Lead the catering team to motivate and inspire them to create innovative recipes in order to increase revenue

January, 1998

May, 2009 Independent Consultant specializing in Account and Event Management for pharmaceutical and financial client based Fortune 500 companies.

Merrill Lynch & Co. Citigroup/Smith Barney Excellence in Meetings

Schering Plough Novartis Roche Labs

• Sent out leads for site selection to National Account Managers and through Star cite and Cvents

• Implemented site selection and negotiated contracts for hotels

• Prepared comparison analysis for clients for hotels, venues and DMC’s

• Coordinated site inspections with suppliers, client and program manager. Prepared appropriate site inspection material for clients

• Had Direct Client Interaction from start to finish with Corporate and Association Clients

• Managed Speakers and Trainers logistical schedules and rehearsals

• Managed all coordination for Financial, Investigator, POA, Advisory Board Meetings as well as Upper Management Off-sites and recreational events from 20-1000 people

• Prepared & Organized Field Communication to obtain a flawless meeting

• Managed employees in the office. Hired and delegated team for on-site management

• Strong Verbal and Written Communication Skills

• Managed reports and budgets.

• Maintained documentation of all savings. Proven 25% savings in all areas of the meeting

• Arranged all banquet functions, including menu selection, themed events with entertainment and off-site events. Managed audiovisual requirements.

• Negotiated all contracts and concessions for major airline and specialty charter and rental cars

JENNIFER J. CASTEL

PAGE TWO

April, 1994 - MERRILL LYNCH & CO. - World Financial Center, New York

December, 1998 Project Manager

• Managed all logistical planning and expedition for high-level management and client functions from 10-1000 people.

• Developed strong client relationships

• Managed, trained and developed junior planners and data entry personnel

• Became a strong resource for utilization of booking internal meeting space/conference center space to prove savings.

• Developed strong supplier/vendor relationships to maximize pricing advantages and concessions

• Kept abreast of new destination openings, seasonal hotel discounts and “hot date” offerings

• Sourced and managed, planned and executed Road Show Events

• Sourced and managed Golf Tournaments, World Cup Events and Super Bowl Events

• Sourced and planned Domestic and International Global Industry Conferences

• Prepared estimated budgets throughout the purchasing process and processed vendor’s invoices for final cost reconciliation

• Managed on-site Trip Directors and staff

• Designed Invitations, Brochures and Printed Materials

• Managed private chartered events

• Handled logistics for Incentive & Spousal Events

January, 1993 - BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. – Bavaria Lloyd Travel, Woodcliff Lake, NJ

April, 1994 Corporate Meeting Planner

• Planned over 400 meetings domestic and internationally

• Managed Dealer training seminars

• Managed Automobile launches, incentive sales and marketing meetings

• Organized themed events, entertainment and recreational events

• Processed vendor bills and monitored final program costs

November, 1989 - RADISSON HOTEL - Newark International Airport, Newark, NJ

January, 1993 Conference Sales Manager

• Managed daily operations for full service hotel banquet department

• Originated the sale through cold calling, site visits, preparing proposals

• Detailed customer events and menu design and pricing

• Was responsible for increasing sales by 20% from previous year

• Developed new product/package development

EDUCATION:

JOHNSON & WALES COLLEGE - Providence, Rhode Island

May, 1987 Bachelor of Science Hospitality Management

September, 1986 Associate of Science Hotel Restaurant Management

REFERENCES: Furnished upon request.

Contact this candidate