Ian Berthold919A Fisher St.Houston, Texas 77018(832) 691-6194ian.berthold@gmail.comEXPERIENCE Chef Smirnov Catering, Houston, Texas Sept. 2018 – PresentDirector of Catering SalesChef Smirnov Catering is a full-service catering company serving event venues, weddings, museums, club rooms, corporate offices, lobbies, hotels, convention centers and private residences. As the catering sales director, I was the lead contact for all events from inception to completion, including grand openings, receptions, weddings, galas, anniversaries for individuals and companies, bar and bat mitzvahs, kosher events, dinner parties, holiday parties and funerals.The job requirements included:Utilizing sales and marketing strategies to attract new clients and develop lasting relationships with existing customers through follow up calls, emails, onsite visits, social media, etc. Working with client on all aspects of the event – menu creation, venue location, floorplan, any outside rentals (tents, linens, tables, chairs, etc.), food display options, etc.Securing event locations (e.g., Marriott Marquis Houston, LIFE HTX, Station 3, etc.)Coordinating setup during event and managing staff, both in-house and contracted (including multiple locations)Regularly reaching out to various vendors for paperwork requirements (TABC, rental equipment companies, event coordinators, venue establishments, wine and spirits vendors)Creating proposalsFinalizing contracts, getting signatures and payments Ensuring COI was provided to any company that required it and W9 information was finalized as neededKnowledge of Jewish community (Chef Smirnov has two kitchens, one specifically for kosher menus)Highlights:Overseeing multiple catered events at the Marriott Marquis Houston (exclusively kosher dining)Holocaust Museum grand re-opening – 5 days of events utilizing all floors of the museumAir France/KLM customer appreciation gala – created a menu with a number of Dutch options Google and SAP launch with celebrity chef tour – provided appetizers and bar servicePassover – coordinated and oversaw events at multiple synagogues, private residences and pickup orders simultaneously over two weekend periodREM Global, Dallas, Texas Mar. 2017 – July 2018Catering Sales Manager for Sambuca and Lawless in HoustonPreviously worked at Sambuca as the Banquet Captain 1/08-8/14: As shown in Sambuca Catering section.)REM Global is the parent company to Sambuca and Lawless Spirits and Kitchen. Sambuca is a supper club-style restaurant with music venue accommodating 500 guests. Lawless is a craft cocktail and lounge with a capacity of 200. The Catering Sales Manager position was multi-faceted, requiring aspects that included: Marketing and networking; overseeing various event types at multiple venues simultaneously; client services; contract management; and event execution. Details highlighted below:Marketing and NetworkingUtilized a variety of marketing and networking strategies to attract new patrons as well as develop lasting relationships with existing clientele through use of the company’s client history and my personal client list.Lead generation tactics: Reached out to business admins, professional event planners and convention organizers by strategically using email campaigns, cold calls, onsite visits, social media, etc. Took calls for proposals, as well.Networking events: Attended as a member and sometimes hosted events for the following affiliations:Greater Houston Convention and Visitor Bureau (GHCVB)/HoustonFirstMeeting Professionals International (MPI)National Association for Catering and Events (NACE)Houston Young ProfessionalsNetwork After WorkVendor representative at trade shows: Dream Weddings Bridal Show and Bridal ExtravaganzaNetworked within the service industry: Cultivated professional relationships with other catering managers, hotel concierges, property managers, etc. It is invaluable to have friends in the industry when faced with unexpected circumstances. (e.g., I once pulled together a party for another sales manager in hours after the Whitehall had an emergency power outage and evacuation.)Event TypesDirected events for both Lawless and Sambuca as well as offsite luncheons and evening occasions throughout the city.Events ranged from several small gatherings on the same day to large private buyouts at both venuesCoordinated Sambuca and/or Lawless buyouts for companies, including visitors attending conventions at the George R. Brown convention center, receptions for professional sports teams, wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, executive dinners, happy hours, parties, celebrations, etc.Offsite events consisted of luncheons, dinner parties and cocktail receptions of any sizeStaff, food, drinks, glassware and hardware would be supplied by Sambuca’s catering kitchen, which would require the catering manager’s coordinationClient ServicesWorked with the client throughout the entire lifecycle of the event that included: initial contract proposal, client visits to Lawless or Sambuca to inspect the proposed space (including event coordinator or external vendor visits), food tastings, menu creation, alcohol packages, room layout (the contract included a floorplan), A/V requirements, etc. Contract ManagementCreated the event contracts and corresponded regularly with the client to ensure all the event details were documented and confirmed by the client. Based on that contract, an event folder was created for the managers, banquet captain and kitchen to review at staff meetings. They would then relay the event details and setup requirements to the rest of the staff. Communicated with the client through email, phone conversations and in-person appointmentsSent out invoices to outside vendors Ensured all payments and deposits were completed prior to the eventVerified all documentation was accurate and up-to-date as event details may change throughout the correspondence Event ExecutionOn the day of the event, consulted with the front-of-house managers and banquet captain to determine that all details were understood and in place. Performed a walkthrough to check that the setup matched the floorplan in the contractGreeted the client and introduced the manager, banquet captain and any other senior staffResolved any unexpected occurrences (e.g., rain issues, kitchen dilemmas, etc.) to ensure the guests were taken care of and the party ran smoothlyConfirmed that all food was to be sent out in a timely mannerWas either on hand or in close phone contact with the manager and banquet captain to ensure a flawless executionTexas Tru Distribution, Houston, TX July 2016 – March 2017Sales RepresentativeHired to help expand the wine division client base and maintain the spirits side, which was already well established.Marketed to restaurants, bars, country clubs and specialty retailRepresented old world and new world wines as well as a list of organic and Texas-based spiritsCovered Downtown Houston and The Woodlands territoriesTypical work day consists of marketing to clients, which included:Providing tastings or setting up appointments for tastings to introduce our productsFollowing up with clients onsite and phone calls to ensure their required inventory was sufficientSending order requests and ensuring invoices were completed in a timely mannerFollowing up with leads through email and phone callsAttended weekly meetings to discuss current lead status, scheduled tastings and focus areas for sales for that weekProvided tastings in a retail setting to drive up product awareness to the consumersWorked with retailers to bring in new products into their storeKatz’s Deli, Houston, TX Aug. 2014 – Aug. 2016Corporate Catering ManagerCatering sales manager position with three main components: Generating SalesCoordinating Kitchen Execution Managing Drivers (which Includes scheduling daily driver delivery “puzzle”)Typical day began at 7:00 am at Katz’s main location receiving orders from the kitchen and sorting the orders for drivers. After all drivers left, I went out to market in one of my designated territories. Spent the day meeting with potential and existing clients. In the evening, I would create the “driver puzzle” and organize the orders for the following day.Acted as primary trainer for new catering sales managers. Over course of my employment, I trained 6 managers. All new hires went through a four-week training period where they learned all aspects of the role.SalesMarketed to potential clients primarily through door-to-door cold calls, phone calls, email campaigning as well as admin tasting events. Visited roughly 20 businesses a day when marketing in the afternoons after the orders went outGenerated 400+ new repeat clientsMaintained existing clientsCovered Downtown Houston, Energy Corridor and Medical Center territoriesCatering ExecutionEnsured all ticket orders were printed out for kitchenExpoed and checked food quality (hot and cold)Organized each driver’s orders (roughly 25 deliveries/day)Checked each driver’s supplies (plastic ware, serving utensils, salad dressings, etc.) before leavingDriversCompiled all orders for the next day and created each driver’s delivery routes and scheduling Managed, trained and hired driversSambuca Catering, Houston, TX Jan. 2008 – Aug. 2014Banquet Captain Multifaceted event coordinator position managing corporate and individual contracted events ranging from private room gatherings and restaurant buyouts to full-service offsite banquets. Before each event:Attended weekly meetings to discuss each event’s size, complexity and location Coordinated the room’s layout following a setup predetermined by the clientCoordinated the setup of any A/V, lighting, screens and power needs in floor plan Delegated job duties to perform setup, running work, breakdown, and reset for all eventsTyped up the menus for seated dinners based on the type of package arranged with the client Ensured food stations were set up properly Made advance preparations to “flip the room” when the area had to quickly be reset for another party later that evening During the event:Remained in contact with the client to ensure all details of the event are coveredEnsured that each of the servers were providing impeccable service Accommodated client with any specific requests Resolved any other issues that arose – may act as server, food runner or bartender to keep the event running smoothly Closed the event and arranged for final payment with the client at the end of the eventAfter the event:Prepared closing paperwork Matched event orders with payments received and sent it to Sambuca’s corporate office in DallasAllocated tip to each server, busboy, food runner and apply corporate percentage Entered all sales into master closing sheet with a breakdown of purchasesPerformed an inventory of liquor, beer and wine (for offsite events)Saved everything to a folder for Sambuca’s accounting departmentEnsured that equipment inventory was accounted for, clean, and in working order Other roles:Applied previous IT experience to provide in-house support of computer equipmentPerformed role of sound technician when no one was availableMingalone’s, Houston, TX Aug. 2007 – Dec. 2007ServerInterim position while searching for permanent employment after previous employer closed business.St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin, Houston, TX Feb. 2004 – Aug.2007Closing Manager and Booking AgentNightly closing manager for the dining and live music establishment. Restaurant was divided into two sections. The closing manager was in charge of managing closing duties for the restaurant side while remaining on duty to manage the venue side until it closed at 2 a.m. Additional duties included:Performing server checkoutsFinalizing credit card transactionsOrganizing booking for bands and showsClosing restaurantProviding training for new hiresRestaurant closed in August 2007.Bell Atlantic and Solvay, Houston, TX Feb. 2000 – Dec. 2001Technical AnalystBell Atlantic 2-12/2000 and Solvay 1-12/2001Provided technical support for DOS, Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, ME, XP and OS 7-OS XCreated user profiles, password accounts and network loginsProvided customer serviceSupported a variety of specific and proprietary softwareServiced laptops and desktops, monitors, NIC, sound cards, video cards, floppy drives, printers, scanners, hard drives, keyboards, etc.Resolved clients’ RAS dial-up difficulties Tier 1 SupportTeam lead for the email team, providing technical support to customers through emailResolved ISDN, dialup, or ADSL connection issuesResolved any problems the user might have with their email client or browser software Supported all Windows and Macintosh Operating Systems in regards to Internet connectivityResearched certain nodes, such as routers on the internet to determine if they were malfunctioning or causing latencyBill’s AC and Heating, Chicago, IL June 1999 – Dec. 1999Installation and RepairInstalled and repaired AC units and HVAC units in residents and businessesEducationElectrical Engineering, Houston Community College, Houston, TXGraphic Design and Desktop Publishing, Kingwood Community College, Kingwood, TX
