Cierra Benson Email & Phone Number

Naples, Campania, Italy

Demonstrated exceptional leadership, overseeing two direct reports, through brick & mortar operations of two facilities, resulting in a consistent 2% customer growth rate week-over-week. Played a pivotal role in spearheading social media marketing strategies, increasing social media reach by 144.4% while executing 40+ programs per month.- Developed the strategic plan and execution of 10+ events per week, including dinners, military programming, and special events, ensuring exceptional attendee experiences.- Managed event registration, logistic details, and orchestration alongside physical event assets to ensure seamless participant experiences.- Analyzed engagement metrics and ROI data to optimize event participation, achieving a remarkable 15% growth, and boosted volunteer enrollment by 10% through strategic marketing campaigns.- Spearheaded the creation and management of a $24,000 budget for USO Naples, developing financial plans, program schedules, and conducting full life cycle human capital activities to drive increased participation.- Ensured that USO Naples' communications and social media platforms provided compelling program content through storytelling strategies, aligning brand vision and strategy with the non-profit mission to reach targeted audiences.- Engaged with local vendors leveraging strong relationships to secure in-kind donations, negotiate discounted services, and procure auction items, resulting in a 10% increase in funds raised over the previous year.

Naples, Campania, Italy

Directed daily operations of the USO Naples Capodichino facility and 80+ rotating volunteers. Created and facilitated recreational programming for over 6,000 service members and their families. Developed and maintained working relationships with US military and local community leadership. Oversaw customer relationship management tools, metrics systems, and social media marketing and delivery. Monitored center financial activities in accordance with the operating budget.- Cultivated a supportive and inclusive environment for 80+ volunteers, providing clear communication, training, and guidance to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and seamless program execution.- Facilitated open communication channels between USO Naples and external partners, vendors, and donors; fostering collaborative relationships with stakeholders and driving support for organizational initiatives.- Championed and launched new programs, advanced performance metrics, and innovative recommendations to senior leadership, EMEA-wide, influencing strategic decisions and driving improvement initiatives.- Led expeditionary outreach support, delivering morale boosting events to 10,000+ deployed service members, such as holiday support to the USS Nitze and care package support to USS George H.W. Bush and USS Harry S. Truman.

Bethesda, Maryland

Led global F&B initiatives, including "F&B on Demand" redesign for five brands, boosting program usage by 10%. Managed $1M budget and developed 30+ market-specific decks. Optimized MIBEV platform and curated trend articles for 5,400 properties.- Collaborated closely with cross-functional teams, including Finance, Brand Marketing, and Operations, to align marketing strategies with organizational goals, ensuring consistent messaging and brand alignment, resulting in a 10% uptick in program usage through strategic marketing and program development.- Led the development, implementation, and management of 20+ global food and beverage operational procedures and strategies.- Transformed the takeaway and market-conceptualization program, "F&B on Demand," for five mid-tier brands, ensuring alignment with standards, and guiding franchisees in market space development.- Conceptualized and brought to fruition 30+ restaurant ideation decks tailored for market-specific application and rollout across brand tiers.- Aided in the allocation and management of a one million dollar budget, aligning annual financial plans with departmental and project requirements.- Pioneered the optimization of the digital platform, MIBEV, through comprehensive updates to branded beverage programs, landing page enhancements, and quantitative web analytics using Google Analytics.- Utilized data analysis and forecasting techniques to aid in the development of 18 brand beverage programs for 2020-2021, leveraging insights from consumer behavior, marketplace trends, and distributor data.- Implemented standardized RFP procedures and beverage audit quality assurance standards, streamlining processes and enhancing daily business operations.- Presented marketing initiatives and performance reports to senior leadership and stakeholders, influencing decision-making and driving alignment with organizational objectives.

Park Hyde, New York

- Orchestrated 10+ public-facing advertisements and promotions to captivate potential clients, fostering engagement and brand awareness.- Oversaw the curation and refinement of 100+ consulting and food enthusiasts' recipes, ensuring their suitability for curriculum integration and public use.- Tested and adapted 50 culinary and pastry recipes for inclusion in cuisine-specific guides and publications, guaranteeing their accessibility and appeal to a wide audience.- Developed recipes in compliance with USDA regulations for application in over 5 hospital and public-school systems, prioritizing nutritional standards and dietary requirements.- Conducted meticulous research to validate the accuracy and applicability of recipe content, meticulously sourcing ingredients and verifying cooking techniques to ensure quality and relevance.

Bethesda, Maryland

- Strategized and aided in the buildout of the Aloft Re:Fuel Breakfast Pot program and AC Core Menu- Trained over 30+ properties on new menu rollouts via culinary demos and on-property presentations- Spearhead the development of 5 learning modules and additional final assessment for the Food Allergen Training Course

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Hotel/Motel Administration/Management

Activities and Societies: National Society of Minorities in Hospitality, Cornell Tradition, Hotel Ezra Cornell, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Phi.

Associate'S Degree, Baking And Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef