Developed and implemented a comprehensive business plan to grow and diversify this small business with goal of positioning the business to be sold. O Directed and coordinated day-to-day sales and marketing aspects of the business.O Collaboratively worked with designer to create company logo, web site, packaging, and promotional materials.O Formulated innovative marketing strategies, campaigns, and promotions to increase sales.O Negotiated contracts and agreements with suppliers, brokers, and distributors to expand geographic area served.O Coordinated and participated in promotional activities and trade shows.

Recruited to modernize and upgrade this 13 story hotel with 287 guest rooms and 15,000 square feet of ballroom meeting space. Oversaw a comprehensive $6 million renovation and worked in collaboration with staff and an outside marketing company to establish management credibility, improve public confidence, implement quality standards, and change the culture of the hotel, with the ultimate goal of turning it over to new owners. O Pioneered “Pere Promise” Program to establish employee standards for quality, service, and teamwork and guided the development and implementation of customer service training for all personnel. O Transitioned customer response requests to e-mail, improving return from 1% to 20%. Also implemented processes for tracking customer response, resulting in measurable improvement in all areas. O Replaced executive staff members without any legal ramifications, with key players in guest services, food and beverage, finance, human resources, housekeeping, and facility maintenance. Results included a dramatic increase in guest satisfaction and a reduction in employee turnover. O Introduced sales incentive programs and drove the development of marketing campaigns.O Collaborated with an outside vendor to develop a new Website. Result: earned better exposure on search engines and increased Internet bookings by 20%. O Boosted gross revenue by 21% and operating profit by 41%. O Spearheaded fundraising programs with the Peoria Zoo Expansion, the Riverfront Museum Development and Peoria Promise, raising record-breaking revenues for these organizations and forging high profile alliances. O Successfully led a team to solicit potential new developers to acquire, renovate and expand the facility. Resulting in the largest proposed hospitality development in downtown Peoria since the Peoria Civic Center in 1982.

Recruited to create a new position, with broad P&L responsibility for budgeting, strategic planning, marketing, business development, human resources, staff development, safety, and compliance. Called on strategic accounts, identified client needs, made proposals, and negotiated contracts. Developed aggressive new marketing strategies and materials. Negotiated union contracts. Challenged to increase revenues amid flat or declining sales while improving quality, communication, and employee morale. Achievements include the following:O Launched an aggressive cold-calling campaign and made direct contact with both established and potential accounts, earning 30% growth in net income within one year. O When the largest account implemented a number of cost cutting initiatives, Vonachen stood to take a huge loss. Led a management team to restructure processes, enabling the company to provide services at a lower cost than nine other bidders. Result: not only saved the account, but expanded it into three additional cities. O Brought the Human Resources Director, a JD, into the management team and increased her authority to handle legal challenges. O Pioneered an incentive program for 45 management personnel, with an emphasis on accountability for financial performance, customer satisfaction, quality, employee turnover, and safety. Incorporated a rewards program and increased individual autonomy and authority.O Upgraded training and opened lines of communication. Result: brought turnover to less than one third the national average.

Complete P&L responsibility for operations, sales, and marketing, including human resources and all hospitality functions. Acted as liaison to the Peoria Civic Center Authority, the Peoria City Council, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and other community organizations, and successfully facilitated consensus and collaboration among diverse and disparate organizations. O Generated an unprecedented $355,000 operating profit for fiscal year 2000, a record that has never been equaled. O Spearheaded an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Peoria on the distribution of $6 million in annual tax revenues to provide a long-range financial plan for funding tourism, events, and convention center expansion. O Developed, negotiated, and implemented a booking agreement with the Peoria Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.O Directly negotiated high dollar entertainment packages, eliminating intermediary costs and substantially increasing return to the Peoria Civic Center.

Complete P&L responsibility for operations, sales, and marketing, including human resources and all hospitality functions. Acted as liaison to the Peoria Civic Center Authority, the Peoria City Council, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and other community organizations, and successfully facilitated consensus and collaboration among diverse and disparate organizations. O Generated an unprecedented $355,000 operating profit for fiscal year 2000, a record that has never been equaled. O Spearheaded an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Peoria on the distribution of $6 million in annual tax revenues to provide a long-range financial plan for funding tourism, events, and convention center expansion. O Developed, negotiated, and implemented a booking agreement with the Peoria Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.O Directly negotiated high dollar entertainment packages, eliminating intermediary costs and substantially increasing return to the Peoria Civic Center.