Laurie Ipsen Email & Phone Number

United States

Chicago, Illinois, United States

• Managed private parties and events: ensured all elements were in accordance with event contract, including room setup, menus, dining schedule, and payment
• Memorized restaurant’s menu items, including all of their ingredients, and maintained up-to-date product knowledge to answer questions and help customers make selections
• Received in-depth training and certification for alcohol sales and proper food handling techniques and equipment cleaning processes, in accordance with state law
• Provided customers with an exceptional dining experience in a fast-paced, high volume environment through the implementation of effective time management strategies

• Worked with clients to determine budgets, set timelines, and create detailed shot lists, providing contracts with assignment details and billing information
• Took professional quality photographs of special events (candid and posed), menu items (food and drink), and restaurant and event locations (interior and exterior)
• Created, edited, formatted, and catalogued unique images for clients’ use in menus, social media accounts, websites, and printed materials
• Managed photo shoots: Prepared equipment, setup lighting, staged backgrounds, and presented subjects in the most attractive way possible

Chicago, Illinois, United States

• Administered payroll for three restaurants: verified time sheets, entered data related to employees and pay periods, processed payroll using ADP, maintained employee records
• Helped customers with updates to private dining contracts, handled any payment changes and discrepancies, and responded to employee inquiries regarding payroll and benefits
• Recorded and maintained data in Excel spreadsheets including inventory, operational expenses, accounts payable, and employee transactions for P&L statements
• Handled an array of daily financial transactions including bank deposits, vendor payments, online gift card orders, and fundraising requests

Elgin, Illinois, United States

• Performed all managerial and administrative duties: scheduling, inventory management, POS updates, conflict resolution, employee and vendor relations
• Payroll administration for 70-90 employees: verified timesheets, updated and maintained employee records, complied with employment laws and regulations
• Administered Financials: managed all accounts payable, performed account reconciliation, calculated bank deposits, and resolved any AP/AR discrepancies
• Supervised staff: managed dinner shifts in a fast-paced, high stress environment, developed staff to ensure customer satisfaction, quickly resolved customer issues
• Helped oversee a complete renovation and restaffing: conducted hiring and training for all new employees and created and implemented new procedures for FOH and BOH staff

South Elgin, Illinois

• Held daily pre-shift meetings to relay important information to the staff and to review our individual roles in the larger team context, ensuring the proper steps of service for guests
• Managed private parties and special events: met with organizers, prepared the room for their specific needs, and supported them as well as the restaurant staff during the event
• Supported staff during peak business hours with taking orders, checking in with guests throughout their meals, and assisting the cooks and bartenders as needed
• Performed administrative tasks including employee scheduling, payroll, ordering inventory, and processing vendor payments and investigating discrepancies