Representing Santa Kevin - the BEST real-bearded Santa in the Biz!!- Handle all business dealings, serving as the primary liaison between clients and Santa during the holiday season.- Negotiate and secure seasonal contracts for Christmas-themed Santa experiences, ensuring mutually beneficial agreements with venues, events, and brands.- Develop and execute marketing and promotional strategies for Santa Kevin, including partnerships with locations to create engaging Instagram Reels, personalized video messages, and organizing professional photo shoots to promote Santa appearances.- Coordinate media and PR efforts to increase visibility of Santa Kevin’s brand, resulting in an increase in bookings and social media engagement.- Managed client relations by ensuring excellent customer service, seamless event execution, and post-event follow-ups to enhance the Santa experience and foster long-term partnerships.- Collaborate with photographers, videographers, and content creators to develop high-quality content for digital platforms, boosting brand recognition and engagement.

- Pre-Opening & Brand Creation: Contributed to the pre-opening phase and brand development of Sunseeker Resorts, playing a key role in shaping the organizational culture and workforce strategies.- Talent Acquisition Strategy: Developed and executed a comprehensive hiring strategy to fill 1100+ career opportunities across Southwest Florida, ensuring high-quality candidates and timely placements.ATS Platform Development: Spearheaded the creation and implementation of a robust Applicant Tracking System (ATS) platform, integrating UKG Pro, UKG Onboarding, and UKG Recruiting for streamlined hiring and onboarding processes.- Onboarding & Compliance: Managed the onboarding process, including background checks and I-9 verifications, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and smooth integration of new hires. Lead new hire orientation, creating a welcoming, engaging experience that fosters a positive company culture from day one.- Training & Development: Developed and launched the LearnUpon LMS for associate training, overseeing resort-wide initiatives to enhance employee skills and performance. Created and delivered content for essential topics such as Human Trafficking, Sexual Harassment, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and manager development programs.- Employee Communication: Created and authored the company-wide employee newsletter and monthly communications, promoting transparency, fostering engagement, and keeping staff informed about resort news and events.- Employee Relations & HR Support: Assisted in various HR functions such as employee relations, disciplinary documentation, and employment verifications, ensuring a positive and compliant workplace culture.

Licensed in Basic 1, Basic 2, Aqua, Toning, Kids, Sentao

Professional Member of the Resort & Commercial Recreation Association.

Leadership Roles: Served as Past President, President, President-Elect, and Secretary on the Board of Directors, contributing to strategic planning and organizational growth.- Governance & Organizational Development: Played a key role in overseeing the success, growth, and long-term development of the association, ensuring the continued effectiveness of the association’s mission and programs.- Liaison to Treasurer: Collaborated with the Treasurer to support financial oversight and assist in managing the organization’s budget, expenditures, and resource allocation.- Member Communications: Assisted in the production of monthly membership newsletters, delivering important updates, news, and insights to a broad membership base across the recreation industry.- Social Media Management: Oversaw and actively engaged with four social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X), increasing member engagement and public awareness of association initiatives and events.- Committee Leadership & Involvement: Actively participated in and provided leadership for multiple committees including:---Social Committee: Developed and executed networking events and member engagement initiatives.---Ways & Means Committee: Contributed to fundraising efforts and revenue-generating strategies for association programs and events.---Conference Planning Committee: Assisted in planning and executing annual conferences, workshops, and seminars, focusing on professional development and networking opportunities for members.---Advocacy for Recreation Professionals: Advocated for the growth of professional development, networking, and resource-sharing opportunities for members, including professionals, students, educators, and vendors within the recreation industry.

- Led Outdoor Recreation Operations: Managed diverse activities, including Tree Top Adventures & Zipline, Biking, Beach, Aqua Park, Fishing, Water Sports, Tennis, and Rentals, ensuring top-notch guest experiences and operational standards.- Event Management & Execution: Directed Fantasy in Lights, recognized by National Geographic as a Top 10 light display, coordinating elaborate light displays, the Christmas Village, vendors, and entertainment programs to deliver an iconic holiday experience.- Signature Event Planning: Successfully organized large-scale events such as the Hot Air Balloon Festival, Summer Family Adventure, Pumpkins at Callaway, and Corporate Team Building, boosting brand visibility and drawing significant attendance.- Team Development: Recruited, trained, and led cross-functional teams, fostering a high-performance culture that ensured smooth day-to-day operations and seamless event execution.- Marketing Collaboration: Partnered with marketing to create engaging content, including Facebook Live, Instagram Reels, and digital campaigns, increasing social media engagement and promoting seasonal events.- Public Relations & Media Liaison: Served as the primary PR liaison for media appearances, generating positive press coverage and raising awareness of Callaway Gardens' signature events.- Social Media Oversight: Assisted in managing social media content across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, driving guest engagement and increasing resort visibility.- Guest Experience Focus: Implemented strategies to ensure all outdoor activities and events aligned with guest satisfaction goals, enhancing Callaway Gardens' reputation as a premier family destination.- Budget & Financial Management: Monitored and analyzed revenue and expenses to ensure adherence to budget goals, optimized revenue streams, and managed capital project expenditures and labor analysis for cost control.

- Oversaw Operations: Managed the day-to-day operations of 6 Food & Beverage outlets and Recreation programs, ensuring top-tier service, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.- Staff Training & Development: Led the training and development of 100+ associates, fostering a culture of excellence and consistency in service delivery.- International Internship Program: Designed and implemented successful training plans for 30+ J1 international interns, providing them with valuable industry skills and enhancing team performance.- Event Planning & Execution: Directed the planning and execution of large-scale holiday events and buffets for 300+ guests, ensuring seamless operations and guest satisfaction during peak times.- Operational Leadership: Streamlined operational processes, driving efficiencies and maintaining high service standards across diverse food and beverage outlets and recreational programs.- Collaborative Marketing: Worked closely with marketing teams to create engaging content for social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, increasing guest engagement and brand visibility.- Employee Engagement: Implemented employee engagement initiatives, ensuring high morale and productivity across multiple departments.- Retail & Gift Shop Operations: Enhanced and rebranded coffee shop retail operation, managing product selection, inventory, and sales strategies, providing guests with curated merchandise and enhancing resort revenue.

- Recreation Program Development: Created and launched a new Recreation program and retail operation, driving increased revenue, enhanced guest experience, and improved service scores.- Revenue Growth: Improved pool operations, including the outdoor bar/grill, resulting in a $45,000 revenue increase in the first season.- Mascot and Brand Development: Developed and introduced a custom mascot, Vista 3, and implemented supporting activities that enhanced guest engagement and retail sales.- Recognition: Named Manager of the 2nd Quarter 2018, highlighting leadership and operational success in driving both revenue and team performance.- Operational Efficiency: Focused on optimizing poolside services and recreation offerings, enhancing guest satisfaction and operational performance.- Retail & Gift Shop Operations: Developed and launched a poolside retail operation, managing product selection, inventory, and sales strategies, providing guests with curated merchandise and enhancing resort revenue.

- Revenue Growth: Successfully turned a $75,000 program loss into a $30,000 profit by enhancing retail, rental, and program offerings, directly impacting guest satisfaction and the bottom line.- Program Development: Created and implemented a corporate group recreation program, collaborating with the sales team to market and promote recreational offerings to corporate clients.- Budget Management: Monitored and analyzed daily, monthly, and yearly revenue, ensuring the department adhered to budget goals and optimized revenue streams.- Employee Training: Revamped the college internship program, introducing new training programs that improved staff performance and retention.- Recognition: Awarded Manager of the Year 2015 and Manager of the 4th Quarter 2015, recognizing outstanding leadership and operational results.

- Oversee Front Desk Operations: Managed daily operations of the front office, ensuring smooth guest check-in/check-out, reservations, and seamless service delivery, maintaining a high standard of guest satisfaction.- Team Leadership: Supervised, trained, and mentored a team of front desk associates, fostering a collaborative and customer-focused environment. Ensured team members adhered to hotel policies, provided exceptional service, and maintained efficient workflow.- Guest Relations: Acted as a key point of contact for guest inquiries and concerns, resolving issues in a timely manner and ensuring a positive guest experience throughout their stay.- Operational Efficiency: Streamlined front office procedures and implemented improvements, resulting in enhanced operational efficiency and reduced wait times during check-in and check-out processes.- Collaborated with Departments: Worked closely with housekeeping, maintenance, and management teams to coordinate guest needs and ensure rooms were ready for check-in, achieving high levels of guest satisfaction.- Billing & Revenue Management: Managed guest billing, processed payments, and ensured accurate guest accounts while assisting with revenue management by promoting upsells and add-on services.- Conflict Resolution: Addressed and resolved guest complaints, concerns, and special requests with professionalism and a focus on exceeding customer expectations, leading to increased guest loyalty.

- Lead Trainer for Hospitality Program: Served as the Master Trainer for the company-wide H3 (Hospitality Happens Here) training program, delivering comprehensive hospitality training to all line-level associates in the Southeast Region.- Program Delivery & Execution: Trained associates in hospitality standards, customer service best practices, and operational procedures, ensuring consistent delivery of exceptional guest experiences.Regional Training Leadership: Coordinated and led in-person and virtual training sessions, adapting content to meet regional needs while maintaining program integrity and company standards.- Performance Monitoring & Improvement: Assessed and tracked associate progress through evaluations and feedback, ensuring continuous improvement in service quality across the region.- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Worked closely with regional managers and department heads to ensure training aligned with organizational goals and enhanced team performance across various hotel departments.- Program Customization & Adaptation: Provided input on refining and updating training materials, ensuring the program remained relevant and in line with evolving guest expectations and industry trends.

- Created Award-Winning Activities Program: Designed and implemented a highly successful activities program, earning industry recognition for its innovation and guest engagement.- Event Planning & Execution: Introduced and organized daily events for owners and guests, ensuring a diverse range of activities that catered to various interests and age groups, enhancing overall guest satisfaction.- Holiday-Themed Events: Conceptualized and executed unique holiday events, including Haunted Hotel Rooms and Dinner with Santa, driving guest participation and creating memorable experiences for families and visitors.- Retail & Gift Shop Operations: Developed and launched a retail operation/gift shop, managing product selection, inventory, and sales strategies, providing guests with curated merchandise and enhancing resort revenue.- Guest Engagement & Experience: Fostered a fun, engaging atmosphere by creating interactive and immersive experiences, contributing to high levels of guest satisfaction and repeat visits.- Cross-Department Collaboration: Worked closely with other departments to ensure seamless execution of events and activities, coordinating with housekeeping, food and beverage, and marketing teams for a unified guest experience.

Supervised daily activity program and pool operations at a 700+ room resort.Helped to create and implement a fitness program for guests.