Vice President Of Program Operations/Product Communications
Maritz Travel Company
St. Louis, Missouri
• Led an organization comprised of 6 departments, 17 direct reports and over 350 energetic and talented travel professionals, with an annual operating budget of $16 Million. Responsible for recruiting, training, developing, and scheduling the industry’s largest full-time and part-time travel staff • Participated in the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of strategic business and performance goals, short and long term objectives, plans, budgets, programs and policies.• Directed world-wide on-site logistical execution of group travel programs for Fortune 1,000 companies, involving over 400,000 participants and 1,200 programs annually to over 50 countries on seven continents.• Exceptional financial planning skills. Accurately forecasted and managed budgets to within .005%. • Instituted mentor program, job shadowing and career placement initiatives resulting in reduced turnover and sustained outstanding customer service levels.• Resolved challenges and provided solutions to situations unique to individual destinations. Quickly adapted to new and foreign destinations and cultures, while assessing a wide variety of environments comprised of local currencies, weather, language, customs, politics, laws and people.• Provided 24 hour Emergency Center crisis management for catastrophic events, weather, strikes, airline delays and acts of terrorism for a global network of satellite offices and on-site travel operations.• Appointed to spearhead the integration/merger of the company’s acquisition of an East Coast meetings company with $300 million in annual group travel sales.• Traveled extensively evaluating staff, supervising on-site delivery of services from hotels, destination management companies and hundreds of different suppliers, to ensure customer satisfaction.