Ashley Collum
Mr.
Dallas, TX
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Profile:
Summary
CMP Certified Senior Events & Conference Manager with over 15 years of experience in staff management, event planning, budgeting, travel sourcing, client relations and 3rd party partner management. Currently seeking a role in the Dallas, TX area where my skills and expertise will aid in the management and growth of the organization.
Experience
2018
Apr
-
2020
Jun
Senior Events Manager
Aimbridge Hospitality / Dallas, TX
- Manage groups of 50+ to include pre-planning, detailing, execution onsite, and post-event close-out
- Primary point of contact for clients and intermediary between clients and department heads
- Meet and exceed client expectations
- Review budget and agenda with decision-makes
- Produce event cost & generate event details
- Plan staffing needs and training
- Submit payroll and expenses for events
- Negotiate and contract with 3rd party vendors
- Assist with travel arrangements for attendees, VIP’s, and primary clients
- Work with department heads to achieve and exceed planned departmental revenues of $10,000,000 +
- Review billing to ensure that all details are correct and clear for client to review
2014
Apr
-
2018
Apr
Conference Services Manager
Fairmont Hotels / Dallas, TX
- Managed average annually of 39 groups to include pre-planning, detailing, execution, and post-event
- Primary point of contact for clients and intermediary between clients and department heads
- Meet and exceed client expectations
- Negotiated and contract with 3rd party vendors
- Worked with department heads to achieve and exceed planned departmental revenues for each fiscal year
- Exceeded 2016 departmental forecast of $11,000,000 by 11% with 43 events during the fiscal year
- Reviewed billing to ensure that all details are correct and clear for client to review
- Liaison between the client and various departments
- Maintained data systems in OPERA to keep meeting space details and catering menus up to date.
2013
Jan
-
2014
Apr
Group Sales Manager
Aimbridge Hospitality / Addison, TX
- Developed 8 new accounts and maintained 31 existing accounts
- Implemented long- and short-term goals and achieved personal revenue goal of $2,500,000
- Initiated sales activities which included calls, site inspections, prospecting and proposing sales contracts
- Contract negotiations
- Reviewed business opportunities with team to maximize business and revenue growth
- Assisted the department head with maintaining budget and increasing revenue year over year
- Back-end administrator for property management systems
2011
Oct
-
2013
Jan
Meetings Director/Director of Operations
Houston Hospitality Services / Houston, TX
- Department head responsible for detailing, planning, evaluating space, organizing events, and directing the activities of the Convention Services Department
- Assigned projects to staff (2 sales and 3 operations) and reviewed progress as needed
- Planned staffing hours and submitted payroll for department on a weekly basis
- Worked with department heads to plan and calculate budgets for 2012 & 2013 fiscal years
- Achieved and exceeded departmental revenue goal of $12,000,000 for 2012 fiscal year
- Accountable for all administrative duties, working with the conference/meeting planners in coordinating the final details for all events, conduct Pre-Conferences, daily meeting debriefs, and Post Conferences to ensure our meeting planner's needs are met to the fullest
- Produced event cost, generated event orders, audited meeting space to ensure optimal usage.
- Conduct interviews, training and oversee personnel files for new hires in all departments
2010
Dec
-
2011
Aug
Catering and Conference Services
Doubletree by Hilton DFW Airport North / Irving, TX
- Managed daily operations of catering department with 3 staff members to maximize revenue
- Created annual Budgets and profit/loss statements for the department
- Conducted all weekly/monthly department meetings
- Created weekly staffing plans and submitted payroll for department to accounting
- Reviewed forecast vs. budget details weekly for accuracy and made adjustment recommendations
- Trained and mentored catering managers to increase sales productivity.
- Develop new menus and catering guidelines
- Oversaw daily communications with other departments
- Review billing and invoicing for events prior to submission to clients
- Create event grid for sales team to ensure maximum revenue potential for event space
2007
Apr
-
2010
Dec
Meetings Director
Tog Hotels / Dallas, TX
- Managed daily operations of department including maintaining existing accounts.
- Proactively solicited for new business in all market segments
- Communicated with clients, vendors, department heads, and staff to coordinate all event details
- Created and implemented budgeting plans to manage cost and enhance profit through strategic purchasing and cost analysis of expenses
- Planned, detailed, evaluated contracts to ensure that client expectations were met and exceeded
- Worked with accounting on payroll review each quarter in 2009 & 2010
- Reviewed final billing to ensure that all details are correct and clear for client to review
- Mentored catering staff to guide them in achieving and exceeding production goals each quarter
Education
1986
-
1989
Samford University
Speech, Communication & Theatre / Theatre, English, Business Management
Skills
