"Your job is to discover the world and then with all your heart give yourself to it"

Business Development Manager, Marketing Director, Hospitality Consultant

Global CV

Geoffrey Dobbin 

Dubai, UAE

+9710553069140 geoffrey.clumptogether@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/geoffreywdobbin/

Professional Summary

Vision-driven candidate with exemplary record of business management and hospitality success 

Proven talent for aligning industry strategy and objectives with established leadership paradigms to achieve maximum operational impacts with minimum resource expenditures. Growth-focused and personable team leader with a background in establishments highlighting American culture and cuisine. Champions innovative solutions to integrate best practices, drive continuous improvement, and provide key insights to inform strategic plans. Exceptionally dedicated professional with keen interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills for the diverse modern workplace.

Core Competencies

• Restaurant Functions

• Operations Management

• Sales & Marketing Strategies

• Business Development

• Customer Experience 

• Training & Development

• Social Media Management

• Content Creation & Photography

• Graphic Design

• SEO Optimization

• Telecommunications

• Contract Negotiations

Professional Experience

The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill, Dubai, UAE, February 2020 – Present 

HEAD WAITER

• Function as dining room supervisor highlighting outstanding customer service.

• Engage in wait duties, and manage fellow waiters.

• Establish weekly schedules, managing callouts, coordinating shift covers, and disciplining waitstaff as necessary.

• Host training opportunities for new waitstaff regarding basic techniques, as well as specific expectations and procedures of their employer.

Five Central Dining + Entertainment + Events, Houston, TX, August 2019 – October 2020

CATERING & EVENTS CONSULTANT/SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

• Responsible for the building of five active live websites and social media pages; this entailed client-facing priorities across Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest; also took part in photography and SEO optimization.

• Devised a physical sales interface and consolidated packages for turn-key experiences; this was achieved via expertise in graphic design (Canvas, Lightroom, Photoshop) for pre-opening venues and large events and parties.

• Administered all client inquiries, bookings, site visits, and customer experience initiatives.

• Provided a preferred list of vendors and catering food and drink options, and worked with venues on layout, catering and rental needs, contracts, and final invoice processing.

• Tasked with preparation of action planning and scheduling in order to identify and establish appropriate points of contact for strategic prospects.

• Drove networking objectives to increase corporate visibility, both locally and nationally.

• Collaborated closely with team members to gain knowledge on ways to support clients, office operational procedures, and business identity.

• Conceived and deployed new marketing campaigns and strategies.

• Ascertained all client communication methods were up to date and effective.

• Managed client and prospect database and related information.

• Researched and qualified lead opportunities.

• Demonstrated a knowledge of existing client operations, and identified prospects with similar business models.

• Evaluated and addressed ‘profit stealers’, and presented strategies for enhanced business practices.

• Prepared presentations and sales contracts, in addition to assisting with proposals.

• Crafted all web and social media content, including photography.

BellaVetro Mosaic Art Gallery, Houston, TX, January 2018 – May 2019

OPERATIONS MANAGER/EVENT PLANNER/MARKETING DIRECTOR

• Oversaw the development and implementation of brand strategies; this entailed marketing endeavors for new and existing products, as well as catering and event packages that included campaigns, events, digital marketing, and public relations.

• Synchronized all client inquiries, bookings, site visits and customer experience objectives. 

• Charged with providing a preferred list of vendors and catering food and drink options.

• Took part in venue layout, catering and rental needs, contracts, and processing of final invoices.

HQs 459, Dubai, UAE, September 2018 – December 2018

FOH CONSULTANT & MANAGER

• Acted as FOH lead, assuming accountability for new hire journey and training, as well as creating leadership competency assessments.

• Drafted opening and closing checklists.

• Educated all FOH staff fine dining in service techniques.

• Introduced a religions and gender-sensitivity program for interacting with guests in a major international location.

• Accentuated superior food and beverage service, in addition to maximizing customer satisfaction.

• Fielded and resolved customer complaints in an efficient and accurate fashion.

Catch Dubai, Dubai, UAE, August 2015 – September 2018

INTERIM SOMMELIER & WAITER

• Exhibited in-depth knowledge of wine, and worked in hotels and restaurant wine cellars in South Africa. 

• Accountable for selecting wines and building and maintaining a wine list fitting the establishment; this also involved proper pricing and products, as well as presentations and an easy-to-use menu.

Education and Credentials

Associate Degree, 2009 - 2011

Lone Star College, Houston, TX

Awards and Honors

• WSET - Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Level 2 Sommelier

• Cicerone - Certified Beer Server Level 1

Member Networking Organizations

• ILEA - International Live Events Association

• NACE - National Association of Catering and Events 

• MPI - Meeting Professionals International

Additional Websites

• Bellavetroevents.com 

• Jaxtonsworldflavors.com 

• Fivecentralevents.com

• upwork.com/freelancers/~018d6cb4c8dd431141

Additional Information 

Technical Proficiencies: MS Office Suite, Canva, Photoshop, Lightroom. Google Drive

Interests: Sailing (competitive), skiing, golfing, fly-fishing, photography, literature, football, basketball (recreational)