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Deseray Johnson

@deserayjohnson

Hospitality and event manager at a Colorado Springs hotel who coordinated 148 events and secured over $750,000 in annual revenue.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I'm seeking to leverage my hospitality expertise to contribute to Mercor's innovative projects.

At a Colorado Springs hotel venue, I orchestrated 148 events from sales through cleanup and maintained a 98% client satisfaction rating. I secured over $750,000 in annual banquet and event revenue over 28 months.

At CHOICE HOTELS in Eagle Nest, I stabilized and repositioned an underperforming property, putting hotel policies and department SOPs in place. I improved brand and QA compliance by 20–30% and transitioned the property to a stabilized, audit-compliant, financially healthy operation.

At FALCONS BAR & GRILL, I restored the venue’s Air Force Academy identity through a bar and menu redesign. Beverage sales increased by 25%, profitability improved by 22%, and guest satisfaction ratings exceeded 95%.

At ENCHANTED DINING, I transformed underused hotel space into a rooftop dining destination with a scratch kitchen. The project created a new food and beverage revenue stream and expanded the property’s event-hosting opportunities.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Events Management

Current

Hotel Venue

Jan 2026 - Present (8 months)

Orchestrated and executed 148 events from sales to cleanup, ensuring guest satisfaction at every stage. Managed annual event revenues through effective planning, client relationship management, and strategic upselling.

Event Planning Customer Relationship Management Upsell Strategy Banquet Event Orders Cross functional Team Coordination Budget Management Contract Processing Invoicing Quality Assurance Compliance safety standards Sanitation Standards Liquor Standards Brand Standards Guest Satisfaction Labor Efficiency Staff Scheduling

Restaurant Manager

Falcons Bar & Grill

Jan 2026 - Sep 2026 (8 months)

Directed all facets of restaurant and bar operations, including guest service, staffing, food and beverage programs, financial management, and vendor negotiations. Increased food and beverage revenue by 15% within the first month and 45% by end of tenure.

General Manager

Independently Owned

Jan 2026 - Sep 2026 (8 months)

Directed all hotel operations, overseeing employee onboarding, training, payroll administration, workforce scheduling, and performance management. Developed and implemented a comprehensive cross-training and talent development program.

Restaurant Manager

Enchanted Dining

Jun 2023 - Dec 2025 (2 years 6 months)

Identified and transformed underutilized hotel space into a premier rooftop dining destination featuring a custom-built deck, full-service restaurant, and scratch kitchen concept. Spearheaded the project from planning and development through launch and operations.

Project Management Strategic Design Operational Efficiency Menu Innovation Profitability Budget Management Vendor Relationships Start Up Operations Revenue Generation Guest Satisfaction Asset Value Enhancement Market Positioning Competitive Advantage

General Manager

Choice Hotels

Jan 2023 - Dec 2025 (2 years 11 months)

Served as the sole on-site operator under a performance-improvement contract to stabilize and reposition an underperforming Choice asset. Established foundational operating framework, authored policies, and improved brand and QA compliance by 20-30%.

Package Handler

United Parcel Service of America

Sep 2021 - Dec 2024 (3 years 3 months)

Completed the UPS University professional driver training program and managed residential and commercial delivery routes, consistently achieving a strong record of on-time performance. Maintained DOT compliance and active medical certification.

Package handling Safe Driving Customer Service Route Optimization Operational Procedures DOT Compliance Medical Certification safety standards Vehicle inspections Package Auditing Problem Solving Time Management Vendor coordination

General Manager

Raton Pass Inn Motel

Feb 2020 - Jan 2023 (2 years 11 months)

Supported hotel leadership across operations, staff performance, and guest experience initiatives. Boosted profitability by 15-35% year-over-year through diagnostics, cost controls, vendor renegotiations, and SOP standardization.

Operations Management Staff Performance Guest Experience Profitability Improvement Cost Control vendor negotiation SOP standardization RevPAR Optimization GOP Improvement Pricing Strategy Segment Mix Channel Strategy Labor Cost Reduction Strategies Productivity Metrics KPI Dashboards Variance Analysis Local Partnerships Destination Packaging Targeted Campaigns

Assistant General Manager

Spring Hill Suites

Mar 2017 - Jan 2020 (2 years 10 months)

Increased overall guest satisfaction scores by 8-15% within the first year by implementing targeted service-recovery protocols, daily stand-ups, and guest-touchpoint training. Improved front-office efficiency by 20-30% through optimized scheduling and staff cross-training.

Corporate Field Operations Manager

Rockies Hospitality Group

Apr 2011 - Dec 2016 (5 years 8 months)

Led on-property performance reviews, brand conversions, and pre-opening/opening execution for corporate accounts across multi-state portfolios. Owned critical path timelines from PIP scope through QA/brand compliance.

Franchise Support Specialist

Rockies Hospitality Group

Aug 2009 - Dec 2011 (2 years 4 months)

Served as the primary point of contact for franchisees navigating approvals, brand standards, and day-one readiness. Drove issue resolution across departments and kept owners informed with clear timelines and action items.

Franchise Support Brand Standards QA PIP SLA Management Case Management Owner Relations Cross functional Coordination Opening Closing Checklists Compliance PMS CRS Setup Training LMS Webinars Process documentation Excel SharePoint Power BI Risk Escalation Audit Readiness

Revenue Analyst Internship

Rockies Hospitality Group

Aug 2006 - May 2007 (9 months)

Completed a 25-hour-per-week unpaid internship for academic credit toward a bachelor's degree. Supported the revenue management team, analyzing occupancy trends, market demand, and competitive sets.