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Karina Palma

@karinapalma

Workplace and Culinary Project Coordinator at Tesla, coordinating operations across six sites and executing corporate events for up to 5,000 attendees.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I am a proactive and organized professional with expertise in project coordination, workplace operations, vendor management, and budgeting. I have a proven ability to streamline processes, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and manage multiple priorities in fast-paced environments. I am eager to contribute to a growth-oriented company from day one and build a long-term career.

At Tesla, I manage day-to-day workplace and culinary operations across six sites, coordinating employees, suppliers, budgets, purchasing, facilities requests, and service requirements.

I plan and execute corporate events, including major events serving 3,000–5,000 attendees. My work includes menu planning, vendor coordination, staffing plans, and equipment logistics.

I also manage scheduling for 14 employees across multiple buildings and serve as a primary contact for catering requests, pop-ups, and multi-site activations from initial inquiry through execution.

Previously, at Big Al's, I oversaw venue operations, managed staff and assistant managers, and coordinated private events. At Romano’s Macaroni Grill, I managed back-of-house operations, inventory, and financial controls.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Culinary Project Coordinator

Current

Tesla

Oct 2024 - Present (2 years)

Manage day-to-day workplace and culinary operations across 6 sites, coordinating employees, suppliers, budgets, purchasing, facilities requests, and service requirements. Plan and execute 180+ corporate events within a six-month period, including large-scale events with 500+ participants.

Operations Management Workforce Planning Workplace Experience Inventory Management Corporate Event Planning Client and Stakeholder Liaison Vendor Management Process Improvement Procurement and Purchasing Financial Control Budget Oversight Cross Functional Collaboration Team Leadership Program Coordination WARP Minerva SOW Microsoft Teams

Guest Service Manager (Acting AGM & Event Manager)

Big Al's

Mar 2023 - Sep 2024 (1 year 6 months)

Oversaw daily operations of a high-volume restaurant and entertainment venue, ensuring service quality, staffing coverage, and operational efficiency. Managed 30+ direct employees and 40+ indirect staff, including servers, hosts, bartenders, and support teams.

Operations Management Workforce Planning Inventory Management Client and Stakeholder Liaison Vendor Management Process Improvement Financial Control Budget Oversight Cross Functional Collaboration Team Leadership Program Coordination Hiring Onboarding Training Scheduling Performance Management Event Planning Customer Service

Guest Service Manager

Romano's Macaroni Grill

Jan 2021 - Feb 2023 (2 years 1 month)

Managed back-of-house (BOH) operations, including staff scheduling, kitchen coordination, and operational workflow to maintain service efficiency in a high-volume restaurant environment. Supervised kitchen staff and support teams, ensuring proper staffing coverage, training, and adherence to operational standards.