As the summer heat slowly creeps into Baltimore, I am reminded of the good ole days of being a kid and the sheer joy of SUMMER VACATION!!!! I'm sure as a parent, those two words take on a completely new, stress-filled meaning - juggling jobs, kids, summer camp, family vacations, etc. And if you are an event professional without children, summer is just like every other season - busy!!! As adults it is much different than when we were kids and could just enjoy not doing anything for almost three whole months!

Well, at least NACE is here to take you away from the stress of it all - at least one night a month! Make sure your busy summer doesn't fly by without taking advantage of the numerous benefits of being a NACE member. Planning a family summer vacation and not quite sure where to go? Want to get away this July but don't have a clue what to do? Book your flight to Houston, TX and enjoy the hot sun, humidity, amazing celebrity speakers, educational programming, and delicious, cutting-edge food with the rest of us crazy NACE people!!! Meet, network, and party with NACE members (and non-member catering & event professionals) from all across the country for several fun-filled days in Texas! You know, I've heard they do things pretty big down there, so what better way to spend a week in July? You'd be crazy not to attend, and I hope to see many - if not all - of you there!

Sincerely,
Alicia Karoll
President, National Association of Catering Executives, Baltimore Chapter
Facility Rental Coordinator & Director of Administration, American Visionary Art Museum

Summer is here!

With the Memorial Day holiday upon us, the Inner Harbor is starting to look like the tourist attraction it is!  Restaurants and hotels are being filled with happy visitors to our fine city! 

The Baltmore NACE chapter is continuing to come to life as well!  Let's welcome this month's new members!

Ira Task- Jurys Washington

Iris Gold-Zeffert & Gold Catering 

Cynthia Griffith-C&C Catering

Susan Porzucek-Hilton

Casey Riley-Marriott Waterfront

If you have a friend or colleague that you think would enjoy the NACE programs and networking, please encourage them to join us for a meeting!  With the great food and programs we get to experience, they will appreciate you bringing them along!

They are welcome to sign up on line, or if they would like any assistance, please feel free to have them contact a NACE Board Member! 

Here's to an amazing summer season for all NACE Members!

May Community Service Report

Thank you to everyone who brought his or her own fish to dinner at the Blue Sea Grill! It was our biggest “catch” yet for the Maryland Food Bank. Over 70 cans of tuna will be delivered to the Maryland Food Bank along with other canned goods and peanut butter. Quite a few people said they left their cans on the kitchen counter. If you want to bring them to another meeting I will make sure they get to the Food Bank.

Thanks again!
Dulany Noble, Community Service Chair

Thanks to everyone who so generously gave me items for this month’s raffle. It was our best raffle to date, almost breaking $500! Remember you, too, can be listed in the newsletter. Please let me know if you have an item I might have for the raffle.

Dulany Noble, Raffle Queen

Nasturtium Garden Kit
Crimson and Clover

Martini Basket with $50 gift certificate
Capital Grill

Vera Bradley Portfolio with matching file folders
Pleasure of Your Company

Set of 6 Gold Bengaline cocktail napkins
Gala Cloths by Dulany

Set of 6 Fern Bengaline cocktail napkins
Gala Cloths by Dulany

Cooking Classes at the Elm
Chef’s Expressions

Difford’s Guide to Cocktails #6
Ketel One

Free NACE monthly meeting
The NACE Board

Save the date for St. Vincent’s Cookout

Each year, NACE members from our local chapter have provided an afternoon of food and fun for the children who live at the St.Vincent’s Center.

St. Vincent’s is a residential, therapeutic group facility serving children, ages 3-13 having serious behavioral, psychiatric, and/or emotional problems. The children referred to St. Vincent’s have suffered trauma related to child abuse and/or neglect. This NACE cook out is one event that these children really look forward to with great enthusiasm each summer. This year’s cook out will be held on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at the St. Vincent’s Center from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Details will be sent out next week.

1) Affiliate Spotlight: Send me via email or fax a brief bio on you and info on the services or products that your company provides. It's a great place to let the entire membership know about about new things you are doing. Member's spotlights (one at a time) will appear in the newsletter in the order that they are received.

2) Donate your services or products to one of our monthly events. What a great way to showcase what you do! This is perfect timing since we are right now planning our events for the entire year. Many of you have heard from me on a regular basis with needs for each meeting, Don't hesitate to email or call me if you have a particular product or service you want to showcase. I'd love you help in keeping you in mind to match you to the best meeting to maximize your exposure.

3) Network at the monthly Chapter events. Being present and seen gives you the best bang for your buck.

I look forward to hearing from all of you!

Mixology

Who ever thought that Mixology would be our highest attended monthly NACE program to date? Surprise!! Surprise!! We expected a good turn out, but the Havana Club and Blue Sea Grill were certainly the spots to network with the catering industry on May 21st.

What NACE member makes the best cocktail? Thanks to Aaron Horton of Ketel One, any of our members and guests that attended Mixology should be well trained. Aaron explained the different types of mixers available and allowed guests to taste the difference. I think Aaron’s homemade lemon juice was the winner. He also demonstrated how to cut and present garnishes and the different ways to mix and pour the best Martinis and Cosmos.

As always, this event would not have been successful without our member sponsors. First of all, many thanks for Jamilia Iskander for her patience and support with the many changes in the program – and most of all for allowing us to take over not one but TWO of her venues! The food was delicious and the change of location between the program and dinner was a nice touch.

Ellene Pomerantz of Write Style, Inc. designed and printed the gorgeous invitations. Thank you to Dulany Noble and Guili Cox for their last minute request for the beautiful blue shades of linen. Wessels provided fabulous flowers for Blue Sea and received many compliments. Ken Rochon of Absolute Entertainment is always willing to provide entertainment. New Member Kelly Burns of Kelly Burns Photography captured the memories of the wild evening. I hope everyone had a chance to taste the delicious cake from Chris Sikora of Fisher’s Bakery. Lastly, what would Mixology be without the fun cocktails, coordinated by Sharon Charny of Charmer Sunbelt Group and donated by Ketel One.

Cheers!!!

Monday, June 18, 2007

Elkridge Furnace Inn

Romancenomics: How to Woo & Keep Customers for Life!™?

Presented by David Rich

More Details at - http://www.baltimorenace.net/meetinginfo.php?date=2007-06-18

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

St. Vincent’s Barbecue

See Community Service link for more details

July 15-18, 2007

NACE Educational Conference

Houston, Texas

More into at: http://www.nace.net/

Alice in Wonderland!

A theme you can get into from Cuisine, Table and Floral Design, Libations, and Fashion!

The next UNCORKED! meeting will be on Monday, June 25, 2007 @ 3:00pm an hour before the Baltimore NACE Board Meeting! please R.S.V.P. jlcaslow@hotmail.com if you can make it and for a copy of the first Committee meeting notes or just to lend constructive comment.

Job Opening – FACILITY RENTAL COORDINATOR

The American Visionary Art Museum is in search of a full-time Facility Rental Coordinator.

Primary responsibilities include –

• Market facility for rentals through advertising, networking and special events
• Provide all rental information to potential clients, schedule site visits, keep master calendar and handle all contracting of rental events
• Maintain updated database of clients and vendors; maintain working relationship with area catering and event professionals
• Schedule AVAM event and security staff for all rental events
• Responsible to coordinate Museum events; handles all BEOs & RFPs, catering, menu selection, staffing, coordinates all rentals, including linen, china/glassware/flatware, etc.

Job Requirements include -

• College degree in Marketing, Communications, Business or related field.
• 3+ years experience in Marketing and Event Planning; knowledge of Hospitality/Food & Beverage Industry
  Computer skills – Microsoft Office/Word/Excel, FileMaker Pro, iCal, etc.
  Knowledge of spreadsheets and budgeting
• Detail-oriented, organized, ability to multi-task
• Customer service skills

Salary – based on experience
Benefits – health/dental insurance, vacation/sick leave, 403B retirement

Please send cover letter and resume to:            

Donna Katrinic
American Visionary Art Museum
800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD  21230
443-874-7252 fax
donna@avam.org

We are seeking a highly motivated wedding and event sales professional to help grow our very reputable retail floral boutique and get ready for our big move from Canton to Roland Park. This individual must be knowledgeable in all aspects of floral design and customer consultation as well as possess a proven sales-closing track record. The successful candidate will be self-motivated, energetic, and driven to make sales while routinely exceeding our customers’ expectations. Duties will also include design and daily orders. Knowledge of Excel and Mac Mail a plus!

Please have applicant send resume - amy@crimsonandcloverdesigns.com

Chair Covers & Linens Territory Sales Manager
Responsibilities:
The Baltimore Territory Sales Manager engages in sales strategies to meet and exceed assigned goals.  This person aggressively identifies, pursues, and maintains new accounts, while maintaining the existing client base.  This individual represents the organization in industry related events and within the event industry.

Requirements:
• Associates or Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Must have proven sales and performance experience.
• Must possess superior customer service skills.
• Experience within the event industry preferred.
• Must be a proven self-motivator, with self-guided disciplines.
• Must have the ability to work with little to no supervision, along with the ability to work within a team environment.
• Must possess above-average computer skills.

All qualified applicants should e-mail a resume, along with salary requirements, to Kristen@linenhero.com.

A World of Opportunities
In today's increasingly cluttered and complex hotel industry, the winners - those companies who can deliver for their guests, customers, employees, shareholders and owners - will be those with the best brands…the best locations…size and scale…the best people…attractive marketing programs…and financial strength. Few fit the bill. Hilton Hotels Corporation stands above the rest.

Not only are the brands in the Hilton family well-known and well-respected, they represent market leadership in their respective segments of the industry…whether in upscale, mid-priced, extended-stay or vacation ownership.

The Hilton Family has more than 2,800 hotels and 480,000 rooms in 76 countries, including 100,000 team members worldwide. Come explore a world of opportunities to join our team and help us achieve our mission to be hospitable and, in the words of our founder Conrad N. Hilton, “to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality”.

Part of the Hilton Family Travel Should Take You Places™
Hilton is the proud flagship brand of Hilton Hotels Corporation and the most recognized name in the global lodging industry. Conrad Hilton purchased his first hotel in Cisco, Texas back in 1919. Since that time we have grown to over 500 hotels in cities all over the world. “Be My Guest” is still the gracious and warm way we want for our guests to feel at Hilton hotels and resorts whether it’s at the Cavalieri Hilton in Rome, the Hilton Waikoloa Village or our brand new Hilton Omaha. With new products and services, business and leisure travelers alike now have even more reason to say, "Travel should take you places."

Job Summary
To solicit and respond to companies and organizations to purchase food & beverage, rent meeting space and ancillary services from the hotel. Represents the hotel with customers by telephone or in-person to solicit and close group and local catering business. Manages customer relationship by responding to inquiries, meeting with and entertaining clients, conducting property tours, promoting facilities and services, drafting contracts. Provides direction and supervision of meeting and/or catering logistics to catering staff. EOE/AA

Contact Julie Woods at  julie.woods@hilton.com

SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER

2-4 years of relevant industry experience is a minimum requirement of this position.

OBJECTIVE: Execute contracted programs with seamless execution, problem solving and overall management. Produce professional services and optimal client satisfaction to drive future business opportunities.

SCOPE: Programs range in size from 15 - 3,000 attendees and services provided include, but are not limited to: Arrivals and departures, Tour programs, Dine-arounds, Hotel decor, Off-site event (venue, catering, lighting, floral decor, entertainment) and Shuttle systems.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The position of Senior Operations Manager is expected to perform all the duties of an Operations Manager including, but not limited to:
Ø Coordinate with client and supervise all events, tour programs, transportation systems, airport arrivals and departures, and/or other contractual programs as assigned to you
Ø Develop and execute account schedules, contracts, deposit invoices and final billing
Ø Utilize existing GEP Baltimore systems in producing contractual scopes of work, including timelines, staff notes, etc.
Ø Coordinate, negotiate and confirm arrangements and contracts with suppliers for program accounts. Conduct or participate in client site inspections as needed
Ø Operate account P&L statements according to company standards
Ø Responsible for collecting deposit funds and final billings from assigned accounts
Ø Ongoing development of client relationships for the purpose of acquiring future business
Ø Work evenings and weekends as required by individual accounts in addition to being available to clients on 24 hours basis
Ø Regularly update and maintain reference or resource tools as assigned to operations team members
Ø Travel one day a week to our headquarter office in Washington, DC

As a Senior Operations Manager you will also be expected to uphold the following duties and responsibilities:
Ø Operate more than $1.2 million in program revenue per year
Ø Require minimal supervision over day-to-day activities, work product and program operations
Ø Ability to attend site inspections, pre-cons and client meetings alone
Ø Expectation of acting as point for larger programs when run in conjunction with other Operations Managers
Ø Consistent utilization of GEP Baltimore business practices for all accounting, systems and program work
Ø Willingness to take on additional projects and programs throughout the year

If you are interested please contact our President, Marty MacKay, at the number or email provided.
Marty MacKay, President
GEP Washington | GEP Baltimore
1111 19th Street NW | Suite 680 | Washington DC 20036
Main Line: 202.777.7800 | Fax: 202.777.1222 | Direct Line: 202.419.3410
E-mail: mmackay@gepwashington.com
www.gepwashington.com | www.gepbaltimore.com

Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel - Catering Manager

Job Number:  60071460

To Apply Contact:  http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/careers/search/country.html?country=US

Description
The Corporate Catering Manager is a key sales position, responsible for maintaining existing catering accounts as well as actively soliciting new business.  In this role you will foster relationships with meeting planners, corporate contacts, as well as contact within the local social markets in order to meet or exceed revenue goals.  This individual also oversees client functions to ensure customer satisfaction.  The ideal candidate will be passionate about event planning and committed to educating themselves on current food & beverage trends.  Starwood Hotels & Resorts is dedicated to maintaining the highest reputation within our industry and the Catering Sales Manager must be able to sell and keep that promise for the property.  Candidates may be called upon to work extended workweeks, including weekends, to accommodate a client's needs as well as any functions they are overseeing.  Starwood prides itself as a "promote-from-within" organization and opportunities for advancement may present themselves for a successful Catering Sales Manager.  This position reports to the Director of Catering & Convention Services and is held accountable for quarterly sales goals.

Qualifications
High school or equivalent education required
Bachelor's Degree preferred.
Minimum of two years of Hotel Catering Sales experience. 

Primary Location:USA-MD-Baltimore-Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel

Schedule:  Full-time

Shift:  Variable