Catherine Stahl
Adelong,VIC
Summary
Experienced manager focused on team development and strategic implementation in business practices. Strong customer orientation ensures needs are met and expectations exceeded. Known for diligence, continuous improvement, and quick adaptation to corporate policies. Proficient in communication, negotiation, and organizational skills, with a proven ability to work effectively under pressure and in diverse environments.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Corporate Services Coordinator – Enterprise Change & Workplace Experience
Transport Accident Commission (via. Hays Employment Agency)
12.2023 - Current
- A contracted casual role with Hays (primarily for 6-months, due to expire in December 2025) to facilitate and support business operations & workplace change ensuring smooth, efficient and well managed facilities to support a positive employee experience.
- Key responsibilities:
- Supporting workplace change
- Resource management
- Communication and engagement
- Administrative support
- Policy and procedure implementation
- Building maintenance
- Contract management
Manager, Commercial, Hospitality & Front of House
Geelong Arts Centre (GAC)
05.2021 - 12.2023
- An internal promotion with Geelong Arts Centre responsible for working with the leadership team in maximising commercial revenue and opportunities, while ensuring that the venue delivers outstanding service for all performances and events, inclusive of catering and hospitality. with responsibility of in all areas of hospitality.
- Key responsibilities:
- Maximising commercial revenue and opportunities while focussing on client and customer outcomes during all events.
- Influencing and building relationships across teams to create a cohesive customer experience.
- Management and allocation of resources to ensure service standards and expectations are met for all hirers, patrons and stakeholders including rostering and on call support.
- Monitoring and evaluation of all processes and procedures in line with feedback and audience and stakeholder expectations. Including the review, modification and roll out of any changes as required.
- Influence and development of a specialised Food & Beverage Department.
- Major achievements:
- Increasing capacity across all teams, including the recruitment, on-boarding, and training requirements of new staff.
- Developed high performing teams across the food and beverage and front of house departments within six months.
- Formed strategic partnerships with two catering suppliers to ensure the delivery of high-quality food for all events.
- Leading by example the importance of the Ensemble to the strategic direction of the Geelong Arts Centre.
- Being a change champion, assisting others within the team to adopt a healthy approach to the organisations change agenda and create a sense of fun and enjoyment within the workplace.
Lead, Events & Hospitality
Geelong Arts Centre (GAC)
05.2022 - 12.2022
- Key responsibilities:
- Maximising commercial revenue and opportunities while focussing on client and customer outcomes during all events.
- Influencing and building relationships across teams to create a cohesive customer experience.
Community Manager
Ingenia Lifestyle Lakeside Lara
12.2020 - 05.2022
- Key responsibilities:
- Primary point of contact for 329 residents across 232 homes for all matters including WHS and emergency response
- Full management responsibilities for all aspects of facilities, assets, people and operations
- Stakeholder and relationship management to create a cohesive and engaged community, while being a brand ambassador for any Ingenia Lifestyle
- Development of program and events that met the residents’ and wider community’s needs.
- Major achievements:
- Growth of resident satisfaction and engagement
- Achieving all KPI’s while navigating the complexities and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and relevant government directed lockdowns and restrictions.
- Building strong relationships with the residents, demonstrating my soft skills of cooperation, authenticity, empathy, and respect.
Manager, Sales, Conference and Events
Peppers the Sands Resort Torquay
02.2020 - 12.2020
- Key responsibilities:
- A key member of the senior management team for the resort, providing leadership to the events, food and beverage, front office, and marketing teams.
- Development of marketing strategies and service offerings to increase sales for hotel accommodation, events, and conferencing.
- Increase use and promotion of golf to new and existing clients through partnership with the golf department.
- Represent the organisation at key networking events to further promote the resort as a destination of choice.
- Major achievements:
- Creating innovative solutions to be able to continue operations during the COVID-19 pandemic within government directed restrictions and finding new ways to generate business and engagement.
Venue Hire Activator
Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC)
01.2015 - 01.2020
- Key responsibilities:
- Part of the senior leadership team, this role expanded from the activation of the flagship “The Dome” building, to include full responsibility for event operations at the Geelong Library Heritage Centre and GRLC community venues.
- Included the role of Acting Building Services Manager for a period of 12 months, overseeing the defects period as part of handover from KANE construction, as well as responsibility of the building management system, security, cleaning contracts and maintenance requirements through the City of Greater Geelong
- Development, implementation, and integration the new venue hire department into the Geelong Regional Library workforce.
- Recruitment and training of service delivery staff.
- Complete front of house and back of house operational responsibility for all internal and venue hire events.
- Business development to drive income for both the library and the contracted caterer.
- Contract management of the catering contract with The RK Group.
- Major achievements:
- Spearheaded this Venue Hire business unit with the successful implementation of organisational goals and objectives, which included event operations process and procedures (including venue booking system), venue hire framework, and a customer service model for venue hire and library staff.
- Developed a high functioning operations team capable of working autonomously and valued for their exceptional customer service.
- Exceeded venue occupancy and yield targets each financial year, with a consistent 76% conversion rate.
- Successfully integrated the catering contract into the venue hire business model.
Manager
Vines Road Community Centre (VRCC)
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Key responsibilities:
- Full responsibility to ensure asset management, people and building compliance and centre operating budget.
- Provide secretariat support to the VRCC Committee of Management
- Represent VRCC at all local government and state government forums.
- Responsibility for growing VRCC membership base and increasing financial sustainability.
- Development of a full program of community offerings, with a focus on maintain existing users while expanding interest to new users.
- Increase VRCC engagement with other members of the precinct.
- Major achievements:
- Developed and implemented policies and procedures for VRCC congruent with Department of Health and Human Services, and City of Greater Geelong overarching governance.
- Developed strategic partnerships with a variety of not-for-profit organisations, including, Glastonbury Family Services, Barwon Health Community Kitchen, MS Society, Vines Road Senior Citizens, and instigation of co-location with Diversitat to delivery on community outcomes.
- Developed successful program partnerships with a variety of not-for-profit organisations, including, Glastonbury Family Services, Barwon Health Community Kitchen, MS Society, Vines Road Senior Citizens, and instigation of co-location with Diversitat.
- Increased customer and stakeholder satisfaction to over 90% satisfaction rate.
- Increased utilisation, yield, and community membership above expected targets.
Asset and Activations Project Officer
Gold Coast City Council
01.2012 - 01.2013
- Key responsibilities:
- Asset assessment of all community halls, swimming pools and car parks for the Gold Coast City Council
- Establishment of two new community centres within the Gold Coast growth corridor
- Internal and external stakeholder consultation to ensure community centres being developed would meet both council and community expectations.
- Development of customer service standards with ongoing monitoring and evaluation of customer satisfaction
- Established uniform operational policies, procedures, and evaluation framework for community centres to ensure consistency across the community centre network.
- Development of strategic business plans, including workforce plans and staff recruitment specific to the demographics of each community centre
- Development of a staff training program, including induction.
- Establishing partnerships with local stakeholders and the creation of partnership agreements to secure ongoing success.
- Preparation of new venues for opening, including Official Openings, multiple activation projects such as Open Days, Family Days, and Senior engagement activities.
- Major achievements:
- The adoption of recommended customer service model for asset management of venues which was implemented throughout two departments, i.e., community venues and facilities management.
- The successful opening of two new venues, involving local, state, and federal government bodies with a successful earned media and paid media campaign.
General Manager
Geelong Conference Centre
01.2005 - 01.2012
- Key responsibilities:
- Overall responsibility for the success and operations of the venue as a corporate enterprise with full oversight over all departments including front of house, cleaning, catering and menu development, venue hire, accounts, and maintenance.
- Conducted a full Business Operational review to identify current and future state of operations.
- Development and implementation of a 5-year Strategic Plan
- Overall responsibility for business development and marketing, including a full re-brand (promotional material, uniform, website)
- Financial accountability for the business unit, including forecasting and reporting for all areas of the business.
- Staff development and training.
- Increased venue utilisation and yield.
- Compliance in all areas of the business, including essential services, plant and equipment, OH&S, risk management, planned maintenance, reactive maintenance, and overall responsibility for in-house and external contractors.
- Increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Major achievements:
- Established Geelong Conference Centre as the venue of choice and winner of the Geelong Business Excellence Award - Hospitality category 2009.
- Sourced funding for and project managed a $2.5 million building refurbishment while remaining open for business: delivering outcomes under budget and on time.
Venue Operations Manager
Geelong Performing Arts Centre (GPAC)
01.2001 - 01.2005
- Key responsibilities:
- Assist the General Manager with the development of the strategic direction of GPAC, seeking new business opportunities, and develop and implement policies and procedures for the Venue Operations Department.
- Management of Venue Booking diary for GPAC and Costa Hall.
- Management and oversight of the Costa Hall contract and one of two designated liaisons for Deakin’s commercial and facilities departments.
- Manage Catering Contract; ensuring all standards of service, food and presentation reflected GPAC’s expected standards. In conjunction with Administration Manager, budget and forecast for venue hire income and expenditure.
- Pro-actively develop sales strategies designed to fill any gaps in the booking calendar to maximize venue utilization and yield while maintaining a balanced program of performing arts performances.
- Foster professional relationships with internal and external business contacts and hirers.
- Utilise the knowledge and expertise across the business to achieve the best financial outcomes for presenters.
- Represent GPAC in associated networks and keep abreast of competitors within the venue hire sector.
- Executing exceptional standards of service delivery.
- Major Achievements:
- Development and implementation of the Centre’s community access fund.
- Co-development of a Service Level Agreement for the Centre to manage Deakin University’s, Costa Hall.
- Exceeded venue occupancy and yield year upon year.
- Assistance with the development and implementation of the GPAC strategic plan.
Education
Advanced Diploma - Business Management
University of Ballarat
Advanced Diploma - Business, Human Resources
Gordon TAFE
Diploma - Work Health and Safety
Advanced Diploma - Arts Administration
Skills
- Microsoft Office - Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Project
- Web Digital asset management and web content management
- Social Media Management - Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
- Event & Project Management - Asana, Zoom, Eventbrite, TryBooking, Survey Monkey, Guest Centric, Priava, Opera, Ivy
- Enterprise Marketing - direct campaign marketing, database management, and customer relationship management software automation
Certification
- Responsible Service of Alcohol
- Responsible Service of Gaming
- Food Supervisors Certificate
- Work Health Safety - HSR Training, Chief Fire Warden, First Aid
- Committee of Management Training – ANHCA
- Board of Directors Training - AMHCA
- Conflict Resolutions and Influence in the Workplace – TSA
Timeline
Corporate Services Coordinator – Enterprise Change & Workplace Experience
Transport Accident Commission (via. Hays Employment Agency)
12.2023 - Current
Lead, Events & Hospitality
Geelong Arts Centre (GAC)
05.2022 - 12.2022
Manager, Commercial, Hospitality & Front of House
Geelong Arts Centre (GAC)
05.2021 - 12.2023
Community Manager
Ingenia Lifestyle Lakeside Lara
12.2020 - 05.2022
Manager, Sales, Conference and Events
Peppers the Sands Resort Torquay
02.2020 - 12.2020
Venue Hire Activator
Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC)
01.2015 - 01.2020
Manager
Vines Road Community Centre (VRCC)
01.2013 - 01.2015
Asset and Activations Project Officer
Gold Coast City Council
01.2012 - 01.2013
General Manager
Geelong Conference Centre
01.2005 - 01.2012
Venue Operations Manager
Geelong Performing Arts Centre (GPAC)
01.2001 - 01.2005
Advanced Diploma - Business Management
University of Ballarat
Advanced Diploma - Business, Human Resources
Gordon TAFE