Mandie Ashwell

Team Leader of a training & development programme for adults with complex needs, many who have ASD & are non-verbal.

• Coordinating a team of 10 support workers, and 15 clients.
• Leading a range of daily programmes, such as Travel Training, Budgeting, Grocery Shopping & Food Preparation/Cooking, Woodwork, Gardening, Pet Care, Arts & Crafts, Hydrotherapy, Basketball, Dance & Music, Photography & various outings to access local community activities.
• Client & Staff Rosters & Timesheets for Payroll
• NDIS reporting
• Working to meet the various individual goals of our clients
• Liaising and working collaboratively with other stakeholders, such as Behavioural Support Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Support Coordinators, Speech Language Therapists, Managers & Support Staff of Supported Living homes, and families.
• De-escalation of heightened behaviours
• First-Aid
• Fortnightly staff meetings & team leader meetings
• Training new staff, plus ongoing mentorship of all staff - including debriefing sessions after tough days or when incidents have occurred.
• Empowered team members by delegating responsibilities according to individual strengths and areas of expertise.
• Maintained an inclusive and diverse team culture, promoting respect and understanding among all members.
• Developed risk management plans, minimizing potential project disruptions and ensuring timely delivery.
• All paperwork required with running an NDIS approved service.

Oct 2023 - December 2023 (Only left due to moving interstate): New Home Sales Consultant (internal promotion from established sales). Looking after the sales of brand new Over 50's homes in developing communities in the South-East of Melbourne. Responsibilities: Working out of a Display Suite to discuss the concept of an independent living community for over 50's, & generate leads for future site appointments. Working with clients to choose a lot & selling new homes off-plan. Site meetings, collaboration with the contact centre, construction & customization teams. Working through DocuSign to generate agreements etc. Skills: Customer service, administration, sales skills, lead generation, knowledge of the building process.

• Sales consultant for two established Over 50's Lifestyle Communities
• Being a friendly face based in the community to establish relationships with the residents & their families, therefor being trusted & approachable when they are considering selling their home
• Preparing appraisals for homes within the community
• Advising homeowners on sale preparation & home presentation prior to going to market
• Preparing listing paperwork, which can often include ensuring there are copies of Power of Attorney or Probate documents when required
• Arranging photographers & writing listing text for online listings & brochures
• Meeting with prospective purchaser's to give them a tour of the community & listed homes which may suit them, followed by a presentation of the benefits they will receive as a homeowner & the associated policies & fees.
• Ongoing nurturing of sales prospects
• Drafting & presenting of offers, and sale negotiation when required
• Communication with vendors regarding feedback & any advise around price reductions etc
• Liaising with the marketing team & area manager regarding any support required to assist in moving homes which are exceeding the average days on market
• Working alongside the community managers to ensure open communication & smooth transitions from sale to settlement & beyond
• Helping to run various sales events arranged by our marketing team, both on site & out in the community
• Follow-up of all event attendees & customer enquiries/appointments.
• Keeping record of all notes in the client database
• Closing of sales to assist the company in achieving their targets

Position - Licensee Salesperson

• Local specialist in residential and small lifestyle property sales
• Working flexible hours; night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
• Prospecting and Appraisals
• Listing presentations/securing listing agreements
• Booking staging companies, photographers, building inspectors etc
• Ordering and reviewing of council documentation
• Putting together information packs/property files
• Writing engaging marketing text for properties
• Arranging of photos
• Preparing additional marketing - both print and digital
• Managing sales campaigns
• Matching properties to buyers, running open homes and private viewings
• Responding to all enquiries
• Loading all enquiry notes and buyer feedback
• Preparing vendor reports
• Having regular meetings with vendors throughout marketing campaign, and implementing any changes if required
• Drafting and presenting offers - handling negotiations
• Processing contracts and liaising with solicitors or independent specialists if/when required
• Running pre-settlement inspections
• Arranging handover of keys on settlement day
• Post sale service
• Building and retaining strong client database
• Hosting client functions
• Continuous education - ongoing training

Career Highlights for this position:

• Achieving Premier Performer status in 2021/22
• Achieving Premier Performer status in 2020/21
• Achieving Executive Performer status in 2019/20
• Achieving Executive Performer status in 2018/19
• Preferred salesperson to Hughes Developments Limited, one of the largest property development companies in Canterbury and across New Zealand. Contracted to sell all older properties they have acquired in order to subdivide surrounding land. Also chosen to market many new townhouses as part of an Affordable Housing initiative.
• Being interviewed by TVNZ for a feature story based around the real estate market and price comparisons across main cities. This was filmed for 7 Days (current affairs show which airs every week night at 7pm)
• Co-lead agent contracted to market and sell 90 residential sections in a new subdivision (Olivefields in Rolleston). This involved collaborating with vendors, surveyors, engineers, geotechnical advisers, developers, construction companies, contractors and more. This also required handling a high level of enquiries and juggling multiple offers and contracts, along with being the ongoing first point of contact and liaison between developers and purchasers for things such as developers approval of plans & bond refund applications etc.

Position - Sales PA to the Company Director/Principal Agent

• 'Right hand' to Brendan 'Big Red' Shefford, Selwyn's leading Selling Principal, and multi-award winning agent for the Ray White Group across Australia and New Zealand, and current Chairman's Elite Performer and Chairman's Elite Business Owner, plus winner of the CEO's Cup for 2020.
• Responsible for the managing principals phone and email account while he is away on leave or on his weekend off. This requires a high level of professionalism, and ability to think on ones feet, handling various enquiries or giving advice or support to newer salespeople during his absence.
• Induction and mentoring of new sales staff
• Planning and scheduling of all open homes for our immediate sales team
• Designing print media advertisements & digital marketing campaigns for the sales team
• Various voluntary work at community events and fundraisers, including various fundraising events or family meal nights at Ronald McDonald House Christchurch - supporting the families of children who are in hospital. Always advocating for the Ray White Family Values, maintaining a strong figure in the community & continuing to build and foster relationships.

Introduction;

With previous training in Performing Arts, and a personal connection to providing equality and positive experiences for those with disabilities, I was contracted by Arts Access Aotearoa, to establish a new and innovative inclusive performing arts course in Christchurch for young adults of varying abilities. Initially working under the umbrella of the wider organisation Arts Access Aotearoa, until the programme became well established and self-sufficient, later being named Arts Integrated (www.artsintegrated.co.nz)

Position - Programme coordinator

• Covering all areas of administration
• Venue hire - both for weekly classes and performance space
• Processing annual student applications, enrolment & term invoicing
• Liaising with Ministry of Health services and families/caregivers around student funding and available subsidies
• First point of contact for families regarding absences or changes in health and well-being for students or any family hardship
• Accident or Incident Reports
• Funding applications
• Marketing, Promotion and Social Media
• Contract Management
• Accountability to those who have provided funding
• Regular communication with tutors
• Seeking opportunities for community performance and/or inclusion in various public events for students

Position - Head Drama Tutor

• Course Outlines and Lesson Plans
• Support of students and staff
• Running drama based lessons, and adapting teaching style as and when required to cater to the individual needs of students, whilst encouraging teamwork & connections
• Working on students confidence to express themselves within a non-threatening and creative space, which can be carried through to their real world experiences and social connections
• Collaborating with students to create scripts or elaborate on ideas for performance
• Rehearsing, directing & set design
• Preparing students reports each term

Positions - Assistant Dance Tutor

• Working alongside the specialist head dance tutor to support students during dance classes
• Encouraging personal connections and self-expression through movement and music
• Collaborating with dance tutor and students to choreograph performance works
• Costume design and sourcing of any textiles or props

Position - Head Dance Tutor

• Employing an Assistant Tutor with Autism, and mentoring him, eventually enabling him to take a lead tutor role.
• Lesson plans
• Preparing appropriate music to tap into a range of emotions, when exploring movement/different tempos etc
• Creating safe spaces for self expression through improvisation
• Providing opportunities for solo work, paired work and group work.
• Collaborative choreography, leading to performance works

Career Highlights for the above position/s:

• Securing a dance performance opportunity for students to open Canterbury Fashion & Beauty Week, performing in front of a number of VIP guests. Two students with Downs Syndrome were also chosen to model at this event, which was a first in Christchurch for an event like this (though much overdue).
• Assisting with the choreography for a dance item which was performed at the Special Children's Christmas Party - the largest annual event for children with health or extra needs in Canterbury.
• Writing and Directing short educational films, for the New Zealand Civil Defence, specifically created to teach the disability community how to prepare survival kits and how to create an emergency plan, so they are prepared for the next earthquake event. These scripts needed to be humorous and engaging, but with enough vital information in the content. Our students starred in the videos, which are used nationwide in New Zealand in various special education schools and community housing.

• Retail Sales and Customer Service
• Driving sales targets and KPI's
• Administration duties ie. staff rosters, submitting timesheets to payroll, weekly trade reports, staff coaching logs, cash balancing and end of day reports, competitor research etc.
• Interviewing job applicants for various sales consultant roles, alongside the store manager.
• Staff induction, ongoing training and support
• Visual Merchandising
• Grew and maintained positive customer relationships to ensure repeat business
• Managed opening and closing procedures
• Responded to any customer concerns, working with the manager to significantly raise customer satisfaction
• Supervised and evaluated staff, enabling them to improve skills, achieve daily objectives and attain advancement.

• Working with a business partner to establish a high end events company in Canterbury
• Working alongside a web designer to create a unique website for the company
• Customer Service and Relations
• Product and Service Research
• Stock Purchase and Management
• Sales and Hire of party and event supplies
• Client communication and negotiation
• Book Keeping and Computer Skills
• Marketing and Social Media
• Planning and Coordination
• Contract negotiation with suppliers
• Theming and Design

Highlight during this position:

Designing and creating themed tables for the VIP section at Canterbury Fashion & Beauty Week, and mentoring a young team of people with disabilities to put them together as part of a highlight on inclusiveness & empowerment.

Introduction;

I originally set this business up from home, having a showroom set up for private consultations, in addition to a web based store, selling a wide range of tableware and decorative items for weddings and events. Due to the growth of the company, I later opened a retail shop, and extended the stock range to include gift and homeware items to maximize walk-in sales, and appeal to a wider client base.

• Sales and customer service
• Wedding and event planning
• Theming and design
• Website management
• Marketing and social media
• Sourcing of stock & stock management
• Researching current trends
• Product sourcing and purchase
• Exhibiting at industry shows
• Coordination of suppliers in the industry
• Employment and training of staff
• Merchandising
• Administrative duties, ie. accounts, PAYE, GST

Highlight:

During this time, I was contracted by Mediaworks, to plan a unique and surprise wedding for a television show 'Cadbury Dream Factory'. Having less than 3 weeks to arrange the whole affair, including invitations, venue, transport, catering, flowers, cake, tableware and venue decor, DJ, security and photographer. This was a huge undertaking in a short space of time, and one I am proud to have achieved with great results.

• Customer Service and Sales
• Residential and commercial lighting
• Designing of lighting plans
• Staff training and support to a total of 8 staff members
• Rosters, Timesheets, Leave Requests
• Looking after customer/trade accounts
• Sales targets
• Stock control
• Visual merchandising
• Showroom and site consultations

Highlights:

• Frequently being one of the top monthly sales consultants on a national level.
• Securing a number of new commercial clients (restaurants, housing companies, electricians etc), who opened monthly accounts, and subsequently added to the overall sales for the business.

• Head Drama Tutor for the junior division (10-12 year old students)
• Support and coordination of all junior tutors
• Lesson planning and student reports
• Resourcing and sometimes adapting scripts
• Stage direction for public performance
• Front of house duties
• Liaising with families
• Relieving for tutors of the 13-15 year old classes

Introduction;

After completing my Diploma in Performing Arts, I was offered a position as Associate Director for the company.

• Supporting and mentoring approximately 40 students
• Relieving for senior tutors
• Assistant Directing
• Directing for TV2 Kidsfest Season
• Directing for Theatre In Education tours
• Set Design
• Sound and Lighting
• Administrative Duties
• Promotion
• Liaising with media and arranging reviewers

Highlight:

Adapting a children's book 'Alice in the News' into a theatre script, and directing the play for the TV2 Christchurch City Council KidsFest, with sell out crowds and great reviews. This also involved working with student costume designers to bring my vision of the characters to light.

• Customer service and sales
• In charge of all full and part time staff
• Administrative duties
• Staff rosters & wages
• Sales targets
• Sourcing & ordering of stock – meeting with sales reps, attending gift fairs
• Liaison with Mall Management & Security
• Merchandising
• Marketing
• End of day till balancing and banking
• Opening and merchandising of new stores

• Sales consultancy role, selling perfume and essential oils at hosts home based parties (party plan). I developed my personal sales business further by booking future parties at each event, and keeping in contact with customers to ensure they re-ordered when running low.

Note: This was supplementary income when my first two children were babies.

• Customer Service and Sales
• Merchandising of Giftware, Fashion and Jewellery
• Cash handling and eftpos
• Unpacking and pricing of stock