JOI ALEXANDER, MBA
Silver Spring,MD
Summary
Award-winning event and hospitality executive with over 24 years of expertise in large-scale event activations, catering sales, in-house and agency experience with national brands, experience with celebrity talent, VIPs, and their support staff, festival management, B2B account management, and brand partnerships. Proven ability to manage multi-million-dollar budgets, oversee logistics for high-profile events, and deliver innovative, revenue-generating strategies. Exceptional leader skilled at building and mentoring teams, achieving 138% of revenue goals, and generating over $8.5 million in F&B sales.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Catering & Events Services
The Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill
01.2024 - Current
- Lead strategic vision and execution for over 50 hotel events quarterly, including conferences, galas, corporate functions, and VIP activations, ensuring alignment with client goals and hotel standards.
- Oversee and mentor a cross-functional team of four (4) catering managers, planners, and vendor partners.
- Manage budgets, pricing strategies, vendor negotiations, and profitability for events.
- Supervise logistics: venue layout, production, audiovisual, decor, entertainment, and on-site execution.
- Enhance sponsor and exhibitor experiences, driving increased renewal rates and engagement.
- Maintain brand integrity across signage, messaging, and visual identity.
- Track and report KPIs including revenue, satisfaction scores, and sponsor ROI.
Senior Director of Catering & Events
Kimpton Shane Hotel, an IHG Brand
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Directed catering and event revenue budgets while selling private dining space for ancillary revenue.
- Partnered with culinary and sales teams to deliver exceptional event experiences.
- Managed $2.5M budget for catering and event revenue
- Designed promotional and seasonal packages to boost revenue during need periods.
- Mentored two (2) team members, implemented training initiatives, and established a culture of urgency and excellence.
- Work closely with the culinary team as well as catering sales team through the pre-event phase.
- Responsible for catering/banquet and private dining revenue budget for the restaurant.
- Coordinate sales efforts between hotel sales department catering/private dining.
Vice President of Sales & Catering
Slutty Vegan ATL
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Oversaw national sales and catering operations, generating $1.5M+ in sales.
- Planned and executed events at: Coachella, Sundance Film Festival, One Music Fest.
- Developed partnerships with universities, sports teams, and entertainment brands.
- Managed food truck division and annual Slutty Vegan Festival event activations.
- Launched national catering program across 8+ stores and 5 food trucks.
- Develop partnerships with sports and entertainment brands
- Launched National Catering Program for brand- over (8) stores and (5) food trucks
- Worked closely with Celebrities and VIP talent alongside CEO and Founder
Head of Regional Events
Cava Grill
01.2020 - 11.2021
- Managed the global special event operations for 176 regional restaurants
- Responsible for managing a team of Off-Premise Catering Sales Managers across for the entire Zoes Kitchen & CAVA portfolio
- Execute the planning for large scale CAVA & ZK events on a national level with over 1,500 attendees
- Utilizes negotiation skills and creative selling abilities to uncover new event opportunities
- Evaluate and recommend program vendors and key stakeholders to ensure flawless execution of events
- Managed the hiring and onboarding for the national event sales catering team members
- Partners closely with other colleagues within Events, Marketing, Communications, and Brand teams to ensure program plan and key messaging for each event is cohesive in for collateral and communications.
Director of Catering & Events
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
01.2017 - 01.2020
- Coordinated logistics for events, ensuring seamless execution and guest satisfaction.
- Managed vendor relationships, negotiating contracts and securing competitive pricing.
- Developed event timelines and checklists to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
- Oversaw budget management, tracking expenses to ensure alignment with financial goals.
- Negotiated contracts with clients, ensuring mutually beneficial terms for both parties involved.
- Analyzed event performance data, driving continuous improvement in service delivery and client experience.
- Coordinated logistics for seamless event execution, including venue selection, setup, teardown, and transportation of materials.
- “Voted #1 in NFL & MLS for Food & Beverage Experience in 2018 Responsible for food and beverage sales planning for all private events at MBS; average 5-6 private events daily; generating over $350,000 a week in sales revenue
- Planned and executed all VIP catering activations for the OTR II Tour with Beyonce and Jay-Z
- Generated $8.5 million in food and beverage revenue from August– December 2017
- Planned and executed all VIP Private event experience for the 2018 College Football Championship game and the SEC Football Championship
- 53rd Super Bowl committee member and event leader for at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Sr. Director of Events
Marriott International, Inc.
02.2012 - 01.2017
- Designed and executed comprehensive event strategies to enhance attendee engagement and satisfaction.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to coordinate logistics for high-profile corporate events.
- Managed 20+ vendor relationships, ensuring quality service delivery and adherence to budgets.
- Developed innovative event marketing campaigns, increasing visibility and participation rates.
- Oversaw event execution, maintaining operational efficiency and addressing on-site challenges swiftly.
- Analyzed post-event feedback to refine processes and improve future initiatives for better outcomes.
- Trained and mentored team members on best practices in event planning and management.
- Provided critical leadership to cross-functional teams within the Marketing, Communications, Sales, and CSM leading colleagues in strategy, concepting, exhibitor operations, sponsorship activation, and audience development.
Director of Catering & Events
IHG Hotels & Resorts
02.2009 - 02.2011
- Trained and mentored four (4) junior staff on best practices in catering operations and customer service.
- Implemented feedback mechanisms to refine event offerings based on client input and preferences.
- Collaborated with marketing team to promote events, increasing brand visibility and engagement.
- Conducted post-event evaluations to identify areas of improvement and implement necessary changes.
- Led a team in coordinating logistics for large-scale events w/ over 2,000 attendees, optimizing workflow efficiency.
- Developed and executed catering strategies to enhance client satisfaction and event success.
- Conducted post-event evaluations with clients to gather feedback on services provided, identifying areas for improvement or potential upselling opportunities.
Education
MBA - Tourism & Hospitality Management
George Washington University
Washington, MI12.2007
BA - Journalism
Howard University
Washington, DC05.2003
Skills
- SEO
- Delphi
- TripleSeat
- Opera
- Ungerboeck
- Event Software (Cvent, etc)
- Problem-solving
- Customer service
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Friendly, positive attitude
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Flexible and adaptable
- Multitasking Abilities
- Excellent communication
- Critical thinking
- Active listening
- Decision-making
Accomplishments
- 2023 Prosper Accelerator- Inaugural Class Prosper Forum envisions elevating the foodservice industry (nrn.com)
- Opening Leadership Team Member Mercedes Benz Stadium
- 2016 Golden Circle Marriott International
- Sales & Event Leaders Award 2019 - Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Generated $8.5M in event revenue
- Breast Cancer Recipient for IHG 2024
Affiliations
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
- Jack & Jill of America, Inc.
- Prosper Accelerator
- Breast Cancer Survivor and Advocate
Languages
French
Limited Working
English
Native or Bilingual
Interests
- Traveling
- Social Media
- Volunteering
- Cooking
- Spending time with family & friends
Timeline
Director of Catering & Events Services
The Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill
01.2024 - Current
Senior Director of Catering & Events
Kimpton Shane Hotel, an IHG Brand
01.2023 - 01.2024
Vice President of Sales & Catering
Slutty Vegan ATL
01.2021 - 01.2023
Head of Regional Events
Cava Grill
01.2020 - 11.2021
Director of Catering & Events
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
01.2017 - 01.2020
Sr. Director of Events
Marriott International, Inc.
02.2012 - 01.2017
Director of Catering & Events
IHG Hotels & Resorts
02.2009 - 02.2011
MBA - Tourism & Hospitality Management
George Washington University
BA - Journalism
Howard University
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Event Strategy & Experience Development
- Sponsorship & Exhibitor Relations
- Brand & Visual Identity Management
- Stage Production & Programming
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Budgeting & Forecasting
- Marketing & Communications Alignment
- Metrics & ROI Tracking
- Stakeholder Engagement
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