TRACY A.

FINKLANG
Kittredge, CO 80457 LinkedIn: Tracy A. Finklang 303.674.0265 taf@beveragegoddess.com

SUMMARY

Creative and Accomplished Food and Beverage Leader with comprehensive restaurant, hotel, chain and franchise experience, directing successful, award-winning national and local beverage marketing programs, high volume restaurants and on- and off-premise catering and events. Hands-on, dedicated troubleshooter with solid background in all areas of restaurant and hotel Food and Beverage management, procurement and marketing. Key strengths: Restaurant, Catering/Banquet and Bar management Cost reduction and Inventory management Team-building, counseling, field support Training and development Banquet/catering/event production Promotion management, national and local Vendor relations Franchise Consulting and Support Beverage, beer and wine list development Menu writing- placement and copy Published industry essayist and speaker Supply management, national and local Certified Sommelier, Enthusiastic Foodie

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE TRACY FINKLANG CONSULTING & CATERING, Kittredge Colorado 2011-present Consultant/Writer/Caterer Consult on all aspects of food and beverage management: cost reduction, inventory management, staff training; noted industry writer and speaker; Social Media; beverage training seminars; private chef; menu planning; drink stylist; bar and restaurant design consulting; small event planning and catering, weddings. Currently: Beverage consultant for American Blue Ribbon Holdings, a 600+-store multi-concept national restaurant company Wine writer- Denver for Examiner.com Producing online webinar beverage training video scripts and consulting for MarkeTeam; sole writer Contract Training writing for Craftworks Restaurants & Breweries (formerly Rock Bottom) Writer of the popular Beverage Goddess blog, with over 50 essays published; www.beveragegoddess.com; on Twitter and Facebook as Beverage Goddess Published essayist for Cheers magazine, with four articles published to date Regular source for Beverage writers; numerous published interviews on beverage-related subjects Panelist and speaker at industry conventions- Cheers, COEX, NC&Bar, Assoc. Of Brewers. ROCK BOTTOM RESTAURANTS, INC, Louisville, CO 1992 2011 Corporate Beverage Manager 1997 2011 Managed all beverage and long-range beverage planning for 140+ multi-concept outlets, including Old Chicago, Rock Bottom Breweries, Chophouses. Managed unique Old Chicago beer lists, all wine lists, supply chain, drink development, bar manager support, vendor relations for restaurant chain with 38%-40% bar as percentage of total sales. Created and expanded the company beverage department, creating cross-concept synergies Procured up to $.5M annually, with $3.6M over 9 years by building and maintaining strong vendor support partnerships with all major suppliers. Saved company $15 M over 14 years by negotiating national distributor contracts for beverage cost control. Maximized profits and minimized costs by developing and training The Six Step System for Bar Cost Management , which became base of company-wide Best Practices training Managed project and execution of over 100 unique Old Chicago beer lists semi-annually, with over 120 unique craft and imported beers per list Singly developed top-selling cocktails at Old Chicago, including #1 seller and several drinks that received published acclaim in NRN, Cheers Beverage magazine, and other online and print publications Built and managed, with Loyalty/Social Media dept, one of industrys pioneer loyalty programs, the World Beer Tour , with over 1.5 million active members currently

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ROCK BOTTOM RESTAURANTS, INC, Louisville, CO- continued Assistant General Manager, Bar Manager- Old Chicago 1992 1997 Managed all daily operations for bar with one of the top-producing Old Chicagos; purchased all beverage alcohol, scheduled and managed FOH and HOH staff, developed inventory management system for to ensure lowest yearly bar cost in company. Dramatically increased sales, from store losing money to top 5 highest sales in company, within first year. Reduced bar cost from 29% to 21% first 6 months; thereafter, maintained at between 18-20% Formulated beverage Best Practices, resulting in dedicated beverage training program Purchased and controlled extensive inventories, 130+ beers, full back bar, Planned, marketed and executed large special events, on and off premise HYATT REGENCY MONTEREY, Monterey, CA 1986-1989 Beverage Manager/Banquet-Conference Manager Promoted 4 times in 3 years, from dining room manager, Peninsula Restaurant, Four Star; to banquet manager for 40 function areas and off-property functions; to convention services manager, on and off-premise; to beverage manager for banquet beverage and 7 fixed outlets. Managed daily all operations including 100 employees Facilitated first non-military NATO meeting; received Certificate of Meritorious Service from the Secretary of the Navy Facilitated two General Manager and Director of Sales National Conferences for Hyatt Hotels Responsible for all F&B functions for Pope John Pauls US visit to Monterey DON CESAR BEACH RESORT HOTEL (LOEWS), St. Petersburg, FL 1981-1984 Beverage Manager Managed all beverage operations and purchasing for 6 outlets & banquets, including one Five Star dining room; responsible for daily functions, scheduling, inventories, drink development; staff of over 50 employees ADDITIONAL RELATED EXPERIENCE Experienced High Volume Bartender, Banquet Captain, Caterer, Trainer, Supply Management PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Accomplished Mixologist; developed numerous, high volume, popular cocktails on current menus Womens Food Service Forum Board member, Cheers Editorial Advisory Board, 14 years Organized and implemented the Adopt a Creek program in Jefferson County, CO Organized donations for Columbine Memorial Fund, raising $118,000 AWARDS Best Beer Program, Cheer Beverage Conference, 2002 & 2006 Rock Star Award, RBR, Inc., 2002 & 1995 Award Winning Interior Designer, specializing in Bar and Restaurant design Winner of St. Petersburg Civic Design Contest, City Council Chambers, 1980 Award Winning Poet, two published collections Winner, Colorado National Public Radio Essay contest, 2003 CERTIFICATION Certified Sommelier, Court of Master Sommeliers 2005 Licensed RScP Counselor, Theology, Holmes Institute Denver, CO Certificate, Interior Design, Restaurant/Bar design, St. Petersburg Technical Institute, St. Petersburg, FL