BLAKE M.

RUSSELL
2901 North Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL 60657 312. 909. 2204 blake.m.russell@gmail.com

SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCES
Dedicated & creative, collaborating sales and service experiences to create the new face of professionalism through positive and relatable customer experiences in service and hospitality opportunities.

EXPERIENCE
Little Goat Diner & Bakery Chicago, IL Expediter November 2012 Ongoing Expo: Weekly food and beverage training, liaison between the FOH and BOH, ensure food delivered to tables efficiently, clean and organized front counter space, coordinate times between chefs, ensure food is prepared as ordered and without allergens if necessary, set flow of service The Pump Room at the PUBLIC Hotel Chicago, IL Server September 2012 December 2012 Server: BASSET Certified, fine dining service with expert and up-to-date food knowledge for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night signature dishes, coursing meals for a unique restaurant experience, quickly prepare a variety of coffee drinks, maintaining confidentiality of all guests, professional service with a casual aesthetic, bussing and resetting tables throughout meals Taverna 750 Chicago, IL Server, Host, Expo, and Bartender in-training June 2012 October 2012 Server: Weekly food and beverage training, daily special upselling, provide insight into the tapas-style of restaurant, occasionally coursing out meals as requested, building rapport with city Host: Provide welcoming and efficient hospitality, pre-bussing tables, stock FOH & BOH Expo: Plating/ garnishing dishes, efficiently ensure timely food service, BOH/FOH back-up Bartender: Expertly mix craft cocktails, quick math by volume, wine & spirits knowledge Youth Empowerment Program, Center on Halsted Chicago, IL Event Planning and Outreach January 2012 Ongoing Event: Planning, hosting, and logistics for events geared towards LGBTQA youth Outreach: Establishing lasting professional partnerships with organizations and businesses Other: Collaborate on ongoing public works, safer sex social media campaign, facilitator Second City, UP Comedy Club Chicago, IL Food Prep & Expeditor September 2011 May 2012 Prep: Prepare and plate a variety of side dishes, salads, and desserts; maintain food storage Runner: Quickly & quietly deliver food as it is prepared, oftentimes during a staged show Maintain a clean kitchen and workspace, uphold restaurant safety practices and standards

The Den Theatre Chicago, IL Barista, Bartender

2011 and Ongoing Barista: Made-to-order Metropolis coffee and espresso drinks, cleaning & maintenance Bartender: Wine & beer sales, high volume events, event break-down & recycling Sales tracking and upselling, stock replenishment, guided tours, performance booking Olive Garden Restaurant Schaumburg, IL & Cape Girardeau, MO Server, Support 2007 & 2009 Server: Provide a welcoming food service in a family-friendly environment Wine & beer knowledge, product upselling, meeting and exceeding daily sales

goals Runner: Expediting orders to tables, pre-bussing as necessary, expertise rolling silverware
Orange Restaurant Chicago, IL Host February 2011 September 2011 Initial phone and restaurant greeting, professional demeanor, manage lobby space, maintain standards of cleanliness, fill & update stock as necessary, to-go and pick-up ordering, opening shift cleaning and maintenance, promote and up-sell seasonal menu items

2009 and ongoing Writer: Publish new, interesting articles about music artists coming through Chicago Interviewer: Correspond with publicists for interest stories for music artists or tours Reviewer: Interest stories for new or upcoming albums for various music artists and locals Contracted Work in Chicago, IL Various seasonal works Ongoing Model, Nedda Mostafa: Collaborate seasonal looks for seasonal hat & tie trunk show Pet care and dog walking, Millenium Dog Walkers: Daily walks and pet care in Wicker Park Production Co-ordinator, We Stand Sideways: Technical assistance, location scout Bailiwick Chicago Chicago, IL Pre-show Coordination, Dramaturgy 2011 Pre-Show: Main contact between theatre and music artists, scheduling and contracting Coordination: Cooperate with managers to set a music schedule throughout the summer Dramaturgy: Investigative research, detailed historical research, informative presentations Karen Millen Chicago, IL Retail Sales and Stock

TheDeadHub.com Chicago, IL Writer, Interviewer

Retail Sales: POS operations while engaging with clients, suggestions and upselling Fill & replace stock as necessary, steam garments, follow current fashion trends Stock: Ensure garments have necessary pricing & anti-theft devices, store

2011

maintenance 2008 2010 Sales: Assisting customers with product knowledge and upselling, cash or card handling Visual: Preserved organized store values, constructed new, seasonal company displays Shipping: Processed receiving orders, inspected quality, tagged & re-stocked new product Chicago Liquidators, Dealgenius.com Chicago, IL Reception, Sales 2009 Front Desk: Multi-line phone, e-mail, fax and mail sort, initial customer interactions Sales: Incoming product research, pricing, up-sell of services, credit processing Other: online e-Commerce marketing, Annual ASD Trade Show, product buying & selling 2006 to 2008 Time and resources assisting & promoting not-for-profit historical or theatrical groups, organize community events, fundraisers; help plan advertising or promotions Perform written dialogue, memorized historical tours, relate history to modern issues Black Mask Society & River City Players Cape Girardeau, MO Volunteer, Performer Gap, Inc. & Old Navy Chicago, IL Sales, Visual, Logistics

EDUCATION
Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO BS in Marketing, Minor in Acting & Directing 2006- 2009

Other training Various POS systems learning job-specific operations, cash, credit and check processes Volunteer work as well as on-going help or aid with volunteers or promotional work Cold-calling techniques, maintaining a recurring client base, soft-selling/upselling approaches Current techniques in handling food and drink; professional handling of wine and beer Safety in service training from leading service professionals, accident prevention training

SPECIAL SKILLS
Youth educator and collaborator, HIV advocacy, theatre and speech training, guided historical and art tours, event planning and management, administration & coordination, varied work roles in sales and service positions as well as experiences with Microsoft, Mac, POS operating systems and software, avid biker, able to lift 100+ pounds, 80+ WPM & juggling References available upon request