Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Certification
Languages
Timeline
Generic

Amy De Witt

Santa Barbara,CA

Summary

With 20 years of experience in hospitality and event management in Santa Barbara, I bring a deep and heartfelt understanding of Santa Barbara as a premier destination for events. I have honed my ability to blend creative ingenuity, strong local relationships, and effective communication skills to consistently exceed both revenue targets and client expectations.

Overview

17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Director of Dining & Events

Cate School
01.2020 - 01.2020
  • Oversaw and optimized a food budget of 2.2 million for an internationally acclaimed private boarding school dining program consistently staying within financial constraints while enhancing meal offerings, quality and increasing engagement and satisfaction
  • Responsible for culinary menu design, event experiences, local and sustainable features, catering revenue generation, forecasting and reporting, human resources, recruitment, development, HR & food safety compliance, Acccounts Payable/Receivable
  • Built strong relationships with students, faculty, and administration to tailor meal offerings that reflect a global and diverse community, respecting dietary needs and reflecting client culture and values
  • Collaborated closely with student groups to introduce seasonal & culturally relevant recipes from home, foster and encourage feedback, promoting a sense of ownership and community.
  • Demonstrated flexibility by adapting to changing student schedules, special dietary requests, and unexpected events, maintaining a high level of service and satisfaction.
  • Fostered relationships with local farmers, artisans and suppliers to incorporate hyperlocal, seasonal, and sustainably sourced ingredients into the menu, promoting engagement with Central Coast agriculture
  • Successfully organized and managed a congregate facility with 500 residents during Covid with countless adaptations to adhere to local health and safety regulations including distanced dining, crowd control, sanitation stations, timely entry, creating a safe and inclusive experience for residents despite restrictions
  • Exceeded annual KPIs of budget, sustainability, customer satisfaction leading to client satisfaction and contract renewal
  • Developed and implemented cost-saving strategies, menu planning, and waste reduction, labor optimization leading 20% decrease in overall cost
  • Led a team of 2 salaried chefs and 20 kitchen staff, providing training on food preparation, safety, and hospitality ensuring a positive and inclusive dining experience for students and staff alike
  • Equally adept at long term planning efforts and seamlessly accommodating on site adjustments
  • Balanced event and culinary trends with long standing school traditions

Director of Catering

Amgen
10.2019 - 08.2020
  • Directed and managed the entire lifecycle of events at Amgen NAMER headquarters, including trade shows, milestone and incentive events, product launches, virtual campaigns, live activations, conferences, board meetings, and research summits
  • Responsible for revenue generation, forecasting, budgeting, accounts payable/receivable, and financial reporting, managing a portfolio worth $2.2 million annually.
  • Leveraged leadership and communication skills to cultivate relationships with corporate partners, sponsors, and vendors, ensuring smooth collaboration and mutual success.
  • Collaborated with the corporate Marketing Director to create impactful content, collateral, and brand identity aligned with event vision, target audience, and channel
  • Applied strategic insight and project management expertise to deliver memorable experiences and achieve event objectives
  • Streamlined operations by implementing efficient processes in scheduling, staffing, and inventory management for catering events.
  • Enhanced client satisfaction with personalized event planning and exceptional attention to detail.

Food & Events Program Manager

LinkedIn/Microsoft
01.2017 - 06.2018
  • Budget Oversight & Sustainability: Managed a $3M annual budget with a focus on sustainability, strengthening local economies, and prioritizing hospitality.
  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Acted as a liaison between LinkedIn and Microsoft, ensuring transparent communication regarding project needs, punch-lists, vendor relationships, facilities, timelines, budgets, and company culture related to dining and events.
  • Process Optimization & Quality Control: Identified and implemented strategies to enhance process efficiency, maintain quality, mitigate risks, and improve guest satisfaction.
  • Brand Representation & Growth: Represented the corporate mission and brand to support the growth and contract renewal between Microsoft & Compass Group’s specialty dining account
  • Event Strategy for High-Growth Tech Environments: Created on-trend, engaging events tailored for a fast-paced, high-growth technology sector.
  • Catering Development: Developed a comprehensive corporate catering program, including custom menus, SOPs, ordering/billing, with a tailored approach to meet client’s needs
  • Opened the newly constructed corporate dining room, making strategic decisions encompassing safety, guest flow, décor, operational efficiency ensuring a welcoming space for all guests

Food & Events Program Manager

LinkedIn by Lynda.com
01.2016 - 01.2017
  • Lead and manage Catering Program from proposal to planning to seamless execution, inclusive of invoicing and post ROI analysis
  • Oversee Southern California Event operations and Global Event System(JIRA)
  • Developed and launched a seasonal Menu & Event Order system, enhancing event planning capabilities, resulting in a 300% in catering sales within first year.
  • Directed Café Operations, Marketing, and Guest Relations to drive engagement and increase brand visibility.
  • Management and development of full-time culinary and hospitality staff, on-call attendants, and vendor partnerships to maintain high service standards.
  • Curated monthly themed activations with local vendors to promote corporate initiatives, campus achievements, and employee engagement.
  • Collaborated with internal teams, venues, and vendors to plan and execute branded events, ensuring alignment with company culture and simultaneous events at other LinkedIn campuses.

Conference Services Manager

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort and Spa
01.2014 - 01.2016
  • Optimized Contract Management: Ensured adherence to contract terms while driving hotel revenue and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
  • Revenue Forecasting & Budgeting: Contributed to accurate forecasting and budgeting processes, managing a master Banquet Department calendar to achieve revenue goals of $3.8 million.
  • Creative Proposal Design: Developed innovative event proposals for social and corporate clients, aligning designs with budget constraints, brand standards, current industry trends, demographic of attendees
  • Detailed Event Coordination: Communicated comprehensive event specifications, covering setup details, food and beverage selections, timelines, run-of-show plans, vendor requirements, and logistical coordination for seamless execution.
  • Demonstrated agility with on-site adaptations as needed.
  • Contract & Operational Expertise: Leveraged strong knowledge of hotel contracts(F&B minimums, room blocks, attrition clauses) and banquet event orders, entertainment, and other logistical elements critical to event success.
  • Client Service & Reception: Provided exceptional client service and reception to enhance guest experience, utilizing in-depth personal knowledge of Santa Barbara to add value to client’s overall experience at the hotel
  • Client Communication & Relationship Building: Served as a central point of contact for conferences, fundraisers, and social events, facilitating strategic communication with guests, VIPs, community leaders, vendors including talent, production, and hotel staff.
  • Brand Awareness & Sales Growth: Cultivated valuable relationships across local, national, and international networks to enhance corporate brand awareness and drive sales.
  • Consistently identified and leveraged upselling opportunities post-contract to increase hotel revenue and enhance the guest experience.

Event & Dining Manager

Harpo Estates
01.2004 - 01.2014
  • Developed unique and memorable experiences, from intimate family gatherings to celebrity interviews.
  • Ensured flawless execution in culinary experiences, ambiance, conference services in private venues
  • Coordinated with culinary teams, private vendors, and external teams (media, security, film & production, A/V) to deliver exceptional events and hospitality
  • Maintained strict confidentiality and upheld nondisclosure agreements, resulting in repeat contract engagements for over 10 years.
  • Contract

Project Manager

Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara
01.2010 - 01.2012
  • Coordinated biannual destination conferences for academic and nonprofit leaders, CSOs, and venture capitalists, managing logistics, travel arrangements, content development, networking and social activities
  • Organized and led community outreach events aimed at raising awareness and cultivating donor engagement
  • Planned and executed lab events and tours, including Grand Openings and TEDxUCSB, for diverse audiences of patient advocates, scientists, public figures, and donors.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Biological Sciences

University of California At Santa Barbara

Skills

  • Corporate Event Planning
  • Budget Management & Cost Analysis/Efficiency
  • Relationship cultivation with stakeholders, clients, partners, vendors
  • Creative, client-focused experiential events
  • Client tailored marketing and sales strategy
  • Productive, flexible, independent collaborator
  • Team building and leadership, development
  • Food safety and sanitation compliance and risk management
  • Culinary expertise, Menu Development

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

  • Excels at managing multiple projects independently with minimal supervision. Self-motivated and dedicated professional
  • Confident in a leadership role; public speaker, discussion leader, meeting facilitator, planning site guide
  • Confident working as the exclusive point person in many event roles as the exclusive point person in any situation: site tours, negotiations, operations and production, post event analysis, expectation management
  • Communication strategies and proposals that resonate with guests of diverse demographics
  • Gracefully thrives at multi-tasking in an intense and dynamic environment, creative and decisive, poised under pressure
  • High aptitude with technology, and ability to be productive with new systems quickly. SalesForce & other CRMs
  • Extensive knowledge of Food and Beverage, 5 Star Hospitality Standards, local regulations
  • Passionate foodie, event trend junkie and creative conspirator

Certification

  • Food Safety Compliance, ServeSafe Manager - June 2025

Languages

English
Professional Working
Spanish
Limited Working

Timeline

Director of Dining & Events

Cate School
01.2020 - 01.2020

Director of Catering

Amgen
10.2019 - 08.2020

Food & Events Program Manager

LinkedIn/Microsoft
01.2017 - 06.2018

Food & Events Program Manager

LinkedIn by Lynda.com
01.2016 - 01.2017

Conference Services Manager

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort and Spa
01.2014 - 01.2016

Project Manager

Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara
01.2010 - 01.2012

Event & Dining Manager

Harpo Estates
01.2004 - 01.2014

Bachelor of Science - Biological Sciences

University of California At Santa Barbara

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Amy De Witt