DF-2000
Certified Household Manager
I grew up in a large family with four siblings, a career military father, 20 years as a Senior Master Sargent in the Air Force and a gentle Southern mother who always took care of us. Although my parents are deceased, their legacy of instilling strong character, integrity and an incomparable work ethic have contributed to success in every facet of my work and private life. While I consider Michigan my home, I have lived all over the world, and regularly communicate with my siblings to discuss family issues and catch up as friends. Early on, I worked in the mortgage business; I reported to three company vice presidents and was responsible for the management of their sizable loan portfolio.
Direction of support staff through effective communication, along with strong organizational skills and attention to detail, helped our team achieve our goals. These organizational skills and the fastidious nature of my personality have been the key to my success in the world of business, which has ultimately translated to my success in managing households. Growing up, military service was my way of life; now as an adult, Household Management service is my way of life.
As my career in Private Service has evolved, so has my family. I cherish my time with my wife and children, and am fortunate that my wife is able to stay home with our children to provide a loving, nurturing environment for them. Quality of life is very important to me, both in supporting my Principal’s quality of life, as well as having quality time with my family when possible.
I have been employed both as a Household Manager and as an Estate Manager. What matters the most to me is being entrusted as a leader to support the lifestyle and holdings of a Principal. Through all of these positions, I have preferred to keep a hands-on approach with my Principals and other employees though my strongest skills are my administrative with a keen eye for functional logistics. I have assisted in all facets of management, from working with vendors to supporting a variety of household staff. When asked to take on additional responsibilities, I view the challenge with enthusiasm; I always rise to the occasion and make sure I live up to or exceed the expected standards.
Earning my Household Management Certification at Starkey International allowed me to more clearly identify the strengths I possess and also acted as a conduit, directing me to a specific career in private service. When I think about what brings me the most satisfaction in this career, serving people’s needs always comes to the forefront of my mind. I greatly enjoy being in a position that allows the utilization of my organizational skills and attention to detail, leading staff and taking that extra step to anticipate needs and make a difference for my employer.
My top Service Standards are Administrative, Housekeeping, Maintenance, and Transportation and Travel
Administrative – I am highly adept at organizing office files, paying bills, developing and resourcing good employees and vendors and supporting daily household operations. Keeping an overall household calendar for all daily, weekly and seasonal Housekeeping, Maintenance and Property & Grounds needs is an area where I also excel. My previous Principal used to call me their CFO, as I was responsible for not just the household budget, but the overall estate and some business accounts as well. I do well with electronic communication, and I am experienced with caring for valuables, such as furniture and artwork.
Housekeeping – I have always enjoyed living and working in a very clean and organized environment. I feel a sense of immediate satisfaction seeing a space go from messy or unorganized to clean and orderly. Because of my hands-on nature, there is no task too large or too small for me to tackle. I am comfortable training staff and upholding standards throughout the home, as well as completing cleaning tasks myself. I have learned that developing customized zoning and task sheets immediately raises standards within a home.
Maintenance – I consider myself to be a “Jack of all trades” and capable of problem solving in a variety of situations. I have performed basic maintenance tasks in all of my positions, as well as in my own home. My maintenance skills have been honed over the years while maintaining large estates and properties both through hands-on tasks as well as managing as many as 75 vendors on a consistent basis. Implementing task sheets and maintenance schedules has become second nature to me, and I enjoy seeing projects through from conception to completion. During one of my positions, I helped develop an entire Maintenance Matrix covering all engineering and care needs for our property and grounds.
Transportation and Travel – I take great satisfaction in helping my Principals get from Point A to Point B, whether by car, plane or boat. I’ve helped orchestrate the purchases and sales of private planes and yachts. This means I have experience with dealing with plane and yacht insurance premiums and policies, in addition to making arrangements with private pilots and charters. In addition, as I have lived all over the world, I have made international travel itineraries for my Principals, including lodging and entertainment. I am also well-versed in purchasing automobiles and taking care of all maintenance and insurance needs.
Technical Skill Synopsis:
Administrative:
- Direct and interact with staff to communicate standards of estate
- Perform all HR Duties relating to staffing of estate staff (hire-extensive background, criminal, credit and drug test, termination, payroll, annual reviews) benefits administration
- Select and manage benefits for yacht crew
- Administrator for yacht and airplane entities
- Manage all aspects of personal, property and business insurance for Principals and LLCs
- Update insurance coverage as needed
- Maintain inventory of all jewelry, silver and artwork purchases
- Schedule and oversee extensive list of vendors
- Act as liaison between builder and principals during large scale construction project
- Work with attorneys, accountants and financial advisor team as needed
- Assess and purchase all provisions for estate.
- Process all mail, review all personal and LLCs invoices for payment
- Manage all personal and business bank accounts
- Update household management manual/task sheets as needed
- Responsible for appropriation of funds for all operating expenses
- Arrange movement of capital as needed
- Manage annual foundation donations
- Created and managed Household Management Manual and task sheets for all positions, to ensure accountability and consistency with service delivery on estate.
- Conducted weekly staff meetings to address service delivery challenges and status of all maintenance and projects
- Schedule all household vendor appointments
- Maintained inventory of all household supplies and personal items for the principals.
Housekeeping:
- Created customized zoning for cleaning of multiple properties
- Provided Housekeeping staff with task sheets identifying morning and evening daily graces, specific supplies to be used and frequency of cleaning for each zone
- Research and implement most effective means of maintaining collections in home
- Purchase all cleaning products/tools and monitor efficacy, revise as needed
- Regularly review housekeeping “diary” of completed task sheets and do zone “walk” to ensure that all standards and preferences are being maintained.
- Hands-on performed “Daily Graces” to restore order, and house cleaning in the absence of the house cleaner.
- Maintained inventory of bedding/clothing items sent for cleaning and repair.
Culinary:
- Created extensive “in residence” and “returning to home” grocery shopping list
- Assess and monitor changing food preferences to be communicated to chef
- Monitor standards of cleanliness of kitchen and all utensils
- Interact with healthcare advocate and chef to assist Principals with implementing changes in diet as recommended.
- Assist chef in maintaining “specialty” item food inventory and rotation of fresh foods.
- Purchase/maintain culinary equipment as needed.
- Worked with Principal to create and implement a weekly menu and efficient shopping practices with chef
- Request special dietary needs of guests at home and on yacht to be communicated to chef
- Presented “light” menu for evening/post work late night meals
- Completed internet research to source healthy, appealing food for weekly menu presentation for approval by principals.
- Shopped for fresh, quality food for dinner preparation M-F for family.
- Prepared, and served food, cocktails, and wine for special events, holidays.
- Assisted with management of extensive wine inventory.
Clothing & Valet:
- Creative at packing for short and lengthy trips
- Understands fabric and seasonal wardrobe changes.
- Skilled at basic “short order” repairs
- Experienced with basic laundry, resourceful with spot removal and dry-cleaning direction.
- Organized and maintained Principals’ dressing room and extensive clothing shoe collection based on color, fabric and designer.
- Enjoy and am comfortable with fashion style from traditional, modern to formal elegance.
- Experienced in creating a desired “look” for the occasion. Entertaining:
- Trained in formal dinner service
- Assist the Principal in planning events ranging from large party with live entertainment, videographer, dinner service, educational-catered luncheons and small “intimate’ themed yacht parties.
- Work with Principal in making event menu, floral and entertainment selections.
- Maintain record of all entertainment details-guest lists, menu selections; vendors chosen, attire, program and all billing invoices
- Assist all overnight guests with ground transportation and overnight accommodation while attending events
- Provide support to chef with order and inventory management of all household wine
- Act as master of ceremonies and serve at events upon request
- Served cocktails and appetizers for poolside gatherings.
Grounds & Property:
- Schedule and attend all meetings with Landscape Horticulturist and Principal to have consistent scope of all projects
- Contributed to extensive written, structure and grounds hurricane protocol manual
- Worked with liaison to create all physical structure maintenance task sheets
- Review garden and maintenance diary to ensure standard compliance
- Schedule and direct all outdoor service vendors as needed
- Maintain date/time log for all vendors on property
- Worked closely with Landscape Designer Maintenance Team on scheduled plantings and ongoing maintenance to achieve a manicured appearance of the estate.
- Scheduled and supervised the logistics of a lengthy yard fire table seating area project
- Worked with an international sculptor to communicate images and desires of Principal related to the purchase of sculptures for the estate.
- Scheduled all interior and exterior maintenance for the main estate and 2nd home.
- Requested bids for all ongoing maintenance and special projects for the Principal’s review.
- Provided a “Daily Recap” of all maintenance and ongoing projects on the estate.
Maintenance:
- Responsible for cleanliness and scheduling of maintenance/service for all vehicles
- Document all maintenance and expense of all vehicles on excel spreadsheet
- Work with liaison to monitor all maintenance through creation and utilization of task sheets: HVAC, electrical, water filtration system, pool
- Select, schedule appointments and manage service vendors for repairs on appliances, personal devices and all structural elements on estate
- Seek multiple bids for maintenance/repairs on large scale projects
- Communicate with Principals regarding maintenance repairs on personal use boats
- Performed basic maintenance tasks as needed
Transportation & Travel:
- Assist Principal with selection of new vehicles
- Manage maintenance and cleanliness of all personal use vehicles
- Negotiate; finalize purchase and appropriate funds necessary to complete purchases
- Communicate with necessary personnel to schedule use of yacht and airplane
- Arrange all travel specifics-dates of private jet use, departure/arrival times, ground transportation (rental or hired driver-car), hotel and restaurant reservations, maps, local attractions, pertinent contact information and medical advocate/family/friend notification
- Assisted EA with the management of daily drivers, an extensive collection of “Exotic” cars, motorcycles, a ski boat, and personal watercraft.
Safety and Protection:
- Co-wrote hurricane emergency plan, clearly outlining all employees’ responsibilities
- Created task sheets incorporating fence, gate, alarm checks into daily graces
- Trained staff on alarm/emergency protocol
- Monitor alarm system, functionality of gates and cameras
- Designated as 1st to respond on security monitoring call list
- Assign individual alarm entry codes to identify entry/exit in secured structures
- Adhere to Principal’s requirement of maintaining a 2 gate barrier between security dogs and staff or vendors
- All employment applicants undergo an extensive criminal and credit background check and drug screen
- Require a signed Confidentiality Notice of all employees
- Resource for the understanding of the protection that comes with implementation of adherence to strict personal boundaries.
- Maintain heightened awareness of security on or off the estate
- Worked closely with security monitoring company to implement solutions to system failures and new technology as needed.
Personal Care:
Child Care:
- Provided supervision in lieu of nanny or parents
- Managed social calendars including school activities and events
- Provided transportation to and from activities
Pet Care:
- Managed care of 5 large breed guard dogs
- Created care, feeding and medication schedules to be used by supporting staff members
- Performed regular validation of care by review of schedules and post vert visit records.
- Ordered/maintained inventory of care supplies.
- Transported family dog to and from weekly grooming appointment.
- Interacted with vet for care of dog as needed.
Guest Care:
- Attended to personal needs
- Provided for all required amenities and supplies prior to guest arrival
- Provided transportation to and from airport and surrounding attractions
- Created detailed itineraries
- Prepared meals based on dietary restrictions and preference.
- Ran errands for special needs & requests.
Elder Care:
- Acted as shopping companion
- Par inventory for all medications
- Interacted with medical advocate team and health care providers
- Scheduled all appointments with doctors, specialists, physical therapists, etc.
- Assisted Principal’s Parents with packing of family home to assist with the move to new a property.