Marisa Zumbado
Gainesville
Summary
Client-focused sales and account management professional with 12+ years of experience building trusted relationships, managing high-touch service experiences, and driving revenue through consultative sales, proactive communication, and thoughtful follow-through. Background spans beverage sales, luxury hospitality, events, design sales, and fine dining, with experience managing 60+ accounts, supporting high-value client events, using CRM systems, and coordinating across teams to deliver seamless service. Known for turning client needs into tailored solutions, strengthening loyalty through trust-based service, and creating positive outcomes through organization, attention to detail, and strong relationship management.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Bartender & Sommelier
CHR Steak Dry-Aged Steakhouse
Gainesville, GA
10.2025 - Current
- Deliver high-touch client service in a fine dining environment, building trust with guests through personalized recommendations, strong follow-through, and polished communication.
- Support revenue growth through consultative wine, cocktail, and menu recommendations tailored to guest preferences, occasion, budget, and dining goals.
- Serve as a wine and beverage resource for guests and internal team members, providing product guidance, pairing recommendations, and on-the-floor support for staff questions.
- Contribute client insight to beverage strategy by sharing guest feedback, ordering trends, product performance observations, and staff knowledge gaps with beverage leadership.
- Support service operations through staff guidance, light inventory support, POS/manager-level system access, and real-time problem-solving during high-volume service.
- Help train and support bar team members and provide ongoing wine and beverage guidance to a floor team of approximately 15–20 staff members.
Server & Bartender
Bottle & Bones Chophouse
Suwanee, GA
08.2025 - 10.2025
- Delivered upscale food and beverage service while supporting bar execution, table service, guest communication, and team coordination during high-volume shifts.
- Maintained continuity of client-facing experience through attentive service, product knowledge, guest recovery, and operational support.
Sales Design Consultant
Bassett Furniture
Buford, GA
04.2025 - 07.2025
- Managed the client lifecycle from discovery and needs assessment through quoting, design recommendations, order coordination, delivery follow-up, and post-sale communication.
- Worked with an average of 10–15 clients per week, creating approximately 10 quotes weekly and 5–6 floor plan designs per month based on client lifestyle, space, budget, and priorities.
- Achieved $17K in sales during the first month after training through consultative selling, trust-based service, and personalized product recommendations.
- Used Salesforce CRM and Storis ERP software daily to enter new customers, track deliveries, document client interactions, manage sales activity, and support accurate follow-through.
- Coordinated with sales administrators, warehouse and delivery teams to support a smooth end-to-end client experience.
Golf Sales Manager
Chateau Elan Winery & Resort
Braselton, GA
06.2024 - 11.2024
- Managed group golf, corporate, and social event accounts from inquiry through execution and post-event follow-up, serving as a primary point of contact for clients and internal teams.
- Sold and coordinated customized group experiences ranging from approximately 25–144 guests and $5K–$27K in event value, including golf outings, driving range events, 9-hole team events, wine tastings, catering, and social packages.
- Supported approximately 40 group events during peak season by managing client communication, event details, timelines, quotes, BEOs, and internal handoffs.
- Used Delphi CRM to create and update events, manage account details, generate reports, document client needs, and maintain accurate communication across departments.
- Partnered with golf operations, food and beverage, banquets, catering sales, and resort event teams to align client expectations with operational execution.
- Supported repeat business by following up with previous groups, coordinating internal referrals, and identifying opportunities to expand corporate and social event offerings.
Meetings & Events Concierge
Chateau Elan Winery & Resort
Braselton, GA
01.2024 - 06.2024
- Recruited internally by the Director of Sales to transition from F&B operations into Meetings & Events after building a reputation for organization, attention to detail, strong cross-department communication, and reliable event follow-through.
- Served as an on-site liaison between group clients, Catering Sales Managers, banquet teams, culinary teams, and operations to ensure social and corporate events were executed according to client expectations.
- Managed day-of communication, service recovery, last-minute changes, and internal updates in real time to protect the client experience and support smooth event execution.
- Anticipated service gaps, clarified client needs, escalated issues when appropriate, and maintained luxury hospitality standards in high-pressure event environments.
Food & Beverage Coordinator
Chateau Elan Winery & Resort
Braselton, GA
05.2023 - 01.2024
- Served as administrative and operational support for the banquet culinary team, helping coordinate preparation and execution for a high-volume luxury resort with 650+ events annually.
- Represented the culinary team in daily BEO meetings with sales, events, and banquet teams to clarify menu updates, guest counts, dietary needs, timing, and event details.
- Reviewed BEOs and internal communication for accuracy, proactively identifying discrepancies and relaying updates to culinary leadership and team members before event execution.
- Provided management and administrative support as needed, assisting with communication, organization, operational follow-up, and day-to-day service needs.
- Assisted with beverage and cocktail menu input by sharing product knowledge, tasting insights, and supplier recommendations.
- Initiated and supported the first annual “Tequila Sunset” event, a Herradura-sponsored mixology and culinary experience designed to create an engaging guest experience and introduce a new signature event.
On Premise Sales Representative
Hayden Beverage
Sun Valley, ID
07.2022 - 03.2023
- Managed an independent book of approximately 60 on-premise and retail accounts across restaurants, bars, hotels, grocery, and resort outlets, serving as a consultative partner for wine, beer, and premium non-alcoholic beverage sales.
- Reactivated approximately 16 inactive accounts through relationship-building, product education, tastings, and strategic placements; 7 became top-selling accounts.
- Grew a key luxury restaurant account by approximately 5x after rebuilding a previously damaged vendor relationship through trust-based account management, tailored product recommendations, and consistent follow-through.
- Conducted frequent account tastings and product presentations to support new placements, menu placements, by-the-glass opportunities, and account-level sales growth.
- Partnered with buyers, managers, staff, suppliers, and brand representatives to align product recommendations with account needs, guest preferences, and revenue potential.
- Supported client success after placement through staff training, merchandising support, order guidance, issue resolution, and ongoing relationship management.
- Earned supplier sales recognition and incentives from King Estate, Precept Wines, and RNDC.
Education
Associate of Arts - Communications And Media Studies
Georgia Highlands College
Cartersville, GA08-2017
Introductory Sommelier Certificate -
Court of Master Sommeliers
Atlanta, GA08-2017
Level 1 Award in Wines -
Wine & Spirit Education Trust
Boise, ID10-2022
Skills
- Account Management: Client Relationship Management, Account Growth, Client Retention, Consultative Sales, Upselling & Cross-Selling, Client Needs Analysis
- Customer Success & Client Services: Service Delivery, Client Communication, Issue Resolution, Service Recovery, Client Satisfaction, Follow-Up Management
- Sales & Revenue Support: Product Recommendations, Menu & Beverage Sales, Event Sales, New Product Placement, Staff Training, Product Education
- Operations & Collaboration: Cross-Functional Coordination, BEO Coordination, Event Execution, Workflow Management, Internal Communication, Process Improvement
- CRM & Tools: Salesforce CRM, Delphi CRM, Storis ERP, Floorplanner, Hospitality POS Systems, Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Workspace
Accomplishments
- Winner, Blind Tasting Competition (Red & White Wine Categories), S&C Importers (2021)
- Sales ‘Queen’, King Estate Wines (2022)
- Winner, Q4 Wine Trip Incentive, Precept Wines (2022)
Timeline
Lead Bartender & Sommelier
CHR Steak Dry-Aged Steakhouse
10.2025 - Current
Server & Bartender
Bottle & Bones Chophouse
08.2025 - 10.2025
Sales Design Consultant
Bassett Furniture
04.2025 - 07.2025
Golf Sales Manager
Chateau Elan Winery & Resort
06.2024 - 11.2024
Meetings & Events Concierge
Chateau Elan Winery & Resort
01.2024 - 06.2024
Food & Beverage Coordinator
Chateau Elan Winery & Resort
05.2023 - 01.2024
On Premise Sales Representative
Hayden Beverage
07.2022 - 03.2023
Associate of Arts - Communications And Media Studies
Georgia Highlands College
Introductory Sommelier Certificate -
Court of Master Sommeliers
Level 1 Award in Wines -
Wine & Spirit Education Trust