Deborah Mella

Vice President of Sales and Development @Cipriani

New York, NY, US

Recruited initially to oversee one venue (42nd Street) with annual revenues of $20M in 2006• Overhauled declining sales at a second location (Wall Street) in 2009• Promoted to take over the third venue (25 Broadway) in 2016• Generated annual revenues exceeding $59M for all three locations in 2019• Maintained positive revenue metrics during challenging periods, including a recession• Built a team of 15 direct reports and maintained zero turnovers through dedicated leadership• Encouraged intra-company referrals to other Cipriani locations to meet client needs and drive bottom-line growth• Cultivated a huge database with thousands of clients who often return for additional events and refer new clients• Gained insight into various market verticals, including social, corporate, nonprofit, and government• Developed expertise in knowing what the client is looking for and proactively made suggestions accordingly • Opened two new locations for Cipriani, handling location scouting, site selection, bidding, and RFP management• Consistently delivered unparalleled culinary and event experiences to a diverse audience• Earned reputation as “The Rainmaker” is an extremely challenging, competitive industry

Florida State University

Bachelor of Science - BS