Experience

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  Crystal Cruises

  • United States
  • Leisure, Travel & Tourism
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Special Events Coordinator

    • 2003 - 2012

    During alternating years from 2003 thru 2012My Special Events have appeared on three ships in the Crystal Cruises fleet. To produce the events, I drew upon the services of the entire ship's compliment of department heads and their staffs. For the 100-plus days of a World/Grand Cruise, Crystal management entrusted me to treat their celebrated and loyal guests to multiple major and minor fêtes of suitable entertainment; tailored one-off shows, intimate parties, illustriously imagined gala/dinners, holiday parties and various privately-hosted events. Typical challenge: After several months on a World Cruise, how could I delight guests of a cosmopolitan bent with an event in a venue onboard, that they'd never visited before? Event Coordinator responsibilities include:• Engaging in multi-departmental management to executive level planning meetings aboard ship and at headquarters in Los Angeles, CA. • Designing, composing and publishing the comprehensive operating digital & printed "bible" detailing all departmental responsibilities for each of as many as 16 events• Drawing heavily on my strong background in Walt Disney Imagineering and project installation, to invent “WOW" moments that produce sustained high guest ratings of approval• Computer graphic designing and creating themed event logos, signs, menus, invitations and collateral event materials• Managing communications on a daily basis to all concerned• Partnering with Band Master on music selection, and collaborating on script writing• Providing all themed show props, sets, venue decor, costumes for singers, dancers, bar staff and wait staff through researching, purchasing, manufacturing, and costume warehouse requisitioning • Shipping, manifesting, receiving event materials and maintaining them aboard ship and in shore-side warehouses• Coordination of the music, menus, themed décor, food and beverage choices, theme costuming, lighting, and collaborating on staging of all guest event-entertainment

  • Stage Manager

    • 2003 - 2012

    My work for Crystal Cruises included onboard stage manager during alternating years from 2003 thru 2012• Partnering on creative input and the installation of new main-theater Vegas-style reviews in collaboration with Crystal Cruises Entertainment Production Department• Collaborating with Vice President of Entertainment on all show elements and liaised with shoreside and on-board entertainment management• Joining with professionals and their departments from load-in, through costuming, staging, rehearsal and show opening• Shopping, purchasing and/or creating props, costumes,and set elements• Assisted lighting and sound techs during pre-production, and trained stage technicians• Documenting prop tracking, blocking, and show-run scripts utilizing Mac Excel

  • Manager, Shipboard Holiday Design and Decor

    • 2009 - 2011

    For the three cruise ships; Crystal Crystal Harmony, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony.• Designed and created, rehabilitated, purchased new and installed Christmas decorations on-board the ships• Oversaw months of warehouse preparation and supervised artisans• Employed and management a staff of 10 warehouse packers and shipping personnel, and talented buyers and decorators• Prepared payroll and expense records and documentation• Photo documented creative development and provided marketing with promotional material• Reported to, and met the expectations of, management through executive levels• Manifested and shipped decorations to international ports-of-call to meet the ships• Planned logistics for moving decorating operation and personnel from land to sea and back

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  Norwegian Cruise Line

  • Aboard ship

  • Company Manager

    • 1999 - 1999
    • Aboard ship

    COMPANY MANAGER – Jean Ann Ryan Productions - Aboard the NORWEGIAN WIND• Managed and maintained all aspects of performance and administration related to the production company onboard the ship• Oversaw and managed performers and technical staff in concerns relating to rehearsal and performance scheduling, supplies, housing, payroll, travel and medical needs• Worked with dance captain, vocal captain and technical director to rehearse and maintain all aspects of performance and production to levels set by directors and designers• Maintained all relations between company and cruise staff and hotel directors staff • Participated in regular weekly meetings with each department• Maintained and updated all show cue sheets, prompt books and related paperwork• Participated in industrials, star acts, specialty or themed entertainment set-up, operation and strike• Scheduled regular cast meetings to communicate new information.• Called "shots" for spots and lighting cues from theatre tech booth and ran spots when required.

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  Celebrity Cruises, Inc.

  • Aboard ship

  • Stage Manager, AV, Pyro, Special Effects and Stage Animation Technician

    • 1996 - 1997
    • Aboard ship

    As a member of the Audio Visual Department aboard the cruise ships mv ZENITH, GALAXY and MERCURY, was a principle authority in the backstage operation of all stage anirnation, pyrotechnics and other responsibilities as listed, for all production and specialty shows. Shipboard responsibilities included:• Maintaining in good condition all backstage and onstage areas• Storing, repairing and maintaining all props, sets and character costumes• Supervising dressers while also changing sets, props, drops & costumes during shows• Ordering, storing, cleaning equipment, loading and safely discharging pyro during shows• Ordering dry-ice, maintaining equipment and discharging dry-ice smoke effects• Acommodating needs of guest performers from name celebrities to struggling jugglers

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  Disneyland Resort

  • Disneyland Resort

  • Security - Service Quality Auditor - Investigator

    • 1994 - 1995
    • Disneyland Resort

    Observed performance of cast members as they served guests at Disneyland Resort and entertainment venues in Orange County.Participated in the development of systems for tabulating reported data which enabled management to: 1) continually monitor and plot good and bad changes, trends and/or patterns in employee/cast member behavior, 2) analyze and adjust systems and procedures accordingly.

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  Trans World Airlines

  • Worldwide

  • In-Flight & Ground Service Quality Auditor

    • 1989 - 1993
    • Worldwide

    Had the distinct honor of being chosen by then TWA Company chairman and owner, to join his personal team of "phantom fliers" to observe and report company-wide service-delivery.Responsible, as an independent contractor, for observing and reporting on the service quality of airline personnel including those responsible for: telephone reservations processing, baggage handling, counter ticketing, in-flight service performance, personnel appearance, security, and facility and aircraft maintenance.Participated in the formulating of systems for tabulating reported data which enabled management to: 1) continually monitor and plot changes, trends and/or patterns in employee behavior, 2) analyze and adjust systems and procedures, 3) respond to passenger complaints, and 4) identify employees deserving of recognition for outstanding service performance.

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  Celebrity Cruises, Inc.

  • Aboard ship

  • Entertainment Host

    • 1990 - 1991
    • Aboard ship

    It was my most agreeable mission to help prepare the cruise ship, mv ZENITH, for her introduction to the world and into the Caribbean cruise market. Joining her in the Papenburg, Germany, shipyard, I helped dress her out while crossing the North Atlantic, and then had the pleasure of hosting her debut to the travel industry during a series of open houses at port cities along the east coast of the United States.As an assistant to the Cruise Director I helped developed standards of service and operating procedures for the cruise staff as well as writing an effective manual for the sensitive boarding and landing of large numbers of passengers.

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  Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

  • Aboard ship

  • Entertainment Host, Shore Excursions and Travel Manager

    • 1985 - 1986
    • Aboard ship

    Positions demanded continuous interaction and service to large numbers of passengers for extended periods of time. Services and responsibilities included, but were not limited to: • Conducting informational talks for the benefit of passengers on in-port safety & shopping • Hosting social functions and entertainment • Maintaining communications among port agents, travel agents and company offices, • Selling excursions tickets, accounting for sales, and collecting and reporting revenues• Paying port contractors • Dispatching tours • Consulting with appropriate company personnel on shipboard procedures and staff performance

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  Walt Disney Productions & Walt Disney Home Video

  • Glendale, CA

  • Project Administrator

    • 1984 - 1985
    • Glendale, CA

    Responsible for budgeting, scheduling, and contracting with vendors for design and printing of packaging and marketing collateral for all Disney home-video labels. Researched art, photography, copyrights, premium items, etc.

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  Walt Disney Imagineering

  • United States
  • Entertainment Providers
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Disneyland Show Quality Assurance Coordinator & Project Administrator

    • 1975 - 1983

    Helped define and manage the prototype Show Quality Assurance Team now used at all Disney theme parks. The mission of the team: to preserve the WED [Imagineer] designer’s original theme park and attraction design integrity.Project Administrator: responsible for the scheduling and communications between all participants involved in the design and manufacture of Disneyland's new monorail trains among other projects. Participated in the start-up of the Disney Channel by coordinating design bidding for original graphics packaging.

  • Graphics & Interiors Departments Coordinator

    • 1975 - 1983

    Graphics & Interiors Department Coordinator: maintained interdepartmental communications, coordinated staff assignments, and monitored project milestone progress. Crossover responsibilities included, but were not limited to: scheduling design, manufacturing, shipping, and receiving of graphics, and the purchasing of furnishings, props, and decorator items for attractions at EPCOT Center and Tokyo Disneyland.

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  Walt Disney Imagineering

  • Walt Disney World

  • Project Installation Administrator & Assistant Project Manager

    • 1971 - 1973
    • Walt Disney World

    Responsible for coordination of elements of new construction for Walt Disney World's Tomorrowland. Maintained communications among company designers, manufacturers, outside contractors and between Project Superintendent and Project Manager. Field supervised installation, monitored milestone progress, tracked inventory, participated in creation of safety and operating procedures, and trained personnel.

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  Walt Disney World

  • Walt Disney World

  • Human Resources Personnel "Casting" Interviewer

    • 1971 - 1972
    • Walt Disney World

    Responsibilities included recruiting, interviewing, selecting and training personnel for the opening and for a short probationary time thereafter. Performed performance reviews. Pioneered prototype video job-preview system now in standard operation in all Disney theme park casting centers.

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  Disneyland Resort

  • Disneyland and Walt Disney World

  • Attraction Supervisor & Project Installation Coordinator

    • 1968 - 1972
    • Disneyland and Walt Disney World

    1968 – 1972 – DISNEYLANDBegan Disney career as a Jungle Cruise Skipper and remained in Attraction Operations in the Frontierland, New Orleans Square, and Adventureland areas until chosen to go to Florida as an Imagineering Project Installation Coordinator for various projects at the developing Magic Kingdom and EPCOT center. Primary show installation responsibilities there were for Rivers of America, Hall of Presidents, Diamond Horseshoe, and Haunted Mansion facility. Prior to and after opening day, was principle trainer in operation and industrial safety for attraction facility operation.Supervised cast members and participated in the initial rehab of the 20,000 Leagues submarine attraction. This included, major lagoon decor removal, cleaning, painting and installation of a clean new adventure for guests.