Darren Durkan

Founder and overall manager both schools in Donghae City. Responsible for the care and well-being of 280 students daily, as well as, 20 full-time staff members.

• Communicated with customers and vendors positively with particular attention to problem resolution and service development.
• Solely responsible for interviewing and hiring of employees.
• Trained and motivated employees to perform daily business functions.
• Executed business plans to further strengthen and maximize enrollments and sales.
• Anticipated financial impact from operational issues and worked with employees to develop solutions.
• Managed day-to-day business operations.
• Developed and maintained strong relationships with clients, resulting in repeat business and referrals.
• Oversaw daily operations, ensuring all tasks were completed accurately and efficiently by team members.
• Managed financial aspects of the business, including budgeting, financial reporting, and tax preparation.
• Established a positive workplace culture that fostered employee engagement, collaboration, and loyalty.
• Implemented marketing strategies to increase brand awareness and attract new customers.
• Set-up overseas immersion programs and seasonal camps.
• Liaised with education authorities, schools and governments regarding educational policy.

• Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
• Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
• Enhanced classroom engagement through the use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
• Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
• Assessed student performance regularly using both formative and summative assessments to inform future lesson planning.
• Organized extracurricular activities such as clubs or field trips that enriched students' learning experiences outside traditional classroom settings.
• Fostered positive learning environment that encouraged student curiosity and critical thinking.
• Adapted teaching methods and materials to meet students' varying needs.

This role saw me promoted from being responsible for Leeds to being a regional sales manager within a year. I enjoyed sales but not the industry.

• Developed and maintained positive relationships with clients in Leeds and Manchester.
• Organized regular sales meetings, providing comprehensive updates on market trends.
• Executed successful marketing campaigns to generate new business and expand customer base.
• Finalized sales contracts with high-value customers.
• Exceeded quarterly sales targets consistently..
• Resolved problems with high-profile customers to maintain relationships and increase return customer base.

Self employed business through University. Worked with Student Unions, local charities and venues to host a range of music events and cultural fundraisers.

• Hosted a variety of indoor music events.
• Completed health & safety reports for all events.
• Third party fundraising for Cancer Research Uk, Bernardos and Love Music not Racism working closely with their regional fundraising managers to host acceptable events.
• Increased client satisfaction by delivering tailored events that met their unique objectives and preferences.
• Delivered exceptional customer service to attendees, addressing concerns promptly and professionally.
• Skillfully negotiated contracts with venues, saving clients money while maintaining high-quality standards for events spaces.
• Solely responsible for all online and offline marketing strategies.
• Selected and ordered refreshments, decor and event materials.
• Help to raise profiles of venues and third party vendors.
• Negotiated contracts and riders to satisfy performers and artists.
• Also worked closely with local artists to raise profiles of local, talented musicians.
• Worked with third party event staff for stages, lighting and equipment.
• Voted in top events of the North 2006 by a reputable magazine.

Promoted to manager at just 18 years of age. Went on to achieve top sales in Europe and become regional manager before leaving to further educate myself in better management practices.

• Managed daily operations to ensure smooth functioning of the store, maintaining a clean, safe environment for customers and employees.
• Managed inventory control, cash control, and store opening and closing procedures.
• Assisted with hiring, training and mentoring new staff members for all three sites.
• Completed point of sale opening and closing procedures.
• Improved customer satisfaction through staff training in customer service and product knowledge.
• Managed store employees successfully in fast-paced environment through proactive communication and positive feedback.
• Addressed customer complaints promptly and professionally, resolving issues to maintain positive relationships with clientele.
• Fostered a positive work environment by cultivating strong relationships between team members through team-building activities and consistent recognition of individual achievements.
• Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
• Responsible for marketing materials and early stage database management.
• Achieved top sales increases in Europe for Leeds site.
• Nominated for Rookie manager of the year 2001.