Michael French

Professional Summary

Dynamic and results-driven professional with over 28 years of experience spanning hotel and hospitality operations, account management and IT recruiting. Proven ability to build lasting client relationships, lead high-performing teams, and deliver strategic talent solutions across diverse industries. Adept at navigating fast-paced environments, driving revenue growth, and aligning recruitment strategies with business objectives.

Core Competencies

Hospitality & Food & Beverage Leadership

• Operational Excellence – Oversaw daily F&B operations for high-volume, high-end hotel environments
• Budget & Cost Control – Managed multimillion-dollar budgets and drove profitability through cost-saving initiatives
• Staff Development – Recruited, trained, and retained high-performing hospitality teams
• Guest Experience – Elevated service standards to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty
• Event & Banquet Management – Directed large-scale events, weddings, and corporate functions
• Vendor Relations – Negotiated with suppliers to ensure quality and cost efficiency
• Compliance & Safety – Maintained health, safety, and regulatory standards across all F&B outlets

IT Account Management and Recruiting

• Client Relationship Management – Built and maintained long-term partnerships with enterprise clients
• Talent Acquisition Strategy – Led full-cycle recruiting across technical and non-technical roles
• Team Leadership – Managed and mentored recruiting teams to exceed placement goals
• Contract Negotiation – Skilled in negotiating staffing contracts and service-level agreements
• Process Optimization – Streamlined hiring workflows to reduce time-to-fill and improve candidate experience
• Tech Savvy – Familiar with ATS platforms, CRM tools, and emerging HR technologies
• Cross-Functional Collaboration – Worked closely with sales, HR, and operations to align hiring with business goals

Professional Experience

Crescent Solutions, Columbus, Ohio 

Senior Account Manager / IT Recruiter                                                                                                  2/2012 – Present 

• Spearheaded full-cycle recruitment for Fortune 500 clients across tech, finance, healthcare, retail, energy and entertainment sectors.
• Managed key accounts, consistently exceeding client expectations and achieving 95%+ retention rate.
• Built and maintained a robust pipeline of qualified candidates using LinkedIn Recruiter, job boards, referrals, and networking.
• Collaborated with hiring managers to define job requirements, streamline interview processes, and reduce time-to-fill.
• Mentored junior recruiters, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Achieved annual revenue growth of 20%+ through strategic client expansion.
• Placed over 300 IT professionals in contract and direct-hire roles.
• Recognized as Top Performer for five consecutive years.
• Developed customized hiring strategies for client accounts.

Hyatt Regency Columbus, Columbus, Ohio                                                                                          9/2006 – 2/2012

Food and Beverage Director

• Responsible for hotels $13M food and beverage operation consisting of 70,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, 150-seat three-meal restaurant, coffee shop, lounge and room service.
• Managed 120 plus Food and Beverage employees comprised of managers, supervisors and employees.
• Developed lounge and restaurant promotions and marketing.
• Assisted with sales component of banquet events.
• Focused on financial performance, customer service and employee engagement.

 Hyatt Regency Woodfield, Schaumburg, Illinois                                                                                2/2005 – 9/2006

Food and Beverage Director

• Responsible for hotels $7M food and beverage operation consisting of 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, 80-seat three-meal restaurant, sports bar, coffee shop and room service.
• Managed 80 plus food and beverage employees comprised of managers, supervisors and employees. 
• Developed and sustained new revenue streams within the hotel. 
• Focused on financial performance, customer service and employee engagement.        

Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, San Diego, California                                                           8/1999 – 2/2005

Assistant Food and Beverage Director 

• Oversaw daily operation of banquets, restaurants, lounges and coffee shops

Room Service Hospitality Manager

• Sold and managed 23 hospitality suites for social events at the hotel.
• Managed daily operations for room service department. Responsible for scheduling, training, employee relations, financial performance and customer service.

Assistant Banquet Manager

• Assisted with all banquet operations of the hotel. Events ranged from ten to ten thousand attendees.

Hyatt Regency Savannah, Savannah, Georgia                                                                                   6/1997 – 8/1999

Beverage Manager

• Controlled and maintained beverage cost for the hotel.
• Managed daily operations of the hotel lounge. Tasks included but were not limited to scheduling, training, employee relations, financial performance and customer service. 

Assistant Restaurant Manger

• Managed daily operations of the hotel three-meal restaurant.  Tasks included but were not limited to scheduling, training, employee relations, financial performance and customer service.

Education

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY – School of Human Ecology, Bachelor of Science Degree, Hospitality Management, June 1997.

Hospitality leader with experience driving operational excellence, guest satisfaction, and team performance. Over 15 years in senior management roles, including Food & Beverage Director positions at major Hyatt properties, overseeing multimillion-dollar operations, 100+ staff members, and large-scale event execution. Proven track record in boosting profitability, developing high-performing teams, and enhancing service standards in fast-paced, high-volume environments. Adept at managing budgets, vendor relations, and cross-functional initiatives. Recognized for hands-on leadership, staff development, and delivering exceptional guest experiences. 

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY – School of Human Ecology, Bachelor of Science Degree, Hospitality Management