UHNW Family · Grand Rapids, MI

15 residences, 200,000+ sq ft across Michigan, Florida, Montana and Tennessee, including lakefront homes, Yellowstone Club, Blackberry Farm and Windsor (Vero Beach)

Property Leadership

• Held final responsibility for the portfolio, directing on-site house managers at out-of-state residences through weekly check-ins and site visits
• Led a 16-person staff across 5 departments: Administration, Grounds, Maintenance, Facilities and Housekeeping
• Set up competitive bidding on all property work, and kept the principal informed through weekly meetings on projects, costs and decisions
• Wrote job descriptions for new roles, including Property Facilities Specialist and Manager of Domestic Services

Construction & Capital Projects

• Represented the family on a $2M new guest house and staff office build on the lake properties
• Oversaw a $1.5M oceanfront cabana build in Florida through numerous change orders
• Managed the complete exterior rebuild of the cedar shakes and barnwood siding on the Yellowstone Club mountain home
• Created a four-step project process (Plan, Brief, Execute, Debrief) and a standard quote-comparison process for like-for-like bids
• Used AI tools to review bids side by side, finding $10K–$15K in hidden costs on a single project

Facilities & Systems

• Built a cloud property management system in Notion to replace paper binders: work orders, maintenance schedules, fleet, vendors and service history
• Oversaw HVAC, electrical, plumbing, generators, pools, security and smart-home systems across all properties

Readiness & Hospitality

• Wrote opening, closing and pre-visit checklists for seasonal homes, and traveled ahead so every house was ready on arrival
• Worked with the Executive Protection team on access control and security at all properties
• Planned events from intimate dinners to large outdoor parties

Household

• Supervise a housekeeping staff of 7, including hiring and training for five-star service
• Break down and zone the main house, involving the housekeeping team for the highest possible buy-in, and empower them to have the highest possible standards
• Create a house manual and cloud-based system detailing each room’s daily, weekly, monthly and annual tasks and general house SOP
• Work with the Head Gardener to uphold landscaping at the highest level and ensure the house always has cut flowers and plants
• Ensure the principals’ closets are always organized and seasonal changes are performed
• Coordinate with the private pilot for catering and occasionally fill in as steward on the private jet
• Manage and source pantry items and all approved cleaning supplies, and keep inventory
• Travel to other properties regularly to ensure they are being kept at the highest standard and ready for use at a moment’s notice
• Ensure guest rooms are ready with little finishing touches of flowers and water, make sure various phone chargers are available, and check with PAs beforehand for any personal preferences
• Greet guests on arrival, show them to their rooms and take care of all their needs while they are house guests
• Manage a 2,000-bottle wine cellar, contacting various vendors to procure wines and watching for bottles going past their prime drinking date
• Maintain a guest book of food preferences and useful information to ensure five-star service on future visits

Special Events

• Coordinate menus with the chef, considering food preferences, and select wines for all events
• Meet with the principal on the general feel of each event, then design and implement it
• Set formal tables for 2 to 50 guests with up to 7 courses
• Host the principal’s investment company CEOs for off-site retreats and meetings at the farm’s 5,000 sq ft party venue
• Work with Mrs. on her nonprofit organization’s annual events, charity events and other get-togethers for 50 to 500 people
• Procure catering and party items to cut down on constant rentals of glassware and other party items
• Serve formal dinner and wine service, and announce each dish and the wine selected
• Maintain a large collection of silverware, china and crystal glasses for formal dinners
• Select all table settings for dinners and set them using a butler stick

Security/AV/IT:

• Coordinate 24-hour security, both armed and unarmed
• Coordinate and assist with the estate and family security audit by Osen Hunter Group
• Work in partnership with Active Security on the implementation and maintenance of a farm-wide security camera system
• Manage the fingerprint ID access system for the main house
• Replace the ageing Crestron system with a Savant smart home and update the house Lutron lighting system
• Update home theatre sound and projector to 4K
• Troubleshoot IT/AV issues as needed any time of the day or night, and ensure software updates on all equipment

Administration:

• Control household budgets to identify where money is spent
• Manage housekeeping team payroll, timesheets and weekly schedules
• Work with vendors for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, Generac and pool service to ensure everything is working as designed, and work out when upgrades to systems are needed
• Coordinate house calendars with the respective PAs and keep household staff up to date
• Ensure the family office receives invoices and credit card statements after verification, and ensure house and vehicle insurance are in place
• Maintain the vehicle fleet’s service history, annual inspections and registrations
• Take on the chef’s duties of preparing meals when the chef is on vacation and the principals are in residence
• Coordinate the principals’ driver schedule and keep the driver busy when not needed for driving duties
• Ensure the jet van is always well maintained, stocked with drinks and snacks, and ready to pick up guests when needed
• Direct and control all farm game hunting programs

Further education at River Farm

Attended Napa Valley Wine Academy and completed WSET Levels 1, 2 and 3.

Attended The Charles MacPherson Academy, a highly regarded school for private service professionals.

Manage maintenance and upkeep of a 300-acre private estate, including the main house

and various other buildings and a guest house

• Coordinate with outside vendors and contractors for repairs on household equipment, including HVAC and Generac
• Monitor infrastructure: well water, filters, heating gas for residential buildings, waste disposal and geothermal
• Perform general repairs and coordinate with outside vendors and contractors for maintenance problems beyond the normal scope. Put in place a schedule for preventative and seasonal building maintenance
• Work with the IT company to ensure all automated house, sound and movie systems are working correctly
• Prep various vehicles for snow removal when needed
• Direct and perform the upkeep and maintenance of trees, landscaping and lawns, from ornamental mowing to field mowing, for 300 acres to a very high standard
• Coordinate and source catering, tents and table rentals for various parties, and oversee events to ensure their success
• Direct and perform maintenance of all vehicles and farm equipment. Automated the recording of farm equipment usage with smartphones and Google Forms to monitor general and fuel usage, so services are performed at the correct times and all equipment is kept in optimum condition
• Personally cater a hunt breakfast for up to 60 people once a year and roast whole pigs for a pig roast

Part-time position assisting the chef, formerly of Ayrshire Farm, at a VHNW house with no House Manager.

St Brides Farm is owned by Mrs. Barb Roux, owner of the Olympic team show-jumping horse Baloutinue.

• Assist the private chef in food preparation and plating for parties from 10 to 200 people
• Prepare open fireplaces using techniques suited to very old homes to minimize smoke entering the residence
• Set formal tables and provide service for up to 16 guests without additional staff
• Ensure bars are stocked and hors d’oeuvres, cheeses and charcuterie are presented correctly for pre-dinner cocktails
• Greet guests and serve beverages
• Drive the carriage for a family wedding and organize various high-end carriages and horses for guest movement

Ayrshire Farm is a 1,000-acre farm whose high-net-worth owner restored the 19th-century mansion and grounds to their former beauty.

Lead and manage a team of up to twenty people for private parties, balls and many other functions in the historic manor house

• Manage the Ayrshire Farm feast, a 6-course dinner in a 20-acre meadow for 200 people at a single table
• Manage and prepare budgets for several departments. Approve and submit invoices for purchasing and outside vendors. Solicit bids and proposals for various projects
• Manage the equine operations of 30 horses and a staff of 6, including continuing education, annual reviews and other human resources matters
• Work in partnership with the house manager, executive chef and R&M to execute successful events
• Schedule service and inspections for all vehicles, including trucks and horse trailers, and ensure compliance with DOT regulations
• Manage the restoration and upkeep of over 20 rare antique carriages and antique cars for use at a moment’s notice. Source and locate vendors for maintenance of these carriages and cars
• Prepare and lead the farm team for the semi-annual tour of around 2,000 visitors
• Manage the armed security team to keep the farm secure 24 hours a day
• Snow plowing and seasonal field bush hogging
• On call 24/7 during winter months to keep farm roads clear of snow and fallen trees, and for any first aid-related matters

Red Cross certified

Represented the principal in dealings with charitable organizations to preserve her anonymity, including Mt Vernon, ALBC, the American Shire Horse Association, the Shire Horse Society and UC Davis, CA

Formerly the Grand Cypress luxury hotel, now the Evermore Orlando. Interacted with hotel guests for lessons and with boarding customers on a daily basis, keeping the highest standards of customer service.

• Manage and prepare annual budgets, and code invoices using the chart of accounts and monthly P&L statements
• Manage stables of over 50 horses, including those of boarders and hotel guests
• Manage and direct the daily work of 20 staff members in two separate locations. Promote and uphold 5-star service to hotel guests
• Coordinate with the repairs department to maintain all buildings and landscaping, including two outdoor rings, one indoor ring and a cross-country course
• Design marketing collateral for events and promotions
• Draw up emergency plans and procedures for hurricanes
• Represent the equestrian centre in TV segments for The Weather Channel and The Travel Channel

Cared for all of Karen Rehbein’s horses, including the famous horse Donnerhall.

Team member of the German dressage team at the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome.

Worked in horses before Karen rode them, cooled them off afterwards, and lunged and long-lined the horses not being ridden.

Traveled to all shows every week during show season.

Fiona Bigwood, member of the British Under-21 dressage team and the British adult dressage team

Established and managed a private driving stable on the royal prince’s 100,000-acre private farm.

Oversaw construction of a stable complex on 20 acres, and installed complex irrigation and lush landscaping.

Managed and trained a staff of 20 in all aspects of maintaining a stable and the etiquette used while the royal family was riding in the carriages.

Participated in many royal processions for the Queen and the royal family.

Part of the team breaking and training new horses and getting them ready for state occasions.

Took part in a joint display with the Swedish and Dutch royal households for the opening ceremonies of the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm.

Cared for and turned out horses for Her Majesty the Queen at Easter Court, Windsor Castle.

Mounted gunner in a ceremonial branch of the Army, performing at military tattoos and firing salutes for royal events. Also qualified in Artillery signals.

Competed in eventing, show jumping and dressage. Military conduct exemplary.

Served as officer’s groom/batman (valet), caring for an officer’s uniform, clothing, boots, shoes, horses and tack.

Served formal meals at officers’ mess dinners using silver service. Able to set a formal table using a butler stick and regimental silver.

Trained one and a half years longer as a junior leader and was promoted due to excellent leadership skills.