Vanessa Yepes, M.S.

I build strategic partnerships with companies in cold storage, food production, and distribution across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. My focus is helping clients expand and modernize temperature-controlled facilities by connecting their goals with ARCO’s turnkey design-build expertise. I create value through relationship-driven collaboration, clear communication, and solutions that support operational growth.

As a Talent Acquisition Manager, I specialize in full-cycle recruiting, partnering with internal clients to develop tailored hiring strategies that align with business goals. I craft compelling job descriptions, negotiate offer letters, and engage with passive candidates to build robust talent pipelines. Currently, I focus on recruiting for diverse roles across the USA, including Directors, Marketing, Administrative, Sales, as well as hourly labor positions, Superintendents, Project Managers. With a proactive approach and a commitment to clear communication, I deliver top-tier talent solutions that drive organizational success.

Drive business growth by identifying and securing new opportunities while managing and expanding relationships with existing clients. Lead a high-performing internal team of five, establishing and implementing KPIs to ensure recruiters consistently meet goals and deliver exceptional service to clients. Oversee all branch operations, including P&L management, budgeting, forecasting, and the development of sales and business strategies to grow market share. Handle pricing, contract negotiation, and terms to align with business objectives. Recruit and onboard internal staff as needed to support organizational growth. Serve as a trusted consultant to business partners, providing insights and best practices to enhance outcomes and build long-term partnerships.

Identify and target potential customers while maintaining and strengthening relationships with existing clients to increase market share and drive market penetration. Build professional relationships with key customer personnel through on-site visits, direct interactions, and proactive outreach, including cold calling. Secure orders by establishing trust and understanding customer needs. Maintain accurate CRM records, tracking visits, opportunities, and activities for assigned distributors and customers. Collaborate with management to develop and execute strategic sales plans to promote applicable product lines and services effectively. Conduct thorough research and analysis to respond to customer inquiries, providing detailed information on product features, benefits, and performance to address their needs and enhance satisfaction.

Expert in managing high-volume staffing operations, attracting top talent through publishing engaging job ads across careers pages, job boards, and social media platforms. Proactively source and engage passive candidates online, while networking with 30+ walk-in applicants daily. Conduct resume screening, application reviews, and comprehensive candidate interviews to provide clients with shortlists of highly qualified potential hires. Maintain regular communication with clients, delivering updates on hiring status and progress. Prepare candidates for client interviews to enhance success rates. Develop and maintain robust talent pipelines of high-potential candidates for future opportunities. Keep detailed and organized records of past applicants, including resumes, assignments, and interview evaluations, to streamline future hiring efforts.

Drive business development by engaging active, inactive, and prospective clients to expand market presence and revenue. Maintain exceptional client satisfaction and retention by delivering tailored solutions and fostering strong relationships. Conduct strategic sales activities to fuel branch growth and achieve aggressive, sustainable profitability. Serve as a local industry expert, consulting with businesses on market trends, salary recommendations, and talent availability to support their hiring goals. Recruit top talent to build a robust pipeline and skill-market permanent placement candidates to prospective and existing clients. Oversee order management to ensure a strong fit between job requirements, company culture, and candidate skills. Actively participate in networking activities to build connections and drive business opportunities. Consistently meet and exceed sales metrics while ensuring high standards of client retention and satisfaction.

Specialize in staffing Front of House and Back of House positions for luxurious hotels in Miami-Dade County. Collaborate closely with clients to define and refine job descriptions, ensuring alignment with their needs. Manage job postings across multiple platforms, including Indeed, Craigslist, LinkedIn, and Monster, to attract top-tier talent. Conduct over 15 cold calls daily and screen candidates through phone and video interviews, scheduling and coordinating over 20 in-person interviews weekly. Facilitate second interviews between clients and candidates at client facilities, ensuring seamless communication and selection processes. Perform in-house drug testing, background checks, and I-9 verifications to maintain compliance and quality standards. Extend job offers to successful candidates and personally oversee their first-day check-ins at client locations to ensure a smooth onboarding experience.

Oversee all aspects of catered functions, from planning to execution, ensuring seamless operations through effective delegation and leadership. Collaborate closely with sales managers and coordinators to drive new business while maintaining strong relationships with existing accounts. Deliver exceptional guest satisfaction by training staff, fostering a "Do Whatever It Takes" culture, and leading by example with a hands-on management style. Identify and qualify business opportunities, skillfully close deals, overcome objections, and tailor solutions to client needs using a Features-Adjectives-Benefits approach. Manage active bookings and a robust pipeline of inquiries, prospects, and confirmed reservations to ensure steady business growth. Build private dining sales by cultivating relationships with local influencers, including hotels, convention bureaus, chambers of commerce, retail outlets, and residential communities. Conduct strategic client visits to deepen connections and enhance sales opportunities.

Coordinate all event details for a variety of occasions, including conferences, weddings, birthdays, charity events, trade shows, business meetings, and virtual events. Manage event budgets, ensuring all expenses stay within allocated limits while delivering high-quality experiences. Collaborate with clients to select and sample food and design custom menus that align with event themes and preferences. Conduct site visits to plan event layouts, seating arrangements, and décor, ensuring a seamless setup that aligns with client expectations. Negotiate and secure event spaces, optimizing venue selection based on client needs and event objectives. Provide expert guidance to ensure smooth event execution from start to finish, exceeding client expectations.