Cristina Bragalone

A highly organized, energetic, and resourceful administrative support professional with over a decade of Property and Talent Management, Administrative, and Executive-level experience in highly dynamic industries. Known for corporate culture creation and human resource management, delivering results ahead of deadlines, and providing confidential and substantive support for executives, companies, their assets, and their teams. Can effectively and successfully manage multiple projects.

Works from a well-curated and constantly deepening reference pool, built from a lifetime of curiosity on arts, culture, technology, and business.

General Manager - Farina's Restaurants

(2025-02 - 2026-02)

Oversees front-of-house operations at Farina's Supper Club and Cafe Farina's, with a focus on the Grand Opening and operational management of Rocco's Tavern and creation of a Catering & Events silo for the company.

Executive

Assistant to Ownership as needed. Staff interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, and ongoing managerial coaching. Direct contact for front-of-house, all staff members, vendors, and customers. Provide store-level management during operational hours, as needed. Balancing and reporting of all daily restaurant financial transactions. Reports directly to ownership.

• Revenue growth and daily financial reconciling, balancing, and reporting on a store-by-store basis

EA & Admin to the CEO / Principal - Stone's Throw Interiors - Lakeside, MI

(2021-09 - 2025-01)

Hired as a part-time freelancer, then brought on to the Lakeside MI firm in January 2022. Work in admin support, studio office management, project, and rental property management for the principal (Susan Fredman) and design team. Creating new and improved processes by clarifying and expanding the use of the firm's current tracking and project management software. Assist in identifying hiring and training new hires. Work directly with the bookkeeper on Proposals, Orders, and Invoices.

Created

PowerPoint presentations for the Designers. Organized and published monthly schedules for the firm. Managed owner's three vacation rental properties in Palm Springs, CA., Union Pier, MI, and Lakeside, MI. Managed and conducted retail sales in the studio showroom.

Freelance Admin - The Joy Project - Sawyer, MI

(2020-01 - 2024-12)

Part-time freelance for this lifestyle project, which melds Interior Design, experiential living, and stewardship of large natural property. Admin work includes support of the project creator, interior designer Steve Somogyi (S&F Interior Design). Creative ideation, sourcing, ordering, Bookkeeping and reporting, marketing support, community and expert reach-out for various projects, tracking projects, organization, and reporting of project expenses to investors.

General Manager - Froehlich's Inc. - Three Oaks, MI

(2019-05 - 2021-07)

Oversaw all operations of Froehlich's 19N (Kitchen and Pantry, and 19N Event space) and 26 N Bakery from the pre-opening of 19N forward. Schedule and run all Management Team meetings / publish shared agenda. Responsible for all banking, financial reporting, bill payment, QuickBooks entries, and payroll. Primary liaison to all vendors, the accountant, and bankers. Conduct all payroll necessities, including full production of payroll payments and records, 360 on and off-boarding of employees, bill payment, and management of company financials / QuickBooks.

Executive

Assistant to Ownership, Colleen Froehlich.

Interim

Catering and Events Director. Creation and implementation of company-wide promotions, events, and initiatives.

• Chief of Staff Management: primary manager and direct contact for all staff members
• Conceptualized and executed company events, including wine tastings and the inaugural Harbor Country Pride Club Rainbow event
• Supervise all Marketing / Social Media department efforts
• Consistent input on menu creation for restaurant and catering
• Supervise all retail and liquor store staff and operations
• Report directly to ownership

Executive Assistant / Chief of Staff - The Kaplan Institute at Illinois Institute of Technology - Chicago, IL

(2018-05 - 2019-05)

Building Monitor for construction, Grand Opening, and inaugural academic year of Chicago's Ed Kaplan Institute. Dual role was also Executive Assistant to Howard Tullman: Executive Director and University Professor, The Kaplan Institute at Illinois Institute of Technology.

Executive Administrator - G2T3V - Chicago, IL

(2018-05 - 2019-12)

Investment group focused on disruptive technology. The group is buoyed by the speaking engagements of principal Howard Tullman. I fostered relationships related to the group's interests, including potential investors, press, academic leaders, and thought-partners, tech start-ups looking for advice, visibility, connections, and/or first or second-round funding.

Managed the financials, travel, and all business administrative needs of the group. Portfolio & Activity: As of 2026, G2T3V has invested in over 50 companies. Portfolio companies include Tock, Indiegogo, Rise Gardens, and UPshow.

Chief-of-Staff and Executive Assistant to the C.E.O. - Dibit.com at 1871 Chicago - Chicago, IL

(2018-03 - 2018-05)

Designed and implemented all HR and administrative protocol for a highly rated start-up, housed inside of Chicago's 1871 non-profit technology incubator and innovation hub, located in the historic Merchandise Mart.

Freelance/Consulting - EVP of Global Human Resources Support - Trading Technologies Inc. - Chicago, IL

(2017-03 - 2018-03)

Hired to assist the EVP of Global Human Resources, where I provide general support and chief of staff duties.

• Coordinate team meetings; Arrange and manage travel bookings; Schedule interviews and external meetings for EVP, including correspondence on their behalf
• Maintenance of confidential databases; preparing "All Company" emails and communications
• Preparation of meeting materials
• Development of culture initiatives and onboarding programs
• Electronic filing of all documents
• Assistance with Accounts Payable

Owner - STUDIO 110 SALON - Chicago, IL

(2001-01 - 2017-02)

As founder and owner of this 3,500 square foot salon in Chicago's Gold Coast, my role was primarily to oversee and run all day-to-day operations of the business.

• Financial Reporting; Accounts Payable; Bookkeeping; Payroll
• Coordination of meetings with Vendors and various key stakeholders
• Overseeing all customer service and interaction with clients
• Personnel Management (hiring, training, and terminations)
• All Marketing initiatives to include design, content, and circulation
• Brand-building, including staffing and retail mix, aesthetics of space, including overseeing Design & Construction