GINO SMIT
Personal Information:
Nationality: Dutch
Date and place of birth: October 14, 1967; Badhoevedorp, The Netherlands
Gender: Male
Marital status: single
Education:
HEAO
Bachelors Degree in Business: HES School of Economics and Business – Amsterdam
1989-1994
HAVO
Higher General Secondary Education: First Christian Lyceum of Haarlem 1985-1987
VWO
Pre-University Education: Adriaen Pauw College of Haarlem
Other: Various training courses in sales and communications, IATA Cargo Export
Computer Literacy: MSWord, MSExcel, MSPowerpoint, MSAccess, and AutoCad. Knowledge of, keen interest in, and numerous years of practical experience in working with various operational and financial information technologies. Frequent internet user.
Languages: Dutch, German, English, French, and Spanish.
Driver’s License (Type): Yes, Class B
Military Service: May 1987- September 1988
Received six months of training with eligibility to become a military sergeant at the Royal Netherlands Military Constabulary in Apeldoorn.
Work Experience:
September 2003 – Medio 2006 Johan Cruijff Golf & Sports Resort Mosa Trajectum, Key Resorts Project Development, Murcia (Spain) (
www.thekey.es)
Served as Lead Trailblazer; was a member of the Commercial Administration (New Business Development/Sales) at the Key Resorts headquarters; and reported directly to the president-director/owner of the company. Several projects in a Joint-Venture partnership with Bouwfonds Property Finance International.
Appointed as a liaisons-officer between the owner/project developer and sales organization (a project development company of 220 personnel and an additional sales organization of 40 staff).
Served as the Project Preparations Representative (i.e. for marketing research on start-ups, feasibility studies, and pricing). Also served as the Coordination Representative, i.e. was response for making all presentation materials available for product launches and beginning sales;
Coordinating an international Sales Staff with primarily native English agents and a (inter)national agent network for promoting our products in Spain and in Foreign Countries;
Performed R&D on new Real Estate and sales-related products;
Performed interim management for various commerce-support departments;
Presented a project preparation study to major banking partner Bouwfonds Property Finance International on behalf of financing requests;
Visited and traveled throughout Spain for various projects as a delegate and trailblazer for the president-director/owner;
Became familiar with: Internationally operating sales-teams, Spanish business practices, local market trends, and product development; Branding as the most important marketing component – and sales strategy; converting various components of a complex, multi-year project into a presentable, succinct document (less is more principle) for top management and shareholders.
Most important projects:
Panorama Golf, Orihuela Costa, Alicante (Spain): approx. 160 units. Average sales value = 130,000 EUR. Status: 7 units remaining.
Balcon del Mar, Xeresa, Valencia (Spain): built approx. 400 living units on the side of a mountain, 80% of which were apartments. Result of the product launch: 30 units sold within 1 week. Average sales value = 270,000 EUR. Status of Phase 1: in construction. My tasks: concept development, product development, architect communication, pricing calculations, marketing input, sales coordination;
Client-based building-acceptance Interim Management for the Panorama Golf project (final phase) and Key Alhambras I project (final phase). Result: In 2 month’s time, more than 6 million Euros worth of signed property deeds (escrituras) for new owners. My tasks: sales coordination, product delivery;
Johan Cruijff Golf & Sports Resort Mosa Trajectum, Murcia (Spain): approx. 1500 units. Large-scale Project including a 27-hole golf course, hotels, restaurants, shopping center, and a mix of Real Estate products. Average sales value: 400,000 EUR. Status: 2/3 sold to private individuals and rest land sold to construction companies and project developers. My tasks: At different phases concept development, product development, architect communication, pricing calculations, marketing input, sales coordination;
Aldea del Golf y Mar, Santa Ponsa, Palma de Mallorca (Spain): An existing project including 48 luxury, top-of-the-line Golf villas with an average sales value of 700,000 EUR. Status: 24 sold and Phase 1 in construction, My tasks: product development, pricing calculations, marketing input, sales coordination;
Guaja Xerac, Fuerteventura (Spain): 1500 planned living units on a Venice-type resort. Status: waiting on license, due to legal issues. My tasks: market research, feasibility studies, bank presentation, concept development, product development, architect communication, pricing calculations, marketing input, sales coordination;
El Time, Fuerteventura (Spain): Fincas land houses. Small residential area. My tasks: market research, feasibility studies, concept development, product development, pricing calculations, marketing input, sales coordination;
La Oliva, Fuerteventura (Spain). Luxury Apartments. Small residential area. My tasks: market research, feasibility studies, concept development, product development, architect communication, pricing calculations, marketing input, sales coordination;
Marina Spa & Golf Resort La Dehesilla, Marmolejo, Jaén, Andalusia (Spain): Large-scale project including a 4500 planned living accommodations, a 18 holes golf course, hunting, spa & wellness center, shopping centers, hotels, and restaurants. Status: ready for start of infrastructure.
May 1998 – April 2003 City of Antwerp (BE) Personal Property Investments.
Conceived and developed a plan in order to be able to independently procure Real Estate properties, with cash flow from rentals as the basis for financing. Starting capital < 2,500 EUR;
Contacted various Belgian banks, of which one was eventually selected for financing properties;
Reviewed potential investment objects in a particular rental segment, in good locations, and with an interesting yield;
Conceived and drafted an extremely unusable purchase contract (i.e. a compromise) in accordance with Belgian law, through which not only Real Estate, but even sales expenses such as fees for notarization and registration (i.e. transaction fees) get co-financed by the bank;
Conceived and drafted a standard rental contract for studios (i.e. the rental unit classification for 1-room apartments with bathroom and kitchenette). This contract was also drafted based on Belgian law;
Purchased 11 studios on private account and risk in the city center of Antwerp (on the Italy Quay and France Quay). After completing my own renovation efforts on these apartments, the spaces were immediately rented out to various tenants. The value of the property is approximated at 455,000 EUR with a gross yield varying annually somewhere between 15 and 20%. Member of the Board of Directors in the Society of Joint-owners (WE); all studios sold as of November 2002.
January 1998 - October 1998 Troostwijk Realtors O.G. (The Hague, NL)
Responsible for acquiring new properties and existing office projects for the purposes of constructing a commercial portfolio for a newly established realty office in the Haaglanden district of The Hague;
Served as a broker in sales and rental transactions pertaining to commercial Real Estate;
Responsible for reeling in potential tenants/buyers for commercial business properties;
Coordinated various direct-marketing and telemarketing efforts for existing projects;
Drafted proposals and rental contracts;
Assisted with the taxation of commercial business properties.
- Projects:
“De Groene Schenk” Business-park (DH): Handled marketing related to sales and rental of a 360,000 ft2 office space;
Nijverheidsstraat in Plaspoelpolder (DH) : Initiated a sales transaction with Devon Mini-storage’s 180,000 ft2 business-/office-space. The building had been unoccupied for 3 years. Searched for a buyer, and negotiated a transaction;
1" van der Kunststraat (DH): Handled rental marketing for 3 office-levels;
Laan van Meerdervoort (DH): Handled the rental marketing of a mansion for Asito cleaning services and actively searched for a new location for them;
Mayor Monchy Plein (DH): Responsible for marketing a new office construction project;
Henry Dunantweg of Alphen aan den Rijn : Taxation and sales of a luxury office villa;
Braillelaan in Rijswijk : Responsible for renting the business space of a print-shop to a forwarding agent;
Other miscellaneous small-scale projects as well as search requests.
June 1997 - January 1998 Independent Service Provider: Smart Facility Services (NL)
Offered services as a freelance consultant/intermediary in the above-mentioned service areas;
Initiated financial brokerage activities in collaboration with an insurance brokerage company, selling primarily equity release home mortgages;
- Projects:
Refinancing a garage, office, and restaurant (i.e. business properties);
Private real estate: EUR 11,8 million in mortgage and loan requests submitted to various mortgage lenders. Approx. 60% contractually settled.
May 1996 – June 1997 Partner with GMA Facilities Management and Consultants BV in Alphen aan den Rijn (NL).
Responsible for the commercial customer acquisition policy, the development of new product/market combinations within the Property & Real Estate sector, as well as supervising a staff of 7;
Served as a Facilities Management Consultant for various businesses;
Served as a consultant for various companies, handling organizational and financial inquiries pertaining to business accommodations;
Responsible for screening the overall budgets for business owners and others using business properties;
Drafted requirements and implementation programs regarding changes in accommodations and facilities processes.
- Projects:
Easy Parking: Collaborated with the NZH Transit Authority as an intermediary for resolving a temporary parking problem at “Joop van den Ende Studios” in the city of Aalsmeer. Result: Nearly 91,000 Euros in revenue / more than 45,000 Euros net profit in two months time. Cover page taken from the local papers.
Facility Scan: Proposed an integral audit on accommodation expenses and efficiency improvements for facilities. Result: The company was able to save over 180,000 Euros on their budget of nearly 1-million Euros; Interim management: responsible for implementing and, where needed, amending the re-organization decisions regarding a facilities company of an ITC University in the city of Enschede. This building complex was 180,000 square feet in floor space. Additionally, supervision was given to a facilities service staff of approximately 18.
1993 – May 1996 Area Development Company Chipshol Forward at Schiphol-Rijk Business Park, Netherlands: Facility Management
Coordinated and organized facilities inspections for phase 1.1 of office-building acceptance for KLM staff, in co-operation with the Technical Manager;
A Business Park of nearly 9,88422 acres, destined for offices with a total surface of 61,77635 acres. First building was leased to KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines);
In 2006 most known tenants are: Microsoft Netherlands, Radisson SAS Hotel, Renault Netherlands, KLM/Air France, Regus Offices, Johnson Controls International, British American Tobacco;
Introduced, implemented, and promoted the American, “Chipshol Park” park management philosophy to several interested parties;
Served as the contact person for dealing with everyday technical problems as well as business-related issues for building tenants, the largest of which was namely “KLM Computer Network Services”;
Assisted in developing commercial business promotions for potential buyers and tenants;
Designed and developed a real estate database suitable for analyzing and comparing housing costs with other real estate-related projects.
- Additional projects:
Screened the operating expenses of a 207,000 square foot office-building for “Wilma Vastgoed/ Kantorenfonds Nederland”. Result: Savings of 25% on the yearly budget of nearly 1 million Euros; Introduced the concept of Park Management (Area Management) to various project developers and districts.
1988 Internal Office; KLM Cargo Export Associate at Schiphol-C Airport, Amsterdam (NL)
1991 Liabilities Control Officer/ Credit Manager at “ABN AMRO de Factorij” commercial agency
1992 Night Manager at "Jolly Carlton Hotel" (5-stars/ 220 rooms), Amsterdam (NL)
CHARACTER PROFILE:
Goal- and solution-oriented
Analytical and mathematical cognitive capacity
Business- and customer-oriented
Dynamic and driven
Accurate and efficient
100% committed
Self-learner
Strong observational skills
No-nonsense, pragmatic attitude
Improvisational capacity
Legal and Business Management insight
Start-to-Finish organizational skills
Flexible
