Lauren Goodman

Operations Manager | Hospitality & Food & Beverage Leader | Live Entertainment, Premium Hospitality & Venue Operations

Brooklyn, New York, United States

About

✨🪩 Hospitality & operations leader with 8+ years of experience creating unforgettable guest experiences in New York City's live entertainment, food & beverage, and events industry. 🍸🎶 I've built my career leading high-volume operations, developing amazing teams, solving problems on the fly, and making sure every event runs seamlessly—from concerts and festivals, to VIP experiences and private events. I genuinely love the fast pace, organized chaos, and bringing people together through great hospitality. 🤝🦑 When I'm not managing venue operations, you'll probably find me bartending various shows, exploring NYC's food and cocktail scene, searching for live music, or dreaming up my next hospitality concept. Always happy to connect with fellow hospitality professionals, event enthusiasts, and people who are passionate about creating exceptional experiences.

Experience

  • Operations Manager at Knockdown Center
    Apr 2026 - Present · 4 mos

    Leads venue operations across one of New York City's premier live entertainment and cultural campuses, supporting concerts, festivals, private events, food & beverage operations, and community programming. Collaborate across production, hospitality, security, facilities, and guest services to ensure exceptional event execution and premium guest experiences.

  • Freelance Nightlife Bartender & VIP Hospitality Operations Manager at Multiple Locations
    Mar 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 5 mos

    Supports premium hospitality, VIP food & beverage operations, and guest experience initiatives at concerts, festivals, private events, and experiential activations. Works large-scale live entertainment events at Brooklyn Steel, Racket NYC, Industry City, Under the K Bridge, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Bonnaroo, Soho House New York, and more. Assists venue teams in delivering exceptional hospitality for high-profile guests and large-scale events.

  • Food And Beverage Operations Manager at Avant Gardner
    Apr 2024 - Jul 2025 · 1 yr 4 mos

    Managed food & beverage operations across a 10,000-capacity entertainment campus generating more than $22 million in annual revenue and serving 500,000+ guests annually. Oversaw end-to-end strategy execution across three venues, 16 bars, VIP/Backstage environments, and a curated food vendor program delivering high-impact guest experiences in a fast-paced nightlife environment. Responsible for staffing, labor planning, inventory management, financial reporting, vendor relationships, operational strategy, and premium guest experiences.

  • Assistant Beverage Director | Racket NYC, Brooklyn Steel at Spectrum Catering, Concessions & Events
    Feb 2023 - Apr 2024 · 1 yr 3 mos

    Supported hospitality and food & beverage operations across Brooklyn Steel and Racket NYC, overseeing staffing, inventory, financial reporting, and service execution for hundreds of live events annually.

  • Operations Consultant at Glen Falls House
    Sep 2022 - Sep 2023 · 1 yr 1 mo

    Designed hospitality systems supporting weddings, festivals, overnight guests, and private events. Developed SOPs, staffing plans, beverage menus, and service workflows that improved operational consistency. Coordinated vendor logistics and event operations for large-scale hospitality programs