Business

From Frontline Waitress To Telstra Finalist For T.I.M.E.’s Mirella Morizzi-Tambakis

Mirella Morizzi-Tambakis PhotoMirella Morizzi-Tambakis has come a long way from her days cutting her teeth in the hospitality sector as a frontline waitress. Now one of country’s foremost figures in hospitality and professional development, she’s recently been named a finalist in the 2014 Telstra SA Business Women’s Awards in the Private and Corporate Sector category.

Morizzi-Tambakis’ amazing career path really took off when she realised just how little professional development there was for those entering the hospitality industry – and decided to take action.

No stranger to the Telstra Awards, Morizzi-Tambakis won the SA Young Business Women Award back in 2007. Since then, she has devoted her career to training and professional development, first teaching introductory hospitality skills and now corporate business services as Executive Manager at leading Adelaide-based and nationally registered training organisation, Training Innovation – Management & Enterprise (T.I.M.E).

She heads T.I.M.E’s Business Service Division that creates, implements and manages internal professional development for some 14,500 participants from a range of iconic local businesses.

The division is T.I.M.E’s most profitable and continues to lead the way by consistently achieving the highest level of growth. In the past three years, Ms Morizzi-Tambakis has exceeded her budget each year, taking it from $1-million in 2012 to $2.5-million this year.

But perhaps Ms Morizzi-Tambakis’ most notable achievement came in late 2013, when government cuts to its assistance to VET programs – a large slice of T.I.M.E’s business – prompted her to conceptualise and establish the company’s Customised Corporate Products offerings.

A contemporary and innovative product set, Customised Corporate Products provides a strong point of difference and has allowed clients such as Adelaide Casino, MyBudget and Sealink to continue to provide (and in many cases grow) training and development opportunities for their staff.

“I’m thrilled to have been named a finalist, as it vindicates what I’ve dedicated the past seven years of my life towards. And that’s a passionate push to contribute positively towards people’s skill development and see them improve personally and professionally,” Ms Morizzi-Tambakis said.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my Directors and Mentors Diane Godwin and John Heidt for their ongoing support and guidance, my loyal and inspiring clients and also my husband Michael, mother Raelene and daughters Isabella and Sophia – they are my world.”

Ms Morizzi-Tambakis, who started out “at the frontline of hospitality, as a regular waitress”, is also part owner and operator of leading Adelaide hospitality venues, Mesa Lunga Restaurant & Tapas Bar, Sangria Bar and Caffé Paparazzi.

T.I.M.E delivers a total of 46 nationally accredited qualifications from Certificate I through to Diploma level across a multitude of business and community sectors.

Specialties range from areas such as Frontline Management, Human Resources, Customer Contact, OH&S and Training and Assessment through to Hospitality, Retail Services, Childhood Education, Hospital Services and Support, Warehousing and Logistics.

The Private and Corporate Sector Award is open to employees in these sectors – or owners with less than a 50 per cent share in a business.

The winner will be announced at a gala dinner at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Tuesday, October 14 2014.

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