Starkey Graduates Now Available For NYC
and surrounding Boroughs
Starkey Household Manager Graduates Available Now!
Vanessa Lancaric
I was born in Paris, France to an American father and a French mother, making me a dual citizen. My father was born in Czechoslovakia to a Slovak father who built a textile company from the ground and a Hungarian mother who was a social worker. Both were of the Catholic faith. The family was dispersed for many years as they had to leave their country due to the Russian invasion. They finally all reunited in Canada after several years and went on to immigrate to the US and became very proud Americans. My mother is the result of a French father born in French Algeria, a veteran of WWII and who became confined in a German work camp for numerous years, he was one of the few of the French prisoners to have survived the conditions. He became an engineer for British Petroleum. Her mother was from the French Alps and was an accountant until they married. Her parents met at a sanatorium where my grandfather was sent to recuperate. They both had a passion for music and were in a choir together. In turn my parents met in Paris, where both worked for Colgate Palmolive. My mother quit her career when I was born. My father’s career evolved from marketing VP to general manager which launched into international postings in Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Persian Gulf and Larchmont, New York. My mother, two younger brothers, cat, and dog followed him and during the summers we would go and stay with my French grandparents.
While living abroad my parents entertained a lot, it was a big part of our family environment. My interest of being a “Service Heart” started to bloom; I would always insist in helping my mother dress tables, decorate, have an eye for perfection, and help my parents with hostessing, be it diplomats, expats like us, or citizens of the country we were living in. This encompassed, etiquette, protocol and culinary traditions that my grandmothers had taught my parents, or local dishes, in turn gave me the yearning to learn and appreciate the various foods we were exposed to; to this day it is carried in my adult life. This led me to working in catering while in high school and college, which I loved and learned a lot from. My parents did not believe in allowance and told us we had to work for our spending money. She was also a strict disciplinarian as to the upkeep of our bedrooms. We had to make our own beds, even when we had household staff. We were raised to be fluent in French, English, and Spanish, either by attending French or International schools or by having private tutors. Volunteering and charity is part of our DNA; we would volunteer at local lunch meal services for orphans or less fortunate. To this day I volunteer at least twice a month with New York Cares. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a client receive food from the pantry or lunch service I am part of. Being of service and a people person, is a way of life I embrace and am very comfortable with.
My early years made me into the person I am today: loyal, adaptable, honest, devoted, and kind. I realized my “Service Heart” was blooming at a young age, is now finally in fruition and my calling is opened to service. Colleagues and friends remind me; I have those qualities. These aspects make me a very detailed oriented person. However, adapts to chaos and stress pretty well, while staying grounded to analyze a situation before taking it on.
Once I graduated from an American high school, then graduating with a BA in art history from The American University of Paris. This led me to a high luxury environment working in galleries, auction house, and a diamond jewelry house, on an operational level. My attention to detail, upkeep, administrative aptitude, and problem solving were strongly developed. This was always done with pride and dedication to my employers. However, I felt a void and wanted to truly go and set sail towards becoming a Certified Household Manager, which I know deep inside me has been yearning to come out. With the completion of the Starkey
International Service Management Course, I am able to manage a small household staff, vendors, in a city dwelling environment, which is reinforced by the management tools that Starkey International has defined and put into practice in numerous homes. My multicultural exposure, skills, experiences, and know-how are my base in being a professional Certified Household Manager, that makes me loyal and devoted to the Principals I will report to. I want to make a difference in someone’s life. I am able to support and keep my principals experience a luxury lifestyle, by setting up their home by using my resources and savoir faire.
My top standards are Administrative, Housekeeping, Clothing and Valet, Entertaining, and Culinary.
Mario Lombardo
I was born in Brooklyn, New York and am a second generation Italian American. I am the oldest of three children with a younger brother and sister, and we were raised in a hard-working family with a Catholic foundation, though I no longer practice. My mother was a stay at home mom and homemaker. My father owned a Window Company that manufactured and installed Vinyl Windows. My grandfather on my mother’s side was a Long Shoreman and my grandmother worked in an Umbrella Factory. My grandfather on my father’s side was a stonemason and my grandmother was a homemaker.
I knew I was right for service at a young age when I was in grade school. When I started school, I quickly became the “teacher’s pet” and was always finding ways to assist my teachers with even the smallest task – sweeping floors, erasing the blackboard, etc. As I grew older, I realized the power of “paying it forward” and always tried to do so when possible.
Housekeeping and organizing were introduced to me at a young age through household chores as a way for us to earn an allowance. I was always very clean and neat. My mother eventually allowed me to work alongside the housekeeping service we had in our home, and I found great satisfaction in helping to keep our house clean and tidy. My eye for detail and organization began as a child. When I was in Junior High, I took it upon myself to start organizing our garage and I immediately felt relief as I cleared the clutter and made sense of the chaos. I discovered at that time that I am able to think more clearly in an organized space, and I have maintained that attitude as an adult as well. I have always been very observant – straightening crooked pictures, setting clocks that were off by 5-10 minutes, cleaning my white sneakers when they had marks on them. I also used my eye for detail when building my first home as an adult – I completely gutted and remodeled the home and had to work closely with contractors, architects, and engineers in order to make sure that my vision was executed correctly.
Throughout my life, I have been commended for my Leadership ability, as well as my tendency to be a ‘giver’ to those around me. My leadership skills were initially developed through team sports, which I competed in throughout high school. I was an avid soccer player and served as the team captain for an Olympic development team when I was 18. In this role, I consistently led by example, putting in long hours alongside my teammates for training and development. We competed against some of the top athletes in the world in our sport, and I discovered that I am not easily rattled in high intensity or high pressure situations. During an impromptu scrimmage against the USA Women’s National Team, I was commended by Mia Hamm for my leadership abilities on the field – I have never forgotten that moment and was very humbled by her acknowledgement. My giving nature has been proven time and time again from as early on as grade school. Whether it was loaning a classmate my extra tie or going above and beyond for a tenant to ensure that their event was all that it could be, I rarely think twice about giving of myself to improve the situation of another. I find deep satisfaction
in knowing that I am able to provide that level of support and assistance to others. I truly believe in the mantra “no task too great or too small” and live by it consistently.
I have always had the attitude of “just do it” when it comes to solving problems and have developed a work style that reflects this attitude as well. Even when I’m faced with a task I’ve never completed before, I tend to be excited by the challenge and enjoy learning new ways to solve problems. Honesty, respect, and hard work were instilled in me from a young age and are still the values that I believe in. I treat everyone around me with honesty and respect and I give my all in everything I do. My current goal is to find a family who appreciates these values and allows me to grow my skills in regard to managing an Estate and its staff.
My top Service Standards are: Administrative, Maintenance, Housekeeping, and Personal Care (Guest Care).
Brian Frasch
Certified Estate Manager
Butler Concierge
Top Four Service Standards:
Administration
Personal Care
Transportation & Travel
Personal Statement:
I am a native Texan who came to Starkey International Institute for Household Management to refine the skill sets that I have developed and cultivated over the years of my work history. Yet before my professional life, I sought to learn ardently from my parents, of whom I had held a tremendous respect for. My father worked in the Texas legislature for thirty years and my mother worked for the state and raised four children. It was here, in the home, with siblings and parents, that I first developed my sense of virtue and valor and sense of work ethic – all of which have remained thoroughly engrained in me to this day including my religious and Republican political beliefs.
I have cultivated a service heart through years of personal service. Most recently I have relied on strategic planning, project management and exemplary communication skills to excel as a corporate concierge for the Motorola Corporation. In this capacity I assisted numerous employees with the performance of household duties, such as handling mail and correspondence, concierge duties, caring for pets, auto, plants and landscaping, performing personal errands, monitoring property and security, and tending to minor household duties.
As a highly organized and meticulous individual, I enjoy using my technical skills in all aspects of household management and Butling. In any endeavor, I strive to ensure that the required task is performed to the highest standard. Beyond this, I also develop a one-on-one rapport with the individual I am performing the task for, ensuring that a bond of trust and respect is established between my employer and me. This passion is supplemented with my intrinsic qualities including honesty, sensitivity, patience and dedication. Those who know me well, including my previous employers and peers, I am professional, responsible, dependable and extremely organized. I have a positive attitude, attentiveness to detail, and ability to quickly grasp new concepts. I am able to meet deadlines and very prompt about completing tasks. As a caring and sensitive person, I am adept in tuning in to my employer’s needs.
In an administrative capacity, I am able to care for financial concerns and budgets and to carry these duties out on a computer. In the home I have an ability to clean aesthetically and I am able to care for upholstery and fine art and all types of fine fabrics, from clothing to leather and shoes. In entertaining, I am excellent in the coordination and management of staff. I am able to follow any formal or informal event, all the way through – from conceptualization to the final product. I have demonstrated superior management skills in previous positions, and am able to delegate tasks diplomatically. Additionally, I am adept in the arena of transportation – from chauffeuring to creating travel itineraries.
At this stage in my career, I am seeking a transition into a Household Management or Butler role that will enable me to continue building upon my versatile experience while focusing on developing lasting professional relationships within one family’s private home. The curriculum that Starkey International offered me has provided me with a unique opportunity
to combine my background in personal service with my interest to complete multiple tasks in fields, including culinary arts, housekeeping, special events/entertainment and private service.
My Top Three Standards are Administrative, Personal Care and Transportation and Travel.
Administrative: In my many years (17 years) of working for Les Concierges Services, serving multiple clients, I have honed my Administrative skills in all aspects of computers, and Microsoft office. I am highly flexible and have the ability to identify Service Standards and unique expectations. I have also hired and managed staff, working with others and much more.
Personal Care: As a native Texan I feel I was brought up with a service heart from a young age. Whether it was taking care of all of my dogs as a kid, to taking care of my parents in their final years. I have cultivated a service heart through many years of personal service. As a caring and sensitive person, I am adroit in tuning in to my employer’s needs. I have had many job titles over the years but the job duties have always been the same; providing personal service for busy executives and their families.
Transportation and Travel: I love to travel. Whether it is backpacking through Europe, hiking the Pacific Crest Trail or road tripping through the American Southwest. My love of travel was instilled in me when my father bought me my first car when I was 16. It was with the understanding that I would have to pay for all repairs, upkeep, insurance and registrations. Having a car meant not only the freedom to roam the open road but being responsible. I have always maintained this and bring that responsibility to my clients and their vehicles. We get busy in life and sometimes we forget that there is more to owning a vehicle than just putting gas in it.
