Chris Pfeifer
Burke
Summary
Experienced retail manager and merchandiser with a strong background in visual presentation, team leadership, and operational coordination. Skilled at designing engaging layouts, managing high-volume workflows, and enhancing the visitor experience—strengths directly applicable to exhibition support and museum operations. Seeking to contribute organizational precision, aesthetic judgment, and collaboration skills to a career in art museum exhibition development and gallery work.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Full Time Assistant Manager/Visual Merchandising Manager
Hot Topic
07.2018 - 02.2025
- Monitored cash intake and deposit records, increasing accuracy, and reducing discrepancies.
- Led team in achieving sales targets through effective staff training and customer engagement strategies.
- Offered hands-on assistance to customers, assessing needs, and maintaining current knowledge of consumer preferences.
- Supervised day-to-day operations to meet performance, quality and service expectations.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Developed merchandising strategies that enhanced product visibility and improved customer experience.
- Innovated and simplified planograms and merchandising strategies to improve processes and results.
Education
Master of Arts - Art History
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA12-2027
Bachelor of Arts - History
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA05.2019
Skills
- Art Historical Research
- Critical Thinking/Analysis
- Visual Merchandising/Planning
- Strategic Planning & Decision-making
- Staff Management
- Operations Management
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Product and service knowledge
- Task Delegation
- Reliability
Experience
Student Curator, The Mirage of Ancient Egypt: Exploring Ancient Egypt’s Legacy in Popular Culture
George Mason University — Fairfax, Virginia | August 2025 - February 2026
- Curated a thematic exhibition examining modern interpretations of Ancient Egypt across media and popular culture.
- Selected, organized, and interpreted artworks to construct a cohesive visual narrative.
- Developed exhibition text, labels, and supporting materials to contextualize artworks for visitors.
- Designed exhibition layout and coordinated installation logistics.
- Collaborated with students, faculty, and staff to plan the exhibit and public presentation.
Timeline
Full Time Assistant Manager/Visual Merchandising Manager
Hot Topic
07.2018 - 02.2025
Master of Arts - Art History
George Mason University
Bachelor of Arts - History
George Mason University