Aaron McClease
New Bern,NC
Summary
Adept at driving operational excellence and enhancing customer satisfaction, I leveraged my culinary creativity and strong leadership skills at Sonic Drive-In to streamline processes and boost team performance. With a focus on food safety and efficiency, I consistently met production targets and improved service quality, demonstrating a commitment to excellence and innovation in fast-paced environments.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Cook
Annabelle’s
New Bern, NC
09.2024 - Current
- Prepared diverse menu items by following standardized recipes and presentation guidelines.
- Cooked meals to meet customer dietary preferences and special requests.
- Monitored food safety standards to uphold health regulations.
- Prepared meals efficiently under time constraints for timely service during peak hours.
- Demonstrated strong multitasking skills, managing multiple orders simultaneously without sacrificing quality or presentation.
- Prepared food items in compliance with recipes and portioning control guidelines.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Prepared multiple orders simultaneously during peak periods with high accuracy rate, maximizing customer satisfaction, and repeat business.
- Checked for quality, kept track of old and new items and rotated stock to confirm freshness of food and ingredients.
- Changed and sanitized cutting boards, benches, and surfaces between tasks to avoid cross-contamination.
Operating Partner
Sonic Drove In
New Bern, NC
08.2019 - 08.2022
- Recruited and hired qualified candidates to fill vacancies.
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration among teams from different departments contributing to better project outcomes.
- Oversaw recruitment efforts selecting top talent contributing to a diverse workforce capable of addressing complex business challenges.
- Championed the adoption of advanced technology solutions, enhancing process automation efforts while improving operational efficiencies across the organization.
- Analyzed data trends to identify areas for improvement and drive informed decision-making processes.
- Monitored competitor activities closely enabling strategic shifts as needed ensuring continued growth in market share.
- Set and implemented promotional strategies to drive business growth.
- Determined appropriate financial goals and administered budgets to control expenses.
- Implemented quality control measures to ensure consistent delivery of products or services.
- Enhanced employee retention rates by creating a positive work culture with open communication channels and career development opportunities.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive training programs for staff, resulting in improved productivity levels.
- Improved overall customer satisfaction through timely and effective problem resolution.
- Led a high-performing team, fostering an environment of collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Managed effective customer service and quality assurance programs to protect business reputation.
- Optimized supply chain management, reducing costs and increasing reliability of deliveries.
- Streamlined inventory management systems, minimizing waste while maintaining optimal stock levels for day-to-day operations.
- Collaborated with various departments to align operations with overall business objectives.
- Managed budgets and financial performance, ensuring cost-effective allocation of resources.
- Increased operational efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing innovative strategies.
- Evaluated risk factors within the organization''s operations developing contingency plans for unforeseen circumstances.
- Reviewed internal workflows regularly to identify bottlenecks for proactive improvements leading to increased productivity.
- Provided outstanding service to all individuals, promoting effective, and lasting business relationships.
- Stayed informed on industry developments and market trends to gain competitive advantage.
- Spoke with peers to verify task completion, meeting tight deadlines, and schedules.
- Maintained professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry customers.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Developed detailed plans based on broad guidance and direction.
- Set aggressive targets for employees to drive company success and strengthen motivation.
- Identified and communicated customer needs to supply chain capacity and quality teams.
- Improved staffing during busy periods by creating employee schedules and monitoring call-outs.
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
- Trained personnel in equipment maintenance and enforced participation in exercises focused on developing key skills.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Used industry expertise, customer service skills and analytical nature to resolve customer concerns and promote loyalty.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Opened and closed location and monitored shift changes to uphold successful operations strategies and maximize business success.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
General Maner
Cookout
08.2011 - 09.2019
- Conducted regular emergency sessions ensuring readiness for site-related accidents.
- Consistently met production targets by effectively prioritizing tasks and managing resources.
- Maintained excellent communication within the team to ensure smooth coordination of activities across various sections of the mine site.
- Demonstrated strong problem-solving skills by identifying issues before they escalated into larger problems while maintaining a safe working environment.
- Collaborated with team members on complex projects, ensuring timely completion of tasks and high-quality results.
- Adhered to company policies and regulations, maintaining a strong safety record throughout the course of employment.
- Performed regular equipment checks to ensure optimal functionality, prolonging its lifespan as well as reducing maintenance costs.
- Enhanced safety standards through regular inspections, maintenance, and adherence to protocols.
- Checked equipment regularly for upkeep needs or signs of malfunction.
- Checked machinery for safety, protecting personnel, and equipment from harm.
- Read and interpreted technical documents and effectively adhered to written instructions to maintain quality standards.
- Onboarded new employees by instructing in use of equipment, as well as company policies and procedures, to enhance performance.
Cook
Little Caesars
Elizabeth City, NC
08.2004 - 08.2007
- Managed kitchen inventory for optimal stock levels and reduced waste.
- Prepared diverse menu items by following standardized recipes and presentation guidelines.
- Engaged with guests to gather feedback and improve menu offerings.
- Cooked meals to meet customer dietary preferences and special requests.
Education
Diploma -
North Eastern High School
Elizabeth City, NC06.2018
Skills
- Customer service
- Cooking
- Cleaning and organization
- Food handling
- Multitasking and organization
- Food preparation
- Kitchen organization
- Strong attention to safe food handling procedures
- Frying
- Cooking techniques
- Knife skills
- Sanitation
- Supply restocking
- Surface cleaning
- Hospitality and service industry background
- Food presentation
- Kitchen equipment operation and maintenance
- Sanitation practices
- Grilling
- Contamination prevention
- Food waste reduction
- Performance improvement
- Food plating and presentation
- Portion control
- Food plating
- Food handler certification
- Hospitality service expertise
- Order verification
- Grilling expertise
- Beautiful presentation of food
- Sauce making
- Ingredients measuring
- Plating and presentation
- Allergen awareness
- Culinary creativity
- New hire training
- Nutrition awareness
- Effective planner
- Food spoilage prevention
- Event catering
- Recipes and menu planning
- Ingredient selection
- Order delivery practices
- Food presentation talent
- Menu planning
- Food pairing
- Fine dining
- Recipe development
- Operations management
- Food trends awareness
- Garnishing techniques
- Ingredient inspection
- OSHA
- Food costing
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Team collaboration
- Labor management
- Ingredient knowledge
- Health and safety compliance
- Food storage
- Staff training
- Inventory management
- Stock management
- Temperature control
- Cost control
- Special diets
- Sauteing
- Food safety oversight
- Order prioritization
- Positive and professional
- High volume production capability
- Plate presentation
- Health code adherence
- Kitchen sanitation management
- Cutting and slicing techniques
- Dish preparation
- Focused and disciplined
- Recipe-based cooking
- Culinary art
- Strong butchery skills
- Calm demeanor
- Recipe modification
- ServSafe certified
- Quality assurance and control
- Creative plating
- Teamwork and collaboration
Timeline
Cook
Annabelle’s
09.2024 - Current
Operating Partner
Sonic Drove In
08.2019 - 08.2022
General Maner
Cookout
08.2011 - 09.2019
Cook
Little Caesars
08.2004 - 08.2007
Diploma -
North Eastern High School