Aaron Young
Merrillville,IN
Summary
Dynamic professional with demonstrated success in developing and executing innovative marketing strategies to boost sales, while maintaining operational efficiency. Skilled in budget management to reduce costs and maximize profits. Passion for food preparation, providing quality products to customers.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Director Food & Beverage/ Events Operations
Hilton
Chicago, IL
01.2012 - 02.2020
- Developed culinary and beverage menus with a wide selection of offerings based on customer demand
- Spearheaded seasonal operation planning of the Beach Bar assembly
- Scheduled Restaurant Managers and delegated server team rotations to fit current staffing
- Built key partnerships with companies such as Sysco Foods, South Jersey Paper Supplies,
- Nestle and Gallo Wines
- Generated on avg 1-2 million in sales per year
- Conducted Annual Performance Reviews for Junior Management Staff and Hourly Team
- Members
- Executed efficient booking of Talent and Acts for both our Nightclubs to provide consistent quality entertainment
- Organized invoices and processed funds for all talent to ensure accurate budget alignment
- Communicated, and created partnerships with college teams to secure and host contracts every time they came in town
- Chicago
- Coordinated transportation and hotel rooms while acting as a liaison for Acts and Talent upon arrival
- Ensured no higher than a 15% beverage cost for the venue through successful cost control and menu design
- Optimized strategic scheduling, placement and training of Management and Staff based on critical paths
- Utilized knowledgeable experience to implement appropriate direction of Bar Design with review of workstations / layouts, Service, Front and Back Bar Setup
- Orchestrated OSE, Smallware, and Linen to fully assemble the outlet as well as ensured inventory set for openings
- Facilitated safety training based on OSHA requirements
- Arranged dozens of prestigious nightlife events and private parties for a variety of organizations
- Managed and operated a high traffic Hospital Dining Facility
- Effectively coordinated daily operations, directed staff, and oversaw finances and inventories
- Created staff schedules and encouraged high levels of performance
- Worked with chefs to design menus that were both cost-effective and pleasing to customers
- Interviewed, hired, and trained dining staff.
Food and Beverage Manager
Holiday Inn Voco Hotel
Chicago, IL
05.2022 - 09.2022
- Coordinated transportation and hotel rooms while acting as a liaison for Acts and Talent upon arrival
- Ensured no higher than a 15% beverage cost for the venue through successful cost control and menu design
- Optimized strategic scheduling, placement and training of Management and Staff based on critical paths
- Utilized knowledgeable experience to implement appropriate direction of Bar Design with review of workstations / layouts, Service, Front and Back Bar Setup
- Orchestrated OSE, Smallware, and Linen to fully assemble the outlet as well as ensured inventory set for openings
- Facilitated safety training based on OSHA requirements
- Arranged dozens of prestigious nightlife events and private parties for a variety of organizations
- Managed and operated a high traffic Hospital Dining Facility
- Effectively coordinated daily operations, directed staff, and oversaw finances and inventories
- Created staff schedules and encouraged high levels of performance
- Worked with chefs to design menus that were both cost-effective and pleasing to customers
- Interviewed, hired, and trained dining staff.
Catering Operations Manager
Sodexo USA(Museum Of Science And Industry $
Chicago , IL
10.2022 - Current
- Set and enforced performance and service standards to keep consistent, high-quality environment devoted to customer satisfaction.
- Met with clients to outline desired goals and prepared quotes for overall catering costs.
- Organized and oversaw food service training to educate employees on resetting tables, relaying orders to cooks and upselling food and beverages.
- Secured new clients and accounts by analyzing and catering products to specific needs.
- Hired and trained both permanent and temporary staff members.
- Coordinated with event planners for floor and table layouts, guest numbers and overall catering needs.
- Worked with chefs to plan menus according to client needs and budgets.
- Designed catering packages to increase sales and customer experience.
- Promoted catering packages with most profitable outcomes without sacrificing client desires.
- Reduced health risks and safety hazards by preparing beverage products consistently while creating cleaning schedules, restocking items and sanitizing equipment to adhere to health department standards.
- Coordinated with catering staff to deliver food services for special events and functions.
- Handled escalated customer concerns with speed and knowledgeable support to achieve optimal satisfaction and maintain long-term loyalty.
- Kept facility compliant with health codes, sanitation requirements and license regulations, alleviating potentially heavy fines.
- Motivated staff to perform at peak efficiency and quality.
- Maintained effective supply levels by monitoring and reordering food stock and dry goods.
- Maintained responsive organization with sustained revenue growth through industry forecast monitoring and deliberate financial planning.
Education
Bachelor's - Biblical
Andersonville Theological
2016
Skills
- Internal Audits
- Quality Assurance
- Quality Management
- Quality Audits
- Restaurant Management
- Safe serve (6 years)
- Root Cause Analysis
- Quality Control
- Quality Systems
- Team Management
- Lean Manufacturing
- Warehouse Supervisor Experience
- Manufacturing
- Quality Inspection
- Purchasing
- Product Development
- Warehouse Management
- OPERA
- Calibration
- Customer service (9 years)
- Front desk (3 years)
- Food service management (4 years)
- Hotel experience (5 years)
- Event planning (5 years)
- Leadership
- Microsoft Excel
- Windows
- Computer skills
- Certifications and Licenses
- Saveserf
- Present
- Food Handler Certification
- Table Layout
- Vendor Relations
- Menu Development
- Guest Relations
- Catering Consultation
- Proper Storage Procedures
- Station Preparation
- Detailed Documentation
- Event Planning Proficiency
- Revenue Growth
- Inventorying Knowledge
- Disciplinary Action
- Catering Management
- Servsafe Manager
- Budgeting Understanding
- Catering Sales Orders
- Employee Performance Evaluations
- Cater Ease Proficiency
- Staff Scheduling
- Suggestive Selling
- Customer Service Standards
- Customer Satisfaction
- Proper Food Storage
- Customer Experience
- Marketing Knowledge
- Food and Beverage Sales
- High-Volume Environments
- Profit Target Achievement
- Menu Memorization
- Anticipating Problems
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Liquor Law Compliance
- Menu Pricing and Writing
- Front of House Management
- Control Inventory Costs
- Interpersonal Communication Skills
- Providing Feedback
- Entrepreneurial Leadership
- Delegating Assignments and Tasks
- Food Production Management
- Calm and Pleasant Demeanor
- Compliance Requirements
- Manage Promotions
- Managing Reservations and Large Parties
- Service Delivery Management
- Labor and Overhead Cost Estimation
- Supply Ordering and Management
Timeline
Catering Operations Manager
Sodexo USA(Museum Of Science And Industry $
10.2022 - Current
Food and Beverage Manager
Holiday Inn Voco Hotel
05.2022 - 09.2022
Director Food & Beverage/ Events Operations
Hilton
01.2012 - 02.2020
Bachelor's - Biblical
Andersonville Theological