Alex Lua
F & B Director
Chicago,IL
Summary
Passionate hardworking Food and Beverage Outlets Operational Manager with 10 years of overseeing high-traffic establishments. Talented at managing large, diverse teams of culinary and service personnel. Comfortable taking responsibility for everything from back-office operations to dining room performance.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Food & Beverage Oulets Manager /Director of Operations
Renaissance Hotel
05.2022 - Current
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers through account development.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Managed senior-level personnel working in marketing and sales capacities.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Used industry expertise, customer service skills and analytical nature to resolve customer concerns and promote loyalty.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Improved safety procedures to create safe working conditions for workers.
- Planned, created, tested and deployed system life cycle methodology to produce high quality systems to meet and exceed customer expectations.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Opened and closed location and monitored shift changes to uphold successful operations strategies and maximize business success.
- Maintained professional, organized, and safe environment for employees and patrons.
- Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance.
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Onboarded new employees with training and new hire documentation.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Leveraged data and analytics to make informed decisions and drive business improvements.
- Trained personnel in equipment maintenance and enforced participation in exercises focused on developing key skills.
- Reduced waste and pursued revenue development strategies to keep department aligned with sales and profit targets.
- Worked in fast-paced environment with sense of urgency to serve guests quickly.
- Checked each food item for freshness and provided feedback to kitchen supervisor for removal.
- Practiced proper safety and sanitation standards.
- Delivered instructions clearly and respectfully to avoid errors due to miscommunication.
- Managed Daily Food and Beverage (F&B) shift operations and monitor compliance with all F&B policies, standards, and proedures.
- Manage day-to-day operations verifying the quality, and standards and meeting the expectations of the customers on a daily basis.
Restaurant Manager
Lou Malnatis Pizzeria
06.2018 - 04.2022
- Communicated well and used strong interpersonal skills to establish positive relationships with guests and employees.
- Coached team members on food safety and sanitation processes, customer service, menu education and up-selling techniques to drive revenue.
- Scheduled and directed staff in daily work assignments to maximize productivity.
- Optimized profits by controlling food, beverage and labor costs daily.
- Assessed operational performance to measure compliance with regulatory, industry and brand standards.
- Performed opening and closing procedures each day.
- Consistently maintained high levels of cleanliness, organization, storage, and sanitation of food and beverage products to ensure quality.
- Trained all front of house staff on restaurant policies and procedures, guest service techniques and communication skills to ensure positive experience.
- Mentored front of house personnel on company policies customer service techniques and professional communication.
- Determined root cause of performance trends and developed process improvement plans which targeted assurance in safety, health, quality and customer satisfaction.
- Performed restaurant walk-throughs to gauge timeliness and excellent service quality.
- Collaborated with server trainees to document and resolve potential customer concerns to drive brand satisfaction and loyalty.
- Handled escalated customer concerns with speed and knowledgeable support to achieve optimal satisfaction and maintain long-term loyalty.
- Built and leveraged community relationships to drive business and maximize catering programs.
- Delivered in-depth training to workers in food preparation and customer-facing roles to promote strong team performance.
- Conducted health, safety, and sanitation process evaluations to identify and remedy any violations immediately.
- Reviewed pricing and ordered food ingredients, kitchen appliances, and supplies.
- Correctly calculated inventory and ordered appropriate supplies.
- Verified prepared food met standards for quality and quantity before serving to customers.
Bar Manager
TGI Fridays
05.2017 - 06.2018
- Set effective employee schedules, maintaining coverage at peak times and minimizing labor costs.
- Supervise and Manage all Bar operations in order to create the Best Corner Bar in Town.
- Developing a team of bartenders that deliver speed of service and accurately prepared mixed beverages at all times. Delivering the exceptional guest experience quality. Optimize profit by increasing sales through local marketing campaigns that drive guest traffic.
- Ensure beverage quality by maintaining high level of cleanliness, organization, storage, sanitation of food products.
- Demonstrate responsibility for purchasing, receiving and storing beverage product, inspection of local suppliers, use of correct products and proper par levels to minimize beverage waste and optimized total beverage cost.
- Controlled labor costs by adjusting schedules and workflow to better align with individual strengths and expected customer demands.
- Conduct Daily Line Checks and Weekly Bar Inventory
- Interviewed, hired and trained staff to improve customer retention and bolster sales.
- Guaranteed optimal beverage stock by assessing inventory and collaborating with owners for corrective action planning to limit expenses.
- Implemented drink prep procedures, significantly reducing wasted stock.
Service Manager
TGI Fridays
03.2016 - 05.2017
- Manage operations during scheduled shifts that include daily decision-making, staff support, guest interaction, scheduling, planning while upholding band standards, product quality and cleanliness.
- Frequently interact with guest to ensure they received the Fridays Service Style experience, follow up on any issues and complains they may have.
- Manage inventory efficiently, accurately and in a cost-effective manner.
- Staff, trained and developed hourly Team Members through ongoing feedback and coaching, establish of performance expectations by conducting performance reviews on a regular basis.
- Conduct Daily Line Checks at Open, Lunch, Dinner and Closing to ensure the safety of our food and ready to serve to our guest.
- Ensure that the restaurant and staff are set up for outstanding shift, from product, to equipment, to ambiance.
- Hired, trained, developed and monitored performance of service department staff.
- Forecasted goals and objectives for the department and ensured adherence.
- Held Shift Meeting in a Daily Basis to communicate with all Team Members about promotions, rewards specials, new menu items, training and house rules.
Restaurant Manager
Giordanos
05.2014 - 02.2016
- Supervise FOH and BOH at 4 locations consistently on a weekly basis.
- Scheduled and directed staff in daily work assignments to maximize productivity.
- Implemented Safe Food Handling procedures resulting in 90+ score results on health inspections.
- Performed checkouts of servers and bartenders to ensure that all tickets were accounted for.
- Coached team members on food safety and sanitation processes, customer service, menu education and up-selling techniques to drive revenue.
- Performed restaurant walk-throughs to gauge timeliness and excellent service quality.
- Trained 6 new Managers with 5 still successfully employed
- Improved Food costs at problem locations from 27.3% to 23.3% through BOH training on portion control, inventory control and consistent par level management.
- Developed and maintained exceptional customer service standards.
- Minimized loss and misuse of equipment through proper restaurant supervision and staff training.
- Trained all front of house staff on restaurant policies and procedures, guest service techniques and communication skills to ensure positive experience.
- Conducted daily pre-shift meetings to ensure organizational efficiently.
Bartender/Server
Giordanos
10.2013 - 05.2014
- Delivered quality food and beverage service to guest in a responsible manner.
- Kept detailed records of alcohol and mixer inventories, ordered more supplies and alerted servers and coworkers of shortages.
- Completed thorough and accurate opening and closing duties to facilitate smooth restaurant operations.
- Mixed drinks for [72]-table restaurant and [26]-seat bar while taking orders from customers and relaying them to kitchen.
- Maintained full knowledge of all menu items, contents and preparation methods.
- Prepared mixed drinks; poured wine, beer and nonalcoholic beverages in a timely matter in order to provide the best guest experience.
- Managed closing duties, including restocking items and reconciling cash drawer.
- Maximized team performance by training new employees on proper food handling, guest expectations and restaurant protocols.
- Upheld a high standard of cleanliness in all work areas.
Education
Illinois Basset Certification
Certificate
Chicago01.2022
Food Protection Managers Certification
ServSafe Certification
12.2021
Some College (No Degree) - Real Estate
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, CA1998
High School Diploma -
Laguna Hills High School
Laguna Hills, CA1994
Skills
- Bilingual in Spanish
- Full service restaurant background
- Labor and food cost control
- Customer-oriented Bar Management
- Brand standards promotion/Quality Control
- Review P&L Statements and Forecast Sales Volume
- Bar Inventory and Purchasing
- 10 years Bartend experience
- Hiring and training
- Restaurant operations management FOH & BOH
- Employee recruitment expertise
- Customer-oriented
- Customer service best practices
- Upscale Dining
- Banquet Coordination
- Health and Safety Regulations
- Budgeting and Cost Control
- Financial Forecasting
- Employee Scheduling
- Staff Training
- Hotel F&B Outlets Management
- F&B Multiple Outlets cover forecasting
- New Menu item creation
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Excel
Certification
- SafeServ Certified: Food Handler
- SafeServ Certified: Manager Food Certificate
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Quote
Every problem is a gift—without problems we would not grow.
Tony Robbins
Timeline
Food & Beverage Oulets Manager /Director of Operations
Renaissance Hotel
05.2022 - Current
Restaurant Manager
Lou Malnatis Pizzeria
06.2018 - 04.2022
Bar Manager
TGI Fridays
05.2017 - 06.2018
Service Manager
TGI Fridays
03.2016 - 05.2017
Restaurant Manager
Giordanos
05.2014 - 02.2016
Bartender/Server
Giordanos
10.2013 - 05.2014
Illinois Basset Certification
Certificate
Food Protection Managers Certification
ServSafe Certification
Some College (No Degree) - Real Estate
Saddleback College
High School Diploma -
Laguna Hills High School