Ashala Brown
Allen,TX
Summary
Results-driven Food Service Director adept at leading high-volume operations and optimizing costs. Successfully reduced food expenses by 18% through efficient inventory management while improving customer satisfaction from 21% to 37%. Strong focus on team development, menu innovation, and regulatory compliance.
Overview
1
1
Certification
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR
Metrocare Dallas Cares Cafe
Dallas, TX
01.2024 - Current
- Direct daily food service operations serving Metrocare campus staff and visitors [
- Manage departmental budget of approximately $[amount], monitoring food, labor, supply, and operating expenses.
- Develop menus that meet nutritional, dietary, cultural, and customer requirements while maintaining cost targets.
- Oversee purchasing, receiving, storage, inventory, production, sanitation, and service operations.
- Implement inventory controls and waste-reduction procedures that reduced food costs by 18%.
- Coordinated catering services for various events, ensuring timely delivery and quality presentation to enhance guest experience. Special special events, themed meals, and other dining programs.
- Maintained strong vendor relationships, negotiating favorable pricing, product quality, and service levels to optimize supply chain.
- Analyze operational reports and key performance indicators to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Performed quality and sanitation inspections and executed corrective measures.
- Improved customer/resident satisfaction scores from 21% to 37% through service and menu enhancements.
ASSISTANT FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR / FOOD SERVICE PURCHASER
Aramark @ Texas Health Resources HEB
Bedford, TX
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Supervised kitchen and front-of-house employees, including scheduling, training, coaching, and performance management.
- Supported budget management by controlling food and labor expenses to maintain operational efficiency.
- Monitored food production, portion control, inventory, and ordering to minimize waste.
- Assisted with management of daily food service operations and departmental personnel.
- Ensured proper food handling, sanitation, temperature control, and cleaning procedures.
- Assisted with menu planning and special dietary requirements.
- Coordinated special events and catering functions to enhance guest experience and satisfaction.
- Handled customer concerns to enhance overall guest satisfaction and loyalty. promptly and professionally.
- Conducted thorough inspections to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. and ensured Joint Commission compliance.
ASSISTANT FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR / TRAVELING BENCH CHEF
Compass Group @ Cedar Hill ISD K-12
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Directed daily kitchen operations and supervised culinary staff, fostering a collaborative and efficient work environment.
- Maintained quality, consistency, portion control, and food safety standards throughout kitchen operations.
- Trained kitchen employees in food preparation, proper equipment operation, safe food handling, sanitation, and workplace safety.
- Planned and executed regular and modified menus to meet culinary and dietary guidelines, enhancing customer satisfaction.
- Ensured compliance with company policies and health regulations, maintaining high standards of safety and quality.
- Developed meals in accordance with USDA K-12 and senior living dietary requirements.
KITCHEN MANAGER
Applebees Bar and Grill
Cedar Hill, TX
01.2015 - 01.2020
- Managed and trained kitchen staff to enhance food production efficiency and service quality.
- Supervised food preparation according to standardized recipes and established quality standards.
- Enforced food safety, sanitation, cleanliness, and workplace safety standards.
- Supported General Manager in daily restaurant operations and achievement of business objectives.
- Oversaw front-of-house and back-of-house operations to ensure consistent guest experience.
- Managed P&L responsibilities and contributed to a 10% increase in financial performance over a two-year period.
GENERAL MANAGER
Appe Teaser Catering
Red Oak, TX
01.2012 - 01.2015
- Oversaw catering operations, facilities, event bookings, staffing, and resource allocation to ensure efficient service delivery.
- Consulted with clients to assess event requirements and ensure successful service delivery.
- Coordinated catering activities to uphold high standards of food quality and enhance customer satisfaction.
- Managed budgets, food costs, and financial targets.
- Tracked and managed company P&L performance.
- Led planning and operational execution of special events, contributing to seamless service delivery and client satisfaction.
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
Olivers Fine Foods
Ft. Worth, TX
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Supported General Manager in streamlining daily restaurant operations.
- Coordinated employee scheduling and managed payroll, ensuring accurate and timely processing.
- Ensured quality control and optimized kitchen operations to maintain high standards.
- Trained cooks in proper culinary techniques, food preparation, and sanitation procedures.
- Performed inventory counts, ordering, and product receiving.
Education
BBA - Business Administration And Management
University of Phoenix
Tempe, AZ08-2027
Associate of Applied Science - Culinary Arts
The Art Institute of Dallas
Dallas06-2011
Skills
- Food Service Operations Management
- Culinary operations management
- Menu Planning & Production
- Food & Labor Cost Control
- Budgeting & P&L Management
- Food safety compliance
- HACCP & Quality Assurance
- Regulatory & Health Department Compliance
- Food Safety & Sanitation
- Inventory control
- Waste management
- Purchasing & Vendor Management
- Catering & Special Events
- Event management
- Customer and Resident Satisfaction
- Performance Management
- Staff recruitment
- Staff scheduling & Workforce Management
- Employee training
- Resource management
- Employee oversight
- Staff scheduling
- Strategic development
- Operational improvement
- Resource management
- Process management
- Operational planning
- Financial oversight
- Cost management
- Budget oversight
- Menu design
- Menu creation
- Dietary compliance
- Dietary restrictions
- Standard operating procedures
- Portion control
- Inventory & Waste Reduction
- Inventory oversight
- Microsoft Office / POS / Food Service Systems
- Food and beverage procurement
- Front-of-house operations
- Team management
- Culinary team leadership
- Guest relations
- Scheduling staff
- Teamwork
- ServSafe food manager
- Plating techniques
- Business management
- Resource management
- Process optimization
- Operations evaluation
- Policy execution
- Process optimization
- Plating techniques
- Teamwork
- Plating techniques
- ServSafe food manager
- Scheduling staff
- Front-of-house operations
- Operational planning
- P&L management
- Operational management
- Food and beverage procurement
Personal Information
Title: Food Service Director | Dining Operations | Team Leadership | Budget & Cost Control
Certification
- Food Manager Certification
Timeline
FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR
Metrocare Dallas Cares Cafe
01.2024 - Current
ASSISTANT FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR / FOOD SERVICE PURCHASER
Aramark @ Texas Health Resources HEB
01.2022 - 01.2024
ASSISTANT FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR / TRAVELING BENCH CHEF
Compass Group @ Cedar Hill ISD K-12
01.2020 - 01.2022
KITCHEN MANAGER
Applebees Bar and Grill
01.2015 - 01.2020
GENERAL MANAGER
Appe Teaser Catering
01.2012 - 01.2015
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
Olivers Fine Foods
01.2010 - 01.2012
BBA - Business Administration And Management
University of Phoenix
Associate of Applied Science - Culinary Arts
The Art Institute of Dallas