Rebecca Thongdeng
Cocoa
Summary
Dynamic culinary professional with extensive experience at Walt Disney World Catering, excelling in culinary management and team supervision. Proven track record in health standards compliance and inventory management, fostering a collaborative environment. Adept at recipe development and staff training, ensuring operational excellence and high-quality food production.
Overview
1
1
Certification
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Cook/Supervisor
Blind Monkey Cafe
Kennedy Space Center
02.2025 - Current
- Maintaining health & food handling safety standards for both national & NASA regulations
- Managed inventory to maintain stock levels and adhere to NASA food, fire, and safety standards.
- Maintained pull thaws and ensured proper product rotation for quality control
- Coordinated ordering and inventory management to ensure stock levels met demand
- Prepping items for retail according to menu standards
- Managed vending machine inventory and stocked products to maximize availability
Cook, Appetizer & Saute
Beansprout Restaurant
Vera
06.2024 - 02.2025
- Cooking menu items: cold items, sauté, grill, and fryers, showcasing equipment operation expertise.
- Cooking curries and soups for the next day, adhering to precise recipes and safety guidelines.
- Prepared items to menu standards, ensuring compliance with industry safety protocols and federal food safety standards.
- Conducting mass prep for both line and storage, utilizing material handling equipment to streamline operations.
- Stocked station and maintained freezer stock, enhancing workflow efficiency.
- Maintaining station equipment with daily and weekly deep cleaning, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards.
- Upheld state health and food handling safety standards, fostering a secure and collaborative team environment.
Cook 2, Temp
Sodexo, Stewards Hospital-Rockledge
Rockledge
03.2024 - 06.2024
- Prepared and cooked Cafe menu items to maintain high quality and customer satisfaction
- Prepared and cooked set menu for patients, ensuring dietary needs were met
- Preparing, cooking & packing catering orders
- Preparing & cooking for Doctor’s Lounger
- Prepared retail sandwiches and salads, focusing on freshness and presentation
- Maintaining health & food handling safety standards
- Reviewed Banquet Event Order for accuracy in event arrangements.
Banquet Cook 1
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Yacht & Beach Catering
Lake Buena Vista
12.2022 - 03.2024
- Produced high-quality food in demanding catering environments while meeting physical requirements
- Enhanced guest experiences by providing high-quality food presentations and live action cooking stations.
- Delivered consistently high-quality culinary services while interacting with guests
- Utilize Banquet Event Order (BEO) to confirm proper event setup & food displays
- Coordinated logistics for large-scale catering events, managing inventory, equipment, staffing, and safety protocols
- Collaborated with a diverse team of 6+ members in a fast-paced environment to ensure seamless operations and adherence to Disney safety standards and customer need
- Partnered with team members to maintain operational consistency in event spaces
- Maintained state health and food handling safety standards, fostering a secure and collaborative team environment
- Following safety protocols while loading, hauling, driving, and unloading catering equipment and food via box truck, golf cart or work truck.
- Made significant contributions to team environments by utilizing strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills
Career Break
06.2022 - 09.2022
- Invested in culinary and operational management skills for career advancement
- Improved adaptability and preparedness for diverse catering environments
- Refined computer skills with online platforms promoting adaptability and telework capability
- Pursued personal growth to strengthen professional capabilities
Personal Chef
Private Company
03.2022 - 06.2022
- Operated independently as chef, demonstrating adaptability through effective management of diverse food handling techniques
- Successfully met physical requirements while sourcing and handling materials in compliance with safety protocols
- Strengthened team leadership and collaboration in remote meal preparation, enhancing overall team effectiveness
- Enhanced computer skills for planning and tracking logistics and culinary schedules, improving organization and workflow
Operation Manager
First Watch Restaurants
08.2021 - 03.2022
- Oversaw operations to ensure compliance with safety standards, enhance team coordination, and achieve efficiency targets
- Led team in culinary and material handling operations, fostering a collaborative work environment
- Ensured material handling, equipment and inventory sheets were utilized proficiently in routine operations
- Utilized computer skills to streamline inventory procedures and enhance operational effectiveness
- Contributed to flexible scheduling practices by optimizing resource utilization
- Managed inventory transactions using computer skills
Lead Line Cook
First Watch Restaurants
06.2021 - 08.2021
- Led complex kitchen operations by applying certifications and professional development
- Streamlined material handling and inventory management to support efficient kitchen operations
- Mentored junior staff while meeting physical demands of high-paced kitchen environments
- Made significant contributions to team environments by utilizing strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills
- Adapted to flexible schedules, meeting daily operational needs
Cook
First Watch Restaurants
06.2020 - 05.2021
- Multitasked across operations to enhance team efficiency and maintain quality standards
- Operated equipment following industry safety standards
- Integrated computer skills and inventory procedures to streamline job responsibilities
Cook 2, Intern
The Walt Disney Company
10.2019 - 02.2020
- Ensured a healthy and safe environment for guests by implementing safety protocols and regular inspections.
- Collaborated with team members using interpersonal and conflict resolution skills to foster a positive work environment
- Met all physical requirements effectively to deliver operational excellence
- Enhanced workplace operations by obtaining certifications and maintaining current safety training
Assistant Restaurant/ Catering Manager
Erickson Living
02.2016 - 10.2019
- Oversaw catering team training and supervision to meet hospitality standards
- Oversaw catering inventory management to support seamless event execution
- Utilized and created Banquet Event Order (BEO) to confirm proper event setup & food ordering
- Supervised and created staff training program to enhance operational efficiency
- Supervised and trained team members with emphasis on safety and cleanliness for optimal performance
- Managed database for production, ordering, and storage to optimize staffing
- Ensured compliance with State and Federal safety standards in logistics-related aspects of food handling
- Safety Committee Member, ensured both OSHA and Federal standards were met including training, chemical management, and injury reduction
- Logging inventory, maintaining food rotation logs, preparation logs & restaurant operation logs
- Developed team environments and led initiatives for improved employee engagement
Dining Supervisor
Keystone Villa at Douglasville
Douglasville
08.2015 - 01.2016
- Supervised and trained team members, emphasizing safety and cleanliness to enhance operational performance.
- Monitored and managed equipment operation for safe and efficient food production, ordering, storage, and staffing.
- Ensured adherence to OSHA and Federal standards in training, chemical management, and injury prevention.
- Ensured compliance with State and Federal safety standards in logistics-related aspects of food handling
Mechinst- Summer Temp
KER Custom Molding
05.2010 - 08.2010
- Operating blow molding machines
- Ensured correct material, dimensions, and color for final product to meet specifications
- Cleaned and finished final products, achieving compliance with quality standards
- Applied OSHA operating standards to maintain safety in work environment
- Maintaining and insuring a safe work environment
Education
Junior Developer - true
SheCodes
04-2026
Business Analytics - Science
University of South Florida
01-2025
Culinary Arts - Culinary
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Boulder, CO01-2018
Robotic and Automation Technology -
Berk Career & technology Center
Skills
- Culinary Management
- HACCP compliance
- Health standards compliance
- Recipe Development
- Menu costing
- Inventory management
- Team supervision
- Staff training
- Training facilitation
- Event coordination
- Time management
- Customer service
- Team collaboration
Badges
- NASA Badge, 2027
- TWIC Badge, 2029
Certification
- ServSafe Manager Certification, 11/04/21, 11/26/26
Timeline
Cook/Supervisor
Blind Monkey Cafe
02.2025 - Current
Cook, Appetizer & Saute
Beansprout Restaurant
06.2024 - 02.2025
Cook 2, Temp
Sodexo, Stewards Hospital-Rockledge
03.2024 - 06.2024
Banquet Cook 1
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Yacht & Beach Catering
12.2022 - 03.2024
Career Break
06.2022 - 09.2022
Personal Chef
Private Company
03.2022 - 06.2022
Operation Manager
First Watch Restaurants
08.2021 - 03.2022
Lead Line Cook
First Watch Restaurants
06.2021 - 08.2021
Cook
First Watch Restaurants
06.2020 - 05.2021
Cook 2, Intern
The Walt Disney Company
10.2019 - 02.2020
Assistant Restaurant/ Catering Manager
Erickson Living
02.2016 - 10.2019
Dining Supervisor
Keystone Villa at Douglasville
08.2015 - 01.2016
Mechinst- Summer Temp
KER Custom Molding
05.2010 - 08.2010
Junior Developer - true
SheCodes
Business Analytics - Science
University of South Florida
Culinary Arts - Culinary
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Robotic and Automation Technology -
Berk Career & technology Center