BENJAMIN O. CARSON
Savannah,Georgia
Summary
An experienced hospitality industry leader with strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. Recognized for being a results-oriented and productive team builder, consistently promoting brand initiatives while also willingly assumes additional responsibilities and masters new skills to enhance the team's performance. A proficient problem solver who quickly adapts to changing circumstances and contributes to the team's effectiveness and bottom-line results.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Owner/Operating Partner
OKÀN BLUFFTON
Bluffton, South Carolina
01.2021 - Current
- Principal point person for managing daily and overall operations for ọkàn Bluffton LLC, brick and mortar restaurant that opened in Old Town Bluffton, June 2023.
- Responsible for conceptualization; facilitated restaurant buildout, ordering equipment, overseeing construction and design progress and for managing F+B opening budget and hiring process.
- Built and cultivated close collaborative relationships with local business partners and organizations.
- Vetting and procuring restaurant leadership team including general management, kitchen management and other key staff members.
- Ongoing management of budgets, profit and loss statements, and budgets related to proformas and forecasts, new revenue streams that generate from events, and on-site programming through Chef driven experiences.
- Uphold highest standard for elevated restaurant culture, ensuring management hiring standards maintain the appropriate ethos.
- Drive home upper management and partners the need efficiency in menu engineering to effectively maintain desired costs/margins/P&L.
- Personally responsible for all sales and client relations for events and large parties including full restaurant buyouts, offsite event planning and execution.
General Manager, Food and Beverage
KIMPTON HOTEL GROUP
Savannah, Georgia
01.2018 - 01.2020
- Responsible for managing all F+B and catering for the Kimpton Brice Hotel including Pacci Italian Kitchen + Bar, pool service, in-room dining, as well as on and offsite catering and events.
- Guest-relations ambassador as leadership partner on property, promoting a guest-focused approach to 60+ employees including Executive Chef, 2 Restaurant Managers, Director of Catering and Banquet Manager.
- Hire, train and mentor, directly supervise and evaluate all employees.
- Oversee all F&B operational functions including budgets, forecasts, and P+L
- Focus on growth through forward-thinking initiatives, programs and ancillary revenue streams.
- Develop partnerships and collaborations with local businesses, farmers and vendors.
- Continually monitor market for changes in supply, utilizing trends to shift programming to meet local demand.
General Manager, Food and Beverage
KITCHEN 320
Savannah, Georgia
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Executive team member overseeing all food, beverage and catering event operations for the property’s Kitchen 320 restaurant and banquet space.
- Coordinates with Executive Chef to create a neighborhood gathering place, focused on locally sourced items and seasonal offerings.
- Successfully cultivate strategic local partnerships for food, wine and craft beer dinners reflective of the Kitchen 320 brand.
Director of Operations
THE GREY
Savannah, Georgia
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Responsible for optimizing organizational processes to accurately represent the owner's vision and the establishment's premium branding.
- Contributed to brand development that resulted in James Beard nominations and ultimately James Beard selection for Chef Mashama Bailey.
- Successfully established highly productive, long-term relationships with industry vendors, purveyors, and distributors.
- Solely responsible for employee relations, and accounting reconciliation.
- Oversaw all food related marketing and associated events including in-house catering and weekly casual outdoor yard lunch, and entertainment each Saturday.
- Effectively united both front and back-of-house operations to consistently uphold the upscale image, and to foster recognition at a national level.
General Manager
ADEGA
Cleveland, Ohio
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Modern Mediterranean Upscale Dining.
- Orchestrated all Front-of-House operations and management responsibilities at a newly opened facility.
- Oversaw new hiring, training and mentoring, direct supervision, evaluations, and scheduling.
Assistant General Manager (all locations)
BURNTWOOD TAVERN
Cleveland, Ohio
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Refined Gastropub Fare.
- Worked directly with the Owner/Manager to grow and lay groundwork for Chef Art Pour Restaurant Group.
- Facilitated a highly efficient, cost-effective, multi-restaurant consolidated ordering plan for a $10.5M (combined) operation, establishing and taking advantage of well-vetted vendor relations.
- Successfully helped sculpt the desired 'Chef Driven' experience with creative and alternative beverage pairings and menu selections, cementing the restaurant’s reputation.
- Recognized as the Team Leader who developed a strong employee loyalty significantly reducing staff turnover and enabling a consistently high-level dining experience.
General Manager
SEARED
Brecksville, Ohio
01.2011 - 01.2012
- High-End Steakhouse and Rawbar.
- Assisted in opening a new, upscale establishment just outside downtown Cleveland.
- Worked with building the concept from the ground up, formulating operational procedures in accordance with newly established branding.
Beverage Manager
MARKS
Laguna Beach, California
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Worked directly with owner Mark DePalma to reopen neighborhood hotspot and manage the beverage outlet in an exclusive and intimate setting.
Co-Owner and General Manager
TANNINS LOUNGE
San Juan Capistrano, California
01.2006 - 01.2009
- Collectively conceptualized new live music lounge with a dynamic and comprehensive wine offering.
- Hand-selected wines strategically to complement the menus of the associated sister restaurant.
Assistant Director Food and Beverage
THE ST. REGIS RESORT & SPA
Dana Point, California
01.2005 - 01.2006
- Developed and maintained comprehensive F&B quarterly budgets, implemented innovative marketing event concepts to drive revenue.
- Independently managed and scheduled 100+ staff members.
- Recognized for decreasing bar pouring costs from 33% to under 19% within a 5 month period.
FOH Manager • Bartender • New Hire Training Manager
P.F. CHANG’S
Newport Beach, California
01.1994 - 01.2004
- Company Overview: China Bistro. Website not provided.
- One of first 5 hires, working directly with owner’s Paul Fleming and Philip Chang, to build (from scratch) the brand which set the bar for high-end Asian cuisine in the nation.
- Learned firsthand from highly regarded industry leaders how to effectively lay groundwork for restaurant growth and expansion through point-driven advertising campaigns, and established branding principles.
- Entrusted with traveling to more than 15 locations throughout the US to assist in new location openings, and brand-training.
- China Bistro. Website not provided.
Education
Public Relations with a concentration in Journalism
California State University, Chico
Chico, CaliforniaSkills
- MS Office Suite
- Toast
- Aloha
- Micros
- Squirrel POS Systems
- Online scheduling software
- SalesForce
- AdobePDF
- PMS
- CRM
References
Will be furnished upon request.
Timeline
Owner/Operating Partner
OKÀN BLUFFTON
01.2021 - Current
General Manager, Food and Beverage
KIMPTON HOTEL GROUP
01.2018 - 01.2020
General Manager, Food and Beverage
KITCHEN 320
01.2016 - 01.2018
Director of Operations
THE GREY
01.2015 - 01.2016
General Manager
ADEGA
01.2014 - 01.2015
Assistant General Manager (all locations)
BURNTWOOD TAVERN
01.2012 - 01.2014
General Manager
SEARED
01.2011 - 01.2012
Beverage Manager
MARKS
01.2009 - 01.2010
Co-Owner and General Manager
TANNINS LOUNGE
01.2006 - 01.2009
Assistant Director Food and Beverage
THE ST. REGIS RESORT & SPA
01.2005 - 01.2006
FOH Manager • Bartender • New Hire Training Manager
P.F. CHANG’S
01.1994 - 01.2004
Public Relations with a concentration in Journalism
California State University, Chico
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