Benjamin Owen - Area Supervisor / Multi-Unit Leader - Tazikis Mediterranean Cafe

Summary

Dynamic multi-unit restaurant leader with over 12.5 years of progressive experience in operations, training, and talent development within a high-growth organization managing over 121 locations across 19 states. Recognized as a high-impact people developer and culture carrier with deep expertise in leadership coaching, succession planning, and cross-functional collaboration. Proven ability to enhance retention, strengthen organizational culture, and lead high-performing teams in high-volume locations. Trusted partner to Operations, HR, Training, Marketing, Finance, Technology, Franchise Operations, and Executive Leadership teams, adept at facilitating leadership meetings and supporting enterprise-wide initiatives.

Overview

6

years of professional experience

Work History

Area Supervisor / Multi-Unit Leader

Tazikis Mediterranean Cafe

Birmingham, AL

05.2023 - Current

Lead operations, leadership development, talent management, and culture execution across 3 high-volume restaurant locations generating approximately $10M+ annually in revenue. Previously oversaw 5 locations and supported operational performance across 7 different restaurants within the Birmingham market.
Directly responsible for coaching General Managers and Assistant General Managers while driving performance across labor, profitability, guest experience, retention, operational standards, and leadership development initiatives.
Key Accomplishments:
Oversaw 3 of the Top 10 highest-volume restaurants system-wide across 115+ locations, including 2 of the Top 2 highest-performing stores in weekly sales volume
Managed operations across locations averaging approximately $10M+ in combined annual revenue
Improved labor performance by:
4.6% at one location
3.1% at another
2.4% at another
Improved leadership retention and engagement through focused coaching, development, accountability, and succession planning initiatives
Developed and promoted:
7+ hourly employees into Assistant Manager roles
8+ Assistant Managers into General Manager positions
Supported and helped operate a certified corporate training restaurant responsible for training 60+ managers across 5 different company markets
Traveled to additional markets to train leaders and teams on new operational systems, standards, LTO execution, and company initiatives
Facilitated onboarding, interviewing, coaching, and leadership development for AGM and GM candidates
Conducted investigations in partnership with HR and Legal leadership
Presented at a company leadership conference attended by 200+ leaders
Led live television/news appearances and represented the company in public-facing marketing initiatives
Collaborated with Marketing, Finance, Technology, Franchise Operations, Training, HR, and Executive Leadership teams on company-wide initiatives
Helped implement guest experience and operational improvement initiatives focused on order accuracy, hospitality, speed, and service consistency
Hosted and trained prospective franchise owners during “day-in-the-life” experiences contributing to franchise growth and development
Served as a trusted operational resource for franchise owners, market leaders, and corporate partners across multiple markets
Recognized by executive leadership and founder-level leadership for operational expertise, culture leadership, and brand knowledge

General Manager

Tazikis Chace Lake

Hoover, Alabama

01.2020 - 01.2023

Managed full restaurant operations including hiring, training, scheduling, financial accountability, guest experience, employee development, and operational execution within high-volume restaurant environments.
Key Accomplishments:
Led multiple high-performing restaurant teams with strong sales growth, culture development, and operational consistency
Developed future managers and leaders through coaching, training, and structured accountability systems
Maintained strong operational standards across food safety, hospitality, speed of service, and team performance
Built strong team culture and employee engagement within fast-paced restaurant environments
Consistently achieved operational KPIs related to labor, profitability, guest experience, and retention

Education

Marketing Major Coursework Completed

University of Alabama

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Mountain Brook High School

Skills

Leadership Development & Coaching
Talent Development & Succession Planning
HR Partnership & Employee Relations
Training Program Facilitation
Multi-Unit Leadership
Team Culture & Engagement
Performance Management
Interviewing & Talent Selection
Conflict Resolution & Investigations
Change Management & Rollouts
Organizational Communication
Executive Presentation Skills
Guest Experience Improvement

Cross-Functional Collaboration
Operational Excellence
KPI / OKR Accountability
Workforce Retention Strategies
Culture Index Technical Expertise
Strategic Planning & Execution
Process Improvement
Team management
Project management
Company policy implementation
Leadership development
Team building and motivation
Staff coaching and training

LEADERSHIP & TRAINING EXPERIENCE

Certified Training Store Leadership Support
Corporate Systems Rollout Training
Leadership Meeting Facilitation
New Market Support & Training
State Food Safety Exam Proctor
Cross-Market Operational Consulting
Culture Index Technical Expert
Guest Experience Workshop Collaboration
Franchise Training & Support

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

12.5 years with company across significant organizational growth and operational evolution
Started as a frontline cashier and progressed through every major restaurant leadership level into multi-unit leadership
Extensive experience partnering cross-functionally with HR, Training, Operations, Finance, Marketing, Technology, and Franchise teams
Recognized internally for leadership influence, culture development, people development, and operational expertise
Strong executive communication and presentation abilities with experience presenting to senior leadership and company-wide audiences

Timeline