Food
Braxton Fuller
Sherwood
Summary
Proven leader in the hospitality industry, excelling at Alexana Winery with over $800,000 in individual wine sales and a record-setting $1.7M in tasting room revenue. Demonstrates superior customer service and expertise in high-volume environments, leveraging extensive POS system knowledge and a talent for fostering team unity. Achieved significant sales growth by mastering both relationship-building and strategic upselling.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Tasting Room Manager
Alexana Winery
08.2021 - Current
- Managed daily tasting room operations, ensuring a clean, organized, and welcoming environment for guests.
- Trained new staff members on proper tasting room procedures, product knowledge, and customer service best practices.
- Increased tasting room sales to over $1.5M in a year for the first time ever through top notch customer service, effective upselling techniques, promoting wine club memberships, and driving traffic in a competitive industry.
- Individual wine sales totaling over $800,000 over the course of employment, averaging $200,000 per year.
- Coordinated with other departments such as event coordinator, club manager and marketing director to ensure seamless integration of tasting room operations within the overall winery business strategy.
- Contributed to increased brand awareness by actively engaging with visitors about the winery's history, production process, vineyards, and awards received.
- Achieved consistent high ratings on customer satisfaction surveys by focusing on exceptional service quality.
- Developed strong relationships with guests, resulting in repeat visits, member retention, and positive word-of-mouth referrals.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths.
- Always operated with an emphasis on integrity and positive relationship building.
Tasting Room Lead Associate
Alexana Winery
08.2020 - 08.2021
- Developed a high touch, elevated wine tasting experience for guests and club members with special attention towards repeat visits and member retention.
- Enhanced customer experience by providing personalized wine recommendations, education and pairing suggestions.
- Accepted promotion to Tasting Room Manager within 1 year of hire by showing a drive for consistent improvement and working seamlessly with a dynamic team.
Private Event Server/Dining Room Server/Trainer
McCormick And Schmicks Grill
05.2013 - 08.2020
- Always at the top of customer voice reviews sent by guests directly to management via online survey
- Consistently one of the top servers in gross sales per month ($12,000 to $17,000) as well as per person average sales ($55 PPA- lunch and dinner shifts combined).
- Achieved quarterly sales goals by promoting specials, limited time offerings, wines and specialty cocktails
- Assisted with menu price audits including wine as well as vintage changes
- Management promoted me to train and coach new employees on private event setup and execution, opening and closing duties, service standards, and menu knowledge
- Succeeded in attending to large volume of guests such as private events with 50+ people
- Stayed focused in high stress environment (ie. 900+ guests were accommodated on both Thanksgiving and Christmas)
- Stayed up to date on menu changes to offer current and accurate information, answer questions and help customers select optimal meal and beverage choices based on individual preferences
- Maintained customer satisfaction with timely table check-ins to assess food and beverage needs
- Adhered to strict policies and procedures regarding food allergies and dietary restrictions
- Performed complete opening, closing and shift change duties to keep restaurant working efficiently
- Determined and recommended methods to address improvement opportunities
- Devoted to punctuality and worked to maintain outstanding attendance record, consistently arriving to work ready to start immediately
- Operated with integrity, built trust, and earned sustained credibility with management and co-workers
Dining Room Server
P.f. Changs China Bistro
08.2007 - 05.2013
- Maintained customer satisfaction with timely table check-ins to assess food and beverage needs
- Kept server areas clean and stocked during service hours to increase efficiency while serving tables
- Greeted new customers, discussed specials, took drink orders and built immediate positive connections with guests
- Backed up hosts by greeting guests, assigning tables and escorting to seats
Dining Room Server/Host Trainer
P.F. Chang's China Bistro Inc.
06.2005 - 08.2007
- Trained and managed host staff to take reservations, accurately quote wait times and control flow of seated guests in dining room
- Attended to new customers quickly to inquire about drinks and start off dining experience with prompt beverage service
- Addressed any concerns or complaints quickly to improve service and escalated more advanced issues to management for resolution
- Applied safe food handling and optimal cleaning strategies to protect customers and maintain proper sanitation
Education
High School Diploma -
El Segundo High School
El Segundo, CA06.2006
Skills
- Maintained consistent superior customer service
- Experience selling variety of food and beverages including local and international fine wines
- Extensive POS system use (TOCK, WineDirect)
- Professional communication and telephone etiquette
- Ability to keep calm and focused in high stress, high volume atmosphere
- Excited and able to learn and absorb new information quickly
- Open to constructive feedback about performance with willingness to improve
- Exercise teamwork on a regular basis to help facility operating efficiently
Interests
Fitness
Finance
Real Estate
Outdoors
Dogs
Cars
Timeline
Tasting Room Manager
Alexana Winery
08.2021 - Current
Tasting Room Lead Associate
Alexana Winery
08.2020 - 08.2021
Private Event Server/Dining Room Server/Trainer
McCormick And Schmicks Grill
05.2013 - 08.2020
Dining Room Server
P.f. Changs China Bistro
08.2007 - 05.2013
Dining Room Server/Host Trainer
P.F. Chang's China Bistro Inc.
06.2005 - 08.2007
High School Diploma -
El Segundo High School
Additional Information
List of references available upon request
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