BRENDA GUIZA
Los Angeles,California
Summary
I'm a hospitality-driven market leader with deep roots in local grocery and community-focused food spaces. I love creating welcoming, intentional environments where guests feel at home and teams feel supported. I bring extensive hands-on experience with produce and product standards, paired with a background in fashion retail and visual merchandising that shapes how I think about presentation, flow, and detail. What matters most to me is building strong teams, coaching people into their strengths, and having fun while doing great work together. I lead with warmth, intention, and respect in fast-paced, high-volume environments.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Store Manager
Erewhon Market
07.2024 - Current
- Partner closely with Store Director and Assistant Director to support overall store operations, culture, and performance.
- Support daily operations across Front End, Grocery, Café & Kitchen, Tonic Bar, and Support teams within a high-volume market.
- Serve as a consistent culture leader, holding teams accountable to Erewhon's brand standards, hospitality expectations, and operational disciplines.
- Helped open the Manhattan Beach location and was selected as the Food Safety Ambassador for my eye for detail, accountability, and ability to teach leaders food safety practices.
- Forecast and reforecast sales, labor, and productivity to support financial and service goals.
- Maintain communication with Corporate Food Safety to ensure SOP compliance across departments.
- Support hiring, onboarding, and ongoing development of managers and hourly team members.
- Reinforce brand accountability through daily floor presence, coaching, and follow-through.
- Oversee inventory levels, ordering budgets, shrink control, and back-of-house organization.
- Consistently trusted to support operations across five Erewhon locations within three years, adapting quickly to new teams, layouts, and leadership needs.
- Certified in State Food Safety and Anti-Harassment Prevention.
Front End Manager
Erewhon Market
02.2023 - 06.2024
- Lead and oversee front-end operations, including guest flow, cash handling, audits, and service standards.
- Championed Erewhon's brand and mission at the front end, motivating teams to deliver elevated hospitality and drive membership engagement.
- Recruited, trained, and developed teams; selected to train new managers.
- Managed labor planning and productivity for high-volume operations.
- Strengthened hospitality standards and accountability across customer-facing roles.
- Awarded Manager of the Year.
Produce Clerk
Erewhon Market
01.2022 - 02.2023
- Merchandised premium organic produce with boutique presentation and seasonal storytelling.
- Guided guests through produce selection with ingredient knowledge and wellness insight.
- Maintained strict sanitation and audit readiness; earned Customer Service Award.
Department Manager & Crew Member
Trader Joe's
11.2013 - 05.2022
- Led produce ordering, inventory control, seasonal transitions, and fresh presentation standards.
- Increased department sales by 24% through strategic merchandising and hands-on team coaching.
- Trained and developed crew members, fostering a fun, supportive, and communicative team culture.
- Maintained high standards in food safety, cleanliness, and emergency procedures as part of the Store Safety Team.
- Delivered warm, personable customer experience across register, stocking, and floor engagement.
- Selected by Store Captain to attend Captain's Meetings and support new product merchandising.
- Earned multiple performance-based bonuses for leadership, reliability, and customer connection.
Education
Associate's Degree - Psychology
West Los Angeles College
Certificate - Directing & Production Design
Los Angeles Film School
Skills
- Hospitality leadership
- Visual merchandising
- Employee training and development
- Brand management
- Market awareness
- Inventory and cost control
- Labor management
- Food safety compliance
- Guest experience enhancement
- Community involvement
- Calm leadership under pressure
- Guest engagement strategies
- POS system proficiency
Hobbies and Interests
- Cooking something new every week
- Long road trips with a good playlist
- Cinephile with a love for classic and indie film
- Vinyl digging and collection building
- Exploring Los Angeles neighborhoods and food culture
- Proudly born and raised Angeleno
Timeline
Store Manager
Erewhon Market
07.2024 - Current
Front End Manager
Erewhon Market
02.2023 - 06.2024
Produce Clerk
Erewhon Market
01.2022 - 02.2023
Department Manager & Crew Member
Trader Joe's
11.2013 - 05.2022
Associate's Degree - Psychology
West Los Angeles College
Certificate - Directing & Production Design
Los Angeles Film School