DAMEL WILSON-HAYDEN
Nashville,Tennessee
Summary
Hospitality management professional with over 9 years of leadership in restaurant operations. Expertise in driving guest satisfaction through effective team coaching and operational excellence, while maintaining high standards for food quality and safety. Committed to fostering a positive dining experience and enhancing team performance.
Overview
1
1
Certification
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Team Manager
PANERA BREAD
12.2025 - Current
- Lead daily restaurant shifts while maintaining high standards for guest service, food quality, cleanliness, and team performance.
- Coached and developed employees to achieve consistent hospitality and operational excellence.
- Monitor food quality, presentation, cleanliness, safety, and operational procedures.
- Assisted in staffing by scheduling shifts and managing employee assignments., scheduling, training, and shift execution.
- Responded to guest inquiries by addressing concerns and providing assistance promptly. concerns professionally, ensuring the overall dining experience remained positive.
- Supported inventory management and waste reduction efforts to enhance cost-control initiatives.
Assistant General Manager
NEON TACO
04.2021 - Current
- Partner with the General Manager to oversee daily restaurant operations while maintaining high standards for hospitality, service, food quality, and guest satisfaction.
- Led front-of-house and kitchen teams through hands-on leadership in fast-paced dining environment, fostering a culture of excellence.
- Assume leadership responsibilities and make operational decisions in the General Manager's absence.
- Coach and develop employees with a focus on professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and consistent service standards.
- Coordinated hiring, onboarding, scheduling, staffing, and employee development to build a skilled and efficient workforce.
- Monitored food quality, ordering, inventory, product usage, and waste to ensure operational efficiency and maintain cost control.
- Assist with labor and operating expenses while supporting restaurant performance and business objectives.
- Handle guest concerns and service recovery situations with professionalism, urgency, and sound judgment.
- Maintain food-safety, sanitation, cleanliness, and workplace-safety standards throughout daily operations.
Assistant Kitchen Manager
FRANKY & LOUIE'S
03.2017 - 10.2020
- Supervised and trained kitchen staff in culinary procedures, safety, sanitation, and quality standards to enhance team performance.
- Coordinated kitchen workflow and food production for timely and consistent service delivery.
- Supported daily kitchen operations, ensuring high standards for food quality, preparation, presentation, sanitation, and service.
- Monitored food inventory and product usage to support cost control and minimize waste.
- Assisted with staffing, scheduling, and shift management in a busy restaurant environment.
- Collaborated with front-of-house and management teams to resolve service challenges and support an exceptional guest experience.
Education
Associate of Arts - Holistic Nutrition Program
Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
12-2026
Associate of Arts - Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts Institute
New York City, NY12-2006
Cassadaga Valley High School -
Cassadaga Valley High School
Cassadaga, NY06-2001
Skills
- Restaurant Operations
- Front-of-House Leadership
- Kitchen Operations
- Food Quality & Presentation
- Food Safety & Sanitation
- Inventory & Cost Control
- Labor Management
- Operational Excellence
- Shift leadership
- Team coaching
- Staff Training & Onboarding
- Guest recovery
- Enhanced Guest Engagement
- Issue resolution
- Cross-Department Communication
- Quality standards
Certification
- ServSafe Certification, Food Safety & Sanitation
- CPR Certification
Hospitality Management Expertise
- Upscale Guest Experience
- Restaurant Operations
- Front-of-House Leadership
- Kitchen Operations
- Team Development & Coaching
- Service Standards
- Staff Training & Onboarding
- Scheduling & Shift Leadership
- Guest Relations & Recovery
- Food Quality & Presentation
- Inventory & Cost Control
- Labor Management
- Food Safety & Sanitation
- Quality Assurance
- Conflict Resolution
- Cross-Department Communication
Timeline
Team Manager
PANERA BREAD
12.2025 - Current
Assistant General Manager
NEON TACO
04.2021 - Current
Assistant Kitchen Manager
FRANKY & LOUIE'S
03.2017 - 10.2020
Associate of Arts - Holistic Nutrition Program
Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Associate of Arts - Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts Institute
Cassadaga Valley High School -
Cassadaga Valley High School