Daniel Cruz
Laguna Hills,CA
Summary
Energetic Kitchen Manager enthusiastic about working with high-performance teams. Personable, responsible and hardworking professional. Dedicated to innovative dishes, effective budgeting and top-of-the-line customer service. Talented kitchen leader offer over 20 years of experience in preparing and serving diverse foods. Motivates employees to exceed customer expectations in high-volume settings while maintaining strong quality and cost controls. Service-oriented with good multitasking, safety management and decision-making skills. Experienced leader successful at reducing costs, increasing productivity and maximizing customer satisfaction. Exceptional leader with strong communication and conflict resolution abilities. 20 years of progressive leadership experience. Driven leader with strong problem-solving and customer service skills. Dedicated to providing highest level of service to customers and creating pleasant work environment for staff. Knowledgeable in food safety and sanitation protocols. Hardworking and passionate job seeker with strong organizational skills eager to secure entry-level team menber position. Ready to help team achieve company goals.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Kitchen Manager
Machaikenterprises
02.2016 - Current
- Enhanced financial controls to minimize theft and loss risks, continuously maintaining accurate accounts and cash drawers.
- Delivered in-depth training to workers in food preparation and customer-facing roles to promote strong team performance.
- Maintained effective supply levels by monitoring and reordering food stock and dry goods.
- Coordinated with catering staff to deliver food services for special events and functions.
- Motivated staff to perform at peak efficiency and quality.
- Inspected equipment and machinery for proper working condition and directed staff to clean and repair as needed.
- Inspected stock to identify shortages, replenish supply and maintain consistent inventory.
- Increased overall profitability with effective budget management, including cost control strategies for purchasing and labor expenses.
Sous Chef
Solita Tacos And Margaritas
07.2014 - 01.2016
- Assisted with menu development and planning.
- Participated in menu planning meetings, offering creative input that led to new signature dishes garnering rave reviews from guests.
- Set up and broke down kitchen for service.
- Collaborated with staff members to create meals for large banquets.
- Served as an integral part of the hiring process for new kitchen staff members, contributing valuable insights into candidate selection based on experience and skill set compatibility with existing team dynamics.
- Coordinated with team members to prepare orders on time.
- Trained kitchen staff to perform various preparation tasks under pressure.
- Reduced staff turnover rates through effective communication skills, creating a supportive work atmosphere for all team members.
- Plated every dish with attractive flair to meet strict restaurant standards and maintain stellar business reputation.
- Participated in food tastings and taste tests.
- Provided exceptional customer service when addressing guest concerns or special dietary requests, building loyalty among returning clientele.
- Evaluated food products to verify freshness and quality.
- Implemented food cost and waste reduction initiatives to save money.
- Worked closely with front-of-house staff to facilitate excellent customer service.
- Prevented cross-contamination from utensils, surfaces, and pans when cooking and plating meals for food allergy sufferers.
- Disciplined and dedicated to meeting high-quality standards.
- Trained and mentored new staff members in kitchen safety, sanitation and cooking techniques.
- Monitored food and labor costs to verify budget targets were met.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Resolved problems, improved operations and provided exceptional service.
- Exercised leadership capabilities by successfully motivating and inspiring others.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
General Manager
Malibu Fish Grill
12.2006 - 01.2016
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
- Provided strategic oversight of marketing and promotional campaigns to keep campaigns aligned with overall goals and objectives.
- Analyzed market trends/data to identify potential opportunities for business growth within existing or emerging markets successfully.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions.
- Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths.
- Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
- Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning.
- Tracked employee attendance and punctuality, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits.
- Supervised creation of exciting merchandise displays to catch attention of store customers.
- Managed budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules, and contract negotiations.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue, and effectively targeting new markets.
- Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
- Reduced operational risks while organizing data to forecast performance trends.
- Developed and implemented strategies to increase sales and profitability.
- Managed purchasing, sales, marketing and customer account operations efficiently.
- Managed budget development, forecasting, and financial reporting processes to track progress towards organizational objectives accurately.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while managing multiple projects.
- Acted as a team leader in group projects, delegating tasks and providing feedback.
- Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
Education
High School Diploma -
Garden Grove Adult Education
Garden Grove, CA06.1996
Skills
- Database Interface and Query Software
- Managing Reservations and Large Parties
- Menu development
- Investigating Complaints
- Problem-Solving
- Cost Control
- Expediting Orders
- Inventory Coordination
- Goal Setting
- Safe Food Handling
Languages
Spanish
Full Professional
Timeline
Kitchen Manager
Machaikenterprises
02.2016 - Current
Sous Chef
Solita Tacos And Margaritas
07.2014 - 01.2016
General Manager
Malibu Fish Grill
12.2006 - 01.2016
High School Diploma -
Garden Grove Adult Education