Daniel McDaid
South San Francisco
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sommelier
Fiola, Fiola Mare
Washington
07.2019 - 07.2023
- Demonstrated commanding knowledge of the wines, wine regions, and spirits and imparted knowledge to guests in a Michelin-starred restaurant.
- Oversaw service team to ensure seamless wine service during peak hours, enhancing guest experience.
- Conducted bi-weekly wine training and education classes for for service staff with focus on regional differences, sales techniques and service standards.
- Collaborated with private events sales team to align wine selections with client preferences, contributing to repeat business.
- Managed wine ordering and receiving processes, ensuring accuracy of deliveries and pricing to minimize discrepancies.
- Processed invoices, maintained wine inventory and effectively used Binwise inventory system.
- Provided accurate management and maintenance for inventory of 1,100 selections with current pricing and vintages.
Sommelier
Epic Steak
San Francisco
06.2010 - 06.2019
- Recommended wines tailored to customer preferences and budgets, enhancing overall customer satisfaction.
- Led training and continuing education programs for all team members to improve their knowledge of wine tasting and service during daily lineups and monthly trainings.
- Led sales initiatives on the floor, achieving top performance in service metrics.
- Collaborated with internal teams to select wines for upcoming functions.
- Participated in tastings and assisted in curating the list.
- Assisted with monthly inventory as well as continual cellar management and maintenance of the list with accurate pricing and vintages.
- Managed daily requisitions and point of sales updates, ensuring optimal inventory levels for seamless purchasing.
Server
Smith and Wollensky
Philadelphia
10.2008 - 06.2010
- Executed front-of-house tasks seamlessly, fostering memorable dining experiences that built customer loyalty.
- Anticipated guest needs through effective communication and time management, ensuring satisfaction.
- Recommended wines and liquor pairings for coursed menu, enhancing guest dining experience.
- Created memorable guest experiences with prompt, knowledgeable, and warm service.
Financial Consultant
Karr Barth Associates/AXA Advisors
Bala Cynwyd
02.2007 - 08.2008
- Advised individuals and small business owners on comprehensive financial planning, utilizing a consultative sales approach to address unique financial needs.
- Guided clients in optimizing financial decisions with balanced investment strategies, life insurance, and tax-efficient options tailored to their goals.
- Developed comprehensive financial plans for individual clients based on their personal goals and objectives.
- Collaborated with clients to create customized portfolio management strategies aligned with their specific investment objectives and risk tolerance.
- Assessed customer risk profiles in order to recommend appropriate asset allocation models that fit within an acceptable level of risk.
- Certified Series 7 and Series 66 licenses.
Server
The Prime Rib
Philadelphia
08.2006 - 01.2007
- Provided outstanding dining experience in a high volume steak house with annual sales exceeding $9 million.
- Leveraged detailed menu knowledge to enhance guest experiences and support sales.
- Offered food and wine recommendations and introduced nightly menu additions.
- Documented guest preferences to tailor service and consistently exceed expectations.
- Trained new wait staff on procedures to uphold service standards and improve team effectiveness.
Lead Server
Sonsie
Boston
03.2002 - 07.2006
- Consistently led in per person and overall check averages.
- Led and supported staff to maintain high standards of customer satisfaction.
- Provided fine dining service in a contemporary American bistro.
- Enhanced team's expertise in wine and food pairings by organizing weekly wine tastings.
- Ensured timely response to customer needs through effective communication.
- Participated in hiring, orientation, training and development of new team members.
Corporate Recruiter
New Boston Select Staffing
Wellesley
04.2001 - 02.2002
- Interviewed employers and job applicants, fostering relationships to assess and ensure optimal fit for roles.
- Provided coaching and guidance throughout the selection process; facilitated smooth onboarding of new hires into the organization.
- Performed searches for qualified job candidates, using sources such as computer databases, networking, Internet recruiting resources, media advertisements, job fairs, recruiting firms, and employee referrals.
- Developed strategic relationships with external recruiters, staffing agencies, and universities to enhance visibility of company employment opportunities.
- Established initial contact and conducted fact-finding interviews with potential clients, identifying specific staffing needs to align talent with organizational goals.
Manager
Fire & Ice Restaurant
Boston
04.2000 - 04.2001
- Opened new restaurant location, establishing operational standards for the opening team.
- Organized and managed scheduling and labor costs for front of house and back of house operations, ensuring optimal staffing levels.
- Assessed team member performance, providing coaching and feedback to enhance skills and effectiveness.
- Evaluated and maintained consistent execution of the company concept, demonstrating and promoting company culture.
- Created a positive guest experience by delivering a high level of service and ensuring all team members engaged guests to understand needs and exceed expectations.
- Performed daily accounting and reconciling of restaurant finances.
Server
Les Zygomates
Boston
02.1997 - 04.2000
- Anticipated guest needs and requests to ensure satisfaction in casual fine dining French bistro.
- Coordinated with team to deliver seamless dining experiences for guests.
- Created engaging menu presentations that elevated guest enjoyment.
- Trained staff on proper steps of service.
Manager
Houlihan's
Framingham
11.1992 - 05.1996
- Monitored dining experience of guests, ensuring satisfaction with food and service.
- Led and directed the team through effective motivation and by leveraging individual strengths to ensure guest satisfaction.
- Demonstrated an ability to maintain a strong presence on the floor and closely coordinate the FOH team.
- Maintained accurate labor plans for FOH and BOH staffing, optimizing team efficiency.
- Performed line checks to ensure preparedness and cleanliness, enhancing overall dining experience.
- Maintained small wares inventory, ordering and managing costs per budget requirements.
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Mass Communication and Journalism
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA05.1991
Skills
- Wine knowledge
- Wine pairing
- Inventory management
- Staff training
- Event collaboration
- Customer relationship management
Certification
- Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas - Certified Sommelier, 2011
- Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas - Introductory Exam, 2010
- Wine School of Philadelphia - Global Wine Studies Certification, 2009
- Wine School of Philadelphia - Advanced Italian Certification, 2007
Timeline
Sommelier
Fiola, Fiola Mare
07.2019 - 07.2023
Sommelier
Epic Steak
06.2010 - 06.2019
Server
Smith and Wollensky
10.2008 - 06.2010
Financial Consultant
Karr Barth Associates/AXA Advisors
02.2007 - 08.2008
Server
The Prime Rib
08.2006 - 01.2007
Lead Server
Sonsie
03.2002 - 07.2006
Corporate Recruiter
New Boston Select Staffing
04.2001 - 02.2002
Manager
Fire & Ice Restaurant
04.2000 - 04.2001
Server
Les Zygomates
02.1997 - 04.2000
Manager
Houlihan's
11.1992 - 05.1996
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Mass Communication and Journalism
University of Massachusetts Amherst