Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

Edgar Benitez

Katy,TX

Summary

Versatile Operations Leader with demonstrated experience managing company assets and developing people for future growth. Strategic planner talented in seeing multiple options for improvement, operational streamlining and potential growth. Looking for a growing company where I can utilize my leadership and development skills to gain further experience while enhancing the brand's productivity and reputation.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience

Work History

Key Account Specialist

Affinity Group
07.2023 - Current
  • Obtain pricing deals, negotiated contracts, and solidified beneficial agreements.
  • Adhere to standards of quality and service as well as all compliance requirements.
  • Set up new customer accounts and updated existing profiles with latest information.
  • Liaised with sales, marketing and customer service teams to support smooth account management operations.
  • Maintain current knowledge of evolving changes in marketplace.
  • Contribute to event marketing, sales and brand promotion.
  • Discuss menu items with customers and suggested promotional items to increase sales.
  • Review business finances and back-end administrative procedures.

Training Academy General Manager

CAVA
12.2019 - Current
  • Transitioned to the TAGM role at CAVA as we grew the brand in the surrounding areas
  • Played a crucial role in ensuring Zoe's Kitchen GMs transitioned to CAVA smoothly from a training perpective
  • Was personally responsible for training several GMs, hourly leaders and Area Leaders for the Austin
  • Dallas and San Antonio markets
  • Currently have succesfully trained several full leadership teams for Kansas, Houston, Florida and Alabama markets
  • Managed training restaurant in Austin, TX with a total average $240K+ in sales monthly
  • Responsible for the training and development of leadership teams to ensure the restaurants run efficiently while delivering a seamless guest experience
  • Play a crucial role in the interview and hiring process of all leadership team staff for training restaurant and external markets
  • Monitor the scores and data trends based on our restaurant quality points such as food, service, and cleanliness
  • Responsible for the food safety certification everyone coming into restaurant to train for internal & external markets
  • Play a large role teaching the importance P&Ls, restaurant budgets and food/labor costs and any best practices and/or troubleshooting
  • Developed and implemented low labor and food cost goals alongside the rest of the Leadership team, achieving the goals as targeted
  • Responsible for any local Marketing events locally
  • Part of corporate council which focuses on areas of improvement for the brand any assists with pilots and roll-outs.

Area Leader

CAVA
02.2016 - 12.2019
  • Managed 5 high volume restaurants in Washington, DC, which brought in a total average of $840K+ in monthly sales
  • Relocated to open up the first market in Texas.
  • Was personally responsible for the hiring and training of all leadership staff for the new market.
  • Worked closely with CAVA corporate Marketing team to build the brand in Austin and Dallas as we prepared for our first restaurant’s launch.
  • Managed 4 restaurants in Austin, TX with a total average $520k+ in sales monthly.
  • Responsible for the training and development of GMs to ensure the restaurants run efficiently while delivering a seamless guest experience.
  • Play a crucial role in the interview and hiring process of all leadership team staff.
  • Monitor the scores and data trends based on our restaurant quality points such as food, service, and cleanliness.
  • Working closely with approved contractors to ensure punch list items are completed in a timely manner. Responsible for any permits needed for inspections for new restaurants
  • Play a large role involving P&L, restaurant budgets and food/labor costs.
  • Developed and implemented low labor and food cost goals alongside the rest of the Leadership team, resulting in my GMs achieving the goals as targeted.
  • Responsible for any local Marketing events and community outreach programs.

Director Of Operations

Chick-fil-a
01.2008 - 01.2016


  • Personally responsible for all day to day operations
  • Managed a 2 high volume restaurants with a total average of $900k+ in sales monthly
  • We finished the 2015 year with $11.7 million in sales
  • Responsible for the training and leading of the leadership team which consisted of 11 managers and 2 Marketing Directors
  • When first hired in January 2008 our restaurant was #678 chain wide for drive-thru sales
  • As of January 2016 I was able to bring us to #8 out of 1700+ restaurants with the help of my team.
  • Work closely with the Unit Training Director to insure everyone is fully trained in all areas, to ensure our guests experience an amazing visit
  • Monitor the scores and data trends based on our restaurants quality points such as food, service, and cleanliness.
  • Worked closely with the owner/operator and Chick-fil-a Corporate to find ways to improve drive-thru using the latest tools and technology available.
  • I was responsible for the chain-wide roll out of drive-thru related initiatives.
  • Responsible for the ordering, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of all equipment and hardware while working closely with our approved contractors
  • Play a large role involving the P&Ls, restaurant budgets and food/labor costs.
  • We ran a consistent 16%+ profit during my time and achieved 19.6% at the highest
  • Developed and implemented low labor and food cost goals alongside the rest of the Leadership team, resulting in my restaurant’s leadership team achieving the goals consistently.
  • Worked with a team of Grand Opening trainers as a Grand Opening Supervisor, up and down the East Coast, to aid owner/operators in getting their new restaurants open smoothly and played a role in Greater Baltimore market expansion.
  • Ensured that all the staff was properly equipped and trained.
  • Personally responsible for training 4 owner/operators in readiness for their new restaurants in Boston, Maryland, Virginia and Illinois.

Restaurant Manager/ Grand Opening Operator Support Trainer

Chick-fil-a
03.2010 - 01.2011
  • Helped interview over 1200 people in a mobile trailer before the construction of the restaurant was completed
  • Was solely sought after to help the owner/operator of the new restaurant to have a smooth transition into the Prince Georges County market
  • Worked alongside the owner/operator to recruit, train, and hire leadership staff of all levels for his restaurant
  • Put daily operation systems in place to help provide the best results possible
  • Operations ranging from food safety, labor costs, food costs, and training procedures
  • Helped establish the foundation to run a high profit restaurant averaging $350k+ in sales a month.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Organizational Leadership

American Public University System
Charles Town, WV
07.2015

Skills

  • Billingual
  • Leadership Training
  • Process Improvement
  • Self-Motivated
  • Guest-Oriented
  • Brand Ambassador
  • Visionary
  • Strategic Planning and Execution
  • Compliance Monitoring

Accomplishments

  • TABC (expired) - Will gladly attain upon request.
  • ServeSafe.

Timeline

Key Account Specialist

Affinity Group
07.2023 - Current

Training Academy General Manager

CAVA
12.2019 - Current

Area Leader

CAVA
02.2016 - 12.2019

Restaurant Manager/ Grand Opening Operator Support Trainer

Chick-fil-a
03.2010 - 01.2011

Director Of Operations

Chick-fil-a
01.2008 - 01.2016

Bachelor of Arts - Organizational Leadership

American Public University System

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Edgar Benitez