Gary Thomas
Restaurant Manager
Fort Harrison
Summary
Dedicated professional focused on delivering excellence and achieving outstanding results. Proactive and committed to contributing skills and knowledge to drive success. Proven ability to adapt and thrive in dynamic environments, consistently seeking opportunities for growth and improvement. Eager to leverage experience to make a meaningful impact in future roles.
Overview
50
50
years of professional experience
Work History
Housekeeping
Veterans' Administration, Ft. Harrison
10.2023 - Current
- 40 hours per week
- Supervisor: Shawn Boylan, 406-447-7210
- Janitorial duties such as waxing, mopping, vacuuming, trash disposal, minor repairs.
Human Resources Assistant/Front Desk
Helena Job Service
04.2022 - 07.2023
- 30 Hours/Week
- Supervisor: Bryan Bird, 406-447-3202
- Greeted walk-in traffic, screened and assessed customer needs and routed to appropriate services using basic interviewing techniques, assisted customers in use of computers and related software.
- Referred numerous military veterans to Sarah Smith at the VA so that they could receive a more comprehensive assessment of potential eligibility for VA benefits.
- Assessed needs and referred customers to appropriate staff for specialized information.
- I also shared my knowledge of local social service agencies, community resources and training opportunities as well as jobs that were open in our service area.
- Knowledge of job-search procedures, office practices, phone etiquette; routed calls appropriately, explained software, basic computer troubleshooting, basic Unemployment Insurance application help.
Housekeeping Volunteer
Veterans' Benefits Assn., Ft. Harrison
10.2019 - 08.2021
- Janitorial duties such as waxing, mopping, vacuuming, trash disposal, minor repairs.
Volunteer
Property Management
04.2016 - 11.2019
- Hours worked: 30 hours average
- Assisted with management of rental properties.
- In between rentals; cleaned/sanitized, vacuumed/shampooed carpets.
- Maintained yard; completed minor repairs, minor apartment plumbing, maintained working storage sheds, painted as needed, collected rent.
Cashier/Clerk
Town Pump, Butte
01.2009 - 05.2009
- Hours worked: per week: 40+
- Took customer orders-providing excellent customer service, stocked food supplies, ran/taught new employees how to use register.
- Handled and used industrial cleaning supplies, followed all company policies and procedures. Required organization, timeliness, teamwork, self-motivation and independent work.
Crew Member/Kitchen Lead
Burger King, Butte
07.2007 - 08.2008
- Hours worked per week: 40+
- Trained new kitchen employees, many of whom were starting their first jobs.
- Cooked, ran cash register, inventoried, provided excellent customer service.
- Trained new hires policies/procedures, provided sanitizing training.
- Practiced excellent communication skills, followed policies procedures, safety rules, maintained a clean operating restaurant.
Manager Trainee
Wendy's, Butte
08.2004 - 07.2007
- Hours worked per week: 43+
- Mgr. Trainee/ Co-Manager, Butte, MT, promoted and transferred to Cheyenne, Wyoming as General Manager.
- Provided co-supervision of 25 plus employees, provided guidance/support to new and established employees, follow-up with outcomes.
- Taught smarter - not harder concept, decreased employee turnover, created atmosphere that promoted good morale and respectful interaction. Completed all tasks alongside my employees.
- Hiring/firing authority, conducted interviews, provided employee training for operational tasks, sanitation and safety.
- Conducted and organized monthly employee trainings, ordering, inventory, first in first out practice, provided quality control in an atmosphere encouraging communication.
Crew Member/Assistant Manager
Burger King, Butte
08.2002 - 08.2004
- Hours worked per week: 25 8/2002-4/2003
- Hours worked per week: 45+ 4/2003-8/2004
- Promoted to Food Safety Assistant Manager and developed food safety process at Burger King during the e coli epidemic in the Northwest U.S. that resulted in not a single case of e coli in the restaurant.
- Learned management operations to include problem solving, hiring/firing, employee management and education.
- Promoted to Assistant Manager: ordering, inventory, quality control, product management, safety, nightly money drops, till management.
- Worked front end of the house, provided excellent customer service, teamwork, took and pulled orders, operated cash register.
Crew Member
McDonalds, Butte
09.2001 - 01.2002
- Hours worked per week: 30
- Invented Customer First Plan, which improved restaurant service wait times by assessing efficiency and retraining team, reducing wait time from 6 minutes to less than one.
- Mgr. Trainee/ Co-Manager, Butte, MT, promoted and transferred to Cheyenne, Wyoming as General Manager.
- Provided co-supervision of 25 plus employees, provided guidance/support to new and
Assistant Manager
McDonalds, Bremerton, WA
01.1979 - 01.1980
- Hours worked per week: 40+
- Invented Customer First Plan, which improved restaurant service wait times by assessing efficiency and retraining team, reducing wait time from 6 minutes to less than 1½ minutes.
- Mgr. Trainee/ Co-Manager, Butte, MT, promoted and transferred to Cheyenne, Wyoming as General Manager.
- Provided co-supervision of 25 plus employees, provided guidance/support to new and
United States Army
08.1975 - 08.1979
- Entered U.S. Army, starting as an 11 Bravo regular Infantryman.
- Promoted to 13 E, Cannon Fire Direction Specialist and promoted to Roving Gun and sent by a Gen. Mortise to train on a new system called Tack Fire, giving us the ability to double and triple the number of rounds that could be fired on a target.
- Promoted to rank of E-4, Corporal and assigned as a Tack Fire trainer to travel to other Army installations to train this new weapon.
- Taught computer-operated artillery system. Drafting, sending data to the unit, writing detailed notes, organizing, leadership skills, communication skills, retainability, learned about employment/teaching, interviewing, decisiveness.
- Trained soldiers how to field cook, survival skills, physical fitness training, AIT-computer training, organization, discipline, following directions.
Education
High School -
George Jr. Republic-Freeville
New YorkSelf-Education - undefined
Health Care Management - undefined
American International University/Online
01.2016
Master - PSY. Studies, Human Service
Colorado University/Online
01.2015
Skills
- Hired and trained young, first-time workers and turned them into an effective team as a manager for three major fast food restaurants
- Has acted as a volunteer mentor/coach for unemployed veterans for over 30 years
- Promoted to managerial positions in last three restaurant positions
- Employs person-centered human resources skills to teach and motivate others
Timeline
Housekeeping
Veterans' Administration, Ft. Harrison
10.2023 - Current
Human Resources Assistant/Front Desk
Helena Job Service
04.2022 - 07.2023
Housekeeping Volunteer
Veterans' Benefits Assn., Ft. Harrison
10.2019 - 08.2021
Volunteer
Property Management
04.2016 - 11.2019
Cashier/Clerk
Town Pump, Butte
01.2009 - 05.2009
Crew Member/Kitchen Lead
Burger King, Butte
07.2007 - 08.2008
Manager Trainee
Wendy's, Butte
08.2004 - 07.2007
Crew Member/Assistant Manager
Burger King, Butte
08.2002 - 08.2004
Crew Member
McDonalds, Butte
09.2001 - 01.2002
Assistant Manager
McDonalds, Bremerton, WA
01.1979 - 01.1980
United States Army
08.1975 - 08.1979
Self-Education - undefined
Health Care Management - undefined
American International University/Online
Master - PSY. Studies, Human Service
Colorado University/Online
High School -
George Jr. Republic-Freeville