GINO GAROFOLO
North Miami Beach,FL
Summary
Hospitality Professional experienced in food-service operations and management. Achieved over $2.2 million in gross sales through ownership and operation of restaurants, food trucks, and food boats while effectively managing teams of up to 37 employees. Focused on operational efficiency, cost control, and customer satisfaction through hands-on leadership and strategic planning.
Overview
1
1
Certification
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Owner / Operator / General Manager
BIG PAPA'S GRUB / BIG PAPA'S TACOS
North Miami Beach, Florida
09.2020 - Current
- Owner and operator of multiple food-truck businesses, including two Big Papa's Grub trucks and Big Papa's Tacos.
- Generated more than $2.2 million in gross sales through food-truck and food-boat operations.
- Directed end-to-end operations for multiple mobile food-service businesses, ensuring seamless service delivery.
- Managed hiring, training, scheduling, payroll, purchasing, inventory, food costs, labor costs, and daily execution to optimize business performance.
- Lead approximately 17 employees across current food-service operations.
- Coordinate staffing, production, transportation, and logistics for peak service periods and community events.
- Maintained strong relationships with customers, vendors, employees, and community partners to foster loyalty and collaboration.
- Directed daily operations for Aquatic Flavors flavor production and service workflows.
Owner / Operator / General Manager
AQUATIC FLAVORS
Haulover, Florida
02.2018 - Current
- Owner and hands-on operator of a waterfront food-boat business serving a high-volume customer base at Haulover.
- Direct all daily operations, including staffing, scheduling, purchasing, inventory, payroll, customer service, food preparation, quality control, and financial management.
- Lead a 17-person team across active food-service operations.
- Make rapid operational decisions in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
- Controlled food and labor costs, ensuring product quality and customer satisfaction.
- Managed vendor relationships and purchasing while ensuring inventory accuracy and effective operational planning.
- Recruit, interview, hire, train, supervise, and develop employees to maintain service and productivity standards.
- Built customer loyalty, enhancing business presence within the local community.
- Directed daily operations for Aquatic Flavors flavor production and service workflows.
Opening Team / Restaurant Operations
EMILIO'S TRATTORIA
Bay Harbor Islands, Florida
01.2010 - 01.2025
- Helped open and establish Emilio's Trattoria in 2010 and remained involved with the restaurant through its successful operation until it closed in 2025 following the owner's retirement.
- Established operating procedures, service standards, and restaurant systems for successful 2010 opening.
- Partnered with owner Emilio Di Carlo to build and sustain a successful restaurant operation.
- Executed daily operations, ensured exceptional customer service, and maintained high food quality and service standards.
- Helped deliver a high-quality dining experience that earned strong customer reviews and a respected community reputation.
- Applied full-service restaurant expertise across approximately 15 years of continuous operations.
- Drove sustained performance and maintained strong sales throughout restaurant's operating history.
- Built expertise in restaurant operations, guest service, food quality, teamwork, and daily business management.
Owner / Operator / General Manager
BIG SLICK'S DELI
North Miami Beach, Florida
01.2018 - 01.2023
- Founded, owned, and operated a successful neighborhood restaurant in North Miami Beach.
- Directed financial, administrative, kitchen, and front-of-house operations from launch through sale.
- Oversaw hiring, training, scheduling, payroll, inventory, purchasing, vendor relationships, and customer service to ensure efficient operations.
- Managed hiring, training, scheduling, payroll, inventory, purchasing, vendor relationships, and customer service.
- Directed catering and large-volume food production.
- Cross-trained employees across multiple positions to enhance service coverage during peak periods.
- Performed cooking, food preparation, cleaning, customer service, cashier duties, ordering, and operational management.
- Provided charitable catering and food services to local police departments and emergency-service personnel during COVID-19 pandemic.
- Operated the restaurant successfully until its sale in 2023; the restaurant continues to operate today.
Deli Manager
BAGEL BAR EAST
North Miami, FL
01.2010 - 01.2018
- Managed hiring, training, scheduling, payroll, and performance management.
- Controlled inventory, ordering, receiving, and product organization.
- Oversaw inventory management, including ordering, receiving, and product organization for operational efficiency.
- Utilized Excel spreadsheets and administrative tools for accurate reporting and informed business decisions.
- Produced short-order meals and high-volume food preparation.
- Prepared and baked bagels in a high-volume bakery setting. and supported bakery production.
- Maintained food quality, cleanliness, and organization while ensuring high customer-service standards.
- Used Excel spreadsheets and administrative tools to support reporting and business decisions.
Education
Hialeah Senior High School
Hialeah, FLBachelor's-level education - Business Administration / Business Studies
Miami Dade College
Miami, FloridaSkills
- Kitchen & BOH Operations
- FOH Operations
- High-volume operations
- Catering events
- Food Safety & Compliance
- Food cost control
- Labor scheduling
- Inventory Management
- Purchasing & Vendor Relations
- Payroll Administration
- Scheduling & Labor Management
- Hiring & Employee Recruitment
- Employee training
- Financial management
- Cost control
- General management
- Operations
- Business operations
- Restaurant operations
- Owner leadership
- Multi-unit operations
- Excel & Spreadsheet Management
- POS & Cash Handling
- Culinary operations
- Bread Production
- Artisan Baking
- Team development
- Inventory management
- Restaurant operations
- Food cost control
- Labor scheduling
- Artisan Baking
Personal Information
Title: RESTAURANT GENERAL MANAGER | OWNER / OPERATOR | HOSPITALITY & FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS
Certification
ServSafe Manager Certification, Food Handler Certification
LEADERSHIP & BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS
- Delivered 20+ years of restaurant management and food-service operations leadership.
- Owned and operated a restaurant, multiple food trucks, and multiple food boats.
- Helped launch and establish a full-service restaurant that operated successfully for approximately 15 years.
- Led teams of up to 37 employees.
- Currently lead approximately 17 employees across active food-service businesses.
- Managed monthly revenues reaching approximately $150,000.
- Generated more than $2.2 million in gross sales through food-truck and food-boat operations.
- Combined restaurant administration with hands-on kitchen and service leadership.
- Sustained business operations through the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Provided free catering and meals to police departments and emergency-service personnel during the pandemic.
- Delivered large-scale annual Miami-Dade County events for approximately five years, serving thousands of people.
- Executed community events, charitable programs, catering, and high-volume food-service operations.
- Built and sold a restaurant that continues to operate today.
- Developed staffing, training, operating systems, and cost-control practices for restaurant openings and ongoing operations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Available for restaurant general management, operations management, food-service management, multi-unit management, catering management, and owner/operator leadership positions.
- Strong hands-on management background with the ability to lead from the front, manage administrative responsibilities, control costs, train employees, oversee kitchen operations, and maintain excellent customer-service standards.
Timeline
Owner / Operator / General Manager
BIG PAPA'S GRUB / BIG PAPA'S TACOS
09.2020 - Current
Owner / Operator / General Manager
AQUATIC FLAVORS
02.2018 - Current
Owner / Operator / General Manager
BIG SLICK'S DELI
01.2018 - 01.2023
Opening Team / Restaurant Operations
EMILIO'S TRATTORIA
01.2010 - 01.2025
Deli Manager
BAGEL BAR EAST
01.2010 - 01.2018
Hialeah Senior High School
Bachelor's-level education - Business Administration / Business Studies
Miami Dade College