Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
GeneralManager

Harry Raft

Lake Forest,IL

Summary

Career Summary: Currently Panera Bread Co. Over 25+ years experience in the restaurant and retail design industry working daily with architects, designers, contractors, consultants, vendors, city review boards/city code compliance, budgets, scheduling .Extensive design and construction experience in free standing, in-line, prototype, rollout, remodeling and interior design projects including development of design concepts, architectural drawings, construction documents and construction management Extensive experience in managing the design process including new concepts, brand integration, interior/exterior layouts and elevations, design innovation and incorporating local design flavor Traveled extensively to various site locations worldwide to manage the design/construction process for multiple projects

Work History

Director Design/Construction

Starbucks Coffee Company
Chicago, IL
  • For Starbucks Reserve Stores/Princi/Princi Kitchen, 3yrs
  • Manage the design and construction of the new Starbucks Reserve store brand
  • Managing the design and construction of new Princi Kitchen (commissary) that will help support the new Princi free-standing locations
  • Leading the design and construction of Princi, a new food concept for Starbucks

Senior Design Manager

Starbucks Coffee Company
Chicago, IL
  • Design/Construction Global Reserve Stores, 1yr
  • Direct Global design teams located in Chicago, Seattle and New York to collaborate on the real estate development, design conceptions and construction processes for brand new high profile stores for Starbucks
  • Identify and communicate key responsibilities and practices to ensure the real estate, design and construction teams promote a successful attitude and teamwork to achieve business results
  • Responsible for managing teams to evolve overall visual strategy, set goals for the work group and manage multiple global projects providing leadership to multiple teams, Manage design studio of 20+ designers to develop and execute store environments for new and major renovations for the Mid-West and Mid-America regions
  • Minor renovations for the entire U.S
  • And Canada
  • Manage facilities requests for U.S
  • And Canada for company owned and licensed stores
  • Collaborate with Real Estate partners to solidify location and deals
  • Collaborate with construction partners to achieve project goals and regional development budgets
  • Consistently striving to create a strong design culture by providing feedback, performance management and coaching to design teams
  • Collaborate with headquarters to implement new company initiatives throughout the U.S
  • And Canada

Director

Jacobs Engineering
Houston, TX
  • Design Studio - Restaurant/Retail, 2yrs
  • Manage and mentor the Retail and Restaurant Design Studio of 20+ designers and architects and work closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Structural (MEP-S) staff through all phases of the architectural/engineering process from conceptual design though construction administration on projects ranging from $5K through $25 million
  • Work daily with contractors, consultants, outside architects, designers, vendors and MEP-
  • S departments on architectural drawings, construction documents, interior design and all phases of project development including leading teams on strategic development, distribution of work load to staff, proper execution methods and achievement of reaching set goals
  • Oversee design process and team work efforts to ensure designs meet landlord design criteria and that construction documents comply with architectural and quality standards, building codes and health and safety regulations

Studio Manager

MBH Architects
Alameda, CA
  • Restaurant/Retail Development Studio, 3yrs (promoted)
  • Managed large teams of designers, architects, engineers and consultants in the development of restaurant, retail, lifestyle and mixed-use center projects
  • Accountable for meeting client expectations in terms of brand incorporation and the municipality’s design requests
  • Attended zoning meetings, design review boards and client presentations to city/inspectors
  • Maintained project schedules, budgets, workflow and distribution to staff
  • Responsibilities also included managing architectural drawings, construction documents, interior/exterior design, liaison between client, contractors, design teams, engineering, internal staff and outside vendors

Senior Account Manager

MBH Architects
San Francisco, CA
  • Restaurant Studio/P.F
  • Changs China Bistro, 1yr
  • Managed independent restaurant projects and P.F
  • Changs China Bistro new and remodeling projects nationally
  • Led a team of 20+ architects, designers and engineers to create the newest restaurant designs
  • Managed all phases of the design/architectural/construction process including architectural drawings, construction documents, quality control, consultant coordination and construction administration
  • Worked daily with client and city officials, traveled extensively to project sites to manage construction process and met with city architectural and design review boards
  • Worked with clients and consultants on value engineering, green building opportunities and incorporated sustainable designs and products

Founding Principal

Raft Group, Inc
Rochester, MI
  • Yrs
  • A design and construction firm specializing in all aspects of restaurant, hospitality and retail projects
  • Developed food service plans, conceptual designs (interior/exterior), space plans, architectural drawings and construction documents on a variety of projects
  • Managed various residential projects from single family to mixed-use projects
  • Acted as General Contractor for various size projects and types, managed relations between clients, consultants, city officials, city code/design review boards
  • Responsible for specifying, procuring and installation of food service equipment

VP, Design/Concepts

01.2019 - Current
  • Lead the team of 12 Designers 2 Directors to develop and shape the look and feel of
  • Panera Brand Co
  • For Franchisee and Company stores across the country
  • Collaborate closely with other Sr
  • Leaders to achieve company goals/objectives
  • Evaluate new and existing locations for proper building types/relocations or remodel strategies

Education

Architecture, Interior Design/Fine Arts

Lawrence Technological University, for Creative Studies
Southfield, Detroit, MI

Skills

    Issues resolution

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Timeline

VP, Design/Concepts

01.2019 - Current

Director Design/Construction

Starbucks Coffee Company

Senior Design Manager

Starbucks Coffee Company

Director

Jacobs Engineering

Studio Manager

MBH Architects

Senior Account Manager

MBH Architects

Founding Principal

Raft Group, Inc

Architecture, Interior Design/Fine Arts

Lawrence Technological University, for Creative Studies

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