Jacob Larson
Cape Coral,FL
Summary
Versatile operations and people leader with a decade of experience building high-performing teams, designing scalable training programs, and driving measurable results across complex, multi-unit environments. Proven ability to implement systems from the ground up: sourcing and configuring software, authoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and leading organizational change through clear communication and structured rollouts. Recognized internally and by industry peers for developing talent, improving satisfaction metrics, and turning operational challenges into repeatable wins. Seeking remote or contract opportunities in operations, project management, training and development, or creative and marketing roles.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Restaurants & Bars
Luminary Hotel & Co. | Mainsail Lodging & Development
01.2022 - Current
- Promoted from Outlets General Manager to Director of Restaurants and Bars; lead a team of approximately 60 associates across six outlets generating $4M+ in annual revenue.
- Named 2024 Leader of the Year, selected from all department leaders across the hotel for performance in team development, associate engagement, and operations.
- Delivered consistent year-over-year revenue growth across all outlets.
- Achieved an 85.1% guest satisfaction score in 2025, exceeding both corporate and stretch targets; ranked in the top 10 among Autograph Collection properties worldwide for restaurant service, food quality, and overall food and beverage.
- Received the 2024 Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau (VCB) E-Award for sustained commitment to associate development and guest experience.
- Reduced associate turnover by 50% in the first year through structured onboarding, mentorship frameworks, and performance support systems.
- Led end-to-end implementation of a new beverage inventory management system: sourced and evaluated vendors, configured the platform, loaded all SKUs and pricing, and trained management and staff on adoption.
- Administer the property’s enterprise Point of Sale (POS) environment, including Micros Symphony front-end and back-end configuration and the Enterprise Management Console (EMC), the database layer governing all terminal settings property-wide.
- Redesigned the outlet tip-share process from the ground up: authored the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), led a testing and development cycle, and built a custom multi-tab Excel workbook now used by all managers to calculate and distribute associate pay.
- Manage the property’s guest satisfaction program across Marriott’s internal survey portal and all third-party social review channels; analyze feedback, respond to guests, and report trends to leadership and front-line teams.
- Operate the Workshop culinary theater end-to-end, managing vendor outreach, event logistics, staffing, marketing, and ticket platform administration through OpenTable and other portals.
- Led the brand reconceptualization of Silver King Ocean Brasserie into Silver King Coastal Kitchen, overseeing concept development, menu redesign, and relaunch execution.
- Deployed as Task Force General Manager for Bay Street Yard in Fort Myers, trusted to lead operations for a new-concept launch outside primary role.
- Developed a corporate beverage program for the broader Mainsail portfolio, a cross-property strategic initiative outside core job scope.
- Produce all marketing collateral, menus, and visual assets for outlets and events using Canva and Adobe Acrobat, owning the full content pipeline from concept to publication.
- Partner cross-functionally to design and roll out policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), providing training at all levels to ensure consistent adoption.
- Developed and mentored a multi-level management team; several direct reports have been selected to coach and train leadership at other properties in the portfolio.
Regional Director, Food & Beverage
Hawkeye Hotels
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Led operations across four properties with a team of 100+ associates, overseeing hiring, training, performance management, and daily operations.
- Recruited, onboarded, and developed 15+ managers through ongoing coaching and structured development plans.
- Directed the full-service reopening and operational rebuild of Marquee Wood-Fire Pizzeria following COVID-era restrictions, leading recruitment, training, and concept growth from scratch.
- Assumed interim General Manager role at La Vecina, stabilizing operations and managing a planned strategic closure including personnel transitions, asset allocation, and stakeholder communications.
- Served as primary operational lead for the grand opening of SpareMe Bowl and Arcade, coaching leadership on hiring, purchasing, and service standards through integration with the Hilton Tapestry brand.
- Led the conversion of an independent hotel to DoubleTree by Hilton: revised policies, guest-facing materials, and menus to meet brand standards; managed $130K+ in kitchen infrastructure upgrades to achieve quality assurance (QA) compliance.
Restaurant & Beverage Manager
The Hotel at Kirkwood Center
01.2016 - 01.2020
- Managed three outlets, Class Act Restaurant, Maikka Bar, and In-Room Dining, overseeing all daily operations, staffing, and service delivery.
- Led a property-wide Point of Sale (POS) migration to Micros Symphony, configuring and programming the system across all food and beverage outlets.
- Curated beverage programming to AAA 4-Diamond standards; produced a recurring monthly dining series spanning 35+ global cultural themes.
- Designed all menus for outlets and college-sponsored events; managed the property’s amenity and VIP service program.
- Guided staff and guests through a full hotel-wide renovation, adapting service models to maintain operational continuity across temporary spaces.
Instructor, Faculty
Hospitality Arts | Kirkwood Community College
01.2016 - 01.2020
- Taught accredited course “Service Techniques,” a required prerequisite for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management graduates, to 225+ students across lecture and live-service clinical components.
- Designed and delivered curriculum covering professionalism, service methodology, guest communication, and regulatory compliance in both classroom and applied environments.
- Managed student clinical schedules, assessed competencies in live service settings, and adapted instruction across in-person and virtual formats.
Education
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Culinary Arts
Kirkwood Community College
01-2016
Skills
- Team Leadership and Development
- Curriculum and Training Design
- Process and Systems Implementation
- Project Management
- Change Management
- Profit and Loss (P&L) and Budget Oversight
- Voice of Customer (VOC) Analytics
- Event Production and Logistics
- Brand and Content Development
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Tools: Micros Symphony Point of Sale (POS) system (front-end, back-end, and Enterprise Management Console (EMC)), cloud analytics platforms, inventory and forecasting systems, staff scheduling software, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite (G-Suite), Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, OpenTable
Accomplishments
Recipient of Luminary's "Leader of the Year" award 2024
Honorary Mention at Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau's Elaine McLaughlin Outstanding Hospitality Service Awards for Restaurant Service 2024
Certification
- 2024 Leader of the Year — Luminary Hotel & Co.
- 2024 E-Award Recipient — Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau (VCB)
- Certified Sommelier — 2023
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Interests
- Running
- Gardening
- App Development
- Web Development and Design
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
Timeline
Director of Restaurants & Bars
Luminary Hotel & Co. | Mainsail Lodging & Development
01.2022 - Current
Regional Director, Food & Beverage
Hawkeye Hotels
01.2020 - 01.2022
Restaurant & Beverage Manager
The Hotel at Kirkwood Center
01.2016 - 01.2020
Instructor, Faculty
Hospitality Arts | Kirkwood Community College
01.2016 - 01.2020
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Culinary Arts
Kirkwood Community College