James Simmons
Olympia,WA
Summary
A Dynamic Director who oversees every facet of Operations, with a strong background in reinventing businesses; as well as bringing new business concepts to life. I bring comprehensive knowledge of recruitment, safety leadership, departmental planning, and streamlining operations. Skilled at coordinating production and personnel resources to build well balanced, high-performance teams. I am creative, strategic, and proactive.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Operations Director & Chef Coordinator
SRVE
05.2021 - Current
- Oversees daily operations across multiple departments, ensuring seamless coordination and efficient execution of high-level culinary experiences for film studios, production facilities, and corporate engagements.
- Assures all branding, identity, and design aspects are executed effectively and to high standard in competitive and evolving market.
- Analytics and Strategy.
- Distribution and Logistics Management
- Campaign KOI & ROI insights and strategic adaptation.
- Managing effective relationships and building brand reputation.
- Coordinate and supervise menu development with high-level Chefs according to customer desires and budgets.
- Talent recruitment, policy employment, training facilitation, and safety program management.
Business Dev. & Operations Director
West Central Park Neighborhood Center
01.2016 - 05.2021
- Managed block restoration project by proactively conceptualizing and executing multi-unit, community oriented retail, food, entertainment, and lodging venues.
- Artistic restoration and design of Victorian home built in 1982 for conversion to Bed & Breakfast business while overseeing code compliance, daily operations, and menu development
- Determined electrical, plumbing, hardscape, paints, and interior design elements by conducting in-depth historical research.
- Maintained strong corporate rapport with business community, business-to-business (B2B) and cross-marketing partners.
- Coordinated operations pertaining to vendors, contractors, city and county officials, historical society, and licensing authorities.
- Develop aesthetic design for early mid-century-themed kitchen shop and café.
- Created branding, logos, flyers, photography, and advertisements for block businesses to lead community outreach and events.
- Led design, construction, product selection, curation, and purchasing for specialty kitchen shop & cafe in addition to creating custom designs for retail and lighting fixtures.
- Manage corporate environment by forming and implementing policies and procedures while managing entire recruitment and training process.
Food and Beverage Operations Manager
Lucky Eagle Casino
03.2012 - 01.2016
- Delivered expertise in design, branding, staffing, training, and launch of hotel room service program and three new food and beverage locations within property, including Craft House Sports Bar, Fire Kitchen Buffet, and Room 188 Steakhouse.
- Improved customer base by collaborating with resort directors to review desired cultural expression for each location with client's attraction benefits.
- Created menus for each location, including specialty themed cocktails.
- Maximized company outreach by developing social media advertisements, mailers, and promotional events for new food venues in addition to directing marketing campaigns for radio and TV commercials.
- Maintained inventive corporate environment by generating engaging branding, layout, sourced materials, decoration, and artwork.
- Devised and implemented company policies and managed recruitment, safety, scheduling, and training procedures.
Education
MBA - Psych
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR01.2006
BS - Business Administration
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ01.2004
Skills
- Sales Tactics & Branding
- Design Concept Execution
- Policy Formation & Implementation
- Process Improvement
- Safety program development
- Incident Investigation
- Business Initiative Management
- Growth & Strategy
- Product Rollout
- People Management
- Talent Acquisition
- Leadership & Training
- R&D
- Microsoft Office Applications
- Salesforce
- Tableau Desktop
- SketchUp
Certification
- Six Sigma BB Certification, University of Washington - Foster School of Business
- Certified Tourism Ambassador, Tourism Ambassador Institute
- SHRM-SCP - SHRM Senior Certified Professional
- CSP - Certified Safety Professional
Affiliations
- Experience Olympia Tourism
- Thurston County Chamber
Awards
- Bon Appetite Magazine "Our Local Favorites" Seattle Region, 2018
- Recognition and media from Seattle Met, Seattle Restaurant Alliance, Gourmet Insider, and more
- Ballistar Award, Innovative Restaurant Design, 2016
Community Service
Board Vice President, West Central Park Project
Olympia, WA, 2016-2021
- Managed 501c3 nonprofit community park organization with event space featuring free outdoor movies, concerts, community markets, workshops, and neighborhood gardens.
- Developed membership programs, logos, and marketing materials.
- Funding strategies, events, and grant writing.
- Community workshops and juvenile diversion programs.
Timeline
Operations Director & Chef Coordinator
SRVE
05.2021 - Current
Business Dev. & Operations Director
West Central Park Neighborhood Center
01.2016 - 05.2021
Food and Beverage Operations Manager
Lucky Eagle Casino
03.2012 - 01.2016
MBA - Psych
Oregon State University
BS - Business Administration
Montclair State University
Similar Profiles
NIHARIKA SINGHNIHARIKA SINGH
CONTRACT RECOVERY ANALYST (SPANISH) at BT E-SRVE Pvt. LtdCONTRACT RECOVERY ANALYST (SPANISH) at BT E-SRVE Pvt. Ltd
Tobiah HullTobiah Hull
Class A CDL Driver at Provisioners WarehouseClass A CDL Driver at Provisioners Warehouse
Donald ZartDonald Zart
Interim Associate Planner at Thurston County CPEDInterim Associate Planner at Thurston County CPED