James Thornton
Abilene
Summary
Experienced Manager/ General Manager with a strong background in inventory management and team leadership. Implemented process improvements that significantly enhanced operational efficiency. Fostered effective communication between front and back of house teams, ensuring high food quality standards. Demonstrated success in fast-paced restaurant settings, as well as Full service environments, contributing to customer satisfaction and business growth.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Back of House Director
Chick- Fil- A
Midland
07.2025 - 11.2025
- Managed back of house operations to ensure efficient workflow.
- Trained team members on food safety and sanitation standards.
- Resolved customer complaints regarding food quality or service issues.
- Managed and supervised the daily operations of the back-of-house staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, and evaluating personnel.
- Prepared detailed reports summarizing monthly activity within the kitchen area.
- Developed procedures for food storage and rotation in order to ensure quality control.
General Manager
Cotton Patch Cafe
Midland
10.2023 - 06.2025
- Managed daily operations to ensure smooth restaurant functioning.
- Trained and mentored staff on customer service best practices.
- Oversaw inventory management and food safety compliance.
- Developed and implemented employee schedules for optimal coverage.
- Conducted regular staff meetings to communicate goals and updates.
- Collaborated with vendors to maintain quality supply chain relationships.
- Managed all aspects of daily business operations including budgeting, staffing, scheduling, inventory control, customer service and sales.
- Created a positive work environment by developing team building activities that encouraged collaboration among departments.
- Tracked monthly sales to generate reports for business development planning.
- Managed inventory levels and conducted corrective action planning to minimize long-term costs.
- Directed safety operations and maintained clean work environment to adhere to FDA and OSHA requirements.
- Provided guidance and support to subordinate managers in order to foster an atmosphere of cooperation throughout the organization.
Operations Manager
Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
Abilene
01.2021 - 04.2023
- Assisted General Manager with daily restaurant operations to enhance efficiency.
- Promoted Canes culture among crewmembers and customers to foster engagement.
- Executed crew scheduling to optimize operational capabilities.
- Screened applicants for employment to improve turnover and retention rates.
- Managed inventory and truck orders to maintain optimal cost of goods on hand.
- Produced SOPs to document workplace procedures and optimize productivity through standardization.
- Created detailed reports on the performance of individual departments within operations.
Shift Manager
Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
Abilene
10.2018 - 01.2021
- Executing high performance shifts that align with Raising Cane's standards to ensure Customer satisfaction
- Coach and train crewmembers on proper Raising Cane's procedures for each shift.
- Support the management team in all areas that impact the business which includes but is not limited to; labor costs, waste monitoring, sales and cost of goods.
- Supervised team members during busy shift operations.
- Managed inventory and ordered supplies for kitchen needs.
- Monitored food quality and presentation to meet brand standards.
Kitchen Manager
Cotton Patch
Abilene
09.2013 - 10.2018
- Crew scheduling to ensure smooth shifts
- Training all kitchen crewmembers on how to execute the correct standards to ensure our customers were getting the same tasting food with every meal
- Truck orders to ensure the restaurant was operating at peak performance
- Weekly inventory to evaluate food cost and Cost of goods on hand.
- Supervised kitchen staff to ensure smooth daily operations.
Education
Music Performance - Saxophone
Hardin Simmons University
Abilene, Texas05.2014
High School Diploma -
Stamford High School
Stamford, Texas05.2007
Skills
- Relationship Building
- Quality control
- Staff training
- Inventory management
- Food safety
- Operations oversight
- Customer service
- Team building
- Conflict resolution
- Scheduling efficiency
- Budget management
- Kitchen operations
- Waste reduction
- Cost control
- Food safety compliance
- Scheduling coordination
- Quality assurance
- Health inspections
- Ordering supplies
- Employee scheduling
- Performance evaluations
- Presentation monitoring
- Recruitment and hiring
- Self motivation
- Money handling
- Profit and loss
- Teamwork
- Front of house management
- Control inventory costs
- ServeSafe manager
- Restaurant marketing
- Relationship building
- Time management
- Multitasking
- Exceptional Interpersonal Communication
- Deadline- Oriented
- Detail- Oriented
- Able to hold and execute a high standard among the workplace
Languages
Spanish
Professional
Certification
Management Serv Safe
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Back of House Director
Chick- Fil- A
07.2025 - 11.2025
General Manager
Cotton Patch Cafe
10.2023 - 06.2025
Operations Manager
Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
01.2021 - 04.2023
Shift Manager
Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
10.2018 - 01.2021
Kitchen Manager
Cotton Patch
09.2013 - 10.2018
Music Performance - Saxophone
Hardin Simmons University
High School Diploma -
Stamford High School