Donald Gearhart
Pueblo,CO
Summary
Dedicated Culinary Arts professional with a over 35 year history of meeting company goals utilizing consistent and organized practices. Skilled in working under pressure and adapting to new situations and challenges to best enhance the organizational brand. Excellent relationship-building, organizational and project management skills with a focus on overcoming technical challenges and implementing successful resolutions. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
Work History
Product Owner
Bears And Wears Memorials
09.2020 - Current
- Managed day-to-day business operations.
- Design,create,products on daily basis keeping with invoice orders
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with clients, resulting in repeat business and referrals.
- Oversaw daily operations, ensuring all tasks were completed accurately and efficiently by team members.
- Increased customer satisfaction by implementing efficient business processes and providing exceptional service.
- Consulted with customers to assess needs and propose optimal solutions.
- Monitored market conditions to set accurate product pricing and take advantage of emerging trends.
- Expanded product offerings by researching market trends and identifying potential growth opportunities.
Manager of Operations
Rejeuveit
06.2023 - 04.2024
- Responded to customer concerns by providing friendly, knowledgeable support, and maintaining composure and professionalism.
- Provided exceptional customer service, addressing concerns promptly and ensuring repeat business from satisfied clients.
- Ensured compliance with company policies, industry regulations, and safety standards by conducting regular audits and providing necessary training to employees.
- Maintained professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry customers.
- Opened and closed location and monitored shift changes to uphold successful operations strategies and maximize business success.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Trained personnel in equipment maintenance and enforced participation in exercises focused on developing key skills.
Catering Chef
Aviands Catering
08.2017 - 08.2020
- Cooked for large groups of people and managing various types of food for large events.
- Ordered food items and supplies needed to fulfill catering jobs.
- Crafted exciting catering options for clients.
- Created catering menu based upon client specifications, event type, dietary needs, and budget.
- Maintained a clean and sanitary kitchen environment by adhering to strict health and safety regulations.
- Collaborated with event planners for seamless execution of catered functions, resulting in positive feedback from clients.
- Sampled each dish for quality control prior to serving, identifying mistakes and solving immediately.
- Managed food inventory effectively, reducing waste and minimizing food costs.
- Trained and mentored junior chefs, elevating their culinary skills and performance levels.
- Increased customer satisfaction by consistently delivering high-quality catering services for various events.
- Enhanced menu offerings by developing innovative and delicious recipes tailored to clients'' preferences.
- Addressed customer complaints with openness and proactivity, attending to concerns personally and offering creative solutions to uncharted problems with food availability, temperature, and quantity.
Chef Supervisor
Chartwells Schools Dining Services
08.2014 - 07.2017
- Ensured consistent presentation of dishes by establishing plating standards and providing training to kitchen staff members.
- Achieved high customer satisfaction by consistently creating and presenting high-quality dishes.
- Participated in community outreach efforts such as cooking demonstrations or charity events to increase brand visibility and goodwill.
- Resolved conflicts between team members amicably while taking steps to prevent future issues.
- Advanced employees'' professional growth through regular performance evaluations and constructive feedback sessions.
- Implemented cross-training programs for employees, increasing versatility within the team and allowing for smoother shift rotations.
- Oversaw catering events from planning to execution, ensuring client satisfaction and repeat business opportunities.
- Collaborated with front-of-house staff to provide seamless dining experiences for guests.
Restaurant Owner
Lansdowne Station Cafe
07.1999 - 09.2004
- Managed payroll, daily deposits, and cost controls.
- Supervised daily restaurant operations, ensuring smooth workflow and timely resolution of any issues that arose.
- Set employee schedules, delegated work, and monitored food quality and service performance.
- Maintained positive relationships with local community and government officials.
- Ensured compliance with all health department regulations, maintaining a safe environment for both employees and patrons alike.
- Optimized menu offerings based on customer feedback, leading to better sales performance and high levels of repeat business.
- Supervised daily activities of restaurant and 10 employees.
- Streamlined back-of-house processes for improved kitchen efficiency, resulting in faster order preparation times without compromising quality standards.
- Mentored and developed staff members, fostering an environment that promoted professional growth within the team.
- Established strong vendor relationships for the consistent sourcing of fresh ingredients at competitive prices.
- Cultivated a positive dining atmosphere by maintaining a clean and inviting establishment.
Busboy
Millies Luv In Diner
04.1985 - 07.1987
- Collected trash, wiped up spills, and removed trays to maintain fresh and clean customer areas.
- Followed proper sanitation guidelines when handling utensils, dishes, glassware, and linens to ensure guest safety and satisfaction.
- Kept close eye on customers to quickly spot leaving guests and clear tables for future patrons.
- Developed excellent relationships with managers and fellow team members to support team success and positive work environment.
- Supported servers with additional tasks such as refilling drinks, taking orders, or bringing out food when needed.
- Worked quickly, communicated with other staff and always looked for better ways of completing tasks to improve productivity and keep tables ready for incoming guests.
- Developed a strong understanding of restaurant layout and table numbers, enabling swift navigation and accurate delivery of items to the correct tables.
- Pitched in extra hours and helped other staff during unexpected times of high volume to improve seating availability and food delivery to tables.
- Collaborated with host/hostess team to ensure accurate table availability information was communicated between front-of-house teams.
Education
Associate of Arts - Culinary Arts
The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College
Philadelphia, PA08.1991
Skills
- Kitchen Organization
- Cooking methods
- Cleaning practices
- Staff Leadership
- Employee Scheduling
- Health Code Compliance
- Customer Service
Timeline
Manager of Operations
Rejeuveit
06.2023 - 04.2024
Product Owner
Bears And Wears Memorials
09.2020 - Current
Catering Chef
Aviands Catering
08.2017 - 08.2020
Chef Supervisor
Chartwells Schools Dining Services
08.2014 - 07.2017
Restaurant Owner
Lansdowne Station Cafe
07.1999 - 09.2004
Busboy
Millies Luv In Diner
04.1985 - 07.1987
Associate of Arts - Culinary Arts
The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College