Jazzi Walker Kuchlenz
Oakland,CA
Summary
Business Manager with 10+ years of experience leading sales, operations, and account management for restaurant, catering and special event services. Excellent at building and maintaining relationships with clients, facilitating contract/proposal negotiations, and setting clear client expectations through proactive communication. Strong team leader, successful in strategic planning, staff training, and labor management to meet and exceed performance goals.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Catering Manger
Sodexo for Bloomberg
08.2022 - Current
- Expanded vendor partnerships throughout Western North America, to focus on small, minority/woman owned vendors.
- Developed and piloted a program for pantry engagement in the San Francisco offices featuring "National Days" which has been adopted portfolio-wide
- Served as liaison between Bloomberg Global Events Team and onsite facilities teams for all Western Nor Am in office events.
- Spearhead procurement, contract negotiation and set up of complex in office catered events.
- Created a survey to collect qualitative and quantitative feedback regarding San Francisco based events
- Coordinated logistics for multiple events simultaneously, maintaining seamless operations and timely execution.
Catering Sales Manager
MIXT/Split Restaurants
11.2021 - 05.2022
- Created email and phone sales campaign leading to reactivation of 250+ accounts that had been inactive for two years
- Expanded brand awareness using cross-promotion and partnering with established community venues
- Used client feedback to collaborate with culinary department to expand catering menu, creating ten new offerings and no additional waste
Catering Sales & Operations Manager
Bi-Rite Catering
09.2017 - 02.2020
- Consistently met or exceeded sales targets, with annual growth over 20% in first two years of employment
- Created and implemented streamlined operational systems to expand business with only 10% in labor increases
- Actively solicited new business, maintained and built prospect list, and responded to inbound inquiries within 24 hours to grow accounts and drive revenue
- Developed new menu and product offerings based on client feedback and market competition
- Maintained healthy metrics for product quality, labor, COGS, and sales performance through strategic planning and time management
- Designed new workflow for order picking which increased speed and accuracy for operation and culinary teams by 50%
- Established dynamic, employee-led training programs for sales and operations teams to support 20+ employees in professional development
- Improved relationship with largest account by scheduling regular, in-person meetings and partnering with client to solve pain points, set expectations, & improve communication leading to $180K in increased sales
Events & Private Dining Associate
Irving Street Kitchen
09.2015 - 08.2017
- Generated $750K in annual banquet sales by converting email, phone, and walk-in leads into new and returning clients
- Negotiated prices and contracts with clients to meet individual event needs and maximize sales for events with 250+ guests
- Delivered exceptional customer service through proactive problem resolution and strategic relationship building
- Applied various selling methods such as upselling, cross-selling, and adding on of menu items, wines, and event upgrades to meet or exceed sales goals
Server/Private Dining Specialist
Town
09.2014 - 08.2015
- Provided friendly guest reception for banquet events serving 40+ guests
- Enhanced guest experiences by making recommendations for food and wine
- Actively engaged guests to ensure expectations were met and took action to correct any problems for high satisfaction and retention
- Excelled in as team player assisting servers, bartenders, hosts and management for successful business operations
Shift Manager
Osteria Coppa
10.2012 - 09.2014
- Led restaurant opening duties, delegated staff assignments, and trained 10+ new staff on menu and service expectations
- Guided guests through dynamic seasonal menu and described 3-5 daily specials by detailing ingredients, cooking styles, and techniques
- Educated guests on extensive Italian wine list, explaining unfamiliar varietals and regions to ensure satisfaction with each wine purchase
Restaurant Manager
Nola
02.2011 - 10.2012
- Boosted private dining sales 15% by marketing spaces across all restaurant group locations
- Trained 6+ Managers at sister restaurants on food and beverage options and created promotional materials highlighting menu offerings
- Produced standardized training programs for all front of house staff decreasing time for onboarding by 25%
Education
Bachelor of Arts - History
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CASkills
- Food safety compliance
- Staff leadership
- Written and verbal communication
- Menu development
Timeline
Catering Manger
Sodexo for Bloomberg
08.2022 - Current
Catering Sales Manager
MIXT/Split Restaurants
11.2021 - 05.2022
Catering Sales & Operations Manager
Bi-Rite Catering
09.2017 - 02.2020
Events & Private Dining Associate
Irving Street Kitchen
09.2015 - 08.2017
Server/Private Dining Specialist
Town
09.2014 - 08.2015
Shift Manager
Osteria Coppa
10.2012 - 09.2014
Restaurant Manager
Nola
02.2011 - 10.2012
Bachelor of Arts - History
San Francisco State University