Jonathan Ward
Arden,NC
Summary
Accomplished Director of Operations and General Manager recognized for driving revenue growth and optimizing operational protocols. Expertise in labor forecasting and vendor negotiations, with a track record of reducing costs and improving service delivery across multiple locations.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Operation / General Manager
Smiley's Markets and Malls
08.2024 - Current
- Orchestrated space utilization staged initiative by repurposing underutilized areas into additional campsites and storage containers, generating $167,000 in incremental annual revenue.
- Engineered electricity cost optimization by transitioning vendors to individual metering, mitigating approximately 80% of the prior $10,000+ monthly expense.
- Developed data-driven labor forecasting models based on weather patterns, local events, and ICE location to optimize staffing for an 80% Hispanic vendor base.
- Led multi-cycle trash reduction and collection optimization project that zoned, reviewed, and refined processes to eliminate redundant labor hours and lower waste management costs.
- Negotiated vendor lease terms, new tenant agreements, and circumstance-specific customer solutions to secure occupancy and maximize revenue across diverse streams.
- Managed inventory levels and safety stock protocols to ensure uninterrupted operations across restaurants, campsites, and storage assets.
- Implemented Trello Kanban system to replace archaic sticky-note and Google Notes processes, enabling effective task delegation, prioritization, and timely results for the team and vendors.
- Directed full-cycle talent management, including hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, succession planning, terminations, and exit interviews, while strengthening employee retention.
- Prepared weekly performance reports for the CEO and developed L10 meeting agendas to drive strategic alignment and operational accountability.
- Supervised a 16-member team responsible for seamless execution across 11 restaurants, 16 campsites, 120 storage containers, 300 monthly vendors (up to 617 additional vendors on the weekend), Collins Center office showings, Campen Properties maintenance, and peak weekend customer flow of 17,000.
Operations Manager
Mountain Leisure Hot Tubs
10.2023 - 08.2024
- Directed full-spectrum fleet management operations including preventive maintenance programs, repairs, inspections, fuel consumption tracking, GPS systems, vehicle allocation, and weekly documentation to optimize cost-efficiency and uptime.
- Oversaw building maintenance and facility performance across showrooms, offices, and warehouse by coordinating vendors/contractors for repairs, improvements, and cleanliness/orderliness standards.
- Managed end-to-end operational procedures including opening/closing protocols, security checks, inventory control, staff briefings, and maintenance team scheduling for a 15 member team.
- Handled full-cycle Human Resources responsibilities (onboarding, offboarding, time-off requests) while ensuring equipment and inventory management.
- Served as Systems Champion implementing Lean, Six Sigma, and 5S methodologies; conducted training, gathered user feedback, and drove continuous process and system improvements.
- Stepped in to execute sales functions in the absence of the dedicated salesman, preserving revenue continuity through direct client engagement and deal closure.
- Directed part acquisition and identification processes to ensure timely component availability and uninterrupted maintenance delivery.
- Authored new policies and rewrote portions of the employee handbook to strengthen compliance standards and operational accountability.
- Designed field-service operational protocols that improved efficiency for technicians servicing hot tubs at customer locations.
Owner, PC Build Technician
Self Employed, Aesthetic PC Builds
01.2020 - 07.2025
- Directed end-to-end project lifecycles, from strategic sourcing and precision assembly through rigorous stress-testing, BIOS optimization, OS deployment, and post-build client support, consistently meeting or exceeding urgency-driven timelines with uncompromising quality standards
- Exemplified entrepreneurial initiative, adaptive problem-solving, and operational excellence while managing all aspects of a sole-proprietorship, underscoring resource optimization and stakeholder alignment capabilities.
- Conducted comprehensive client discovery sessions to assess budgetary parameters, define precise performance requirements across gaming, professional workstation, and content-creation use cases, and integrate detailed aesthetic specifications including case design, RGB ecosystems, cable management, and thematic customization.
Maintenance Manager, Head Mechanic
CGC Recreation
01.2013 - 03.2020
- Directed daily team performance, scheduling, and callout coverage as Maintenance Manager and Head Mechanic to guarantee seamless, timely execution of all maintenance and preventive maintenance activities, from inbound shipment processing through facility upkeep to end-of-day trash collection, across the full operational scope.
- Optimized end-to-end preventive maintenance protocols and resource deployment, applying hands-on mechanical expertise to maximize equipment reliability, minimize downtime, and sustain peak facility performance in a high-volume environment.
- Managed full-cycle onboarding and offboarding processes using structured, scalable frameworks to strategically recruit, integrate, and retain high-caliber talent whose technical skills and professional goals aligned precisely with evolving organizational and operational requirements.
Laborer, Foreman
Freelance
01.2002 - 01.2013
- Directed daily site operations including ground clean-up, tool and equipment organization, and comprehensive tidiness protocols that sustained project efficiency and professional presentation standards across all construction sites.
- Led and scaled construction crews ranging from 3 to 20 members on diverse residential projects, including custom decks and full house additions.
- Managed full-cycle team performance, including hiring, onboarding, performance evaluations, terminations, and conflict resolution to maintain high productivity and accountability.
- Navigated external disruptions such as weather events, employee callouts, material delays, and staffing shortages while consistently delivering projects on or ahead of schedule.
- Maintained end-to-end accountability for project timelines, quality outcomes, and client deliverables, guaranteeing on-time completion regardless of challenges encountered.
Education
Associate of Science - Psychology & Business
Central Carolina Technical College
Sumter, SC2022
Skills
Leadership & Talent Development: Team Leadership & Coaching Full-Cycle Talent Management Performance Reviews & Succession Planning Employee Onboarding & Retention
Operational Excellence: Process Optimization & Protocol Design Labor Forecasting & Scheduling Workflow Management (Kanban/Trello) Multi-Site Operations
Financial & Strategic Impact: Revenue Growth & Cost Reduction Inventory & Parts Management Data-Driven Decision Making KPI Tracking & Reporting
Execution & Forward Edge: Vendor & Lease Negotiations Policy & Handbook Development Change Management Sustainability & Efficiency Initiatives
Technical Proficiencies : Microsoft Word & Excel Google Docs & Sheets Uattend ADP Zoho CRM Zoho Inventory Zoho Invoice Zoho Mail Zoho Cliq Zoho Office Suite Zoho Meeting Zoho Creator Zoho Notebook Zoho Desk Trello Asana Mondaycom Fleetio Panda Scribe Dropbox ChatGPT Grok Typing Proficiency: 70–80 WPM
Accomplishments
- Generated $167,000 in incremental annual revenue by repurposing underutilized space into additional campsites and storage containers.
- Reduced monthly electricity costs by approximately 80% (from over $10,000 baseline) through vendor-paid individual metering implementation.
- Designed data-driven labor forecasting models using weather, local events, and demographic patterns to optimize staffing for peak operations serving up to 17,000 weekend customers.
- Eliminated redundant labor hours and lowered waste management costs through multi-cycle trash zoning and process refinement.
- Replaced legacy sticky-note and Google Notes systems with Trello Kanban, delivering measurable gains in task delegation, prioritization, and on-time results.
- Authored new operational policies and rewrote portions of the employee handbook, strengthening compliance, security, and accountability standards.
- Designed and deployed field-service protocols that improved technician efficiency for on-site hot tub maintenance operations.
- Directed full-cycle talent management for teams of 12–16 members, including hiring, performance reviews, succession planning, and retention initiatives.
- Negotiated vendor lease terms and stepped in to close sales directly, ensuring uninterrupted revenue flow across diverse streams.
- Owned and operated Aesthetic PC Builds as a one-man custom PC service, managing end-to-end client consultations, builds, and delivery under tight timelines.
Certification
Lean Six Sigma White Belt
Diploma in Operations Management
Fleet Management Certificate
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Limited Working
Timeline
Director of Operation / General Manager
Smiley's Markets and Malls
08.2024 - Current
Operations Manager
Mountain Leisure Hot Tubs
10.2023 - 08.2024
Owner, PC Build Technician
Self Employed, Aesthetic PC Builds
01.2020 - 07.2025
Maintenance Manager, Head Mechanic
CGC Recreation
01.2013 - 03.2020
Laborer, Foreman
Freelance
01.2002 - 01.2013
Associate of Science - Psychology & Business
Central Carolina Technical College