Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
certification education
References
Timeline
Generic

Karena Bufala

Indianapolis,Indiana

Summary

I am a dedicated, dependable and hard working professional seeking to learn, grow and contribute to the growth of an organization. I have proven leadership skills. I’m a team builder and a team player. Excellent management and planning skills. Ability to produce quickly under pressure without sacrificing quality. Good understanding of all key health and sanitation concerns. Excellent in decision making. Excellent in teaching skills. Excellent in verbal and communication skills. Self-starter with the ability to work independently. Desire and dedication for a long term professional career. Talented Team Leader experienced and dedicated to enhancing employee satisfaction and business success. Diplomatic and friendly with proven commitment to employee training. Hardworking team player bringing necessary experience and knowledge to tackle any operational demand.

Overview

6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Lead Team Member

Culvers
05.2023 - Current
  • Streamlined communication channels for improved collaboration among team members, resulting in optimized work processes.
  • Coached junior team members to develop their skills and advance within the company.
  • Boosted customer satisfaction by addressing concerns promptly and providing exceptional service.
  • Enhanced customer satisfaction by providing exceptional service and maintaining a welcoming atmosphere.
  • Assisted in boosting restaurant sales by upselling menu items and promoting daily specials to guests.
  • Maintained cleanliness and organization of dining area, contributing to a more enjoyable dining experience for patrons.
  • Collaborated with kitchen staff to ensure accurate and timely delivery of food orders, reducing wait times for customers.
  • Handled customer complaints professionally and efficiently, resulting in increased repeat business.
  • Assisted in training new team members, ensuring they were quickly able to provide excellent service to guests.

Lead Event Coordinator

All About You Cookies
03.2022 - Current
  • Enhanced event execution by streamlining processes and implementing efficient coordination strategies.
  • Reduced budget expenses for events by negotiating better pricing with vendors and service providers.
  • Delivered memorable experiences for attendees through meticulous planning and attention to detail.
  • Managed a team of coordinators, ensuring timely completion of tasks and exceptional performance during events.
  • Increased client retention rate by providing exceptional customer service and maintaining strong relationships.
  • Improved overall event satisfaction ratings by consistently gathering feedback from attendees and making necessary adjustments.
  • Monitored event progress closely, making real-time decisions to optimize performance and attendee experience.
  • Coordinated all logistics for events, including venue selection, vendor management, and transportation arrangements.
  • Conducted thorough post-event evaluations to identify areas for improvement and opportunities for future growth.
  • Mentored junior coordinators on best practices in event management, enhancing their skills while fostering a positive work environment.
  • Coordinated schedules and timelines for events.
  • Brainstormed and implemented creative event concepts and themes.
  • Performed event coordination for larger parties and gatherings.

Sous Chef/ Assistant Manager

Hubler Café, Hubler Automotive Group
05.2018 - 03.2022
  • Ensure that Café staff has proper direction during the absence of the Executive Chef
  • Prepare meals and food to meet the specifications of guests in a timely manner
  • Ensures Café staff adheres to set standards, procedures, and sanitation requirements
  • Uses kitchen knives, proper utensils and equipments such as ovens, warmers, chafing dishes in food preparation
  • Manages the kitchen inventory and ensuring supplies are fresh and of high quality
  • Ensures proper food temperatures when cooking and proper storage afterward
  • Keeps workstation, FOH and BOH equipment clean, organized and sanitized
  • Takes charge of Café opening, closing and other duties as directed by the Manager
  • Assists in training of new Café staff
  • Instruct staff on how to handle difficult and complicated sales
  • Inventory product, and rotate / reorder product for upcoming orders
  • Collaborated with Executive Chef with financial statements, forecasting sales, staffing/scheduling.
  • Enhanced overall restaurant efficiency by streamlining kitchen operations and implementing effective time management strategies.
  • Boosted customer satisfaction ratings by consistently delivering high-quality dishes and maintaining strict adherence to food safety standards.
  • Collaborated with executive chef to develop innovative menu items, leading to increased guest return rates and positive reviews.

Kitchen Assistant/ Team Lead

Atterbury Jobcorps
10.2019 - 10.2021
  • Assisted in setting up for groups, including setting tables and ensuring that table accessories are in place
  • Maintained the kitchen by cleaning prep areas before and after use
  • Monitor side dish ingredients and report inventory levels to the Chef
  • Prepared dessert dishes for banquets and ensure that any special requests for banquet desserts are taken care of
  • Delegated tasks and set deadlines
  • Oversaw day-to-day operation
  • Monitored team performance and report on metrics
  • Motivated team members
  • Discovered training needs and provide coaching
  • Listened to team members’ feedback and resolve any issues or conflicts
  • Recognized high performance and rewarded accomplishments
  • Encouraged creativity and risk-taking
  • Suggested and organized team building activities.
  • Enhanced kitchen efficiency by maintaining clean and organized workstations.
  • Maintained strict compliance with food safety regulations, ensuring high-quality meals for patrons.
  • Supported the development of new menu items through research and experimentation with various ingredients and techniques.
  • Received positive feedback from customers on meal presentation and taste, contributing to repeat business.
  • Trained new kitchen assistants on standard operating procedures and best practices, leading to a more efficient team overall.

Wait Staff

IHOP
07.2020 - 12.2020
  • Stayed attentive to the needs of guests in the dining area
  • Delivered food from the kitchen to the guests
  • Ensured the food order is made correctly by kitchen staff and looks presentable for guests
  • Followed health code standards with regards to the handling of food
  • Engaged with customers in a friendly manner
  • Knowledge of the menu, with the ability to make suggestions
  • Ensured tables are enjoying their meals and took action to correct any problems
  • Collected payments from tables.

Education

Culinary Arts Certificate - Culinary Arts & Hospitality

Atterbury Job Corps
Edinburgh, IN
10.2021

High School Diploma -

Atterbury Jobcorps
Edinburgh, IN
10.2021

Skills

  • Mentoring Abilities
  • Leadership development
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • Organizational skills
  • Conflict resolution
  • Task prioritization
  • Staff Development
  • Sales Techniques
  • ServSafe Manager
  • Chef Training
  • Kitchen Operations
  • Sanitation Standards
  • Food Presentation
  • Knife Skills
  • Complaint Handling
  • Employee Scheduling
  • Guest Relations Management
  • Food Safety Regulations
  • Green initiatives

Certification

  • Serv Safe Food Handlers
  • Serv Safe Mangagers
  • Serv Safe Proctor

certification education

  • ServSafe Manager Certification, Current
  • ServSafe Proctor License, Current
  • First Aid CPR AED, Current
  • Ivy Tech Community College, Current
  • General Studies
  • Job Corps, 2019 - 2021
  • Perry Meridian High School, 2018 - 2019

References

  • Chef Amour Lopez, Hubler Café Manager & All About You Cookies Owner,

 (317) 319-4051, DAmourLopez@gmail.com

  • Casey Grant, Atterbury Jobcorps Culinary Teacher, (317) 993-0150
  • Kimberly Long, Atterbury Jobcorps Teacher, (317) 744-3757

Timeline

Lead Team Member

Culvers
05.2023 - Current

Lead Event Coordinator

All About You Cookies
03.2022 - Current

Wait Staff

IHOP
07.2020 - 12.2020

Kitchen Assistant/ Team Lead

Atterbury Jobcorps
10.2019 - 10.2021

Sous Chef/ Assistant Manager

Hubler Café, Hubler Automotive Group
05.2018 - 03.2022

Culinary Arts Certificate - Culinary Arts & Hospitality

Atterbury Job Corps

High School Diploma -

Atterbury Jobcorps

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Karena Bufala