Kate Benson
Customer Service Professional
Amador City,CA
Summary
Customer-oriented General Manager with 10 years of experience focused on increasing revenues and expanding margin. Adaptive and deadline-oriented consistently executes and completes multiple projects in high-stress environments. Meticulous leader and strategic planner with comprehensive managerial acumen, offering vision and motivational acumen.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Certifications
Work History
General Manager
Imperial Hotel & Restaurant
Amador City, CA
03.2023 - Current
- Manage newly restored hotel and restaurant
- In charge of scheduling for all employees to maximized staff skills and reduce labor cost
- Foster lasting relationships with guests to ensure a positive experience, resulting return clients
- Collaborate with Chef and Bar team to have seasonal and up to date offerings reflecting the region
- In charge of all in house events from start to finish
- Inventory and supply purchasing for hotel, bar, office and restaurant
- Maintain and update Point of Sale to reflect all menu changes
General Manager
First & South
New York
11.2021 - 03.2023
- Managed high volume beloved neighborhood eatery
- Developed and implemented SOP’s for FOH to bring restaurant out of a post-covid era
- Foster an environment that retains employees while enabling and incentivizing them to perform at their best
- Onboard employees; training of new employees, wellness, growth, and conflict resolution; establish employee and manager benchmarks and performance reviews; manage employee termination when necessary
- Ensure proactive maintenance of kitchen and bar equipment and of all
- F&B areas
- Develop and implement cleaning schedules with staff.
General Manager
The Club, Point O’ Woods – Fire
New York
05.2017 - 10.2021
- Managed dining club in private community
- Open and close a seasonal restaurant over an 8-month period
- Hired, onboarded and trained a staff of up to 50 employees
- Created and implemented daily procedures for both FOH and BOH
- Weekly inventory and product ordering
- Implemented and maintained Clubessential Integrated Club Management & POS Software
- Reconciled customer accounts daily to reflect accurate charges resulting in a 20% reduction in reverse charges
- In charge of scheduling for all FOH employees resulting
- Maintained high standard quality presentation of staff, hygiene, health and safety according to New York state laws
- Worked closely with Executive and Sous Chef’s to ensure consistent food quality and presentation
- Managed 30 person dormitory
- Oversaw small retail boutique
Corporate Flight Attendant
Pacific Jet Aviation
San Jose, California
06.2016 - 05.2017
- Delivered high level personal service to executive clients
- Sourced and prepared high-level cuisine according to owners’ strict dietary preferences
- Inventoried aircraft and supply cage
- Stocked aircraft and supply cage according to preferences
- Prepared cabin before and after flights
- Provide impeccable in-flight service while adjusting to ever changing environment
General Manager
Nick’s Next Door
Los Gatos, California
04.2012 - 06.2016
- Managed high volume Zagat rated and Michelin recommended restaurant
- Bi-weekly inventory and product ordering resulting in a consistent 15% pour cost for liquor and built vendor relationships resulting in higher quality and 45% profit margin for all other items
- Created craft cocktail program with emphasis on fresh local ingredients and helped to maintain consistent drink presentation and quality
- Responsible for all wine and liquor purchasing
- Developed and maintained vendor relationships resulting in quality service and favorable pricing
- Marketing and management for full life-cycle event planning from a variety of scale including, but not limited to: corporate gatherings, Google, Apple, E-Bay, Netflix, quarterly meetings, rehearsal dinners and weddings
- Maintain budget from $500 - $50,000 while incorporating customer specialty needs
- Managed FOH staff and scheduling for quality service and table turn times
- Built lasting custom relationships by making sure each guest felt special resulting in repeat business
- Maintained high standard quality presentation of staff, hygiene, health and safety
Education
High School Diploma -
Los Gatos High School
Los Gatos, Ca 09.1990 - 06.1995
Skills
Performance improvement
Efficient multi-tasker
Staff training/development
Relationship building
Operations management
Deadline-oriented
Employee scheduling
Effective leader
Staff Scheduling
Recipes and menu planning
Natural leader
Staff Management
Certification
Current RBS training
Timeline
General Manager
Imperial Hotel & Restaurant
03.2023 - Current
General Manager
First & South
11.2021 - 03.2023
General Manager
The Club, Point O’ Woods – Fire
05.2017 - 10.2021
Corporate Flight Attendant
Pacific Jet Aviation
06.2016 - 05.2017
General Manager
Nick’s Next Door
04.2012 - 06.2016
High School Diploma -
Los Gatos High School
09.1990 - 06.1995