Yusef Gordon Najar
Tupelo,MS
Summary
Dedicated, hardworking restaurant management professional with great operations experience. Skilled in staff training and people development. Extensive knowledge of business operations including food safety, cost controls, and superior customer service. Detail-oriented. Strong time management and communication skills. Ability to handle fast-paced environment. Able to handle and resolve problems effectively and efficiently. Surpassed company goals in sales and profitability achieving greater return on investments for current stakeholders. Built sales through local restaurant marketing and business to business visits. Managed deposits, change orders and safe balancing. Consistently recognized as an outstanding employee. Highly dedicated to career growth.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
General Manager
Panda Express
12.2022 - Current
- Managed budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules, and contract negotiations.
- Managed a diverse team of professionals, fostering a positive work environment and high employee satisfaction.
- Developed and implemented strategies to increase sales and profitability.
- Cultivated strong relationships with clients, vendors, and partners to ensure long-term success and loyalty.
Senior Restaurant Manager
The Original Pancake House
09.2016 - Current
- Led and directed team members on effective methods, operations and procedures.
- Created fun team building activities to engage staff in up-selling to meet revenue targets.
- Conducted timely performance evaluations for all staff.
- Effectively managed payroll and timekeeping, including completion of the proper paperwork for new hires and terminations.
- Prepared for and executed new menu implementations.
- Maintained a safe working and guest environment to reduce the risk of injury and accidents.
- Clearly and promptly communicated pertinent information to staff.
- Correctly calculated inventory and ordered appropriate supplies.
- Quickly identified problem situations and resolved incidents to the satisfaction of involved parties.
- Carefully interviewed, selected, trained and supervised staff.
- Developed, implemented and managed business plans to promote profitable food and beverage sales.
- Purchased adequate quantities of necessary restaurant items, including food, beverages, equipment and supplies.
Assistant General Manager And Sales Manager
Bob Evans
01.2014 - 09.2016
- Increased profits from previous years through effective and efficient cost controls and efficient sales building.
- Implemented and maintained effective and efficient systems and processes.
- Led and directed team members on correct methods, operations and procedures according to company policy.
- Built sales through local restaurant marketing and suggestive selling.
- Assistant General Manager for restaurant grossing $2.5 million a year in sales.
- Opened and closed restaurants on a weekly basis.
- Efficient banking including deposits, change orders and safe balancing.
- Prepared for and executed new menu implementations.
- Effectively managed payroll and timekeeping, including completion of the proper paperwork for new hires and terminations.
- Quickly identified and resolved incidents.
- Carefully interviewed, selected and trained staff.
- Passed 2 Steritech food safety audits with a 90% and above.
- Maintained food safety and quality on a daily basis.
- Helped maintain the cleanliness of the restaurant through weekly cleaning lists.
- Catered events such as Wal-Mart for holiday employee events.
- Maintained speed of service, labor,and guest satisfaction above company goal.
- Calculated inventory on a weekly basis.
- Effectively communicated employee documentations and appraisals.
- Developed, implemented and managed business plans to promote profitability and return on investments.
- Maintained food cost and labor below company average.
Head Cook
Lonestar Steakhouse
02.2009 - 02.2014
- Helped manage kitchen operations for high grossing, fast-paced kitchen.
- Checked the quantity and quality of received products.
- Trained staff on correct facility procedures, safety codes, and proper recipes and plating techniques.
- Responsible for daily kitchen set-up.
- Supervised and coordinated activities of cooks and workers engaged in food preparation.
- Helped manage back of house labor costs.
- Recognized as an outstanding and hardworking employee.
- Promoted a positive atmosphere and went above and beyond to guarantee each customer received exceptional food.
- Prepared for and executed new menu implementations.
- Maintained cleanliness of restaurant.
Pantry Chef
Macaroni Grill
12.2011 - 12.2012
- Completed opening and closing checklists according to set standards.
- Managed preparation and presentation of desserts and salads for catered events.
- Cleaned and prepared various foods for cooking or serving.
- Responsible for daily set up of three stations.
- Executed various kitchen stations and assisted with saute and pantry.
- Trained employees in the preparation and presentation of food.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Belhaven University
Jackson, MS05.2025
High School Diploma -
North Olmsted High School
North Olmsted, OH2008
Skills
- Results-oriented
- Ensuring great return on investments
- Effective sales building
- Strong work ethic
- Point of Sale (POS) system operation
- Conflict resolution
- Good communication skills
- Strong Inventory control
- Efficient record keeping and organization
- Microsoft Office
- Comprehension of daily and weekly business reporting
- Implementing and maintaining efficient systems and processes
- Efficient multi-tasking
- Adaptive
- Deposits and banking
- Effective hiring and training
- Effective budgeting and cost-controls
- Evaluating profit and loss statements
- Developing and implementing effective and efficient business plans
- Staff scheduling
- Organization and Time management
- Relationship-Building
- Detail-oriented
- Computer skills
- Excellent work ethic
Timeline
General Manager
Panda Express
12.2022 - Current
Senior Restaurant Manager
The Original Pancake House
09.2016 - Current
Assistant General Manager And Sales Manager
Bob Evans
01.2014 - 09.2016
Pantry Chef
Macaroni Grill
12.2011 - 12.2012
Head Cook
Lonestar Steakhouse
02.2009 - 02.2014
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Belhaven University
High School Diploma -
North Olmsted High School
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