Kathryn Howard
LaGrange,USA
Summary
I began my career with Darden Incorporated as a server in March 2015. Over the years, I advanced through various roles, gaining valuable experience as a server and service/culinary professional expert, ultimately becoming a results-driven restaurant manager. With a strong background in leading one of the industry's top brands, I have developed a deep understanding of management practices. Throughout my decade-long tenure with Longhorn Steakhouse. I honed my leadership, team-building, and operational skills. Most notably, I positioned my team in the top 5% in P/E and sales growth, with a focus on guest satisfaction. My expertise extends to recruiting, retaining, and developing talent, consistently fostering a culture of leadership and collaboration to meet and exceed operational goals. I am now seeking a new career opportunity that will allow me to continue growing professionally, leveraging my adaptability and proven ability to enhance my customer experiences and improve operational efficiency. My previous contributions include elevating guest satisfaction through strategic service improvements and creating a positive work environment for team members.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Service, Restaurant Manager
Longhorn Steakhouse
LaGrange , GA
12.2023 - 08.2024
- Collaborated with local businesses to create mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Communicated well and used strong interpersonal skills to establish positive relationships with guests and employees.
- Executed opening, closing, and shift change duties diligently to uphold daily operational standards.
- Provided coaching on food safety, sanitation processes, and customer service to increase revenue.
- Effectively communicated and enforced health, sanitation, and liquor regulations to employees to ensure compliance.
- Updated computer systems with new pricing and daily food specials.
- Enhanced customer experiences by providing training to front-of-house staff on restaurant policies, procedures, guest service techniques, and communication skills.
- Delegated work to staff, setting priorities and goals.
- Coached staff on strategies to enhance performance and improve customer relations.
- Explained goals and expectations required of trainees.
- Developed strategies for increasing customer satisfaction and sales revenue.
- Created weekly schedules for servers and bartenders based on business volume projections.
- Conducted daily pre-shift meetings with staff to review specials and discuss any changes or updates in the restaurant's operations.
- Reviewed monthly profit and loss statements alongside my Managing Partner during our one-on-one meetings.
- Optimized profits by controlling food, beverage and labor costs.
- Counseled and disciplined staff to address issues promptly and provide constructive feedback.
- Reconciled daily transactions, balanced cash registers and deposited restaurant's earnings at bank.
- Maintained accurate inventories of food, supplies and equipment.
- Monitored daily operations to ensure adherence to established policies and procedures.
- Scheduled staff shifts and monitored labor costs.
- Recruited, trained and supervised staff members.
- Kept up-to-date records of employee performance reviews.
- Managed relationships with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of products.
- Conducted regular meetings with staff members to discuss operational issues.
- Motivated staff through acknowledgment of hard work, achievements and instilling accountability while leading by example.
- Achieved restaurant objectives through the recruitment, selection and orientation of management staff.
- Organized regular competitions within my service team to enhance suggestive selling skills and drive consistent sales growth for beverage, appetizer, add-on, and dessert categories.
- Prepared strategic forecasts and budgets on an annual basis.
- Promoted safe working conditions by monitoring safety procedures and equipment.
- Supervised activities of dining room staff to maintain service levels and support guest needs.
- Created detailed reports on weekly and monthly revenues and expenses.
- Prepared employee schedules to maintain appropriate staffing levels during peak periods.
- Established restaurant business plan by conferring with people in our community.
- Developed a strategic business plan through researching restaurant market demands, analyzing competition, and creating financial projections.
- Optimized profits by controlling food, beverage and labor costs by establishing portion control and quality standards.
- Provided direction, guidance and motivation to team members.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors for food supplies, beverages, equipment and other necessary items.
- Provided training on lean principles, tools, and techniques to all levels of staff.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging employee engagement in problem solving activities.
- Used daily system logs to document production information, discussing issues with management.
- Championed a Lean mindset among staff, leading to an increase in employee engagement and guest satisfaction.
Bar/SA, Restaurant Manager
Longhorn Steakhouse
Carrollton, GA
11.2020 - 12.2023
- Performed 30-60-90 day performance evaluations for work floor associates and internal staff, assessing both their attendance and job performance.
- Organized and monitored the availability of alcoholic beverages, glassware, garnishes, ice, napkins, straws and other necessary items for beverage service.
- Collaborated with managing partner to devise and execute cost-cutting strategies, resulting in decreased COGS and improved P&L.
- Enhanced operational performance regionally and company-wide through training Managers In Training in budget management techniques.
- Coached and evaluated hourly staff members to enhance their capabilities as prospective restaurant managers while sustaining their career development within Darden Inc.
- Managed bar staff, trained new hires, and implemented disciplinary procedures when necessary.
- Maintained accurate records of liquor inventory and purchases for budgeting purposes.
- Resolved customer complaints regarding quality of food or beverage service in a timely manner.
- Conducted financial analysis on labor efficiency, waste reduction and cost control initiatives.
- Managed day-to-day operations, including opening and closing duties, shift scheduling for employees, cash handling procedures, and payroll processing.
- Adhered to SOP guidelines ensuring cleanliness standards were met in restaurant
- Selected and interviewed new team members, maximizing customer retention rate and boosting sales revenue.
- Monitored cash intake to reduce discrepancies.
- Worked in close collaboration with team members to ensure customers received high-quality service.
- Developed and implemented bartender training programs, policies and procedures.
- Instilled operational expertise in newly recruited staff through comprehensive training sessions.
- Checked with guests to get feedback on food served, resolve issues.
- Delegated work to staff, setting priorities and goals.
- Coached, mentored and trained team members in order to improve their job performance.
Service Professional
Longhorn Steakhouse
LaGrange, GA
01.2019 - 11.2020
- Familiarizing guests with menu and daily specials, accurately recording food and drink orders, running multi-course meals, and tallying bills.
- Implemented training programs for servers to promote meal add-ons and specialty drinks, resulting in increased sales.
- Stayed updated on relevant product details such as pricing structure, promotional offers, stock availability and customizations for orders.
- Partnered with staff to create outstanding customer experiences.
- Adhered to company policies for returns and exchanges with a positive customer-focused attitude.
Server
Longhorn Steakhouse
Lagrange, GA
03.2015 - 02.2019
- Provided excellent customer service to ensure satisfaction.
- Assisted in training new servers.
- Took orders from customers accurately and in a timely manner.
- Maintained clean and well-organized dining area consistently.
- Efficiently responded to guest inquiries and complaints in a professional manner.
- Collaborated with restaurant staff members to enhance overall operational efficiency.
- Performed financial transactions adhering to organizational protocols for handling cash payments.
- Provided exceptional service to high volume of daily customers.
- Operated POS terminals to input orders, split bills and calculate totals.
- Determined customer satisfaction with meals and took prompt action to address any issues.
- Established strong relationships with guests and drove customer loyalty through outstanding service.
Education
Some College -
West Georgia Technical College
LaGrange, GA12.2019
High School Diploma -
LaGrange High School
LaGrange, GA05.2014
Skills
- Effective Communication Skills
- Consistently Reliable
- Performance Improvement
- Positive and professional
- Strong Work Ethic
- Efficiently Organized
- Goal-Oriented Individual
- Proficient in Computer Applications
- Motivated Self-Directed Professional
- Creative Problem-Solving
- Effective Leadership
- Operational Oversight
- Orientation Program Development
- Store Operations Leadership
- Quality Control
- Point of Sale (POS) system operations
- Guest Relations Management
- Inventory Management
- Customer-Focused Sales
- Restaurant Management
- Hospitality Management
- Proven sales record
- Adaptable
- Employee recruitment expertise
- Staff Scheduling
- Shift Management
- Staff Management
- Restaurant operations management
Certification
- Food Safety Certification
- Food Handler Certification
- Bartender License
Personal Information
Work Permit: Authorized to work in the US for any employer
Assessments
- Customer focus & orientation, Expert, 10/01/20
- Spreadsheets with Microsoft Excel, Proficient, 05/01/22
Timeline
Service, Restaurant Manager
Longhorn Steakhouse
12.2023 - 08.2024
Bar/SA, Restaurant Manager
Longhorn Steakhouse
11.2020 - 12.2023
Service Professional
Longhorn Steakhouse
01.2019 - 11.2020
Server
Longhorn Steakhouse
03.2015 - 02.2019
Some College -
West Georgia Technical College
High School Diploma -
LaGrange High School
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