Kenneth Lee
Grosse Pointe,MI
Summary
Operations & HR professional with a prolific track record of blending administrative acumen & managerial expertise to fulfill business objectives. Adept at spearheading high-performing teams to direct cost control & process improvement while managing multi-million dollar budgets. Proficient in managing key stakeholders for global conglomerates to drive revenue & catapult customer satisfaction. Dynamic professional with demonstrated success in developing and executing innovative marketing strategies to boost sales, while maintaining operational efficiency. Skilled in budget management to reduce costs and maximize profits. Passion for food preparation, providing quality products to customers.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Catering Director
Aramark
09.2023 - Current
- Collaborated closely with clients to develop exciting catering menus for memorable events.
- Drove catering revenue up by 80 percent
- Collaborated cross-functionally with marketing teams to develop targeted strategies for capturing new market segments within the portfolio.
- Coordinated with event planners, decorators, and other vendors to ensure seamless execution of client vision from start to finish.
- Maximized efficiency by regularly evaluating processes and implementing improvements for streamlined workflows in both front-of-house and back-of-house operations.
Area Manager
DTW1 Amazon Fulfillment Center
06.2020 - Current
- Leading a team of ~400 associates across 4 departments while steering process innovation to slash safety-related incidents
- Proposed & steered replacement of pack line with smart pack machine to bolster production output & reduce defects per million orders (DPMO); developed a comprehensive training plan and spearheaded the implantation of the same
- Enhancing productivity by driving pack rates and facilitating continuous improvement via regular coaching & development
- Brainstorming procedural enhancements with the on-site and regional leadership teams to boost operational productivity
- Processing output & production value data to conduct risk analysis and determine low/high-risk factors
- Leveraging actual and projected data-sets for preparing financial forecasts and assessing margin of error
- Directing safety management, quality assurance, inventory control & productivity while exceeding customer expectations.
HR Generalist
Instawork
04.2020 - 01.2022
- Ensured compliance with labor laws, reducing legal risks through regular policy reviews and updates.
- Reviewed and screened 400 - 500 applicant resumes weekly to identify qualified candidates.
- Reviewed existing policies and procedures to make recommendations for enhancing work productivity, recruitment, hiring processes, and talent management.
- Served as a trusted advisor to employees at all levels of the organization regarding career development, workplace policies, and conflict resolution.
- Prepared detailed reports on key HR metrics for senior leadership's review, facilitating informed decision-making related to human resources operations strategy adjustments.
Launch Manager
Amazon
08.2021 - 09.2023
- Conducted post-launch evaluations to identify areas for improvement and apply lessons learned in future projects.
- Mentored junior team members in best practices for product launch management, fostering a culture of excellence within the organization.
- Coordinated with sales, marketing, and engineering teams to develop comprehensive go-to-market strategies for new products.
- Collaborated closely with external partners and vendors to ensure smooth execution of product launches on a global scale.
- Successfully launched 7 new generation buildings across the AR Central Region
Premium Service Manager
Aramark - Sports & Entertainment
06.2019 - 06.2020
- Spearheaded a team of 9 including the Sales Manager, Catering Operations Manager, and the Special Events Coordinator
- Orchestrated marketing and sales initiatives while playing a pivotal role in a joint venture between the Oakland Athletics of the Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL)
- Chaired a team of 8 agents & supervisors to pioneer customer engagement initiatives and accomplish a score of 90%
- Performed managerial functions across concessions, catering, retail, event planning, sales, and hospitality management.
- Maintained a safe working environment by enforcing strict safety protocols and providing ongoing staff training on proper equipment use.
- Coordinated with other departments to maintain streamlined and productive workflow.
- Conducted regular performance evaluations for staff members, offering constructive feedback and facilitating professional development opportunities.
- Increased overall revenue by upselling additional services and products during routine maintenance visits.
Customer Service Manager
Aramark - Sports & Entertainment
01.2019 - 06.2019
- Aramark A2L - Accelerated Leadership Program 200students/cohort/year pan USA
- Resolved customer complaints while prioritizing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Chaired a team of 8 agents & supervisors to pioneer customer engagement initiatives and accomplish a score of 90%
- Managed a team of customer service representatives, fostering a positive work environment focused on teamwork and collaboration.
- Trained and regularly mentored associates on performance-oriented strategies and customer service techniques.
- Supervised employees and assessed performances to determine training needs and define accurate plans for decreasing process lags.
- Followed through with client requests to resolve problems.
- Developed strong relationships with key clients, ensuring their needs were met consistently and promptly.
Retail Operations Manager
Aramark - Higher Education | Wayne State University
09.2016 - 01.2019
- Managed budgets effectively by monitoring expenses closely, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and allocating resources strategically.
- Collaborated closely with other managers to exchange best practices in retail operations management and drive continuous improvement across the organization.
- Reviewed store sale numbers, cost of inventory, operational expenses and inventory losses.
- Championed a culture of continuous improvement within the team by encouraging open feedback, experimentation with new ideas, and learning from both successes and failures.
- Developed a high-performing team through effective recruitment, training, and mentoring initiatives.
- Brand partners: Subway, Dunkin, Bene Pizza, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Tim Hortons, Starbucks, Panda Express, Taco Bell, etc.
- Achieved a $3m profit margin while handling an operational budget amounting to $19m
- Managed a labor budget of $6m to save $24k and an inventory budget of $5.5m to attain 11% savings valued at $17k.
- Reduced employee turnover rate by 40 percent through fostering a positive work environment and providing ongoing support to staff members.
Education
Bachelor in Arts - Sociology -
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI12.2018
Skills
- Operations Management
- Process Improvement
- Cost Control
- Quality Assurance
- Research & Forecasting
- Stakeholder Management
- Sales & Marketing
- Risk Analysis
Affiliations
- ADL - Reginal Board Member
- Affirmations - Part-Time Volunteer
Timeline
Catering Director
Aramark
09.2023 - Current
Launch Manager
Amazon
08.2021 - 09.2023
Area Manager
DTW1 Amazon Fulfillment Center
06.2020 - Current
HR Generalist
Instawork
04.2020 - 01.2022
Premium Service Manager
Aramark - Sports & Entertainment
06.2019 - 06.2020
Customer Service Manager
Aramark - Sports & Entertainment
01.2019 - 06.2019
Retail Operations Manager
Aramark - Higher Education | Wayne State University
09.2016 - 01.2019
Bachelor in Arts - Sociology -
Wayne State University
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