Laura Palacios
Schaumburg,IL
Summary
Operations-driven restaurant leader with 14+ years of experience overseeing high-volume front- and back-of-house operations, team development, labor optimization, and operational execution across fast-paced restaurant environments. Proven ability to improve performance, develop leaders, drive profitability, and maintain exceptional guest experiences while supporting multi-unit operations. Experienced in restaurant openings, leadership development, inventory management, cost control, and building high-performing teams through accountability, coaching, and operational excellence.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Executive Kitchen Manager
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
12.2025 - Current
- Lead operational execution and staffing support for the restaurant’s events division, contributing approximately $2M in annual sales revenue.
- Oversee event team coordination, execution standards, and operational logistics for high-volume private dining and special event services.
- Partner with front-of-house and culinary leadership teams to ensure seamless event execution, guest satisfaction, and operational consistency.
- Support labor management, scheduling, inventory control, and food cost performance in a fast-paced restaurant environment.
- Coach and develop team members through hands-on leadership, accountability, and performance-driven training.
- Maintain strong operational, safety, and sanitation standards while supporting overall business performance goals.
General Manager
Pacific Dining
06.2025 - 10.2025
- Oversaw daily cafeteria operations, staffing execution, and guest experience standards within a high-volume dining environment.
- Directed operational execution for large-scale private events ranging from 600–1000 guests, generating approximately $30,000+ in sales per event.
- Coordinated event logistics, staffing strategies, operational flow, and service execution to ensure seamless high-volume event performance.
- Partnered with culinary and front-of-house leadership teams to maintain operational consistency, quality standards, and strong guest satisfaction.
- Quickly adapted to California labor laws, compliance standards, and operational regulations while maintaining labor efficiency and operational performance.
- Supported labor management, scheduling, and staffing optimization based on business demands and event volume.
- Maintained strong guest relations and resolved operational challenges effectively in fast-paced service environments.
- Helped reinforce a culture of accountability, operational excellence, and team collaboration.
Executive Chef
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
12.2021 - 06.2025
- Directed high-volume restaurant operations generating approximately $7M–$9M in annual sales while maintaining strong operational execution and profitability.
- Reduced team turnover from 140% to 60% through leadership development, team engagement, accountability, and operational culture improvements.
- Improved operational stability and retention, positively impacting labor efficiency, training consistency, food cost performance, and overall restaurant execution.
- Maintained food cost and theoretical usage consistently at or below company standards through strategic inventory management, ordering controls, and operational discipline.
- Managed labor performance and team scheduling while balancing fair wage practices with company labor targets and operational goals.
- Transformed an underperforming restaurant location with failed EcoSure audit history into a high-performing operation achieving consistent 100% EcoSure audit scores.
- Recruited, trained, coached, and developed kitchen leadership teams, successfully promoting multiple Sous Chefs into Executive Chef positions.
- Selected for the Expedition Program, a multi-unit leadership initiative supporting restaurant openings, operational optimization, and leadership development across multiple markets.
- Partnered closely with regional leadership teams to improve operational consistency, support struggling locations, and execute company initiatives.
- Led multiple menu rollouts and restaurant opening support initiatives while maintaining operational readiness and execution standards.
- Traveled across various markets to support training initiatives, operational improvements, and leadership development efforts.
- Fostered a culture focused on accountability, operational excellence, food safety, and guest experience execution.
Executive Kitchen Manager
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
03.2011 - 11.2021
- Progressed through multiple front- and back-of-house leadership roles, building extensive operational and management experience across high-volume restaurant environments.
- Successfully led operations in both the highest-volume and lowest-performing restaurant locations within the state, demonstrating adaptability across different business demands and operational challenges.
- Helped stabilize and turn around underperforming restaurant operations by improving team accountability, operational standards, morale, and execution consistency.
- Maintained strong operational performance and execution standards in fast-paced, high-volume restaurant environments.
- Strengthened labor efficiency, food cost performance, and operational consistency through hands-on leadership and team development.
- Developed team members and leadership staff through structured coaching, training, and performance accountability.
- Supported company operational initiatives focused on profitability, guest experience, and overall restaurant performance.
- Maintained high food safety, sanitation, and operational compliance standards while leading large restaurant teams.
- Partnered cross-functionally with restaurant leadership teams to drive operational success and maintain company standards.
Education
GED -
Texas
Skills
- Multi-Unit Operations Support
- High-Volume Restaurant Operations
- Leadership Development & Coaching
- Labor & Food Cost Optimization
- P&L & Inventory Management
- Staff Retention & Team Building
- Restaurant Openings
- Operational Excellence
- Strategic Scheduling
- Guest Experience Leadership
- Safety & Sanitation Compliance
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
- Process Improvement
- Bilingual Leadership
Timeline
Assistant Executive Kitchen Manager
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
12.2025 - Current
General Manager
Pacific Dining
06.2025 - 10.2025
Executive Chef
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
12.2021 - 06.2025
Executive Kitchen Manager
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
03.2011 - 11.2021
GED -
Texas