Leah Smith
Converse,TX
Summary
Passionate about anything I do, I want to be the best at any position I’m in. Love to teach, love to learn. I’ve had customers follow me to new H-E-B stores I’ve transferred to because they love how I pay attention to what they want and give my very best version of it.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Cake Decorator
H-E-B Grocery
10.2008 - 06.2023
- Designed specialty cakes for weddings, birthdays, and graduations.
- Handled phone calls regarding inquiries, cancelled orders, and ordering conflicts.
- Kept work area safe and sanitized by washing utensils, tools, and countertops.
- Maintained sanitary food prep station by following established safety procedures and sanitizing instructions.
- Packaged and priced each product according to company pricing procedures.
- Managed material inventory and ordered new materials when needed.
- Verified accuracy of orders while meeting strict deadlines on producing completed products.
- Disposed of damaged and expired goods to uphold safety standards and provide fresh products.
- Used variety of baking and decorating tools such as mixers, carving tools, and confectionery products.
- Decorated Type pastries and cakes using colorful icings and piping techniques.
- Precisely arranged display cases throughout workday to highlight finished products.
- Trained and supervised part-time cake decorators to apply proper decorating techniques in creating edible icing, flowers and figurines.
- Prepared special creams and frostings for cakes and other dessert specialties.
- Coordinated services under supervision of lead baker.
- Decorated cakes, cupcakes and other pastries according to customer requests.
- Answered customer questions about products and services, helped locate merchandise, and promoted key items.
- Packaged finished products for sale.
- Followed food safety standards when handling ingredients.
- Prepared frostings and other toppings for cakes and pastries.
- Managed display cases to verify freshness and attractiveness of products.
- Replenished bakery items in display cases.
- Replenished and rotated food items, following correct food cooling and storage procedures.
- Trained new employees on bakery methods and procedures.
- Cleaned and maintained kitchen equipment and oven.
- Operated ovens and bakery equipment to prepare products according to recipes.
- Determined quantity of product to prepare for next day operation by maintaining detailed production schedule.
- Prepared all pastry items in accordance with standards of quality, quantity control, taste, and presentation.
- Monitored temperatures of ovens, proof boxes and other equipment.
- Determined baking times for various items.
Assistant Manager - Operations
Lucky 7s Gaming Room
12.2007 - 08.2008
- Coordinated with General Manager in different operational issues and promotional activities.
- Supervised operations team to support operational excellence and excellent customer service.
- Developed systems and procedures to improve operational quality and team efficiency.
- Taught employees how to collaborate on daily job tasks and achieve service targets.
- Communicated with customers to assess satisfaction with products and services received.
- Monitored inventory and approved reorders of stock to secure necessary resources and meet customer demand.
- Monitored key performance metrics to identify areas for improvement.
- Monitored employee productivity and optimized procedures to reduce costs.
- Stayed up-to-date with industry trends and best practices to improve skills and organizational operations.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Trained new employees on proper protocols and customer service standards.
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
Sales Associate
Walmart
06.2000 - 05.2001
- Organized racks and shelves to maintain store visual appeal, engage customers, and promote specific merchandise.
- Helped customers locate products and checked store system for merchandise at other sites.
- Prepared merchandise for sales floor by pricing or tagging.
- Rotated stock and restocked shelves to maintain product availability and store appearance.
- Answered customer questions about sizing, accessories, and merchandise care.
- Maintained calm demeanor and professionally managed issues in busy, high-stress situations.
- Provided positive first impressions to welcome existing, new, and potential customers.
- Engaged with customers to build rapport and loyalty.
- Solved customer challenges by offering relevant products and services.
- Accurately processed POS transactions, returning coin, currency, payment cards, and receipts to customers.
- Assessed customer needs and utilized suggestive selling techniques to drive sales.
- Engaged with customers to effectively build rapport and lasting relationships.
- Educated clients on current promotional offerings and products using persuasive selling tactics.
- Generated new sales leads to achieve and exceed monthly sales goals.
- Greeted customers and offered assistance with selecting merchandise, finding accessories and completing purchases.
- Served customers with knowledgeable, friendly support at every stage of shopping and purchasing.
- Informed customers of promotions to increase sales productivity and volume.
- Contributed to team objectives in fast-paced environment.
- Built relationships with customers and community to promote long term business growth.
- Trained new employees on customer service, money handling and organizing strategies.
- Gained customer trust and confidence by demonstrating compelling, persuasive and composed professional demeanor.
- Worked with sales team to collaboratively reach targets, consistently meeting or exceeding personal quotas.
- Selected correct products based on customer needs, product specifications and applicable regulations.
- Performed effectively in self-directed work environment, managing day-to-day operations and decisions.
- Presented professional image consistent with company's brand values.
- Promoted conversion of casual shoppers into customers through product knowledge and product solutions to meet customer needs.
- Maintained current knowledge of evolving changes in marketplace.
- Stayed current on company offerings and industry trends.
- Fostered lasting relationships with customers through effective communication and quick response, resulting in long-term loyalty and expanded client base.
- Developed and maintained strong working relationships with professionals within assigned territory.
- Fielded customer complaints and facilitated negotiations, resolving issues and reaching mutual conclusions.
- Drove store revenue by offering customers accessories and related purchases to complete selections.
- Collaborated with managers to provide customer feedback and recommend operational changes to meet emerging trends.
- Monitored service after sale and implemented quick and effective problem resolutions.
- Met existing customers to review current services and expand sales opportunities.
- Quoted prices, credit terms and other bid specifications.
- Kept detailed records of daily activities through online customer database.
- Consulted with businesses to supply accurate product and service information.
Education
Boerne High School
Boerne, TX01.1997
Skills
- Glaze, Icing and Topping Application
- Critical Thinking
- Cake Sculpting
- Food Handling Standards
- Material Requirements Planning
- Inventory Maintenance
- Decorative Finishes
- Food Garnishes
- Special Requests
- Safe Work Practices
- Equipment Preparation
- Design Methods
- Raw Materials Assessment
- Color Mixing Skills
- Hand Painting and Airbrushing
- Decorate Products
- Tool Preparation
- Product Inspection
- Client Presentation Delivery
- Icing Techniques
- Hospitality and Accommodation
- Suggestive Selling
- Damage Identification
- Visual Merchandising
- Quality Evaluation
- Custom Creations
- Quality Control
- Baking Equipment
- Floral Design
- Conveyor Speed Control
- Health and Safety Compliance
- Customer Needs Assessments
- Expiration Monitoring
- Spreadsheet Tracking
- Administration and Management
Timeline
Cake Decorator
H-E-B Grocery
10.2008 - 06.2023
Assistant Manager - Operations
Lucky 7s Gaming Room
12.2007 - 08.2008
Sales Associate
Walmart
06.2000 - 05.2001
Boerne High School
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