Michael Domer
Novato,CA
Summary
Versatile Senior Director highly experienced in all aspects of the hospitality business with a focus on wineries and restaurants with multi-unit ownership. Hands-on leadership and management background with a solid track record of success in process optimization and operational restructuring. Seeking a similar position with an organization to help grow their business.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Director, Tasting Room Operations
Vintage Wine Estates
Sonoma, CA
10.2016 - 05.2024
- From November 2023 to May 2024 responsible for all wine clubs and DTC e-comm channels ($30M)
- Oversaw the Senior Director of Wine Clubs and E-comm Manager during a transitional period for the company
- Responsible for overall operations/P&L of 10 locations (annual sales $15M)
- Annual budgeting and KPI’s developed to align with financial targets
- Mid year reforecast and strategy development for remainder of year
- Work alongside Executive Team to forecast cash flows
- Hiring/training of all managers
- Ensure staff compliance on TIPS training, food handlers and life saving
- Work with HR to manage all disciplinary activities
- Direct facility team to maintain all projects at the tasting rooms
- Work alongside the Brand Management team to create consistent messaging across the channels
- Oversee construction and opening of new tasting rooms
- Propose and oversee all CAPEX projects for tasting rooms
- Participate in demand planning with production to forecast annual wine volume needs
- Develop and manage all guest experiences
- Oversee estate guest houses including maintenance, scheduling and hospitality
- Collaborate with Wine Club and E-comm for an omni channel approach to sales
- Work with event company to produce Sonoma Harvest Music Festival at BR Cohn Winery hosting 3,000 people each day for a two-day festival
- Included set up, operations, permitting, security, and daily sales
- Participate in bi-annual harassment training seminar
- Proficient in Adaptive Budgeting Software and Microsoft Navision.
- Drove client satisfaction and improved support services to increase retention.
- Generated and implemented business procedures and policies.
- Optimized expenditures through company-wide cost reduction initiatives.
- Analyzed financial performance metrics and identified areas for improvement.
- Mentored junior staff members in their professional development journey.
- Managed multiple projects simultaneously while ensuring deadlines were met.
- Established key performance indicators to track progress towards goals.
- Collaborated with executive leadership team to develop long-term objectives that would drive success.
- Built relationships with external partners, vendors, and customers in order to foster collaboration.
- Oversaw budgeting processes and ensured fiscal responsibility was maintained throughout the year.
Director, Tasting Room Operations
Vintage Wine Estates
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Originally oversaw two tasting rooms, but quickly took over all Sonoma locations
- Duties similar to those outlined above, but with limited scope of locations.
Estate Director, Viansa Winery
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Responsible for all day to day tasting room operations for the winery
- Single unit responsibility for budgets/hiring/training/development
- Implemented organizational processes that improved operations
- Turned considerable losses into profits through fiscal responsibility
- Developed KPI’s to provide measures of success
- Success rewarded with promotion to multi-unit responsibilities.
President and CEO
High Tech Burrito
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Responsible for entire 15 unit chain; opened 3 units prior to company consolidating operations
- Converted family run operational style to a structured format with KPI’s and system processes
- Supervise and work alongside Executive Team of CFO, HR, IT, and Operations
- P&L accountability throughout the organization
- Improved prime costs through strategic purchasing
- Developed on line and kiosk ordering systems (ahead of its time)
- Implemented external surveys and secret shopper reports.
Owner/Operator
Musico’s Italian Restaurant
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Purchased Tex-Mex restaurant and converted to Italian cuisine
- Site selection, lease negotiation, design, menu, operations
- Concept creation
- Trained and developed all positions
- Sold business to pursue other opportunities.
VP Operations, Asia Pacific
Outback Steakhouse International
01.2006 - 01.2010
- Responsible for day-to-day operations of 100+ company owned locations
- Responsible for new store openings
- Work with franchisees in various other countries (20+ units)
- Develop and implement systems and processes for each country
- P&L responsibility for all company owned locations
- Hiring/Training/Development/Site Selection
- Mentor and develop management teams.
Operating Partner, Hong Kong
Outback Steakhouse International
01.1997 - 01.2006
- Built Hong Kong market from the beginning and grew to 7 locations
- Similar responsibilities as above with only one market responsibility
- Introduce and adapt USA concept to Asian market.
General Manager
Dan Ryan’s Chicago Grill
01.1996 - 01.1997
Manager
Half Day Café
01.1989 - 01.1992
Manager
Chevy’s Mexican Restaurant
01.1987 - 01.1989
Education
Bachelor of Science -
Cornell University, School of Hotel Administration
01.1996
Associates of Arts -
College of Marin
01.1990
Skills
- Team Building and Motivation
- Team Management
- Data Analytics
- Staff Development
- Project Management
- Budget Control
- Budget Management
- Facilities Management
- Financial Reporting
- Financial Management
- Hiring and Retention
- People Management
- Verbal and written communication
- Cross-functional team leadership
- Customer Service
- Employee Development
- Revenue Forecasting
- Organizational Skills
Certification
- WSET, Level 2 Certification
- Integrating Generative AI into Business Strategy, Linkedin Learning
Hobbies and Interests
- Road and mountain bike riding
- Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness
- Art and culture appreciation through museums and travel
- Food and wine shared with family and friends
Community Service
- Sonoma County Tourism, Marketing Committee
- Novato Youth Center/North Marin Community Services, Board President
- Part of the leadership team that oversaw the merger of two organizations
- Part of the steering committee for two Strategic Plans
- Chair of the following committees during my tenure: Marketing; Cultural Competence
- Leadership Novato Class of 2013
- Valedictorian of the class as voted by the peer group
Languages
Spanish
Limited
Affiliations
- Road and mountain bike riding
- Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness
- Experience life through traveling to different places
- Spending time with family and friends
Community Involvement
- Marketing Committee, Sonoma County Tourism
- Board President, Novato Youth Center/North Marin Community Services
- Chair of Cultural Competence and Marketing Committee at Novato Youth Center
- Member of Steering Committee to oversee strategic plans for the Novato Youth Center
- Leadership Novato, Valedictorian or Program
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Director, Tasting Room Operations
Vintage Wine Estates
01.2018 - 01.2019
Senior Director, Tasting Room Operations
Vintage Wine Estates
10.2016 - 05.2024
Estate Director, Viansa Winery
01.2016 - 01.2018
President and CEO
High Tech Burrito
01.2013 - 01.2016
Owner/Operator
Musico’s Italian Restaurant
01.2011 - 01.2014
VP Operations, Asia Pacific
Outback Steakhouse International
01.2006 - 01.2010
Operating Partner, Hong Kong
Outback Steakhouse International
01.1997 - 01.2006
General Manager
Dan Ryan’s Chicago Grill
01.1996 - 01.1997
Manager
Half Day Café
01.1989 - 01.1992
Manager
Chevy’s Mexican Restaurant
01.1987 - 01.1989
Bachelor of Science -
Cornell University, School of Hotel Administration
Associates of Arts -
College of Marin