Neal Thomas
Sodexo
Menifee,USA
1
Certification
16
years of professional experience
Restaurant operations leader with 30+ years of experience directing teams across high-volume dining, catering, and food service environments. Expertise includes operations management, staff development, budgeting, food safety, and service quality. Built and managed My3Deb Catering, expanding service for large military and community events while maintaining strong standards for efficiency, compliance, and guest satisfaction.
Proactive Production Manager successful at anticipating needs and making adjustments to schedules, materials and workflow. Ready to bring expertise to company needing hands-on, knowledgeable and resourceful leader.
Work History
Production Manager
1 Year 4 Months- Verify production sheets are complete at the end of each day.
- Oversee cleaning assignments and daily sanitation tasks.
- Train and onboard new team members.
- Forecast production needs up to one week in advance to support daily service for 500 to 12,000 Marines.
- Ensured the facility was prepared for frequent inspections, including up to twenty-five monthly reviews by Sodexo, the Navy hospital, the Army, and weekly inspections by the Marines.
- Partner with the operations manager to ensure team files comply with safety standards.
- Maintain strict quality control and food safety standards while training staff to exceed expectations.
- Assist with weekly inventory counts.
- Reduced waste and material costs by optimizing resource allocation and inventory management.
Sole Proprietor
7 Years 3 Months- Operate and manage all aspects of the catering business, including daily trailer operations and large-scale events.
- Managed contracts with the United States Marine Corps, serving five hundred Marines daily at base events.
- Coordinated and staffed events include birthdays, weddings, funerals, street fairs, and community festivals.
- Maintain strict quality control and food safety standards while training staff to exceed expectations.
- Oversaw food preparation processes, ensuring compliance with safety and sanitation standards.
Director of Food & Beverage
2 Years 4 Months- Oversaw daily operations of multiple dining venues, including budgeting, forecasting, and menu development.
- Hired, trained, and developed management teams to maintain consistent high-quality service.
- Conducted bi-weekly team meetings and prepared weekly reports for the General Manager.
- Developed local marketing strategies to increase traffic and revenue.
- Implemented safety and compliance initiatives in accordance with ADA and Cal/OSHA standards.
- Directed food and beverage operations to enhance guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Restaurant Manager
3 Years 11 Months- Trained front and back-of-house teams to deliver superior food and guest service.
- Managed ordering, inventory, and equipment maintenance.
- Conducted staff evaluations, coaching, and manager development programs.
- Led team meetings to foster collaboration and align on operational goals.
- Carefully interviewed, selected, trained, and supervised staff.
Front of House Manager
2 Years 2 Months- Ensured 100% guest satisfaction, managed inventory, hired and trained staff.
- Conducted one-on-one performance discussions to improve productivity and service quality.
Education
High School Diploma
Some College (No Degree) - Business Anminstration
Skills
Restaurant & Catering Operations
Team Leadership & Staff Development
Budgeting & P&L Management
Food Safety & Quality Control
Event Planning
Large-Scale Catering
Vendor Relations
Inventory Management
Customer Service
Community Engagement
Dedication to product quality
Safety management
Production scheduling
Continuous improvements
Staff management
Operations management
Production planning
Team development
Quality control
Quality inspection
Customer support
Cost control
Training skills
KPI tracking
Accomplishments
- Supervised a team of 50 to 75 staff members.
- Resolved product issue through consumer testing.
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Trained and supervised 50-75 production staff over two year time period.
Certification
- SERV Safe Instructor – 90% Pass Rate
- Instructor: Sexual Harassment & Diversity, People: The Winning Edge
Timeline
Production Manager
Sodexo
01.2025 - 05.2026Read More
Sole Proprietor
My3Deb Catering Company
03.2018 - 06.2025Read More
Director of Food & Beverage
Canyon Lake Property Owners Association
12.2014 - 04.2017Read More
Restaurant Manager
Brinker Inc.
01.2012 - 12.2015Read More
Front of House Manager
Lone Star Steakhouse
01.2010 - 03.2012Read More
David Starr Jordan High School
High School Diploma
Read More
El Camino College
Some College (No Degree) from Business Anminstration
Read More
Back to back Impact manager of the year. Recipient of the triple one hundred award
Most improved sales, best food cost, the lowest team members turnover, highest sales increase for two years in a row