Nickolas Dowdy
Pflugerville,Texas
Summary
Dynamic culinary professional with extensive experience at Pahaska Tepee Resort, excelling in menu development and team leadership. Proven ability to enhance guest satisfaction through high-quality food preparation and effective inventory management. Skilled in training staff and fostering teamwork, while maintaining strict adherence to safety and sanitation standards.
Professional culinary leader prepared for this role with solid background in high-pressure kitchen environments. Known for exceptional skills in meal preparation, menu planning, and maintaining kitchen efficiency. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results, adapting seamlessly to changing needs. Renowned for reliability, culinary creativity, and rigorous adherence to food safety standards.
Diligent Cook possessing excellent cooking skills and strong knowledge of food safety. Proficient in maintaining well-stocked, organized, and clean kitchen areas to maximize productivity. Dedicated team player with punctual nature and open communication style dedicated to working hard.
Logistics professional with hands-on experience in forklift operation, emphasizing precision and safety. Known for teamwork and reliability, adapting to shifting priorities. Skilled in inventory management and operating heavy machinery, bringing dependable and results-focused approach.
Professional operator with strong experience in material handling and warehouse operations. Skilled in safely maneuvering forklifts, managing inventory, and loading/unloading goods. Reliable team collaborator focused on achieving results and adapting to changing needs. Recognized for attention to safety protocols and effective communication skills.
Hardworking Forklift Operator with advanced mechanical aptitude and problem solving skills. Efficient and organized worker possessing strong work ethic and drive to exceed goals.And also paired with 10 years of hands-on experience handling warehouse duties.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Lead Line Cook
Pahaska Tepee Resort
Wyoming, MN
02.2025 - 11.2025
- Supervised kitchen staff to ensure smooth operations and high-quality food preparation.
- Developed and implemented seasonal menu offerings to enhance guest dining experiences.
- Trained new team members on kitchen procedures, safety protocols, and food handling standards.
- Streamlined inventory management processes to reduce waste and improve ingredient availability.
- Collaborated with management to maintain compliance with health regulations and sanitation standards.
- Led team meetings to discuss performance, address challenges, and share best practices among staff.
- Followed restaurant stock management schedule to monitor product freshness and rotate out old products.
- Cultivated a positive working atmosphere among kitchen staff, fostering camaraderie and a strong sense of teamwork.
Lead Grill Cook
Big Ben National Park
Terlingua, TX
07.2024 - 01.2025
- Supervised daily grill operations to ensure food quality and safety standards were met.
- Trained and mentored junior cooks in cooking techniques and kitchen protocols.
- Coordinated inventory management, maintaining stock levels of ingredients and supplies.
- Developed new grill recipes to enhance menu offerings and customer satisfaction.
- Continuously stayed current with industry trends by attending cooking workshops, seminars, and networking events to further develop culinary skills.
- Reduced food waste and cost by efficiently managing inventory, monitoring expiration dates, and properly storing perishable items.
- Collaborated with management to plan menus, incorporating seasonal ingredients and anticipating customer preferences based on market trends.
- Built strong relationships with food suppliers to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality ingredients at competitive prices.
Loader
Wfs
Austin Tx
01.2022 - 02.2023
- Visually inspected all pallets for deliveries to verify quality and accuracy of shipments.
- Lifted and slid packages weighing up to 200 pounds on conveyor belts to transport items.
- Used tow hitch, scraper and stinger loader attachments to perform every and important tasks.
- Properly operated loader by starting engine, shifting gears and pressing pedals and levers.
- Lowered and tilted buckets and drove front-end loaders forward to force buckets into bulk material.
- Coordinated with other lift truck drivers and production personnel to process orders efficiently.
- Weighed materials or products to record weight or other production data on tags or labels.
Lead Cook
Applebee's Grill + Bar
Austin, TX
02.2019 - 04.2021
- Produced high volume covers per day and maintained near-perfect customer satisfaction scores.
- Maintained high food quality standards by checking delivery contents to verify product quality and quantity.
- Mentored kitchen staff to prepare each for demanding roles.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Placed orders to restock items before supplies ran out.
- Supervised line cooks to monitor food safety and order accuracy.
- Maintained well-stocked stations with supplies and spices for maximum productivity.
- Inspected freezer and refrigerator daily to check and maintain proper temperatures.
- Took food orders from cashiers and cooked items quickly to complete order items together and serve hot.
- Taught kitchen staff safety protocols and restaurant standards.
- Scheduled and received food and beverage deliveries, adhering to food cost and budget.
Unloader
Nikkys Warehouse
Memphis, TN
04.2017 - 01.2019
- Handled packages with care while transporting from truck to loading dock.
- Assisted other team members in navigating large loads.
- Operated pallet jacks and forklifts to aid in safe transport of heavy items.
- Counted, weighed and recorded number of units of materials moved or handled on daily production sheet.
- Recorded cargo information to track and document for inventory and logistical purposes.
- Stacked or assembled materials into bundles and banded bundles together, using banding machine clincher.
- Kept facilities clean and organized to promote safe work environments and avoid injuries.
- Unloaded items and goods from trucks into main storage area for transfer to shelves.
Education
GED -
Youthbuild Memphis
Memphis, TN01-2017
Skills
- Shipment Procedure
- Truck Loading
- Excavation and Loading
- Inventory Organization
- Shipping
- Basic Mathematical Calculations
- Receiving Support
- Machine Operations
- Forklift Safety
- Shipping Operations
- Crew Training
- Critical Thinking
- Inventory Oversight
- Hospitality Management
- Customer Needs Assessments
- Restock Shelves
- Food Plating and Presentation
- Salad Assembly
- Proper Storage Procedures
- Dish Preparation
Certification
N.C.C.E.R
Timeline
Lead Line Cook
Pahaska Tepee Resort
02.2025 - 11.2025
Lead Grill Cook
Big Ben National Park
07.2024 - 01.2025
Loader
Wfs
01.2022 - 02.2023
Lead Cook
Applebee's Grill + Bar
02.2019 - 04.2021
Unloader
Nikkys Warehouse
04.2017 - 01.2019
GED -
Youthbuild Memphis