Paul J. Baldasaro
Smyrna,USA
Summary
Crafting vision and action plans that generate solid bottom-line results and propel long-term operational growth. Focused and strategic leader who constructs growth- and customer-centric business plans with complete oversight and execution of operations, financials, and technologies. 360-degree view of the industry refined through a 20+ year career driving operational excellence and capturing high growth in competitive markets. Impressive history of transformational leadership – helping companies innovate, thrive, and grow while navigating shifts in the market and economy. Confident brand ambassador with a reputation for flawless execution of action plans that deliver differentiating business value. Offering a network of partnerships and call points across multiple industries and platforms.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief Operating Officer & Investor
Taco Mac Restaurant Group- Fresh Hospitality Group PE
01.2022 - Current
- Recruited by Chief Executive Officer & Equity Partner to lead the operational & cultural transformation of a 40+ year brand in preparation for expansion into the additional markets in the Southeast.
- Oversight includes existing operations, new site construction, facilities management, training & development department, hiring & recruitment department, procurement, food & beverage corporate leadership, technology, innovation & budget management.
- All new store opening AUV’s have sustained a 20% higher sales track than the system, with an average of 1M dollar store-level EBITDA performances. 30%-35% Cash on Cash returns for new stores during tenure.
- Reduced new store opening costs by approximately $250,000 by engineering efficiency of facilities.
- Improved guest satisfaction metrics by 10-15%, implementing internal guest intercept program.
- Franchise & Local Owner Operator relations.
- Improved management turnover within the first 6 months by 30% through a collaborative process with unit level operations, training department & corporate support center.
- Increased AUV’s & Guest Counts through process & training improvements, resulting in store-level EBITDA improvements.
- Systematically identified opportunities to improve off premise revenue opportunities through improvement in current processes resulting in meaningful guest satisfaction metrics.
- Implemented new training & development platform to better monitor MIT’s (managers in training) training journey, resulting in an increase in knowledge & performance.
- Streamlined operations by implementing efficient processes and systems, leading to increased productivity and cost savings.
Chief Executive Officer
T&B Management- Rosser Capital Partner PE
01.2017 - 01.2022
- Handpicked based on stellar record of success to take ownership of strategic direction, stewardship, and financial performance for the brand.
- Charged with immediately stemming inferior performance and driving recovery.
- Rapidly turned around underperforming business following a bank margin call with company debt leveraged at 6.3X, stabilizing operations and reducing leverage to 3.2X in less than 2 years.
- Serve as a member of the board, defining governance, long-term direction, and corporate culture.
- Took temporary charge of the brand development and marketing teams and functions.
- Oversaw executive operations, training department, procurement, finance, I.T., and human resources functions.
- Rapidly turned around underperforming business following a bank margin call with company debt leveraged at 5.8X, stabilizing operations and reducing leverage to 3.2X in less than a year.
- Integral driving force behind a 22% increase in SLEBITDA in 2018 compared to previous year.
- Successfully navigated the brand through COVID by creating new lines of business, processes and delivering Same Store Sales improvements over prior year and 2019.
- Strategized and executed the opening of 6 new locations and drove new stores to attain 17% higher average unit volumes (AUVs) compared to the system.
- Voted as ESPN Best Sports Bar Finalist - North America (2X).
- Orchestrated the implementation of the company’s first loyalty platform to develop the groundwork for increasing consumer frequency.
- Re-energized 25+ year old concept with multi-layer ideation, marketing strategy & reimaging of facilities through upgraded interior designs that were more in line with today’s consumers desires.
- Developed company partnership with the Independence Fund as a cornerstone of giving back to our community through a nationally recognized wounded warriors program. Delivery over $200,000 in donations without tenure.
Chief Operating Officer
Home Grown Industries of GA- National Franchisor Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Brought on board to lead the performance and direction of the brand development, operations, training, purchasing, manufacturing, and construction teams.
- Successfully led the national largest 3 year expansion in the company's 40 year history.
- Led the franchise committee and built relationships with franchise partners.
- Spearheaded 35 brand remodels during tenure.
- Implemented new manufacturing process & equipment to our vertically integrated business model, which took our dough manufacturing performance abilities to over 1,000,000 high quality units per month to accommodate growing demand and forecasted franchisee unit growth.
- Identified the opportunity to restructure the purchasing and distribution line of business, resulting in improved product consistency & availability to our franchisees, as well as cutting transportation costs more than $250,000 for the entire system.
Chief Operating Officer
Buckhead Life Restaurant Group
01.2008 - 01.2014
- Considered Atlanta’s fine dining creator.
- Defined direction and management strategy of the brand development, operations, purchasing, and human resources departments.
- Coordinated all efforts for new location openings and expansion in new South Florida markets, conducting feasibility studies and developing business cases for success.
- Masterminded and led the implementation of the marketing strategies, including critical cash flow improvement programs, such as the branded "Summer Dine-Around" program that is still in existence today.
- Improved company internal Gross Margin metrics by 200 basis points.
Regional Vice President
Levy – Compass Group USA
01.2006 - 01.2008
- Directed daily operations for full service, fast casual and counter service locations across Downtown Disney properties, Chicago, Palm Springs, St. Louis, Charlotte, Miami, New York City, and Denver.
- Led regional teams encompassing marketing, HR, operations, facilities management, and regional sales departments.
- Laid solid groundwork to successfully execute 4 new store openings and $550,000 rebranding of Downtown Disney’s Portobello Yacht Club & Fulton's Crab House locations.
- Led James Beard Award winning Spiaggia restaurant with heralded chef Tony Mantuano.
- Named Disney’s Vendor Partner of the Year.
- Partnered with Wolfgang Puck to oversee the company’s Downtown Disney operations.
- Created innovation sales strategies in conjunction with the leadership at American Girl to create café concepts throughout the United States as part of a differentiation strategy.
- Exceeded annual sales targets consistently, employing deep understanding of market trends and customer needs to inform effective sales tactics.
Vice President of Operations / COO – Specialty Entertainment Division
Landry’s Restaurants, Inc.
01.1997 - 01.2006
- Selected as the best leader to grow the new entertainment division from conception to excellence, heading operations across 6 large mixed-use properties ranging from 5 to 50 acres in size.
- Projects required strong cross-functional leadership, orchestrating unique individual properties that included retail stores/outlets, midway rides, games, aquarium exhibits, food & beverage outlets, and restaurants.
- Provided supervision to direct reports, including Director of Operations, Divisional Corporate Chef, 6 Executive Property Managers, 12 General Managers, and multiple departments.
- Coordinated Houston, Texas Super Bowl XXXVIII media event and MLB’s All-Star party in 2004.
- Delivered multiple key redevelopment projects across diverse properties, including the 55-acre Kemah Waterfront project, $12 million 5-acre redevelopment of the Denver aquarium into a restaurant/entertainment concept, a $9.3 million redevelopment of a San Antonio landmark to a restaurant/entertainment concept and the $42 million redevelopment project in downtown Houston.
- Opened Houston’s premier steakhouse Vic & Anthony’s.
- Involved in 3 M&A opportunities. Rainforest Café, McCormick & Schmick’s & Golden Nugget Casinos.
- Applied excellent problem-solving, process development, and strategic implementation skills to lead and support all areas of operations.
Education
Master of Business Administration - Organizational Management
Eastern University
St. Davids, PA01-2026
Master of Science - Marketing
Johnson & Wales University
Providence, RIBachelor of Science - Food Service Management
Johnson & Wales University
Providence, RIAssociate of Science - Culinary Arts
Johnson & Wales University
Providence, RISkills
- Strategic value creation
- Market-driven business strategy
- Growth-oriented mindset
- Project Lifecycle Management
- New Division & Market Expansion
- Franchise and portfolio strategy
- Branding Ideation & Strategies
- Performance Metric & KPIs management
- Budget oversight and restructuring
- Strategic planning
- Regulatory compliance oversight
- Post-acquisition integration management
- Efficiency enhancement
- Critical analysis skills
- Strategic business planning
- Risk management
Accomplishments
* Charlotte Business Journal "Most Influential CEO" list
*Nations Restaurant News 2021 "One of the Most Influential CEOs" award.
*Chairman of the Board for the Georgia Restaurant Association.
*Executive Search Committee for new Georgia Restaurant Association President & CEO
*Part of Acquisition Team supporting the purchase & smooth transition of legacy brands Rainforest Cafe, McCormick & Schmicks, as well as the Golden Nugget Casino brand.
*Achieved rare AZA Certification allowing the care of endangered white tigers on two of our mixed use entertainment properties while at Landry's.
*Opened Esquire Magazine's Best New Restaurant- Bistro Niko
*Hosted the 2004 MLB Allstar media party in Houston, TX.
*Hosted the 2004 NFL Superbowl media party in Houston, TX.
Certification
Level 1 & 2 Court of Masters Sommeliers
Walt Disney World's Partner of the Year
Awarded the 2007 Disney Partner of the Year for Downtown Disney properties.
Timeline
Chief Operating Officer & Investor
Taco Mac Restaurant Group- Fresh Hospitality Group PE
01.2022 - Current
Chief Executive Officer
T&B Management- Rosser Capital Partner PE
01.2017 - 01.2022
Chief Operating Officer
Home Grown Industries of GA- National Franchisor Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers
01.2014 - 01.2017
Chief Operating Officer
Buckhead Life Restaurant Group
01.2008 - 01.2014
Regional Vice President
Levy – Compass Group USA
01.2006 - 01.2008
Vice President of Operations / COO – Specialty Entertainment Division
Landry’s Restaurants, Inc.
01.1997 - 01.2006
Master of Business Administration - Organizational Management
Eastern University
Master of Science - Marketing
Johnson & Wales University
Bachelor of Science - Food Service Management
Johnson & Wales University
Associate of Science - Culinary Arts
Johnson & Wales University