Ryan Bennett
City Food Equipment
Glen Ellyn,IL
20
years of professional experience
Ambitious and hardworking individual looking to use previously learned team building skills and culinary knowledge to bring a positive and efficient work ethic to the company, while being teachable and eager to learn.
Work History
Sales Associate
3 Years 1 Month- Coordinate daily sales including internet sales, rentals, walk in and call in customers.
- Scheduling local deliveries and out of state logistics.
- Extending company reach by securing out of state sales contacts.
- Maintain accurate product information for kitchen equipment, pricing details, and availability across daily sales conversations.
- Coordinate with internal teams to follow through on customer orders, delivery needs, and special requests.
- Track inventory levels and flag low-stock items to support timely replenishment and customer fulfillment.
- Assist with vendor communication to confirm product availability, lead times, and order status updates.
- Prepare clear product quotes and follow up on open inquiries to keep sales opportunities moving.
- Recommend cost-conscious equipment options that balance customer budgets with operational requirements.
- Document customer preferences and order details to support repeat business and smooth handoffs.
- Review product specifications with customers to clarify sizing, functionality, and compatibility requirements.
- Monitor compliance with food safety guidelines when discussing equipment for commercial kitchen operations.
Chef Owner
3 Years 3 Months- Managed [number] menu changes quarterly to keep offerings aligned with seasonal ingredients and guest demand.
- Supported 500 weekly service covers while maintaining a smooth front-to-back dining experience.
- Built Stones Throw LLC from the ground up as a casual fine dining restaurant, coordinating construction, electricians, plumbers, designers, and city planning.
- Designed and launched menus for a fully open kitchen, translating island produce and seafood into seasonal dishes.
- Hired staff, coordinated payroll, and scheduled shifts to keep daily kitchen and service operations covered.
- Tracked inventory, ordering, and costing to control food spend and keep supplies available for service.
Restaurant Designer/ Executive Chef
1 Year 4 Months- Created and built a three person run taco shop while building and starting Stones Throw LLC.
- Designed menus, food service systems, and hiring procedures.
- Developed ordering systems by organizing systems with local purveyors
- Did extensive research and development with traditional mexican cuisine to create an authentic street taco shop.
Executive Chef
1 Year 9 Months- Operated and cooked at both restaurants
- Brought new inventory, organization, hiring, and menu systems to both restaurants.
- Worked with an inexperienced starting staff in a team building and instructional manner to build the skill set of all employees.
- Designed scheduled cleaning tasks to improve the quality of work space among both restaurants
- Worked with the local health department to educate all employees on the importance of a clean and safe work place.
Chef De Cuisine
4 Years 7 Months- Interviewed and hired all kitchen employees in a rigorous interview and stage process
- Created menu Items for dinner 7 days a week and brunch on saturday and sunday
- Supervised a fast paced, hardworking, and creative environment of twenty plus cooks built on team work and striving for the best quality dining experience
- Coordinated ordering through multiple vendors while balancing food and labor cost for an overall efficiently run kitchen and restaurant
- Delegated tasks and oversaw work performed, addressing bottlenecks or underperforming stations.
Sous Chef
1 Year 1 Month- Assisted executive chef with kitchen operations and preparation.
- Oversaw the daily operations of the kitchen including meal preparation, recipe development and plating.
- Performed various administrative duties such as ordering supplies, tracking expenses, budgeting.
- Assisted with staff recruitment and training for kitchen stations and supporting roles.
Line Cook
7 Months- Accurately read food orders from tickets or monitors in order to prepare requested items correctly.
- Consistently maintained professional attitude when interacting with customers or team members.
- Demonstrated ability to follow recipes, portion controls and presentation specifications while preparing food.
- Adapted well under pressure in high volume environments while maintaining focus on quality execution.
Senior Chef De Partie
7 Months- Monitored food preparation techniques, portion sizes, presentation standards and taste.
- Coordinated kitchen workflows, fostering swift service and high-quality food preparation.
- Worked in a fine dining kitchen being part of a team awarded 2 michelin stars two years in a row.
Line Cook
1 Year- Practiced safe food handling procedures in accordance with local health regulations.
- Demonstrated ability to follow recipes, portion controls and presentation specifications while preparing food.
- Collaborated with team members to complete tasks quickly and efficiently during peak hours of operation.
Sous Chef
9 Months- Created a positive work environment through effective communication and team building initiatives.
- Utilized advanced culinary techniques such as braising, curing, smoking and pickling to create unique dishes.
- Ensured compliance with all health codes and safety regulations while overseeing the cleanliness of the kitchen area.
Butchers Assistant/Deli Manager
1 Year 8 Months- Monitored food preparation and presentation to enforce adherence to portion sizes and quality standards.
- Investigated customer complaints promptly and professionally, resolving issues quickly with minimal disruption to operations.
- Monitored customer preferences to determine focus of deli sales efforts.
- Provided excellent customer service by responding promptly to inquiries both in person and over the phone.
Education
Associates In - English Secondary Ed
Associates In - Culinary Arts
Skills
Hiring and staffing
Customer relations
Business planning
Coaching and mentoring
Staff scheduling
Menu development
Inventory management
Cost control
Food safety compliance
Vendor management
Personal Information
Title: Chef and Restaurant Manager
Timeline
Sales Associate
City Food Equipment
09.2023 - CurrentRead More
Chef Owner
Stones Throw LLC
10.2019 - 01.2023Read More
Restaurant Designer/ Executive Chef
Dynamite Tacos LLC
05.2019 - 09.2020Read More
Executive Chef
BREW STX/Shupes on the boardwalk
05.2017 - 02.2019Read More
Chef De Cuisine
Gather
06.2013 - 01.2018Read More
Sous Chef
Graham Elliot Bistro
01.2012 - 02.2013Read More
Line Cook
Southport Grocery and Cafe
06.2011 - 01.2012Read More
Senior Chef De Partie
Graham Elliot
10.2010 - 05.2011Read More
Line Cook
The Purple Pig
09.2009 - 09.2010Read More
Sous Chef
Honey
11.2008 - 08.2009Read More
Butchers Assistant/Deli Manager
Chicago Prime/Clancy's
01.2007 - 09.2008Read More
Kendall College
Associates In from Culinary Arts
Read More
Carthage College
Associates In from English Secondary Ed
Read More