Sam Wittig
Milwaukee,WI
Summary
HOSPITALITY EXECUTIVE Highly motivated and award winning hospitality professional with expertise in managing high-volume restaurant operations for stadiums, resorts, business dining, and fine dining establishments. Well versed in the development of strategies to effectively manage food costs, labor scheduling/budgeting, and health/sanitation code compliance. Regarded for the ability to deliver outstanding results with the highest degree of service and professionalism. Culinary art is about the people and relationships you build along the journey. Culinary creativeness, execution, and finance are only symbiotic with each other when team building and leader development at every level of an operation are obtained.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
EXECUTIVE CHEF
ACF CSC
04.2022 - Current
- Developed menus, controlled food costs and oversaw quality, sanitation, and safety processes.
- Initiated training for new team members on culinary techniques to improve productivity and increase kitchen workflows.
- Planned promotional menu additions based on seasonal pricing and product availability.
- Streamlined kitchen operations with effective inventory management and cost controls.
- Developed custom menus for clients with specific dietary restrictions or preferences, ensuring their utmost satisfaction during their dining experience.
- Maximized profitability by effectively managing food costs through portion control and minimizing waste.
- Participated in community outreach events such as charity dinners or fundraisers to give back to the local community while promoting brand awareness.
- Implemented special events promotions such as theme nights or cooking demonstrations to attract new clientele and boost sales revenues.
- Fostered a positive working environment among kitchen team members that encouraged collaboration, creativity, and open communication.
DAVIANS EXECUTIVE CHEF/FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR
Milwaukee, WI/Menomonee Falls
03.2022 - Current
- Oversee all aspects of business dining account at Manpower HQ
- Multiple units including café stations, retail micro markets, catering, seasonal and executive level catering menus, coffee store
- Responsible for labor budget, scheduling, menu development, recipe development, multiple level client relationships and communication, marketing, food cost, culinary innovation, charity dinners and competitions, and develop culinary talent from all ages and walks of life
- Assist all of these assets in other off-site facilities within Davians representing the brand.
ROCKWELL AUTOMATION HEADQUARTERS
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
03.2016 - 01.2022
- Executive Chef - Aramark Business Dining
- Oversee all large volume culinary operations including: coffee shop, stationed and quick eats cafeteria, catering, premium executive dining, food cost, labor cost, culinary innovation, recipe creation and costing, menu creation and costing, holiday events, team building and culinary associate advancement.
DELAWARE NORTH SPORTSERVICE AT MILLER PARK
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
05.2017 - 11.2018
- Club Chef Premium club buffet, catering, restaurant, and professional baseball player club house Chef - “Milwaukee Brewers” Menu engineering, recipe/menu creation and costing, menu for JCI club buffet and restaurant, Northwestern Mutual Club, catering, and team food
- Labor budgeting, inventory and scheduling for culinary club department and professional player meals with dictation from clubhouse culinary lead and team nutritionist.
GENEVA NATIONAL RESORT
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
03.2015 - 05.2017
- Banquet Chef/Executive Sous Chef
- Oversee all BOH operations for Banquets, weddings, and golf club events, restaurants
- Recruited, developed and trained new line level team members and chefs in a very short amount of time to start our summer season
- Banquet menu development, recipes, inventory, costing for weddings and member golf events.
POTAWATOMI HOTEL & CASINO
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
01.2015 - 03.2015
- Banquet lead cook
- Responsible for day-to-day culinary execution with executive and sous chef including catering events in upwards of 2,500 guests
- Associate in high volume cooking and health standards with banquet team to help lead culinary and sanitation standards of excellence.
EASTER SEALS NONPROFIT
Waukesha, Wisconsin
10.2013 - 01.2015
- Kitchen manager and skills trainer for developmentally disabled individuals
- Goal objectives: teach and lead the clients how to cook, prep, sanitize and function in a real world “live” kitchen with the focus on obtain community employment
- Responsibilities also include menu, ordering, inventory, and recipe development for catering and café production.
iL MITO
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
02.2012 - 10.2013
- Sous Chef daily operations, team leading, sanitation, and menu development, ordering, inventory with James Beard nominated Chef Michael Fecker.
HYATT REGENCY HOTEL
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
08.2009 - 02.2012
- Banquet and restaurant Bistro 333 cook
- Responsible for menu execution, sanitation, prep with restaurant sous chef and banquet executive chef.
Education
Skills
- Inventory Management
- Performance Assessments
- Signature Dish Creation
- Team Leadership
- Forecasting and Planning
- Purchasing
- Recipe Development
- Special Events
- Workflow Optimization
- Waste Reduction
- Problem Solving
- Vendor Management
- Contract Negotiation
- Recipes and Menu Planning
Accomplishments
Certified sous chef ACF
Certification
- ACF Certified Sous Chef (CSC)
- ServSafe Certified Manager
Awards
2018 Delaware North: Food and Beverage Excellence Award (Miller Park)
Timeline
EXECUTIVE CHEF
ACF CSC
04.2022 - Current
DAVIANS EXECUTIVE CHEF/FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR
Milwaukee, WI/Menomonee Falls
03.2022 - Current
DELAWARE NORTH SPORTSERVICE AT MILLER PARK
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
05.2017 - 11.2018
ROCKWELL AUTOMATION HEADQUARTERS
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
03.2016 - 01.2022
GENEVA NATIONAL RESORT
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
03.2015 - 05.2017
POTAWATOMI HOTEL & CASINO
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
01.2015 - 03.2015
EASTER SEALS NONPROFIT
Waukesha, Wisconsin
10.2013 - 01.2015
iL MITO
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
02.2012 - 10.2013
HYATT REGENCY HOTEL
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
08.2009 - 02.2012
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