Sandra Samodell
Beech Bluff,TN
Summary
I am a dedicated, hardworking and results-driven operations leader with over 20 years of experience in fast-paced restaurant operations. Beginning my career at age 15 and advancing into senior leadership positions overseeing high-volume. Proven success in leading large teams, improving performance, developing leaders, maintaining safety and quality standards, managing labor and productivity, and delivering exceptional operational results. Recognized for building strong team cultures, driving accountability, and solving complex challenges in demanding environments. Seeking to leverage my extensive leadership, people development, and operational management experience in a manufacturing environment where continuous improvement, safety, quality, and team performance are key priorities.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Restaurant Leader
Raising Cane's Restaurants
Jackson TN
10.2025 - Current
- Oversee daily restaurant operations, ensuring adherence to quality and service standards.
- Trained and mentored staff on operational procedures and customer service excellence.
- Implemented inventory management practices to optimize stock levels and reduce waste.
- Developed schedules to maximize labor efficiency while meeting operational demands.
- Lead Restaurant and Management
team to have sales driven and profit
smart execution - Build sales and increase Customer
counts - Partner with Area Leader of
Marketing to build sales within their
Trade Area - Develop and execute strategy in all
areas of financial performance
- Monitor and manage food and
other cost of goods
- Crew scheduling and
deployment
- Schedule Managers to optimize
Crew performance - Properly deploy Zone Managers to
maximize Customer satisfaction - Accountable for key metrics with
Crew and Managers - Develop strategy for achieving
key metrics in collaboration with
Business Unit Team - Maintain Restaurant compliance to
Company standards, policies and
laws - Validate completion of all Customer
Recovery through Market Force - Responsible for cohesion and
alignment of the Management team - Own implementation and adoption
of all Company-driven initiatives with
Management team and Crew - Own the development of all
Managers through use of the HIPO
program - Conduct individual, one-on-one,
meetings with each Manager once
per period - Conduct biweekly meetings with
Management team - Own final hiring decisions to
maintain established pars for
Managers - Own hiring and separating of
Managers with support from the
Area Leader - Own performance management for
all Managers
General Manager
Inspire Brands Arby's
Jackson, TN
03.2022 - 10.2025
- Supervised, trained, and scheduled restaurant staff to ensure efficient daily operations.
- Lead team meetings and performance coaching to boost morale and productivity.
- Maintained high standards of food safety, sanitation, and workplace cleanliness.
- Handled all customer service issues, including escalations, and service recovery.
- Monitor daily sales, labor costs, and budgetary performance to maximize profitability.
- Manage inventory levels, conduct weekly ordering, and minimize food waste.
- Oversee front-of-house and back-of-house operations to ensure smooth service.
- Prepare and submit daily, weekly, and monthly operations and financial reports.
- Ensure full compliance with health regulations, Ecosure, labor laws, and corporate policies.
- Maintain the store's appearance and functionality, coordinating maintenance as needed.
- Manage cash handling, bank deposits, and end-of-day financial reconciliation.
- Assisted with the development of career pathways for employees based on their individual goals and objectives.
- Led training classes for the Jackson market with potential next-level managers, from Shift Leads to Assistants, and to General Managers.
- Worked closely with the District Manager on developing effective plans for recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and retaining top talent at the store level for the Jackson market.
- Currently, I am working with the district manager on the next level for myself in becoming a district manager.
General Manager
Chipotle
Jackson, TN
01.2021 - 03.2022
- Ran operations from hiring and terminations, to ordering, and to running great shifts.
- Helped with two NROs in the Nashville market, from setup to training new crews.
- Chipotle is big on running tight matrix numbers, and in my area, I ran best in my market for eight straight months. With this, you were scored on sales, labor, critical inventory, turnover, and guest surveys.
- Hired and trained a whole new management team, and ran day-to-day operations.
- Led the team meeting and performance coaching to boost morale and productivity.
- Led monthly calibrations on all food standards, and how to prepare and take care of the guests with consistency.
- Maintained high standards of food safety, sanitation, and workplace cleanliness.
- Handled all customer service issues, including escalations, and service recovery.
- Monitored daily sales, labor costs, and budgetary performance to maximize profitability.
- Prepared and submitted daily, weekly, and monthly operational and financial reports.
- Ensured full compliance with health department regulations, labor laws, and corporate policies.
- Maintained the store's appearance and functionality, coordinating maintenance as needed.
- Managed cash handling, bank deposits, and end-of-day financial reconciliation.
General Manager
Five Guys Burger And Fries
Phoenix, AZ
05.2010 - 05.2019
- This job led me to my first manager role. Within two months of getting hired, I was offered a shift manager position due to my ability to learn fast and direct the team. I ran shifts and counted inventory nightly.
- I was then offered an assistant role six months later, and with this position, I assisted the General Manager in inventory, purchasing, and hiring.
- Within eight months, I was offered my first General Manager position at our downtown Phoenix location in Arizona. Here, I had to rehire and train the entire crew and management team. This store is an event store, so we would do $18,000 days on the weekends.
- I then held this position at the same location for eight years, and during this time, I helped run four locations in my market for the District Manager, who lived in California. My main location is where we would hire and train for the Phoenix market.
- During my eight years, I did inventory daily, weekly, and monthly. Also ensured full compliance with health regulations, labor laws, and corporate policies. Maintained the store's appearance and functionality, coordinating maintenance as needed.
Private Nanny
Private Care
Phoenix, AZ
01.2006 - 06.2009
- I worked 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, taking care of 2 children.
- We had a very strict schedule every day, from preparing food to activities.
- I took them to all their appointments.
- I did this until the second child went off to elementary school.
Crew Member
In And Out Burgers
Glendale, AZ
05.2004 - 01.2006
- Mastered six positions, from dining room maintenance to drive-through, before becoming a grill attendant for the drive-through.
- I ran the grill for the drive-thru during busy lunches and dinners.
- I would come in early to prep the food for the day.
Education
High School Diploma -
Paradise Valley High School
Phoenix, AZ05.2004
Skills
- Staff training
- Sales analysis
- Customer service
- Financial reporting
- Inventory management
- Food safety
- Team leadership
- Budget management
- Operational efficiency
- Regulatory compliance
- Conflict resolution
- Performance coaching
- Time management
- Cash handling
- Talent development
- Loss prevention
- Revenue growth
- Policy development
- Communication
- Business marketing
- Supplier monitoring
- Performance management
- Strategize business plans
- Relationship building
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Budget forecasts
- Performance improvement
- Labor cost controls
- Organizational skills
- P&L management
- Calendar management
- Improve performance
- Exceptional interpersonal communication
- Administrative management
- Financial document control
- Performance evaluation and monitoring
- Staff training/development
- Multitasking Abilities
- Budget coordination
- Delegating work
- Revenue and market expansion
- Time management abilities
- Staff supervision
- Performance evaluations
Accomplishments
- I have won GM of the year 4 years running in the Arizona market with Five Guys from 2013 to 2017.
- At Chipotle I received a plaque for holding the lowest turnover for the year in 2022
- At Inspire Brands Arby's I have held top spot on the Scorecard 11 months in a row in my district in 2024
Affiliations
- Im a mom of 2 teenage 4.0 students so we work hard on there academics weekly and keep up with football and reading groups to keep them well rounded.
- We are very active in the community and help out at local food banks and churches to help feed our community
- .We all enjoy the outdoors with camping, hiking and kayaking.
Certification
- ServSafe Certified
Timeline
Restaurant Leader
Raising Cane's Restaurants
10.2025 - Current
General Manager
Inspire Brands Arby's
03.2022 - 10.2025
General Manager
Chipotle
01.2021 - 03.2022
General Manager
Five Guys Burger And Fries
05.2010 - 05.2019
Private Nanny
Private Care
01.2006 - 06.2009
Crew Member
In And Out Burgers
05.2004 - 01.2006
High School Diploma -
Paradise Valley High School
Education and Training
other