Serlom Ponder
McDonough,GA
Summary
- Dynamic culinary professional with over 20 years of experience in cooking and kitchen management, showcasing exceptional leadership and professionalism.
- Proven track record in high-pressure roles as a short-order cook and assistant manager at renowned establishments, including 15+ years at Waffle House and 4+ years at Huddle House.
- Expertise in streamlining kitchen operations, enhancing team performance, and ensuring outstanding customer satisfaction.
- Skilled in managing large-scale food orders and coordinating multiple meal items simultaneously.
- Committed to fostering collaboration and maintaining the highest standards of food quality and safety.
- Extensive knowledge of diverse food and beverage items and preparation techniques.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Shift Supervisor
Waffle House
04.2016 - Current
- Enforced company policies and regulations with employees.
- Trained new employees and delegated daily tasks and responsibilities.
- Maintained clean and well-organized production areas to avoid violations or unnecessary work delays due to hazards or inefficient layouts.
- Completed store shift changing procedures and balanced tills.
- Completed cash and credit card transactions accurately using POS software.
- Changed and sanitized cutting boards, benches, and surfaces between tasks to avoid cross-contamination.
- Instructed new staff in proper food preparation, storage, use of kitchen equipment and sanitation.
- Worked in fast-paced environment with sense of urgency to serve guests quickly.
- Prepared food items according to recipe to drive quality and consistency.
- Utilized problem-solving skills to address customer complaints.
- Managed 50-150 orders per shift in a fast paced environment with a 3-5 minute goal for each dish
- Maintained 29%-32% food cost consistently.
General Manager
Bo's Family Dining
03.2014 - 01.2016
- Maximized operational excellence mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, and company procedures.
- Implemented operational strategies and effectively built customer and employee loyalty.
- Maximized efficiency by coaching and mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, company procedures, and technology systems.
- Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning, and maintaining a 28% - 32% food cost.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
- Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
- Monitored daily cash discrepancies, inventory shrinkage and waste.
- Delivered in-depth training to workers in food preparation and customer-facing roles to promote strong team performance.
- Effectively managed payroll and timekeeping, and paperwork for new hires and terminations.
- Reviewed pricing and ordered food ingredients, kitchen appliances, and supplies.
- Promoted positive atmosphere and went above and beyond to guarantee each customer received exceptional food and service.
- Purchased adequate quantities of food, beverages, equipment, and supplies.
Assistant Manager/Cook
Huddle House
01.2012 - 03.2014
- Cook for a restaurant with a daily average of $1,500 to $2,500. Train and supervise cooks, prepare food to order, and handle daily portion prepping. Oversee shifts, ensure proper inventory and product counts, and maintain quality control to minimize waste. Manage commissary inventory, review daily operations and transactions, and conduct regular inventory checks to verify stock levels, address discrepancies, and forecast future needs.dress discrepancies, and forecast future needs.
Prep Cook
Benchwarmers Tavern & Grill
06.2006 - 01.2007
- Received shipments and placed items on proper shelves to restock and organize restaurant pantry.
- Preserved freshness of food by storing food in designated containers and storage areas within freezer or refrigerator.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Maintained clean, hygienic kitchen workspace by sweeping, mopping, and taking out trash.
- Kept kitchen clean and organized by performing daily maintenance tasks.
- Maintained food safety and sanitation standards.
Assistant Manager/ Top Trainer/ Cook
Huddle House
01.2005 - 05.2006
- Supervised 12 employees
- Managed back house operations
- Performed purchasing functions for this establishment
- Opened store each morning; check daily sales, count register, edit time punches, review inventory, prepare store for daily usage
- In charge of training M.I.T’s in the proper procedures and expectations from this establishment
- Cooking food to order in a fast pace environment
- Prepping foods in the proper amounts needed to ensure the necessary amounts are available at all times
- Generated repeat business through exceptional customer service.
Cook
Waffle House
12.1997 - 03.2000
- Master Grill Operator designation
- Cook foods to order
- Supervise shift
- Handle 90% of the problems that may arise during shifts when a unit manager is not present
- Prep necessary items as designated by unit manager
- Maintain quality presentation of food items with consistency
- Checked for quality, kept track of old and new items and rotated stock to confirm freshness of food and ingredients.
- Communicated closely with servers to fully understand special orders for customers.
- Prepared multiple orders simultaneously during peak periods with high accuracy rate, maximizing customer satisfaction, and repeat business.
Education
Basic Diploma - Vocational based courses
Henry County High School
McDonough, GA06-2000
Skills
- Skilled in grilling techniques
- Experience in restaurant management
- Developed training programs for managers in training
- Training specialist
- Optimizing cooking times
- Enhancing kitchen efficiency
- High-speed quality assurance
- Labor and food cost control
- Cleaning and sanitation
Timeline
Shift Supervisor
Waffle House
04.2016 - Current
General Manager
Bo's Family Dining
03.2014 - 01.2016
Assistant Manager/Cook
Huddle House
01.2012 - 03.2014
Prep Cook
Benchwarmers Tavern & Grill
06.2006 - 01.2007
Assistant Manager/ Top Trainer/ Cook
Huddle House
01.2005 - 05.2006
Cook
Waffle House
12.1997 - 03.2000
Basic Diploma - Vocational based courses
Henry County High School