Slayde Martin
Panama City,USA
Summary
Innovative hospitality operator skilled in training program design and service standards implementation. Demonstrated success in enhancing team culture and operational performance, achieving significant sales growth through strategic beverage education and streamlined processes. Committed to fostering a guest-centric environment that drives loyalty and satisfaction.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Beverage Director
Old Florida Fish House
Santa Rosa Beach, USA
04.2025 - Current
- Oversee a multi-unit beverage program exceeding $5M in sales, with projected growth beyond $6M through stronger menu strategy, purchasing discipline, and staff education.
- Implemented daily FOH beverage training to increase product knowledge, elevate service execution, and turn education into measurable sales opportunities.
- Continued training of 100+ FOH staff that has led to a 15+% increase in alcohol sales since arrival.
- Managed ordering, scheduling, hiring, menu creation, training, prep standards, batching procedures, and operational software cleanup for beverage department.
- Revised Craftable to enhance clarity on actual costs, program health, item-level accountability, and decision-making visibility.
- Optimized purchasing protocols, generating over $20K in savings during three-month summer period while sustaining program quality.
General Manager
Wild Olives
Santa Rosa Beach, USA
06.2023 - 02.2025
- Hired and developed FOH team, fostering guest-first culture that achieved 4.8 OpenTable service stars and 4.8 overall rating.
- Directed FOH operations, focusing on staffing, service standards, systems development, POS implementation, and culture creation to enhance guest experience.
- Developed FOH systems from the ground up, utilizing MarginEdge for cost analysis and purchasing clarity to improve financial health.
- Maintained 22% labor cost and 20% beverage cost through year one without sacrificing guest experience.
Bar Manager / Lead Bartender
Pescado
Rosemary Beach, USA
12.2018 - 05.2023
- Developed bar program to compete with top Southeast programs, ensuring elevated guest experience and disciplined inventory control.
- Collaborated with sommelier on competitive, diverse wine program, enhancing team and guest education on premium beverage offerings.
- Facilitated wine dinners, cocktail classes, and private parties, enriching guest education and reinforcing restaurant’s premium positioning.
Bartender / Lead Bartender
The Pearl
Rosemary Beach, USA
05.2015 - 12.2018
- Created featured cocktails and cocktail menus, enhancing bar program recognized for atmosphere, service, and execution.
- Developed refined service approach in boutique resort, establishing groundwork for future leadership in training, beverage, and operations.
Education
Accounting -
Penn State University
General Studies -
Lamar University
General Studies -
Lamar State College – Orange
Skills
- Beverage management
- Cost analysis and control
- POS system implementation
- Training program design
- Menu training and development
- SOP development
- Guest recovery strategies
- Service standards
- Leadership coaching
- Team retention
- Onboarding design
- Event planning
- Hospitality culture
- Multi-outlet communication skills
- Certified trainer support
Operations Impact
- Built daily FOH training that improved product knowledge, service confidence, and guest-facing sales opportunities.
- Created operating systems for ordering, scheduling, hiring, menu development, prep, batching, POS structure, cost controls, and software clarity.
- Increased cocktail sales by approximately 30% after implementing new menu strategy, prep standards, and service procedures.
- Opened and operated a private dining room that increased sales by more than 20% in its first three months.
- Maintained disciplined financial controls, including 22% labor / 20% beverage cost at Wild Olives and sub-20% beverage cost at Pescado.
Training Impact
- Food & beverage training: able to build menu, beverage, service, and sales training that operators will actually use during service.
- Certified trainer development: experienced in identifying strong team members, giving them clear standards, and building repeatable coaching habits.
- Leadership development: understands the gap between task management and true leadership; can train managers on accountability, communication, hospitality recovery, and floor presence.
- Compliance and standards: operator-level understanding of health, sanitation, service, purchasing, cost-control, and policy adherence in guest-facing environments.
- LMS and documentation support: strong candidate to convert field knowledge into checklists, guides, SOPs, training calendars, quizzes, and measurable rollout systems.
Accomplishments
- Wine Spectator - Award of Excellence
Timeline
Beverage Director
Old Florida Fish House
04.2025 - Current
General Manager
Wild Olives
06.2023 - 02.2025
Bar Manager / Lead Bartender
Pescado
12.2018 - 05.2023
Bartender / Lead Bartender
The Pearl
05.2015 - 12.2018
Accounting -
Penn State University
General Studies -
Lamar University
General Studies -
Lamar State College – Orange