Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
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Tony Suisman

Old Lyme,CT

Summary

Detail-oriented and resourceful hospitality professional with extensive experience in food and beverage operations, focused on driving sales and reducing costs. Proficient in overseeing high-volume culinary operations, encompassing recipe development, financial management, inventory control, and supplier relations. Adept at recruiting, training, and facilities management. Skilled in strategic planning to achieve financial goals and improve sales across diverse markets, leading to increased demand and margin growth. Expert in fostering positive employee and guest relations, devising tailored solutions, and implementing best practices for optimal satisfaction. Refined communicator with a well-defined leadership style and strong business acumen, adept at building relationships and promoting a culture of loyalty and collaboration.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience

Work History

Executive Sous Chef- The Smoke House

Newport Restaurant Group
05.2024 - 11.2024
  • Successfully led all culinary operations for a high-volume seasonal restaurant including hiring and training culinary staff, strategic ordering and receiving, weekly inventory, and overall P&L management
  • Increased guest counts and overall sales through consistent food quality execution and streamlined kitchen operations
  • Created and implemented sound operational systems including order guides, prep lists, standardized recipe adherence, and volume-based scheduling.
  • Promoted teamwork among staff, fostering a positive work environment that encouraged cross-training, inclusion, and collaboration leading to increased productivity and morale.

Catering and Events Manager

Cloud Nine Catering & The Lace Factory
08.2023 - Current
  • Plan and execute high-quality catering events for clients including plannng, preparton, and final service
  • Efficiently manage multiple roles as needed including kitchen operations, bartending, serving, and event setup and breakdown.

Executive Culinary Manager

Hillstone Restaurant Group
01.2011 - 03.2023
  • Led all BOH operations for 100% scratch kitchen with sales 11M+ with multiple facets; including in house bakery, sushi program, and full service menu
  • Cultivated strong relationships with key suppliers, negotiating contracts, and ensuring consistent delivery of the highest-quality ingredients at competitive prices
  • Implemented data-driven strategies to optimize food quality, service speed, and waste reduction
  • Monitored and analyzed key performance indicators, including sales, labor costs, and food costs, restaurant operations costs implementing corrective actions as necessary to achieve business targets
  • Trained and mentored newly hired culinary managers through a four-month training process and beyond
  • Hired, trained, and managed all culinary staff from direct daily management and scheduling to team building in excess of 30+ employees
  • Responsible for all purchasing, receiving, and inventory
  • In charge of establishing and negotiating all purveyor relations
  • Exceeded annual sales up to $20M by overseeing culinary operations at sister location Cherry Creek Grill
  • Increased sales and profitability at Cherry Creek Grill by revamping entire kitchen in 2019, including sourcing and installing equipment, hiring/training new staff, updating menu items, and implementing operational systems
  • Directly coordinated with culinary executive team to implement and execute all recipe and restaurant operational changes to consistently achieve the best final product to the guest
  • Worked seamlessly with construction and design team to coordinate all facilities and maintenance projects from new equipment purchases to overall facilities maintenance to achieve operational success.

Culinary Manager

Hillstone Restaurant Group
01.2008 - 01.2011
  • Lowered food cost from 35%-29% through purveyor relations, waste reduction, and operational systems
  • Led transitional period after concept change from Gulfstream to Houston's Restaurant
  • Boosted annual sales $1M over a 3-year period through menu development and execution
  • Consulted and oversaw culinary operations for sister location in same market
  • Hired and trained culinary staff for both locations in New Orleans
  • Improved overall culture through strong leadership, organization, and mentoring.

Culinary Manager

Hillstone Restaurant Group
01.2006 - 01.2008
  • Promoted to Culinary Manager 6 months post training tasked with moving to a new market and immediately making a positive impact on restaurant operations and profitability
  • Boosted annual sales 25% in a stagnant market through implementation of organized operational systems and culinary execution
  • Streamlined culinary operations and dramatically lowered food and labor costs increasing profitability.


Assistant Culinary Manager

Hillstone Restaurant Group
01.2005 - 01.2006
  • Successfully served in the assistant to the chef capacity running daily operations for 100% scratch kitchen with $12+M annual sales


Education

Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts | Bachelor of Arts in Food Service Management -

Johnson & Wales University

Skills

  • High Volume scratch culinary operations
  • P&L Management
  • Recruitment and hiring
  • Team Leadership & Training
  • Menu development
  • Budgeting and finance
  • Complex Issues Resolution
  • Facilities & Equipment Maintenance
  • Vendor Relationship Management

Accomplishments

  • Increased annual sales by $6M at Hillstone Denver 2011-2023 driving sales growth and financial performance.
  • Successfully transitioned operational model from dine-in to take-out during pandemic restrictions, demonstrating adaptability and resilience.
  • Trained and mentored newly hired culinary managers and staff across multiple locations and markets, fostering staff development and creating growth opportunities.
  • Managed multi-unit culinary operations and facilities maintenance, improving sales and profitability across various locations within the Hillstone Restaurant Group.
  • Successfully assisted multiple new restaurant openings, including Hillstone Denver and White House Tavern Aspen.

Timeline

Executive Sous Chef- The Smoke House

Newport Restaurant Group
05.2024 - 11.2024

Catering and Events Manager

Cloud Nine Catering & The Lace Factory
08.2023 - Current

Executive Culinary Manager

Hillstone Restaurant Group
01.2011 - 03.2023

Culinary Manager

Hillstone Restaurant Group
01.2008 - 01.2011

Culinary Manager

Hillstone Restaurant Group
01.2006 - 01.2008

Assistant Culinary Manager

Hillstone Restaurant Group
01.2005 - 01.2006

Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts | Bachelor of Arts in Food Service Management -

Johnson & Wales University
Tony Suisman