Vanessa Valentin
Bridgewater
Summary
Dynamic baker with extensive experience at Costco, excelling in pastry preparation and quality control. Proven ability to create visually appealing displays while ensuring adherence to cleanliness standards. A dedicated team player, I consistently deliver exceptional customer service and maintain high product freshness, significantly reducing spoilage.
Knowledgeable Baker with expertise in cakes, cookies and pastries. Team player with solid management and training experience.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Baker
Costco
Flemington
11.2020 - 03.2025
- Designed appealing product displays to maintain unique presentation.
- Utilized measuring instruments, commercial-grade mixers and ovens to bake cakes and pastries.
- Placed dough in pans, molds and sheets and monitored products during baking to adjust temperature.
- Monitored color of baking items to raise or lower temperature or remove from oven.
- Reviewed expiration dates on items and removed expired products from stock to maintain quality.
- Decorated cakes with icing, sprinkles and other edible decorations.
- Consistently maintained high levels of cleanliness, organization, storage and sanitation of food and beverage products to ensure quality.
- Adhered to company policies regarding storage, handling and preparation of food items.
- Maintained temperature, sweep and sanitation logs to document proper conditions.
- Measured out ingredients accurately to ensure consistent product quality.
- Kept records of daily production numbers for each type of item produced.
- Observed color of baked products to adjust oven temperatures, humidity or conveyor speeds.
- Provided customer service by answering questions about menu items or taking orders from customers.
- Rolled and kneaded dough in preparation for cutting and shaping.
- Cleaned work areas, utensils, equipment and surfaces between batches of products.
- Cut and shaped dough for rolls, bread and various pastries.
- Stocked shelves with freshly-baked goods throughout the day as needed.
- Inspected baking equipment in accordance with cleanliness and safety standards.
- Blended ingredients and mixed dough, following recipes.
- Checked dough for proper consistency, adding more flour if needed.
- Measured, mixed and prepped raw materials according to company specifications and recipes.
- Operated ovens and other equipment to bake products according to established recipes.
- Monitored temperature of ovens and adjusted accordingly to maintain consistency in baking times.
- Adapted measurements to meet quantity of bakery items being prepared.
- Rotated stock as needed to keep freshness intact.
- Packaged finished products into boxes or containers for delivery or sale in store.
- Checked baked goods periodically during baking process to ensure desired results were achieved.
- Measured and weighed ingredients to prepare dough for recipes.
- Adhered to safety protocols to minimize mishaps and accidents with baking equipment.
- Organized store by returning merchandise to proper areas and restocked displays.
- Met with customers to discuss needed bakery items and take orders.
- Finished baked goods with glazes, icings and other toppings.
- Operated equipment and machinery according to safety guidelines.
- Approached customers and engaged in conversation through use of effective interpersonal and people skills.
- Operated a variety of machinery and tools safely and efficiently.
- Worked effectively in team environments to make the workplace more productive.
- Provided support and guidance to colleagues to maintain a collaborative work environment.
- Completed day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Prepared dough for a variety of bakery items such as breads, pastries, pies, cakes and cookies.
- Rolled, cut and shaped dough to form bread, rolls, cookies, cupcakes, pie crusts and other baked goods.
- Wrapped items in plastic in preparation for display and to sell to customers.
- Set ovens to appropriate temperatures to pre-heat.
- Attended training sessions related to food safety procedures and techniques.
- Inspected finished products before packaging them up for sale.
- Packaged and labeled baked goods with accurate descriptions and ingredients.
- Followed food safety guidelines while preparing all food items.
- Combined ingredients by hand and with electric mixing equipment.
Meat Cutter
Costco
Flemington
11.2020 - 03.2025
- Prepared special orders from customers that required specific cuts or trimming techniques.
- Implemented suggestive selling techniques for less desirable cuts to maximize profits and clear inventory.
- Maintained proper food temperatures for various products.
- Followed emergency procedures in event of workplace accidents.
- Checked expiration dates on packages of meat prior to stocking them on shelves or counters.
- Maintained fully stocked retail shelves while rotating perishable products to prevent expiration and waste.
- Answered customer questions about specific products and cut meats to specifications.
- Properly stored meat to decrease waste and increase product freshness span.
- Operated a variety of meat cutting machines such as saws, slicers, grinders and tenderizers.
- Packaged, weighed, and labeled meat products accurately for retail sale.
- Cleaned work areas including counters, floors, walls and equipment using safe sanitizing solutions.
- Complied with federal, state and local sanitation regulations and department procedures.
- Rotated stock on shelves so that older items were used first while maintaining freshness of product.
- Cut, wrapped, weighed and labeled orders for customers.
- Accepted and examined quality and correctness of daily meat deliveries.
- Adhered to food safety regulations regarding storage temperatures and sanitation protocols.
- Arranged cut meat and products in display case for customer viewing and selection.
- Skillfully operated cutting tools and machinery to trim, slice, and cut meat according to customer specifications.
- Performed basic maintenance tasks on meat cutting equipment such as cleaning blades.
- Rotated products to decrease chance of meat spoiling and reduce waste and loss of profits.
- Cut, trimmed and grinded meats to prepare for cooking form.
- Disposed of expired meats in accordance with food safety regulations.
- Weighed meats for sale at the service counter or pre-packaged for sale in the retail market.
- Weighed, labeled and priced variety of cuts of meat for on-demand selections.
- Cleaned meat preparation counters and butcher knives to avoid cross contamination.
- Sharpened knives on daily basis for optimal use and longevity.
- Followed all safety procedures when handling sharp knives and other cutting tools.
Education
High School Diploma -
Bridgewater Raritan High School
Bridgewater, NJ06-2009
Skills
- Pastry preparation
- Cleanliness standards
- Bread baking
- Icings and fondant
- Team player
- Serve customers
- Attention to detail
- Packaging Baked Goods
- Food handling standards
- Safe knife handling
- Raw materials assessment
- Quality control
- Spoilage control
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Portuguese
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Professional
French
Professional
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Baker
Costco
11.2020 - 03.2025
Meat Cutter
Costco
11.2020 - 03.2025
High School Diploma -
Bridgewater Raritan High School