Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline

Wesley Tomlinson

Nashville,NC

Summary

Dedicated food service professional well-versed in food and beverage operations and guest services. Experienced in managing large-scale events or intimate gourmet dining and afternoon tea services. Successful at building relationships with customers to increase loyalty and repeat business.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience

Work History

Lead Caterer

Panera Bread
11.2022 - 10.2023
  • Cooked for large groups of people and managing various types of food for large events.
  • Created catering menu based upon client specifications, event type, dietary needs, and budget.
  • Ordered food items and supplies needed to fulfill catering jobs.
  • Crafted exciting catering options for clients.
  • Met face-to-face with clients of diverse backgrounds to discuss specific needs and considerations, designing unique garnishes, table settings and plate displays to suit each group's theme.
  • Addressed customer complaints with openness and proactivity, attending to concerns personally and offering creative solutions to uncharted problems with food availability, temperature and quantity.
  • Observed federal and local kitchen safety regulations to prevent food borne illnesses.
  • Followed all safety instructions to avoid injuries when operating heavy equipment in kitchen.
  • Maintained kitchen cleanliness and sanitation through correct procedures and scheduled cleaning of surfaces and equipment.
  • Handled escalated customer concerns with speed and knowledgeable support to achieve optimal satisfaction and maintain long-term loyalty.

Kitchen Supervisor

O'Charley's Restaurant & Bar
06.2007 - 10.2022
  • Monitored food preparation, production, and plating for quality control.
  • Oversaw grill, stove, and oven, and cleaned equipment after every shift.
  • Controlled food costs and managed inventory.
  • Disciplined and motivated staff to achieve challenging objectives in fast-paced culinary environments.
  • Directed activities of team of skilled kitchen workers preparing and serving meals.
  • Developed kitchen staff through training, disciplinary action, and performance reviews.
  • Directed food preparation and cooking activities to meet health and safety standards.
  • Trained new hires in food handling and safety protocols to boost knowledge and performance.
  • Monitored food inventory and supplies to prevent waste.
  • Supervised food presentation and plating to enhance visual appeal.
  • Maximized team productivity by expertly delegating tasks to kitchen staff.
  • Addressed customer complaints with professional demeanor and used communication and problem-solving skills to resolve issues.
  • Scheduled and rotated staff for adequate coverage and fair distribution of workload.
  • Served consistent portions following recipes and control standards.

Kitchen Manager

Demo's
07.2001 - 06.2007
  • Conducted daily checks of refrigerators and freezers to verify proper food storage, container labeling, and surface cleaning.
  • Inspected stock to identify shortages, replenish supply and maintain consistent inventory.
  • Checked and tested foods to verify quality and temperature.
  • Implemented and maintained food safety and sanitation standards to establish safe handling and preparation of food.
  • Scheduled and received food and beverage deliveries, adhering to food cost and budget.
  • Delegated food preparation duties down to cooks and followed up with cooks to verify proper preparation and production of meals.
  • Developed kitchen staff through training, disciplinary action, and performance reviews.
  • Delivered in-depth training to workers in food preparation and customer-facing roles to promote strong team performance.
  • Reviewed and analyzed kitchen performance to verify gaps and observe continuous improvement.
  • Developed and maintained professional relationships with suppliers to acquire high-quality ingredients and products with reasonable prices.
  • Maintained kitchen cleanliness and sanitation through correct procedures and scheduled cleaning of surfaces and equipment.
  • Oversaw food preparation and monitored safety protocols.
  • Trained staff on proper cooking procedures as well as safety regulations and productivity strategies.
  • Verified prepared food met standards for quality and quantity before serving to customers.
  • Motivated staff to perform at peak efficiency and quality.
  • Managed staff schedules and maintained adequate coverage for all shifts.
  • Kept facility compliant with health codes, sanitation requirements and license regulations, alleviating potentially heavy fines.
  • Maintained effective supply levels by monitoring and reordering food stock and dry goods.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Anthropology

Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
06.1999

Skills

  • Organizational skills
  • Staff supervision
  • Customer service
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Nutrition knowledge
  • Quality control
  • Food presentation
  • Sanitation standards
  • Task delegation
  • Decision making
  • Inventory control
  • Training and development
  • Recipe creation
  • Menu planning
  • Continuous improvement
  • Attention to detail
  • Time management

Timeline

Lead Caterer - Panera Bread
11.2022 - 10.2023
Kitchen Supervisor - O'Charley's Restaurant & Bar
06.2007 - 10.2022
Kitchen Manager - Demo's
07.2001 - 06.2007
Middle Tennessee State University - Bachelor of Science, Anthropology

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Wesley Tomlinson