WILLIAM COOKE
St. Thomas,USVI
Summary
Results oriented professional with proven project management skills in the successful delivery of all aspects of large scale corporate business services and related operational strategies to support enterprise level products and services
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Director of Food & Beverage
Frenchman's Reef Resort
03.2022 - Current
- Recruited by Managing Director for position held
- Opened 400 room resort including 5 restaurant outlets
- Assisted with menu creation, staffing and all elements of coordinating and creating daily operational procedures for each outlet
Operation Consultant
Palm Springs Grill LLC
06.2019 - 03.2022
- Initiated and implemented all new SOPs for management and staff for 3 separate operations
- Procured all new food and service vendors for all locations increasing revenues by 30%
- Obtained all necessary permits and worked with local officials to upgrade internal and external improvements
Operations Consultant
JW Hospitality Group
03.2016 - 06.2019
- Successfully negotiated sale of existing 140 seat bar and restaurant
- Initiated and implemented all new operational SOPs for management and staff
- Obtained all necessary permits and worked with local officials to upgrade internal and external improvements
- Intricately involved with marketing and all social media platforms
- Procured all new food and service vendors
- Built pro forma budget for first five years of operations
General Manager
Compass Group USA/ Viacom International
05.2014 - 03.2016
- Improved overall client relations in a struggling account to secure continued contract through 2018
- Increased total managed revenue from $4.113m in FY2014 to $5.188m in FY2015, including a 52% increase in catering sales YOY
- Successfully completed all aspects to open brand new high end coffee bar and new premier catering space in December 2014
- Reduced product costs by 5.2% and total direct labor cost by 2.7% in a union account from 2014 to 2015
- Maintained A grade levels for eight consecutive NYC DOH inspections
General Manager
Compass Group USA / Bank Of America
12.2011 - 05.2014
- Managed annual revenue of over $4 million that is comprised of five Café's, two Child Care Centers and a large
- Conference Center
- Increased profitability by 9.9% overall in two fiscal years and reduced product costs by 2.6% and total labor cost by 7.4% in the same period
- Cultivated relationships with key Line of Business leaders within the contract to develop better communication and understanding of our client's needs and expectations
- Successfully transitioned the accounts through two changes of Regional Director, as well as an Executive Chef and Café Manager, with no interruption of maintaining service levels or financial performance
Consultant
Hospitality Consultants Inc
01.2009 - 10.2011
- Initiated the demolition and total renovation of a 240 room beachfront hotel in the Dominican Republic
- Worked with local government to obtain all necessary permits, negotiated with vendors from the Dominican Republic and Haiti to obtain core services and staff for all aspects of hotel build out
General Manager
Flik International / Lighthouse International
11.2005 - 01.2009
- Increased Conference Center sales from $700k to $1.2m annually
- Developed new menu and service options in café to increase sales by 17% from previous year
- Restructured billing and financial reporting processes to Lighthouse accounting; streamlining and reducing outstanding receivables due to Lighthouse from external clients
Owner/Operator
Jake's Cheesesteaks
09.2003 - 06.2005
- Established an LLC to open new restaurant
- Oversaw all aspects of build-out including obtaining all permits and licenses required by the city of Hoboken
- Designed layout of service area, kitchen and seating areas and purchased all necessary equipment for same
General Manager
Whitsons Food Service
09.2001 - 08.2003
- Ground Zero Emergency Management - Responsible for management of daily operation of hospitality tent for Ground Zero rescue workers, serving between 4,000- 10,000 meals per day
- Coordinated Downtown Restaurant Revitalization Program; purchasing meals from local restaurants to help boost sagging economy due to 9/11
- Assisted Salvation Army in all management aspects and coordinated resources with other emergency sites
- Worked with various organizations such as FEMA, OSHA, OEM, New York City Mayor's office, NYPD, FDNY, PAPD, EPA and various federal, state and city agencies to coordinate and resolve issues pertaining to the rescue tent
- Carnegie East House/ Health Advocates - Opened a brand new 104 unit Enriched Living residence for independent Senior Citizens
- Designed dietary manual, policy and procedure manual and training manual to comply with NY State and City regulations to obtain Enrich Housing License for Health Advocates
- Developed Pro Forma and working budgets for the opening and first two operation years
- Bronx Culinary Center - Coordinated with school districts of Paterson, NJ , Spring Valley, NY and Nassau County, NY on food service for summer school and day camp programs
- Managed staff of 20 team members in production, packing and delivery of 15,000 hot and cold meals daily
Senior Food Service Director
Aramark Corporation / Citibank
07.2000 - 09.2001
- Successfully converted Long Island City facility from full subsidy contract to P & L, showing 4% profits in first month
- Coordinated $400,000 comprehensive renovation of the servery
- Director of largest CitiBank unit and 2 satellite units in the district with $3.5 million in managed volume
Consultant
Eatery Restaurant
04.2000 - 07.2000
- Involved in all aspects of build out and opening of a full service upscale new American restaurant
Education
Bachelor of Science Degree - Hospitality Management
JOHNSON AND WALES UNIVERSITY
Providence, RICertification
National Restaurant Association
Certification for Food Management Professional (FMP)
Servsafe Certification
Member of Society for Food Service Management
Timeline
Assistant Director of Food & Beverage
Frenchman's Reef Resort
03.2022 - Current
Operation Consultant
Palm Springs Grill LLC
06.2019 - 03.2022
Operations Consultant
JW Hospitality Group
03.2016 - 06.2019
General Manager
Compass Group USA/ Viacom International
05.2014 - 03.2016
General Manager
Compass Group USA / Bank Of America
12.2011 - 05.2014
Consultant
Hospitality Consultants Inc
01.2009 - 10.2011
General Manager
Flik International / Lighthouse International
11.2005 - 01.2009
Owner/Operator
Jake's Cheesesteaks
09.2003 - 06.2005
General Manager
Whitsons Food Service
09.2001 - 08.2003
Senior Food Service Director
Aramark Corporation / Citibank
07.2000 - 09.2001
Consultant
Eatery Restaurant
04.2000 - 07.2000
Bachelor of Science Degree - Hospitality Management
JOHNSON AND WALES UNIVERSITY
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