Amanda Lacher

Experience

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  Hotel Ezra Cornell

  Sept 2016 - May 2019

  Oversaw the planning and execution of the food and beverage of the 94th Annual Hotel Ezra Cornell, as well as events throughout the year; managed the culinary, beverage, service, procurement, design, and conference services teams to ensure communication and success of all levels of the teams Help lead F&B service to ensure that guests have the best experience, create training for volunteers and lead managers to improving their service and leadership skills Planned and served hors d'oeuvres for breakouts from panels, organized and managed volunteers and helped all teams successfully execute their menus. Created environmental initiatives for the conference

  • Food & Beverage Director

    May 2018 - May 2019

  • Assistant Director of F&B Service

    Sept 2017 - May 2018

  • Culinary Function Manager; Environmental Manager

    Sept 2016 - Sept 2017
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  Pizzeria Mozza

  Jan 2017 - Jan 2017

  Management Intern
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  Eleven Madison Park

  May 2018 - Aug 2018

  Guest Relations Intern

  Learned service standards and interactions between kitchen and service, helped optimize communication between reservation office and service station, trained new employees of the departmentWorked at host stand where I seated guests, welcomed them when the maître’ d was not present, operated coat check, helped turn tables, and helped communicate with the kitchen and serve food to assist the dining roomWorked as a reservationist, where I would answer the phone and guest emails, manage our reservation system, improved guest information and profiles, and created personalized guest menus during serviceMystery dined at Made Nice and provided feedback on flow, organization, and processes, as well as analyzed the market, competitors, and ways to improve the restaurant Show less

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  The Wellesley Restaurant

  Mar 2019 - Sept 2019

  Assistant General Manager

  Developed and managed the 90-seat seasonal restaurant. Some of the tasks I was responsible for:• Hired and trained staff; created SOPs, employee handbook, reservations system, and marketing plan; set-up POS system and business accounts with suppliers• Scheduled employees and completed payroll, managed dining room and kitchen for service and special events • Created and controlled beverage program with 415 bottle inventory (lounge bar, wine program, late night pub)• Helped with budgeting and costing, monitored variable and labor costs, tracked financials and profit Show less

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  More Than Food Group

  May 2020 - now

  Founder & Owner/Operator

  Opened in May 2021, PorchBox is a fast-casual, American comfort food restaurant in Laguna Hills, CA, owned by More Than Food Group LLC.• Managed full development process including concept creation, financial analysis & budgeting, design, floorplans, construction process, menu costing and R&D• Responsible for all business and management operations (HR, financials, business relations, website & graphic design, marketing, SOPs, philanthropy & community relations, IT, purchasing, menu development operations)• Leads a positive-impact organization (positive work culture, fair wages, env. sustainability, community impact)• Featured on Guy Fieri’s Restaurant Reboot: received recognition as the future of the industry Show less