Kevin Lavertu

Experience

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  Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar

  Jan 2010 - Jan 2011

  Host

  Presented a polished and professional demeanor as 1st point of contact with customers. Addressed in-person and telephone guest inquiries and customer service requests. Organized and managed seating charts and wait lists.• Established rapport with customers and generated repeat business through friendly attitude and exceptional service• Monitored dining room and guest flow to maximize table usage and minimize customer wait times• Commended for high-caliber customer service, reliability, and a team-oriented work ethic Show less

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  Cafe Rio Mexican Grill

  Jan 2013 - Jan 2014

  Line Cook

  Prepared diverse food/menu items in accordance with recipes, serving sizes and presentation specifications established by restaurant management. Took on additional responsibilities, routinely rotating through 5+ kitchen positions to maintain optimum productivity and service levels during high volume periods.• Employed best practices for kitchen safety, hygiene, sanitation, and safe food handling/preparation/storage• Consistently produced high quality meals and culinary experiences for customers while meeting production goal of <5 minutes from order receipt to order delivery Show less

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  Northern Arizona University

  Aug 2013 - May 2015

  Student Mentor

  I mentor and help new transfer students adjust to life and education at the University. I tactfully manage a dynamic schedule to meet students. I use emotional intelligence to gauge students' experience and judge how much help they may need.I lead by example for new transfer students and give advice on important decision making.

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  Garden Fresh Restaurants (dba Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes Restaurants)

  Jan 2014 - Jan 2014

  Manager In Training (Intern)

  Coordinated and supported daily managerial functions including cash drawer exchange, inventory receipt and procurement, HR administration, employee scheduling, quality and safety control, P&L analysis, employee relations, loss prevention, and customer service. Conducted routine food inspections to ensure optimum quality, taste, and safety. Evaluated guest counts and forecasts to determine appropriate staffing and stock levels for each shift. Addressed and resolved complex labor issues, employee conflicts, and customer complaints.• Acquired intense, practical work experience in all facets of restaurant management, successfully translating university studies into a professional ‘real world’ capacity• Praised by senior managers for ability to quickly learn job requirements and surpass expectations in a fast-paced, high stress environment• Commended by General and Branch Managers for ‘above and beyond’ work ethic, exceptional leadership and mentoring skills, and a positive attitude that inspired measurable improvements in team morale, productivity, and performance Show less

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  Garden Fresh Restaurants (dba Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes Restaurants)

  Jun 2015 - Apr 2016

  Currently overseeing multiple aspects of the restaurant. First and most importantly, setting the bar for guest service very high. Teaching crew what guest service is and how we can make it a better environment every day. Also performed role playing with crew to demonstrate successful guest service. Finding the best strategies for production in order to reduce waste and increase the freshness of product. Working with vendors to receive the correct service and/or product. Looking at the employee staff and hiring staff in the weakest areas. Conducting interviews weekly in order to find the right fit for our restaurant. Managing turnover of less adequate employees. Training more than 30 employees on best practices and better health standards. Experience in producing and managing crew schedules to achieve efficient work flow and reduce labor costs. After 2 months of managing schedules, I reduced labor by 40% on previous months. Scheduling towards employee strengths and their preferences. Show less

  • Production Manager

    Feb 2016 - Apr 2016

  • Recruiter

    Jan 2016 - Mar 2016

  • Service Manager

    Jun 2015 - Jan 2016
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  Garden Fresh Restaurants (dba Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes Restaurants)

  May 2017 - Feb 2019

  General Manager

  Managing all aspects of restaurant functions and performance above standards.Managing sales and costs to meet budgets while being in close contact with direct supervisor. Using local marketing to increase sales and guest count. Managing labor to provide excellent guest service while using effective labor hours. Surpassing labor standard to provide more wealth to the bottom line.Guiding a team of 5 managers and shift leaders to meet our goals, while improving their performance levels. Through performance evaluations I seek to further their development to enhance our business.Surpassing requirement for overall guest satisfaction over a six month period. Creating a guest centered environment to develop a relationship with first time guests.Working with the district manager to improve restaurant functions and guest experience. Show less