Dana Ressler

Experience

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  ARAMARK

  Apr 1987 - Mar 1990

  Assistant General Manager, The Spectrum

  Managed daily operations of food service, purchased and inventoried over four hundred items, receiving of same. Prepared monthly statements and calculated cost of sales based on volume/participation. Scheduled opening of locations and union employees based on forecasted sales and attendance figures. Responsible for supervision of workforce during varied events at year round facility. Special projects included opening seasonal and permanent accounts such as Saratoga Race Track, Lime Rock Race Track,PGA Golf Tournament, and Knickerbocker Arena in Albany, NY. Show less

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  Restaurant Associates

  Mar 1992 - Jan 1996

  Cafe Manager, Terrace Restaurant, Longwood Gardens

  Managed daily operation of cafe catering to 800,000 visitors and staff members annually. Hired, scheduled, trained and supervised forty four employees. Implemented new menu items and hospitality programs. Supervised full service upscale dining room. Full financial accountability for operation.

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  Wood Company/Sodexo

  Mar 1996 - Sept 2004

  General Manager, MBNA, Deerfield and Wilmington Headquarters

  03/96– 09/04– Wood Sodexho, MBNA, Bracebridge and Deerfield locations, General Manager Manage operations of MBNA corporate facility -3,000 people. Managed several units from this location - two daycare facilities, a bakery, in addition to the café catering to 2,500 customers per day Full financial responsibility and accountability for all units equaling $1.98 million in managed volume, including client presentation and budgeting, cash/credit card reconciliation, forecasting sales and subsidy reduction planning. Recruit, hire, schedule, train, and supervise staff of forty five, including managing managers. Introduction of new menu items, merchandising and marketing promotions, and implementing new strategic planning objectives. Involved in all large catering events at MBNA, including event for 25,000 Delaware employees Won the company’s Defined Award for 3 years in the Marketing, Environment, and Food categories, and a company Leadership Award in 2002. Show less

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  Sodexo

  Jul 2006 - Sept 2013

  Manage daily operations of four cafes including catering and gift shopat the DuPont facilities in Wilmington, Delaware. Oversee purchasing and merchandising of gift shop retail items and offerings.Implemented service excellence and food safety programs, assisted with opening of new state of the art Leed certified facility and food service operation, including design and set up of kitchen. equipment and front of house service areas implemented new POS systems, recruit, hire, schedule, and train staff of forty.Client Contact for site, full financial responsibility to budget and manage P&L operations. Show less 9/06-4/09 – Sodexo, Terrace Restaurant, Longwood Gardens, Assistant General Manager Manage daily operations of all food service outlets at Longwood Gardens, nation’s premier horticultural display garden with 800,000 visitors annually, including café, fine dining restaurant, concessions, supported special functions and high end catering, with managed volume in excess of $6 million. Oversaw an increase In 2006 to 2007, I directly impacted increased sales in concessions by 112% over previous years and 72.5% in 2008 over 2007Recruit, hire, train, and supervise staff of fifty, including managing higher level managersFull operational responsibility and accountability for core business Marketing, merchandising, and conceptual planning to meet the needs of anticipated growth and in support of client's long term objectives Show less

  • Resource Manager, Novartis Pharmacuticals

    Apr 2013 - Sept 2013

  • General Manager, DuPont Sites, Wilmington, DE

    Apr 2009 - Apr 2013

  • Assistant General Manager, Terrace Restaurant, Longwood Gardens

    Jul 2006 - Apr 2009
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  Sodexo

  Nov 2013 - Dec 2015

  Retail Manager, Baltimore Aquarium

  Manage daily operations of three cafes, including catering onsite, and concession operation. Merchandising, marketing, and implementation of corporate programs into existing offerings, maximizing use of facility while developing new programs. Client Second Contact for site. Managed budget of $1.2 million while ensuring budget was met and that client requests were received above expectations. Team won the Platinum Spirit of Sodexo Award in 2015. Actively engaged in ensuring a safe visit for all guests and in communication frequently with both guests and clients. Show less

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  Aramark

  Dec 2015 - Oct 2018

  Food Service Director

  Manage daily operations of residential dining hall, including catering onsite, and special event coordination and execution. Completed merchandising, marketing, and implementation of corporate programs into existing offerings. Redesign space frequently to seasonal and theme events. Within budget, planned upgrades at facility, improved overall satisfaction scores to highest level at site. Implemented customer service excellence programs, reviewed, and enforced existing safety programs while giving the existing space weekly/monthly refresh. Recruit, hire, schedule, and train staff of fifty-four. Mentor staff and expand knowledge by networking with colleagues and participating in seminars and training sessions throughout the year. Manage high level managers and day to day operations with safety in mind at all times. Client Second Contact for site. Managed budget of $2.1 million and worked with Conference Services each year to provide for extra events when the university was not in session. Show less

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  Health Care Services Group

  Jan 2019 - Aug 2019

  Food Service Director

  Recruit, hire and train service staff, supervise and mentor up to 7 cooks, dietician, and food service workers, along with being the client contact on site. I was responsible to oversee all disciplines to meet service needs on time or ahead of schedule. Verify and write menu selections for residents, to include a detailed outline of work and compose schedules for a wide range of services throughout the building in coordination with client requests. Implement service initiatives to increase customer satisfaction and developed and coordinated special events in the facility. Managed facility to meet all health codes, and to see that all state and federal regulations are met. Advise employees and subcontractors of safety requirements and procedures to prevent hazards and job site accidents. Evaluated suppliers to assess quality, timeliness and compliance of deliveries, maintain tight cost controls and maximize business operational efficiency. Made important timely on the spot decisions and resolutions while managing multiple jobs and tasks simultaneously.Manage day-to-day business operations, including accounting, finance, HR, marketing and public and employee relations. Consistently communicate with customers and clients to provide the best possible service in a timely manner with attention to detail Show less

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  Sodexo

  Jun 2021 - now

  Operations Manager

  Rejoined Sodexo at Sheppard Pratt as Operations Manager for Food and Nutrition Department at a new hospital opening in 2021 with a 90-bed inpatient and a four day hospital capacity. Opened full-service Café. Full operational and fiscal responsibility. Recruit, hire, train team of thirty for a 365 day/year operation, three meals a day. Day to day management of staff, client interaction, and retail outlet as well as managing three managers and scheduling all staff. Menu development for all five units, which consist of child, adolescent, and adult units. Have extensive knowledge around diet types and textures. Oversee preparation and delivery of lunches to off-site school five days per week. Compliance required and achieved for all state and local agencies as well as internal third-party audits. Lean Path champion, and worked closely with dieticians and am SERV Safe certified. Show less