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Manager Quality Assurance

Location:
Los Angeles, CA, 90035
Posted:
March 21, 2012

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Resume:

Gayle L. Payne

Los Angeles, CA; Mobile 310-***-****

c4y168@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:

Proven track record managing test kitchens, culinary departments, and catering operations. Successful at creating menus and product selections based on current trends, quality and food cost objectives. Accomplished in working with Operational, Purchasing and Marketing teams, along with presenting new ideas/products to upper management for sell-through. Experience in catering, training and recipe development / standardization, utilizing leadership and organizational skills to complete the tasks on time.

Purchasing Manager, 2011 - Present

Wolfgang Puck Worldwide

100 N. CRESCENT Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Hired to support Food & Beverage with new recipe development and to conduct purchasing se for company and Franchisee locations. Analyzed category spend and purchasing buying power. Negotiated price agreements while maintaining food quality with multiple distributors. Generated $60,000 in annual cost savings by re-negotiating contracts and making packaging changes. Supported Franchisee partners with product distribution logistics for and team meetings. Sourced products for Executive Chef. Managed food and beverage product lines including disposables and small-wares. Set-up new products for distribution roll-outs. Worked with regional chefs on Franchisee compliance.

Food Consulting, Contract work Disney and Catering. Traveled through out Asia gaining knowledge of the culture and cuisine (2010 to current)

DISNEY, INC., Theme Parks, Hotels & ESPN Zones, Anaheim, CA 2008 – 2009

Sourcing and Procurement Specialist, Food and Beverage

Responsible for managing the chain supply for center of plate proteins, dressings, and sauces. Managed vendors thru the culinary development process while meeting park chef goals.

• Negotiated beef and cheese contracts with National and regional vendors.

• Successfully changed bacon counts and cooking procedures at Hotel Buffets and Quick Service areas. Pork change resulted in savings of $ 275,000 and improved product consistency.

• Partnered with WDW to increase dual product line spends, reduce vendors, and gain shared Market knowledge to improve efficiencies on beef, pork, cheese, and dressings.

• Supported Healthy Well Balance kids project by switching from regular to light, shredded mozzarella cheese.

MILLIE’S RESTAURANT & BAKERY, Brea, CA 2004-2007

Manager of Food and Beverage & Purchasing

Responsible for all aspects of product development and purchasing. Created new items with cost controls and trained operations on menu items and standards. Managed staff and Test Kitchen to optimize the menu and create strategic recipes for five promotions, per year. Project scope: sourcing vendors, new concepts, recipes, food costing, presentations and communication packets. Promotional themes involved American and global flavors from Mexico, Italy, Asia and Greece. Worked with Operational teams in developing new products.

Menu Achievements:

Signature Pot Pie, Individual Fruit and Cream Pies, Huevos Rancheros Bowl, Spicy Machaca Scramble, Pina Colada Pancakes, Thai Chicken Wrap, Grandwich Sandwiches, Tuscan Bread Bowl, Fire Roasted Veggie Salad and Carne Asada Salad Bowl.

• Trend Analysis and Research: 15% of promoted recipes were added to core menu. Consumer research ratings on food quality, taste & variety received higher scores than all other attributes. All development achieved food cost strategies.

• Standardized foodservice manual to include yields, handling, storage, preparation and consistent portions for chain-wide execution.

• Procured new vendors, recognized for quality products and commitment to service. Monitored vendor compliance and took corrective action to maintain product quality. Negotiated purchasing agreements with suppliers, resulting in cost savings of $100+K annually. Created small pies for one. Reformulated pies to improve quality and reduce costs.

BON APPETIT @ CALIFORNIA ART INSTITUTE, Valencia, California

General Manager and Catering Manager– Food Services 2002-2003

Directed on-campus dining facility, which encompassed restaurant, catering, and special events. Operation served more than 1,500 students per day. Responsible for directing food service operations, staff supervision, recruitment, food costing, quality assurance, vendor procurement, and inventory management. Negotiated contracts for catering & special events and handled safety and sanitary compliance. Presided over an operation that grossed more than $1 million in annual sales, and served a large and diverse campus community.

SIZZLER USA, INC., Los Angeles, CA 1996-2000

Manager, Product Development

Menu Achievements: 18-20 oz Pork Chop, Choice Steaks with Signature Rub, Sizzling Steak line

• Member of the Planning Team that strategized and implemented the restaurant's successful restructuring and financial turnaround. Menu & steak repositioning was the primary stimulant in 12 successive quarters of financial increases pf +2% - 8%.

• Managed Chef, consultant and food tech under budget. Applied guest input from consumer research data and managed a total menu revision from concept through implementation into 260 stores. Upgraded the Sizzler Steak Program to USDA Choice and Select steaks. The project scope included specifications for grade, variety, and size.

• Provided strategy and development to improve overall salad bar product quality and implemented a contemporary design for a New Salad-Hot Bar (20 plus new items) and Dessert Toppings Bar.

• Developed over 100 menu items with targeted cost objectives for marketing promotions - initiated by the highly successful Fire Grilled Steaks, generating profit increases of 3%-6%.

Education / Professional Training

• California State University, Northridge California, Bachelor of Science, Food & Nutrition

• Professional School of Cooking, Pro-Chef Certification

• CIA, Greystone in Napa Valley: Beef and Seafood Courses

• Sous Chef, Italian Cuisine; Waitress

• Microsoft including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint



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