WILLIAM K. GROOVER

FRANCHISE & CORPORATE OPERATIONS LEADER

Lewisville, Texas 75077 214-***-**** ad2w03@r.postjobfree.com

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Business-savvy and target-driven Franchise, Retail and Corporate Operator and Sales leader recognized for innovating cutting-edge management systems and strategies that transformed business operations, sales, and revenues for franchises, chain stores, and restaurants with $100M to $375M

Optimized 15+ years in franchise and food & retail sales and services development to lead and innovate high-level executive solutions and measures that curb costs and expenditure with quantifiable metrics on sales, EBITDA, revenue generation, and overall profits. Possessed successful portfolio of driving change management and operational transformation across franchises and corporate operations in Fast Casual, Full Service, and QSR. Spearheaded projects spanning product line development, concept design, CapEX planning, property acquisition and franchise management. Championed growth and expansion by budgeting, forecasting, and viable project implementation while interfacing, communicating, and strengthening relationships with partners and stakeholders for an improved experience. Bridged performance gap and boosted productivity by promoting human capital development and handled HR operations involving recruiting, training, onboarding, coaching, and mentoring management teams and employees to exceed expected outcomes.

EXPERTISE

Franchise Development & Growth Sales Business Development and Transformation Executive and Franchise Leadership

Food Service & Retail Management Solutions Change Management Process Improvement Supply Chain Magt Food Safety

Quality Control Regulatory Compliance Profit and Loss Management Forecasting Business Operations Consulting

Project Management CapEX Planning Budgeting and Cost Control Measures Human Capital Development HR

Vendor & Supplier Negotiation Contract RFP Growth Strategy and Business Acquisition Staff Development and Training

Property Management Business Acquisition Account Management Product Development Recruiting and Staffing Initiatives

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Radical Hospitality Group

Director of Operations June 2022 – Present

Supervising 6 full service restaurants, totaling $25M in revenue, including 4 different concepts, American culinary, elevated Gastropub, Cajun and rustic Italian.

Achievements

Developed and implemented creative strategies for revenue enhancement and cost containment while maintaining brand standards, and providing profitable outlets sustaining long term success at each restaurant

Oversaw process with managers and CFO for budgeting and forecasting for all restaurants

Skilled in organizational development, personnel management, budgeting, resource development and strategic planning

Ability to build culture of accountability and results while prioritizing team member needs

Develop and implement strategic operation plans that support the company’s vision and key strategic initiatives

Utilizing data to drive decisions for growing revenue and improve restaurant profitability.

Designed, monitored and improved front and back of house business practices through analysis and collaboration to meet or exceed financial and operational performance targets as well as ensuring guest satisfaction

Ensured strict compliance with all applicable laws, codes, standards, guest requirement and industry best practices with an emphasis on creating a safe work environment for both team members and guests

Onboarding, training and management development. Ensure validity of training provided by corporate team and certification of managers. Strong ability to assess talent and build effective teams

CONNECTED CONCEPTS, LLC

Managing Director – Retail & Franchise Consulting Services Nov 2020 – Present

Optimize background in franchise management and operations to deliver executive-level business leadership, business management, HR, and concept design consulting services for small to scale size companies.

Achievements

Boosted ROI with high sales and EBITDA through innovative measures and management systems that reduced labor while coordinating P&L management, budgeting, and forecasting for high sales return

Optimized workforce productivity by initiating viable solutions via staffing and labor modeling consultation and launched operational systems and training programs that enhanced deliverability and overall performance

Maximized financial return while ensuring flawless franchise operations by spearheading vendor and contract negotiation and supply chain management of all foodservice programs

Bridged perceived performance gap by sourcing, attracting, and recruiting top talents and handled various HR activities, including candidate tracking and EEOC compliance

Enhanced product, services, and brand positioning by optimizing sales data to design and implement viable marketing strategies with measurable metrics on overall sales and financial operations

Curtailed costs while optimizing time and financial resources with the innovative concept design, product line development, and implementation of feasible operational systems through superior coordination strategies

CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA

Director of Concept Development – Division of Commerce Apr. 2015 – Oct. 2020

Appointed to provide executive-level business leadership and operational responsibility that streamlined successful franchise operations and execution with a $300M in revenue, reporting to the Executive Officer for 43 country markets, travel stores, fast-casual and full-service restaurants & bars. Charged with driving profit gains by developing acquisition and growth strategies while leading CapEx planning and project initiatives, including design and development of new stores, advanced kitchen layouts and building design, food & beverage concepts.

Achievements

Enhanced performance efficiency by improving staffing and labor modeling for 600+ employees with a measurable impact that streamlined franchise operations via data-driven operational and strategic plans

Championed expansion and continued growth of the franchise spanning travel stores, fast-casual and full-service restaurants & bars by spearheading new store opening project from planning to execution

Maximized revenue return with measurable metrics on sales and EBITDA by optimizing dynamic leadership approach to spearhead the initiation of high-level strategies and systems that reduced labor costs and turnover

Boosted franchise-wide deliverability and performance efficiency by interfacing and supervising cross-functional management teams of Regional Managers, Executive Chefs, Area Food Service Trainers, and General Managers to identify gaps and implement viable solutions to exceed expected outcome

Bridged performance gaps through targeted training program tailored to associates and leaderships that imbued safety-first culture for the health of employees while spearheading human capital recruitment, onboarding, development, training, and succession planning for seamless franchise operations

Prioritized franchise interest and gained the best market value during RFP and contract negotiation with large-scale wholesalers, food distributors, and other ancillary businesses, facilitating franchise execution and accountability

KWIK CHEK FOOD STORES, INC.

Director of Retail & Food Service Operations – Franchise Management Oct. 2008 – Sept. 2014

Designated to spearhead executive-level business leadership and operational responsibility for $100M in revenue, overseeing all retail and foodservice marketing/operations of 7 different food concepts and creating proprietary programs in 44 stores in the Texas and Oklahoma region.

Achievements

Maximized revenue growth with high sales return by innovating and implementing measures that curb excess expenditure and increase EBITDA. Boosted revenue returns by optimizing sales data to forecast and develop a viable budget and innovated strategic and performance-driven strategies and executive systems that reduced labor costs and turnover

Championed growth and expansion of the franchise by prioritizing all managerial aspects to drive organization vision by coordinating HR activities involving all efforts for management recruitment, screening/onboarding to hire competent leaders in compliance with EEOC policy

Enhanced deliverability and performance that exceeded $100M revenue benchmark by spearheading human capital development and succession planning, hiring Food Service Managers/District Managers, developing operational systems, targeted training program, and supervision of Regional Managers, Training team and General Managers

Increased profit and revenue growth via strategic CapEx planning and project oversight and gained best market value via contract and vendor negotiation, overseeing RFP and compliance for all retail programs

MURPHY OIL CORPORATION, ELDORADO, ARKANSAS

District Leader May 2006 – July 2008

Recruited to supervise the operation of 15 retail units in the Texas and Oklahoma market, totaling $100M in revenue. Coordinated efforts for management recruitment, screening/onboarding, candidate tracking, and EEOC compliance.

Achievements

Boosted sales and revenue returns with high EBITDA with the innovation and execution of competitive retail and fuel pricing strategies per market trend and demand

Increased regional annual revenues via creative concept design, product lines development, and operational systems implementation by coordinating strategies and effective time/resource optimization

Prioritized employees, customers, and community safety and wellbeing by instilling adherence to health and safety policies while spearheading EPA regulatory compliance and environmental auditing

Maximized financial return through strategic budgeting and forecasting, including leading RFP, vendor negotiations, contract proposal, and compliance for all retail programs while prioritizing organization interest and benefit

TIN STAR RESTAURANTS, LLP, PLANO, TEXAS

VP of Operations/ Franchise Business Development March 2003 – May 2006

Provided franchise level business leadership and coordinated operational responsibility for 20 fast casual restaurants totaling $40M.

Achievements

Strategic direction and support to the corporate and franchise operations throughout the preopening schedule for new restaurants

Developed reference and communication material for current management or preopening process, including staffing manuals, reference books, communication manuals, personnel recruitment and selection

Onboarding, training and management development for the corporate and franchise community. Ensure validity of training provided by corporate team and certification of managers and franchisees

Developed and implemented creative strategies for revenue enhancement and cost containment while maintaining brand standards, and providing profitable outlets sustaining long term success at each restaurant

Implemented print and media marketing programs for each DMA

Oversaw process with finance team and franchisees for budgeting and reforecasting for all restaurants

Managed all vendor contracts, rebates and franchise business agreements for all corporate and franchise stores

Ensured scorecard compliance and measurement system implementation

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science

North Texas State University, Denton, Texas

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