David Knudsen ad45z1@r.postjobfree.com n 850-***-****

www.linkedin.com/in/davidknudsen928 Gulf Breeze, FL

Qualifications Summary

Restaurant Executive with over 34 years of experience consulting and guiding franchise owners in building profitable operations aligning with franchise brand and concept. Utilize extensive restaurant owner/operator experience to turn around underperforming locations, realign staff with performance objectives, maximize revenue, generate profit, contain costs, and strengthen the brand. Skilled in identifying gaps in restaurant performance and providing training solutions. Experienced in managing construction and leading training teams in opening new locations.

Selected successes:

Guided 36 franchise partners in over 48 locations on all aspects of restaurant operations with growth to $43 million representing over $1.6 million in franchise royalties.

Directed the launch of the franchise’s first international locations in Dammam Saudi Arabia and Manqaf Kuwait, retooling menu, marketing, and brand to align with the culture.

Provided strategic and tactical consulting that led to a 42+% increase in revenue in 10 underperforming restaurants in one year.

Areas of Expertise

Restaurant Operations Consulting

Regional Franchise Performance

P & L Management

Staff Leadership

Employee Training & Development

Cost Containment

Food Safety

Construction Project Management

Budget Oversight

Facilities Management

Professional Experience

THE GEO GROUP, INC. BCRF Milton, FL 2022 - Present

Food Service Director

Manage all dietary services producing over 6000 meals daily. The FSD oversees all state-certified menus, food ordering, preparation, storage, staff and inmate training, kitchen equipment repair, food quality, tray costs, and food substitutions. In addition, the Food Service Director hires, schedules, and trains 11 paid Cook Supervisors which oversees 130 cooking staff.

FAMILY SPORTS CONCEPTS FRANCHISE COMPANY, DBA BEEF ‘O’ BRADY’S, Tampa, FL 2007 – 2018

Regional Franchise Consultant

Recruited by the President to consult with 36 partners on 48 franchise locations in 10 states and the Middle East (Virginia, NC, SC, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia) with over $43 million in annual sales, to open new locations, maximize revenue and profitably while staying within the parameters of the concept. Guided total business performance, evaluating stores on food quality, food safety, financial performance, local marketing programs, staffing, customer service, inventory management, and cleanliness. Reviewed new and renewal leases. Directed the Company’s first international launch into the Middle East.

Selected successes:

Significantly increased standardization, franchisee compliance, and brand consistency through increased training and franchisee face time.

Maintained a 5.4% regional sales increase in 2018 against a Company target of 2.5%.

Every year in the RFC position, delivered under budget while meeting and exceeding all revenue targets.

Significant contributor to regional average store revenue growth from $800,000 to over $1 million in 11 years.

Provided post-implementation and ongoing training and support on the RTI back-office system for labor and food control management, increasing cost savings and profitability for 25-30 franchise owners.

Selected out of 4 Regional Consultants as the dedicated manager for the development and opening of the Company’s first international locations with 2 restaurants in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Repositioned menus, business models, branding, and products to comply with cultural and business norms.

Advocated for franchisees with landlords, health departments, and parent companies to mitigate low sales, sanitation, and food safety issues, increase profits, and prevent closures.

Commended by numerous operators for critical guidance that led to turn around of underperforming locations.

Led many new-store opening training teams in the on-time setup and launch of all operations, beginning preparation early in the construction phase. Addressed overages on franchisee owner-managed construction.

MR. MANATEE’S CASUAL GRILLE, Pensacola/Milton, FL 1994 – 2007

Co-Founder, Owner

Directed construction of a 205-seat restaurant in a stagnant, downtown, water-front location in a late 1800s warehouse that opened in 1994. Hired the entire team; created strategy, branding, marketing, and business model for this Caribbean casual-style dining restaurant. Built relationships with vendors and community leaders.

Selected successes:

Built an iconic restaurant with a loyal following with year-over-year revenue growth to $1.4 million, contributing to downtown revitalization. Reopened in Milton, FL after destruction from Hurricane Ivan on 9/16/2004.

Previous Relevant Experience

Panhandle Foods, Inc., DBA Rax Restaurants, Destin, FL/ Lafayette, LA—Vice President Operations

Hired as Director of Operations by Franchisee in a start-up environment as the initial operator for this fast-food with-style restaurant franchise. Grew from zero to 8 locations between Destin, FL and Pensacola, FL. in 4 years. Negotiated and purchased an additional 10 underperforming locations in Louisiana and Mississippi from the parent company. Drove revenue in these locations from an average of $468,000 to $832,000 per location in the first year. Built total sales for 18 locations to over $14 million a year in 3 states through a strong focus on training 450 employees on QSC (Quality, Service, and Cleanliness) and food safety to enhance both the customer and employee experience. Far exceeded management retention rates in a high-turnover industry.

Wendy’s Old Fashion Hamburgers, Pensacola, FL, 6 locations—Director of Operations

Military Experience—United States Marine Corps, Plumbing and Water Supply, Honorable Discharge

Education & Professional Development

SERV Safe Food Protection Manager Certification, National Restaurant Association, Chicago, IL

Franchise Consultant and New Partner Training, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Tampa, FL

Management Skills I & II, Rax Restaurants New Partner & Management Training, Columbus, OH

Management Development, Wendy's Old Fashion Hamburgers, Columbus, OH

Hotel & Restaurant Management, Harper College, Palatine, IL

Restaurant, Club and Food Management, LaSalle Extension University, Chicago, IL

Extensive Industry Training: Food Safety, Restaurant Operations, P&L Financial Management, Menu Development, Staff Management, Regulatory Compliance

Presenter, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Company Retreats, Roundtable Facilitation and Award Ceremonies (up to 350 participants)

Professional Affiliations

Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association 1996 - Present Esca Rosa Chapter Member

Q&A Panel Member, Breakout Session, Annual Trade Show

Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Executive Committee, 2003, 2004 State Board Secretary/Treasurer, 2004

Florida Restaurant Educational Foundation, Chairman, 2001 - 2003

Central Waterside Church Finance Committee, 2016 - Present

Former Commander - American Legion Post 360

Former Board of Directors - Pensacola Children’s Home Society

Former Advisory Committee Member - Locklin Technical Center 2006, 2007

Technical Skills

RTI Back-office restaurant management system, numerous Point-of-Sales (POS) systems—Focus, Toast

David Knudsen n www.linkedin.com/in/davidknudsen928; ad45z1@r.postjobfree.com Page 2

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