Hollerbach's Willow Tree CafeDirector of Operations
Aug. 2001 - Jan. 2014Sanford, FLI have worked for this company for almost 13 years. I started when I was very young and worked part-time in the kitchen learning food preparation. While continuing my studies, I also continued to grow within the company by mastering all facets of the kitchen including ordering, prep, running the line, safety and equipment maintenance. When the kitchen was in a well-trained state, I began my training in the front of house. I started as a server focusing on how to make better sales, and becoming more efficient in the logistics of table service with a strong emphasis on exceeding guest expectations. From there, I started training as a bartender which I enjoyed immensely. I eventually earned the title of Bar Manager where my duties included inventory bar controls, ordering, vendor relations, scheduling, training, managing personnel within my department, menu design and recipe control, and writing policy and procedures. After my experiences running the bar for almost 4 years I trained my replacement and started my transition into the Front of House Manager. I used many of the skills I had learn and applied them to a larger scale with the added addition of being responsible for creating a fun, unique experience for a dining room filled with over 250 guests. I wore many hats and took on many responsibilities over those years where I eventually earned the title of Director of Operations. At this point, I had trained a very knowledgeable leadership crew in charge of regular day to day operations. So, I could also focus on human resources, payroll, IT maintenance on point of sale system, negotiating vendor contracts, marketing, social media/website updates and maintenance, writing the Employee Handbook, planning special events, and maintaining compliance with health department, fire safety, and city code enforcement etc. I have basically spent half my life trying to learn and experience everything I could in a growing and award-winning restaurant.