Experience

FUSE

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Fellow & Food Security Program Manager

  • Jan 2021 - Present

  * Served as a Food Security Program Manager in the Mayor’s Office of Complete Communities working on various Food Security Programs. As part of a two-year Executive Fellowship (through FUSE Corps) in the Mayor’s Office of Resilience and later Complete Communities I lead and supported multiple Mass Feeding Programs, the designation and launching of Neighborhood Resilience Hubs, and oversaw the implementation of numerous Food Pantries and Community Gardens * Conducted a landscape assessment and gap analysis of Houston’s food access programs, policies, and food insecurity / food desert surveillance systems * Worked with internal and external stakeholders to develop an innovative food access strategic plan with an emphasis on integrating policies and programming that spur job creation and wealth building for Black and Hispanic Houstonians including supporting more than a dozen small restaurants and caterers in underserved neighborhoods with $4.87 million in FEMA Public Assistance funding (99.9% reimbursed) and providing more than 328,000 restaurant-quality, culturally appropriate meals to vulnerable Houstonians over five months at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic * Focused on evaluating and expanding existing partnerships and recommending new collaborations with local markets, grocers, restaurants, and farmers. Each partnership focused on either expanding stores to new neighborhoods or adding stores to the meal supply chain; educating residents on healthy food choices, the development of community gardens, and supporting and expanding urban farming Show less



OTG Management

• United States
• Hospitality
• 700 & Above Employee

• Terminal Director

  • Sep 2019 - Oct 2020

  Full operational, culinary and financial responsibility for 12 restaurants/bars and $40MM+ in annual revenue at IAH Airport for this international airport-focused hospitality group. IAH is a SkyTrax 4-Star Airport and the No. 1 ranked airport in the U.S. (2020) and its Hospitality / Culinary program is ranked No. 1 in North America and No. 4 in the world Lead a team of direct reports including nine general Managers and reports directly to the SVP of Operations Oversaw three new concept openings with responsibilities including Management Recruiting, Training & Development and Menu Design and Execution Show less



Legacy Restaurants Group LLC

• Houston, TX

• VP of Restaurant Operations

  • Mar 2018 - Sep 2019

  Full operational, culinary and financial responsibility for 7 restaurants for this multi-concept group including The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation (James Beard Award Nominee – Best Restaurant – 2019 & 2020), The Original Ninfa’s Uptown Houston, Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys and Mama Ninfa’s Tacos Y Tortas Lead a team of direct reports including six General Managers and two Corporate Managers and reported directly to the CEO Spearheaded three new restaurant openings with responsibilities including Design & Construction, Management Recruiting and Training & Development Show less



True Food Kitchen

• United States
• Restaurants
• 500 - 600 Employee

• General Manager

  • Aug 2015 - Mar 2018

  Complete financial and operational responsibility for the Houston location of this growing national brand featuring healthy and sustainable cuisine and generating annual sales in excess of $6MM. Grew Year Over Year Sales 15% and achieved Top 3 Profitability brand-wide Complete financial and operational responsibility for the Houston location of this growing national brand featuring healthy and sustainable cuisine and generating annual sales in excess of $6MM. Grew Year Over Year Sales 15% and achieved Top 3 Profitability brand-wide



Lasco Enterprises

• United States
• Restaurants
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director Of Operations

  • Jul 2009 - Aug 2015

  Director of Operations, 3/13 - 8/15 * Full operational and financial responsibility for 16 restaurants for this multi-concept group including Max’s Wine Dive (Nation’s Restaurant News Hot Concepts Winner - 2013), The Tasting Room, Boiler House Texas Grill & Wine Garden, Flow Juice Bar and Añejo Tex-Mex with total annual volume of $40MM+ with units in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas & Ft. Worth, TX, Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL and Denver, CO * Lead a team of direct reports including two Regional Managers, six Corporate Managers and report directly to the CEO * Spearheaded 12 new restaurant openings with responsibilities including Design & Construction, Management Recruiting and Training & Development Food and Beverage Director, 12/12 - 3/13 * Directed a team of seven Corporate-based Managers in establishing a Food & Beverage Department for the Enterprise Area Manager/Operating Partner, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, TX, 9/10 - 12/12 * Established MAX’s Wine Dive Brand DNA and created Leadership Orientation and Culture protocols for the Enterprise * Oversaw five direct reports who achieved Operating Partner status General Manager, MAX’s Wine Dive, Houston, TX, 7/09 - 9/10 * Complete operational and financial responsibility for the flagship location of this concept serving fine wines & gourmet comfort food with sales in excess of $3MM Show less



Hillstone Restaurant Group

• United States
• Restaurants
• 700 & Above Employee

• General Manager

  • Dec 2003 - Oct 2008

  Houston’s Restaurant General Manager, Houston, TX, 8/07 - 10/08 * Responsible for one of the top five units in terms of profitability of sales increase, as it flowed through controllable income for all but one month of tenure, at this $7MM location of this operator of a small portfolio of about 50 upscale casual dining restaurants, including its flagship Houston’s brand * Oversaw $300,000 in upgrades and renovations Service Manager (AGM), Atlanta, GA, 1/06 - 8/07 * Re-wrote, updated, and streamlined the Service Training Manual and upgraded service standards by introducing and implementing new fine dining techniques Los Altos Grill Bar Manager, Los Altos, CA, 5/04 - 12/05 * Doubled the size of wine list from 50 to over 100 labels while lowering overall LBW Cost by 10% Houston’s Restaurant Restaurant Manager, Century City, CA, 12/03 - 5/04 Show less