Kelly-John Bouwer
Duban
Summary
Motivated business professional bringing 20 years of entrepreneurial experience. Dedicated and personable with extensive experience in managing administrative and sales operations and personnel. Well-versed in training, educating, motivating and supporting staff members.
Creative Business Owner with exceptional background spent in Hospitality. Proven leader with engaging demeanor and success working in most demanding environments. Talented in training and mentoring successful teams.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Managing Owner
What-The-Truck "Food Truck"
4 Bramber Road, Malvern, Durban, Kwazulu-Natal
01.2015 - 10.2021
- Consulted with customers to assess needs and propose optimal solutions.
- Prepared bank deposits and handled business sales, returns and transaction reports.
- Trained and motivated employees to perform daily business functions.
- Developed and implemented marketing strategies to generate new customers and increase sales and profit margins.
- Oversaw business budget planning and administration, accounting functions, purchasing, and bi-weekly payroll to handle financial needs.
- Put together realistic budgets based upon costs and fees for successfully operating business.
- Introduced new methods, practices, and systems to reduce turnaround time.
- Conducted target market research to discover customer needs and analyze competitor trends.
- Adhered to regulatory and policy changes and made necessary adjustments to maintain overall success.
- Prepared annual budgets with controls to prevent overages.
- Assessed damaged materials and notified maintenance personnel of needed repairs.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Trained new employees on proper protocols and customer service standards.
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths.
- Managed purchasing, sales, marketing and customer account operations efficiently.
- Monitored daily cash discrepancies, inventory shrinkage and drive-off.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue and effectively targeting new markets.
- Negotiated price and service with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
- Tracked trends and suggested enhancements to both challenge and refine company's product offerings.
Manager
Cubana Latino Cafe
128 Florida Road, Morningside, Durban, Kwazulu-Natal
02.2014 - 11.2015
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Maintained professional, organized, and safe environment for employees and patrons.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance.
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Onboarded new employees with training and new hire documentation.
- Monitored and analyzed business performance to identify areas of improvement and make necessary adjustments.
- Communicated clearly with employees, suppliers and stakeholders to keep everyone on same page and working toward established business goals.
- Controlled costs to keep business operating within budget and increase profits.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers through account development.
- Improved safety procedures to create safe working conditions for workers.
- Developed and implemented business strategies to achieve business goals and stay competitive.
- Maintained professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry customers.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Opened and closed location and monitored shift changes to uphold successful operations strategies and maximize business success.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
- Used industry expertise, customer service skills and analytical nature to resolve customer concerns and promote loyalty.
- Improved staffing during busy periods by creating employee schedules and monitoring call-outs.
- Trained personnel in equipment maintenance and enforced participation in exercises focused on developing key skills.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Identified and communicated customer needs to supply chain capacity and quality teams.
- Set aggressive targets for employees to drive company success and strengthen motivation.
- Reduced waste and pursued revenue development strategies to keep department aligned with sales and profit targets.
- Controlled resources and assets for department activities to comply with industry standards and government regulations.
- Launched quality assurance practices for each phase of development
Manger
The Oyster Box Hotel
2 Lighthouse Road, Umhlanga Rocks, Durban, Kwazulu- Natal
06.2010 - 09.2014
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Maintained professional, organized, and safe environment for employees and patrons.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance.
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Onboarded new employees with training and new hire documentation.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers.
- Monitored and analyzed business performance to identify areas of improvement and make necessary adjustments.
- Communicated clearly with employees, suppliers and stakeholders to keep everyone on same page and working toward established business goals.
- Controlled costs to keep business operating within budget and increase profits.
- Improved safety procedures to create safe working conditions for workers.
- Developed and implemented business strategies to achieve business goals and stay competitive.
- Planned and budgeted accurately to provide business with resources needed to operate smoothly.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Maintained professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry customers.
- Opened and closed location and monitored shift changes to uphold successful operations strategies and maximize business success.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
- Used industry expertise, customer service skills and analytical nature to resolve customer concerns and promote loyalty.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Trained personnel in equipment maintenance and enforced participation in exercises focused on developing key skills.
- Improved staffing during busy periods by creating employee schedules and monitoring call-outs.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
- Identified and communicated customer needs to supply chain capacity and quality teams.
- Set aggressive targets for employees to drive company success and strengthen motivation.
- Developed detailed plans based on broad guidance and direction.
- Reduced waste and pursued revenue development strategies to keep department aligned with sales and profit targets.
- Controlled resources and assets for department activities to comply with industry standards and government regulations.
- Planned, created, tested and deployed system life cycle methodology to produce high quality systems to meet and exceed customer expectations.
- Streamlined and monitored quality programs to alleviate overdue compliance activities.
Manager
Mundo Vida Restuarant
Shop 8 ,Umdloti Centre, Umdloti, Durban
11.2007 - 05.2010
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Maintained professional, organized, and safe environment for employees and patrons.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance.
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Onboarded new employees with training and new hire documentation.
- Monitored and analyzed business performance to identify areas of improvement and make necessary adjustments.
- Communicated clearly with employees, suppliers and stakeholders to keep everyone on same page and working toward established business goals.
- Controlled costs to keep business operating within budget and increase profits.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers through account development.
- Improved safety procedures to create safe working conditions for workers.
- Developed and implemented business strategies to achieve business goals and stay competitive.
- Improved marketing to attract new customers and promote business.
- Planned and budgeted accurately to provide business with resources needed to operate smoothly.
- Maintained professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry customers.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Opened and closed location and monitored shift changes to uphold successful operations strategies and maximize business success.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
- Used industry expertise, customer service skills and analytical nature to resolve customer concerns and promote loyalty.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Improved staffing during busy periods by creating employee schedules and monitoring call-outs.
- Trained personnel in equipment maintenance and enforced participation in exercises focused on developing key skills.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Identified and communicated customer needs to supply chain capacity and quality teams.
- Developed detailed plans based on broad guidance and direction.
- Reduced waste and pursued revenue development strategies to keep department aligned with sales and profit targets.
- Controlled resources and assets for department activities to comply with industry standards and government regulations.
- Planned, created, tested and deployed system life cycle methodology to produce high quality systems to meet and exceed customer expectations.
Bar Supervisor
The Belvedere
London Road, Sunning Hill, Berkshire, England
05.2007 - 05.2008
- Completed bar opening and closing procedures.
- Managed bar inventory, restocked supplies and placed orders for spirits, beer, wines, and mixers.
- Checked ID cards and verified bar guests were of legal age.
- Implemented drink prep procedures, significantly reducing wasted stock.
- Handled cash accurately and prepared nightly deposits.
- Explained daily specials and beverage promotions to exceed daily sales goals.
- Conducted regular inventory count to keep bar and drink supplies stocked, avoiding expensive rush orders.
- Closed out cash register and prepared cashier report at close of business.
- Adhered to state laws regarding alcoholic beverage services and customer regulations.
- Kept detailed inventories and notified management of ordering needs for liquor, beer, wine, and bar supplies.
- Poured and prepared mixed drinks for over 300 customers daily.
- Followed strict recipes and drink measurements to minimize product used.
- Handled $12000 cash on daily basis, which built trustworthiness, and loyalty with owners.
- Maximized customer service by training staff, overseeing operations, and resolving issues.
- Crafted special drink and cocktail menu items for seasonal offerings.
- Maintained high standards of customer service by staying up to date on bar and menu options and providing effective food recommendations for guests.
- Improved customer service rankings by resolving issues quickly and accurately.
- Strategized plans to increase bar revenue through innovative promotional concepts, specialty drinks, and customer-focused events.
- Kept alcoholic beverages well-stocked and organized to meet expected demands.
- Designed special drink and cocktail offerings on monthly basis as part of seasonal offerings.
- Consulted with managers to organize special events and promotions.
- Upsold daily specials and beverage promotions to exceed daily sales goals.
- Created effective employee schedules maintaining coverage at peak times and minimizing labor costs.
- Guaranteed optimal beverage stock by assessing inventory and collaborating with owners for corrective action planning to limit expenses.
- Trained new hires in food handling and safety protocols to boost knowledge and performance.
- Addressed customer complaints with professional demeanor and used communication and problem-solving skills to resolve issues.
- Monitored food inventory and supplies to prevent waste.
- Scheduled and rotated staff for adequate coverage and fair distribution of workload.
- Maximized team productivity by expertly delegating tasks to Bar staff.
- Stayed current with industry trends and innovations to boost competitiveness and customer appeal.
Bar Manger /Floor Supervisor
The Minnow
104 Thames Street, Weybridge, Surrey, England
08.2005 - 10.2007
- Offered hands-on assistance to customers, assessing needs, and maintaining current knowledge of consumer preferences.
- Coached employees and trained on methods for handling various aspects of sales, complicated issues, and difficult customers.
- Oversaw employee performance, corrected problems, and increased efficiency to maintain productivity targets.
- Met with management to discuss work plans and develop enhancements and strategies to achieve operational objectives.
- Evaluated work 20 floor employees to improve performance.
- Held team meetings to gain feedback, provide updates and set policies.
- Established objectives to offer team members clear roadmap to help company achieve overall goals.
- Reduced employee turnover with hands-on leadership and coaching.
- Delegated tasks to employees to enhance productivity and workflow.
- Addressed and resolved all customer inquiries and complaints with timeliness and professionalism.
- Maintained clean and organized store environment to cultivate pleasant customer experiences.
- Assisted supervisor with feedback for employee performance evaluations.
- Trained new staff on job duties, company policies, and safety procedures for rapid onboarding.
- Trained new team members on proper and safe use of tools and equipment.
- Assigned tasks to team members to complete within designated time frames.
- Enforced team adherence to safety regulations and protocols.
- Monitored progress of tasks to provide feedback for improvement.
- Developed and implemented strategies to improve team productivity and efficiency.
- Scheduled shifts and shift changes to accommodate workload and customer needs.
Barman /Restaurant Waiter
The Angel Inn
High Street, Hindon, Wiltshire, England
06.2004 - 08.2005
- Cultivated warm relationships with regular customers.
- Quickly reset and cleaned up tables after customers left to enable speedy turnaround and guest flow.
- Answered customers' questions, recommended items, and recorded order information.
- Bussed and reset tables to keep dining room and work areas clean.
- Explained menu items and suggested appropriate options for food allergy concerns.
- Arranged and prepared tables for customers to offer memorable experiences to guests and foster repeat business.
- Remained calm and poised when dealing with difficult customers or during busy shifts.
- Kept server areas clean and stocked to increase efficiency while working tables.
- Maintained customer satisfaction with timely table check-ins to assess food and beverage needs.
- Maintained customer satisfaction by clarifying questions about orders and specialty items.
- Used cash registers and credit card machines to cash out customers.
- Shared knowledge of menu items and flavors, enabling customers to make personal decisions based on taste and interest.
- Collaborated with kitchen staff to facilitate prompt and accurate food preparation.
- Informed customers about daily and seasonal specials.
- Bussed tables during busy periods to assist staff and quickly turn over tables.
- Folded napkins and prepared silverware sets to provide adequate supply for host station.
- Trained new servers on restaurant policies and procedures.
- Upsold appetizers, drinks and desserts to increase restaurant profits.
- Met with chef to review daily specials and menu changes.
- Checked customers' IDs to verify age in compliance with minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Carried out complete opening, closing and shift change duties to keep restaurant working efficiently and teams ready to meet customer needs.
- Displayed enthusiasm and promoted excellent service to customers, successfully increasing referrals, and walk-in business.
- Collected payment for food and drinks served, balanced cash receipts and maintained accurate cash drawer.
- Maintained thorough menu knowledge to sufficiently answer questions regarding menu item sourcing, ingredients and cooking methods.
- Resolved guest and employee complaints to maintain complete customer satisfaction and workforce effectiveness.
- Maintained order efficiency and accuracy through clear communication with kitchen staff, earning numerous recommendations from satisfied customers.
- Processed orders and sent to kitchen employees for preparation.
- Helped customers with dietary restrictions, allergies and intolerances obtain safe, delicious food by working closely with kitchen staff on alternatives.
- Strategically timed check-ins with customers to take orders and confirm satisfaction with meals after delivery, taking action to correct any problems.
- Printed dining checks with total due, collected payment and offered receipts to complete transactions.
- Presented menus to patrons promptly after seating and answered questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
- Inspected dishes and utensils for cleanliness.
- Increased sales significantly by upselling higher-end products to customers.
- Checked guests' identification before serving alcoholic beverages.
- Supervised dining table set-up to prepare for diversity of event types, following strict service standards.
- Monitored patrons for alcohol intake to appropriate levels and took measures to curtail inappropriate behavior.
- Supervised set up of banquet food stations and coordinated service to multiple dining areas.
Bartender /Restaurant Waiter
The Pre Hotel
Redbourne Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England
12.2003 - 08.2004
- Cultivated warm relationships with regular customers.
- Quickly reset and cleaned up tables after customers left to enable speedy turnaround and guest flow.
- Answered customers' questions, recommended items, and recorded order information.
- Bussed and reset tables to keep dining room and work areas clean.
- Explained menu items and suggested appropriate options for food allergy concerns.
- Arranged and prepared tables for customers to offer memorable experiences to guests and foster repeat business.
- Remained calm and poised when dealing with difficult customers or during busy shifts.
- Kept server areas clean and stocked to increase efficiency while working tables.
- Maintained customer satisfaction with timely table check-ins to assess food and beverage needs.
- Maintained customer satisfaction by clarifying questions about orders and specialty items.
- Used cash registers and credit card machines to cash out customers.
- Shared knowledge of menu items and flavors, enabling customers to make personal decisions based on taste and interest.
- Collaborated with kitchen staff to facilitate prompt and accurate food preparation.
- Informed customers about daily and seasonal specials.
- Bussed tables during busy periods to assist staff and quickly turn over tables.
- Folded napkins and prepared silverware sets to provide adequate supply for host station.
- Trained new servers on restaurant policies and procedures.
- Upsold appetizers, drinks and desserts to increase restaurant profits.
- Met with chef to review daily specials and menu changes.
- Checked customers' IDs to verify age in compliance with minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Carried out complete opening, closing and shift change duties to keep restaurant working efficiently and teams ready to meet customer needs.
- Displayed enthusiasm and promoted excellent service to customers, successfully increasing referrals, and walk-in business.
- Collected payment for food and drinks served, balanced cash receipts and maintained accurate cash drawer.
- Maintained thorough menu knowledge to sufficiently answer questions regarding menu item sourcing, ingredients and cooking methods.
- Resolved guest and employee complaints to maintain complete customer satisfaction and workforce effectiveness.
- Maintained order efficiency and accuracy through clear communication with kitchen staff, earning numerous recommendations from satisfied customers.
- Processed orders and sent to kitchen employees for preparation.
- Helped customers with dietary restrictions, allergies and intolerances obtain safe, delicious food by working closely with kitchen staff on alternatives.
- Strategically timed check-ins with customers to take orders and confirm satisfaction with meals after delivery, taking action to correct any problems.
- Printed dining checks with total due, collected payment and offered receipts to complete transactions.
- Presented menus to patrons promptly after seating and answered questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
- Inspected dishes and utensils for cleanliness.
- Increased sales significantly by upselling higher-end products to customers.
- Checked guests' identification before serving alcoholic beverages.
- Supervised dining table set-up to prepare for diversity of event types, following strict service standards.
- Monitored patrons for alcohol intake to appropriate levels and took measures to curtail inappropriate behavior.
- Supervised set up of banquet food stations and coordinated service to multiple dining areas.
Education
No Degree - Yacht Masters
Offshore Academy / Atlantic Yachting
Durban / Capetown12.2014
No Degree - Hospitality
City & Guilds of London
England12.2005
No Degree - Computer Installation And Repair Technology
Intuition Computer College
Durban12.2002
High School Diploma -
Intec College
Durban12.2001
Skills
- Resources Allocation
- Staff Management
- Strategic Planning
- Employee Development
- Financial Management
- Business Planning
- Talent Allocation
- Customer Service
- Regulatory Compliance
- Quality Assurance
- Business Administration
- Employee Training
- Cost Control and Budgeting
- Business Marketing
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Performance Improvement
- Attention to Detail
- Vendor Relationship Management
- Budget Control
- Incident Response
- Relationship Building
- Negotiation
- Driven and Determined
- Task Delegation
- Public Speaking
- Start-Up Operations
- Sales Development
- Process Improvement
- Negotiation and Persuasion
- Purchasing and Planning
- Staffing Oversight
- Cost Analysis and Savings
- Staff Hiring
- Team Collaboration and Leadership
- Customer Relations
- Sales Planning
Timeline
Managing Owner
What-The-Truck "Food Truck"
01.2015 - 10.2021
Manager
Cubana Latino Cafe
02.2014 - 11.2015
Manger
The Oyster Box Hotel
06.2010 - 09.2014
Manager
Mundo Vida Restuarant
11.2007 - 05.2010
Bar Supervisor
The Belvedere
05.2007 - 05.2008
Bar Manger /Floor Supervisor
The Minnow
08.2005 - 10.2007
Barman /Restaurant Waiter
The Angel Inn
06.2004 - 08.2005
Bartender /Restaurant Waiter
The Pre Hotel
12.2003 - 08.2004
No Degree - Yacht Masters
Offshore Academy / Atlantic Yachting
No Degree - Hospitality
City & Guilds of London
No Degree - Computer Installation And Repair Technology
Intuition Computer College
High School Diploma -
Intec College