Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Lynn Catherine Stopforth

Professional
Johannesburg
Lynn Catherine Stopforth

Summary

Customer-oriented General Manager with 10 years of experience focused on increasing revenues and expanding margin. Adaptive and deadline-oriented consistently executes and completes multiple projects in high-stress environments. Meticulous leader and strategic planner with comprehensive managerial acumen, offering vision and motivational acumen.

Diverse professional and management experience in both global companies and as an entrepreneur. This experience provides understanding of motivations, key success factors and pitfalls in business from various perspectives.

Successful Company Owner with 7 years hospitality industry. Built horizontal and vertical connections to improve professional relationships with vendors and clients. Results-oriented professional with strong business background. Skilled in overseeing financial, operational, marketing and customer service.

Dedicated professional with a history of meeting company goals utilising consistent and organised practices. Skilled in working under pressure and adapting to new situations and challenges to best enhance the organisational brand.

Overview

35
years of professional experience

Work History

PAUL FRENCH BAKERY & RESTAURANT
Johannesburg

General Manager
03.2022 - Current

Job overview

  • Full accountability to plan and manage all aspects of restaurants' operations
  • Maintain high standards of food quality, customer service, health and safety compliance
  • PAUL policy and procedures and employee wellness whilst ensuring efficient and profitable business performance of restaurant and optimal utilisation of staff and resource
  • Achievements ‣
  • French Audit - highest percentage 94%
  • GP increased to from 54% to 69%
  • Spend per head increased
  • Spearheaded charity initiative of R6m resulting in 10% tax rebate on Section 18A for period of March 22 - July 23
  • Set operating goals and objectives and execute on plan ‣ Effective staff induction ‣ Train and coach staff ‣ Prepare and implement standard operating procedures in line with PAUL policy and procedures ‣ Manage staff performance in accordance with established standards and procedures ‣ Adherence to health and safety and hygiene standards in kitchen and restaurant ‣ Ensure compliance with restaurants' security procedures ‣ Ensure alcohol regulations are adhered to ‣ Interact with customers and drive repeat business ‣ Ensure quality, preparation and presentation of food and beverage items ‣ Ensure adherence to set recipes ‣ Manage profitability of restaurant in order to meet and exceed targets ‣ Interact with clients to ensure all inquiries and complaints are handled promptly ‣ Manage food and beverage costs ‣ Effective and accurate ordering, receiving and receipting of consumables ‣ Ensure cash management procedures are completed accurately and timeously ‣ Achieve financial targets ‣ Analyse budget variances and take corrective actions ‣ Establish and implement financial controls ‣ Effective cost management in line with approved budgets ‣ Maintain business records ‣ Prepare and analyse business reports ‣ Determine and execute operating improvements

BLACKBOARD EATERY
JOHANNESBURG

Founder
05.2019 - 09.2021

Job overview

  • Created own Brand, Upmarket Trendy Eatery - see website www.blackboardeatery.co.za ‣ Concept creation and design ‣ Product analysis, development & costing ‣ Trend forecasting and budgeting ‣ Sales forecasting ‣ Customer service ‣ Flexibility and agility for growth through business intelligence ‣ Retail sales management ‣ Managing suppliers, vendors including contract negotiations ‣ Operations ‣ Marketing and merchandising ‣ Human resources : recruiting, training and development ‣ Quality control ‣ Accounts and auditing ‣ Supply chain management and cash control ‣ Loss prevention ‣ Communication and networking
  • Created and monitored promotional approaches to increase sales and profit levels.
  • Conducted target market research to scope out industry competition and identify advantageous trends.

VOVO TELO BAKERY, Boutique Franchise Artisan Bakery
JOHANNESBURG

Business Owner/Operator
03.2014 - 04.2019

Job overview

  • Sales forecasting ‣ Customer service ‣ Flexibility and agility for growth through business intelligence ‣ Retail sales management ‣ Managing suppliers, vendors including contract negotiations ‣ Established operations ‣ Human resources : performed recruiting, ‣ Quality control ‣ Accounts and auditing ‣ Established supply chain management and cash control ‣ Loss prevention ‣ Communication and networking
  • Oversaw business budget planning and administration, accounting functions, purchasing, and bi-weekly payroll to handle financial needs.
  • Trained and motivated 28 employees to perform daily business functions.

ORANGE BUSINESS SERVICES
JOHANNESBURG

Account Manager
06.2005 - 06.2013

Job overview

  • Listed in Top 5 performers in EMEA Region
  • Developed and executed strategic growth plan for existing and new business lines ‣ Developed optimisation and value creation plan of clients overall network ‣ Developed incremental revenue over base revenue and value creation for organisation through annual benchmarking and costing strategies ‣ Managed and co-ordinated relevant teams to drive projects to completion ‣ Developed and maintained strong customer relationships
  • Negotiated and concluded multiple client contracts ‣ Managed customer expectation; customer satisfaction ‣ Built and maintained critical strong external and internal relationships with key stakeholders ‣ Liaised and collaborated between customer and technical teams ‣ Monthly management and budget reports and analysis of revenue including man- aged accounts receivable debt portfolio ‣ Formalised and implemented communication plan for portfolio ‣ Managed sales tool tracking and other sales related processes and tools ‣ Managed multiple accounts : Coca Cola, SABCO, IBM, Perago, SWIFT ‣
  • Last 2 years dedicated to one of largest accounts in EMEA region : AngloGold Ashanti ‣ Services included Managed Services, Telecommunications, Solution Selling, Audio Conferencing, Cloud Computing, Pre Sales, Service Delivery, Unified Communication
  • Educated clients on new products or services to increase customer engagement with brand.
  • Set clear sales goals to identify activities and behaviors to advance sales process and close deals.

EDS AFRICA
JOHANNESBURG

Senior Analyst
12.1992 - 03.1997

Job overview

  • Development and Maintenance of Financial and POS Systems for JD Group (CICS Cobol) and
  • Development and Maintenance of Financial and POS Systems for Federated Timbers and Claude Neon (Natural Adabas 2)
  • Investigated system issues and implemented resolutions to reduce downtime.
  • Performed system analysis, documentation, testing, implementation, and user support for platform transitions.
  • Identified and resolved problems through root cause analysis and research.

AVIS RENT, A-CAR
JOHANNESBURG

Analyst Programmer
11.1990 - 11.1992

Job overview

  • Development, Enhancement and Maintenance of Rental Agreement and ‣ Fleet Systems (Natural Adabas 2)
  • Worked with Avis until migrated from TRACCS to American WIZARD System
  • Collaborated with product management to design, build and test systems.

SA BREWERIES
JOHANNESBURG

Programmer
02.1990 - 10.1990

Job overview

  • Development, on contract basis, of Realtime Tracking System for inter-depot vehicles (Natural Adabas 1 on Dec Vax)
  • Prepared detailed reports on updates to project specifications, progress, identified conflicts, and team activities.
  • Worked with software development and testing team members to design and develop robust solutions to meet client requirements for functionality, scalability, and performance.

GENCOR GROUP INFORMATION SERVICES
JOHANNESBURG

Programmer
12.1988 - 01.1990

Job overview

  • Development and Maintenance of Costing and Accounting System for Impala Platinum Mines (COBOL)
  • Prepared detailed reports on updates to project specifications, progress, identified conflicts, and team activities.

FINE FARE CATERING
Johannesburg

Co-Owner/Operator
01.2001 - 03.2005

Job overview

  • Operated this venture while raising children.
  • Provided bespoke catering service for all occasions.
  • Aligned branding initiatives and sales strategies with client goals.

NOLANGENI GUEST LODGE
Kwa Zulu Natal

Founder & Operator
02.1997 - 03.2001

Job overview

  • Operated this venture while raising children.
  • Luxury Lodge providing upmarket accommodation. Portfolio Collection Accredited.
  • Created organisation mission and vision statements.
  • Conducted target market research to scope out industry competition and identify advantageous trends.
  • Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial business growth.
  • Created and monitored promotional approaches to increase sales and profit levels.
  • Sold as going concern when relocating back to Johannesburg

Education

Van Zyl And Pritchard
Johannesburg

Diploma : Computer Programming from Computer Programming, COBOL, CDP, Design
04.2001

Skills

Efficient multitasker

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Timeline

General Manager

PAUL FRENCH BAKERY & RESTAURANT
03.2022 - Current

Founder

BLACKBOARD EATERY
05.2019 - 09.2021

Business Owner/Operator

VOVO TELO BAKERY, Boutique Franchise Artisan Bakery
03.2014 - 04.2019

Account Manager

ORANGE BUSINESS SERVICES
06.2005 - 06.2013

Van Zyl And Pritchard

Diploma : Computer Programming from Computer Programming, COBOL, CDP, Design
04.2001

Co-Owner/Operator

FINE FARE CATERING
01.2001 - 03.2005

Founder & Operator

NOLANGENI GUEST LODGE
02.1997 - 03.2001

Senior Analyst

EDS AFRICA
12.1992 - 03.1997

Analyst Programmer

AVIS RENT, A-CAR
11.1990 - 11.1992

Programmer

SA BREWERIES
02.1990 - 10.1990

Programmer

GENCOR GROUP INFORMATION SERVICES
12.1988 - 01.1990

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