Hello!
I'm Thomas Cruz.

I'm a seasoned operations leader with nearly 20 years experience driving excellence in retail, food service, and entertainment settings.

My Experience

Retail Manager

Compass Group USA

Aug 2021 — Present

Managing all retail & cafe operations at Providence St. John’s medical center; effectively leading my staff of 20+ through an employment and operational transition as the account transferred from Aramark to Compass Group USA.

Retail & Cafe Manager

Aramark Healthcare

Nov 2019 — Jul 2021

Responsible for all retail & cafe operations at Providence St. John’s medical center; directly managing a staff of 25+ to drive YoY growth in VOC scores across the board, including a 23% increase in OSAT to 94%; spearheaded creation of grocery service for healthcare heroes; successfully rebuilt department amid pandemic to improve efficiency & safety.

Supervisor

Aramark Healthcare

Nov 2017 — Nov 2019

Supervisor for high volume food service operation serving the Providence St. John’s medical center; ensured successful shift production & operations for the cafe, patient meals, & catered events; managed crew schedules & payroll.

Chef

Pacific Alliance Medical Center

Nov 2014 — Nov 2017

Chef for scratch kitchen serving hundreds of meals daily; developed daily specials to increase sales while reducing waste; aided in the planning & execution of catered banquets; aided the dietary office, ensuring that patients received delicious yet nutritionally balanced meals.

Head Chef

Men Oh

May 2014 — Nov 2014

Led nimble staff for scratch kitchen; developed new menu items to improve cross utilization & increase ticket averages; implemented inventory controls to reduce food cost; overhauled kitchen operations & scheduling to reduce labor cost; created internship program.

Chef

Loma Linda University Health

Apr 2013 — May 2014

Developed & executed daily specials to reduce waste & increase sales; developed vegetarian & vegan dishes; worked with dietitians to develop menus; worked in a show kitchen & interacted directly with guests; assisted in planning & execution of large catered events.

Line Cook

The Old Spaghetti Factory

May 2012 — May 2013

Prepared entrées & appetizers with consistent quality in high volume setting; assisted & coordinated preparation for banquets & catered events; aided the kitchen manager to cover stations as needed; trained new hires on procedures to ensure an efficient & expedient team.

Senior Sales Associate

Petco, Inc

Dec 2007 — Nov 2012

Delivered superior customer service and coordinated with adoption groups; improved customer loyalty indexes and donation drives for both locations; prepared meals and tended to the dietary & health needs of companion animals.

Line Cook

The Beer Hunter

Mar 2011 — Aug 2011

Aided numerous stations as needed to ensure expedient service; coordinated proper storage organization & cross-utilization to maximize efficiency; aided in preparation and cooking for catered & special events.

Assistant Manager

Dominion Gaming

Jan 2007 — Dec 2007

Managed day-to-day operations and marketing of a PC gaming center; implemented loyalty programs to improve recurring revenue; developed, promoted, & executed regular events to boost customer retention; managed & monitored inventory to prevent damage or loss.

Front of House Manager

Billy B's

Jan 2004 — Dec 2006

Managed daily FoH & administrative duties to ensure a consistent customer experience; aided kitchen food preparation as needed to ensure consistent & expedient service; coordinated and facilitated catering services to drive increased revenue.

Assistant Manager

Lan Werx

Jan 2002 — Dec 2003

Managed daily business operations & promotions for a PC gaming center; developed, executed, & promoted events to drive customer acquisition & improve retention; managed daily administrative tasks, including accounting records and inventory control.