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.