Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
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Mary Mai

Philadelphia

Summary

Customer-centric, team-oriented restaurant General Manager, Area Supervisor. Extensive restaurant and food service experience. Aspires to manage a successful restaurant operation.

Overview

47
47
years of professional experience

Work History

Event Chef / Commissary Kitchen Chef

12th St. Catering
03.2025 - Current
  • Showcased culinary creativity through the development of innovative dishes, elevating overall guest experience.
  • Provided friendly, courteous service to create memorable moments for guests.
  • Cleaned and organized kitchen stations to promote team efficiency.
  • Presented food and beverages on buffet tables and drink stations in line with formality and specifications of each event.
  • Set up and disassembled food service stations, equipment and furniture per contract specifications.
  • Coordinated with team members to prepare orders on time.
  • Participated in food tastings and taste tests.
  • Participated in ongoing menu development to ensure diverse offerings that catered to a wide range of dietary needs and preferences.

Operations Manager

Nudy's Cafe
01.2025 - 03.2025

Managed FOH: Server and Customer Service.

  • Consistently met performance targets for both service volume and retail sales goals within the retail environment.
  • Participated in staff meetings and training sessions to continuously improve retail skills and knowledge.
  • Developed strategies to enhance catering and retail food service revenue and productivity goals.
  • Maximized productivity by efficiently multitasking, handling appointments, walk-in clients, and retail sales simultaneously.
  • Enhanced customer experience by ensuring a clean, organized, and visually appealing retail environment.

Assistant Executive Chef

Be Well fed- Catering Healthy Meals -Delivery
01.2024 - 08.2024
  • Prep for 1500 meals/week, Plating - Quality Control.
  • Enhanced kitchen efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing time-saving techniques.
  • Developed innovative menu items for improved customer satisfaction and increased repeat business.
  • Collaborated with Executive Chef to create seasonal menus that showcased fresh ingredients and appealed to diverse tastes.
  • Maintained a safe and sanitary kitchen environment by promoting strict adherence to health regulations and cleanliness protocols.
  • Contributed to positive workplace culture by fostering open communication channels among team members, leading to increased morale and productivity.
  • Assisted in catering special events, delivering exceptional food quality tailored to client preferences and dietary restrictions.
  • Provided expert guidance on ingredient selection, portion control, and cooking techniques during menu development discussions with Executive Chef.
  • Utilized culinary techniques to create visually appealing dishes.
  • Participated in food tastings and taste tests.

Executive Chef

Silver Care Medical Group
10.2022 - 09.2023
  • Create Healthy Meal for Older Day Care patients, Provides nutritious meal plan daily, Daily fresh meal from scratch.
  • Developed kitchen staff through training, disciplinary action, and performance reviews.
  • Maintained a safe and sanitary work environment, adhering to health department standards and regulations.
  • Developed menus, controlled food costs and oversaw quality, sanitation, and safety processes.
  • Scheduled and received food and beverage deliveries, adhering to food cost and budget.
  • Inventoried food, ingredient, and supply stock to prepare and plan vendor orders.
  • Delivered excellent food quality and maximized customer satisfaction by preparing meals according to customer requests.
  • Conducted regular evaluations of kitchen equipment and appliances, ensuring proper maintenance and timely replacement to maintain optimal operational efficiency.
  • Developed strong relationships with vendors, negotiating competitive prices on ingredients and supplies.
  • Maximized profitability by effectively managing food costs through portion control and minimizing waste.
  • Managed kitchen staff for efficient food production, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality dishes.
  • Implemented staff training programs to improve culinary skills, teamwork, and overall productivity.

Sous Chef (Contract)

Task Force Express LLC
05.2022 - 09.2022
  • Assignment as a Travel Banquet Sous Chef for IHG Hotel located at Crown Plaza Springfield
  • Manage with Task Force Executive Chef day-to-day kitchen operations.
  • Managed food preparation tasks during high-volume service periods, ensuring all orders were executed in a timely manner without sacrificing quality or presentation standards.
  • Planned and directed high-volume food preparation in fast-paced environment.
  • Contributed to successful catering events by coordinating meal preparation and execution, exceeding client expectations on each occasion.
  • Ensured consistent quality control of all dishes leaving the kitchen, resulting in a reputation for excellence among patrons.
  • Plated every dish with attractive flair to meet strict restaurant standards and maintain stellar business reputation.

Executive Chef/ Owner / Managing Daily Operation

Pho Mai LLC. Vietnamese Noodle House
12.2019 - 06.2021
  • Full Served Restaurant with 60 seats, Oversee 10 Part-timer Served, Kitchen Staff full-time 5.
  • Created visually appealing plate presentations, enhancing the overall dining experience for patrons.
  • Requisitioned food, selected and developed recipes and standardized production recipes for consistent quality.
  • Maintained high food quality standards by checking delivery contents to verify product quality and quantity.
  • Collaborated with front-of-house staff to ensure seamless dining experiences for guests.
  • Designed seasonal menus showcasing fresh local ingredients, supporting sustainable agriculture practices within the community.
  • Coordinated employee schedules and developed staff teams to boost productivity.
  • Elevated dining experience and customer satisfaction by introducing innovative seasonal menus.
  • Worked closely with front-of-house staff to facilitate excellent customer service.
  • Managed day-to-day business operations.

Area Supervisor

Bento Sushi, LLC.
10.2017 - 12.2018
  • Oversee all aspects of 19 kiosks bar operations and managed all ordering, hiring, training, payroll and scheduling.
  • Provided ongoing coaching to staff members, promoting skill development and career progression.
  • Oversaw daily operations to ensure adherence to company policies and procedures, maintaining consistency across all locations.
  • Maintained clean and well-organized production areas to avoid violations or unnecessary work delays due to hazards or inefficient layouts.
  • Conducted routine inspections to check quality and compliance with established specifications.
  • Evaluated employee skills and knowledge regularly, training, and mentoring individuals with lagging skills.
  • Conducted regular performance reviews to provide feedback and identify areas for improvement, enhancing overall team productivity.
  • Established clear objectives for each reporting period that aligned with company-wide goals.
  • Maintained high standards of cleanliness and organization across multiple sites, enhancing customer experience.

Executive Chef Proprietor/ Owner

Mary’s Banh Mi Bistro LLC
03.2013 - 05.2017
  • Developed kitchen staff through training, disciplinary action, and performance reviews.
  • Maintained a safe and sanitary work environment, adhering to health department standards and regulations.
  • Increased customer satisfaction by creating innovative and diverse menus tailored to various dietary needs.
  • Oversaw business operations, inventory control, and customer service for restaurant.
  • Developed menus, controlled food costs and oversaw quality, sanitation, and safety processes.
  • Inventoried food, ingredient, and supply stock to prepare and plan vendor orders.
  • Developed strong relationships with vendors, negotiating competitive prices on ingredients and supplies.
  • Maximized profitability by effectively managing food costs through portion control and minimizing waste.
  • Implemented special events promotions such as theme nights or cooking demonstrations to attract new clientele and boost sales revenues.
  • Handled and stored food to eliminate illness and prevent cross-contamination.
  • Participated in community outreach events such as charity dinners or fundraisers to give back to the local community while promoting brand awareness.
  • Maintained stringent health and safety standards, passing all inspections with high marks.
  • Resolved conflicts among employees in a timely manner, promoting effective communication within the team.
  • Grew business by developing business plans, hiring staff and obtaining initial investments.

Area Manager

KIWI FROZEN YOGURT
09.2011 - 03.2013
  • Managed daily operations for optimal performance, ensuring timely completion of tasks and projects.
  • Conducted regular performance evaluations to identify areas for improvement and develop action plans for growth.
  • Conducted training sessions to educate employees on best practices and procedures to increase profitability.
  • Mentored junior staff members, providing guidance on best practices and professional development opportunities.
  • Continuously improved operational procedures through ongoing evaluation of existing practices, incorporating feedback from team members and adopting industry best practices.
  • Ensured compliance with all relevant regulations, maintaining detailed records and documentation as required.
  • Developed strong relationships with clients, leading to increased customer satisfaction and repeat business.
  • Achieved high employee retention rates by creating an inclusive work environment where staff felt valued and supported.
  • Developed comprehensive training programs that equipped employees with the skills necessary for success in their roles.
  • Implemented cost-saving measures that resulted in significant financial savings for the company without sacrificing quality or service.

Proprietor / Owner

Café Gelato
05.2007 - 05.2010

District Operation Manager

DUNKIN’ BRANDS
06.2004 - 12.2008

Proprietor/ CEO

American Building Services Property Management, Inc
10.1985 - 05.2001

Quality Control Supervisor

FRITO-LAY, INC
01.1978 - 01.1986

Education

Marketing Major -

Bucks County Community College

Some College (No Degree) - Corporate Law

University of Law in South Vietnam
South Vietnam

Skills

  • Budget administration
  • Staff development
  • Team leadership
  • Revenue generation
  • Customer service
  • Key relationship management
  • Vendor coordination
  • Inventory and supply
  • Marketing
  • Payroll

Accomplishments

  • Maintain lowest employee turnover rate
  • Consistently exceeded sales targets
  • Successfully trained Chef, Manager and Subcontractors on merchandising, sales techniques and customer service
  • Trained Chef, Manager and staff – Quality Assurance & Food Safety Knowledge
  • Recipient of 1992 'Minority Entrepreneur of the Year' Award from Amtrak National Transportation.

Timeline

Event Chef / Commissary Kitchen Chef

12th St. Catering
03.2025 - Current

Operations Manager

Nudy's Cafe
01.2025 - 03.2025

Assistant Executive Chef

Be Well fed- Catering Healthy Meals -Delivery
01.2024 - 08.2024

Executive Chef

Silver Care Medical Group
10.2022 - 09.2023

Sous Chef (Contract)

Task Force Express LLC
05.2022 - 09.2022

Executive Chef/ Owner / Managing Daily Operation

Pho Mai LLC. Vietnamese Noodle House
12.2019 - 06.2021

Area Supervisor

Bento Sushi, LLC.
10.2017 - 12.2018

Executive Chef Proprietor/ Owner

Mary’s Banh Mi Bistro LLC
03.2013 - 05.2017

Area Manager

KIWI FROZEN YOGURT
09.2011 - 03.2013

Proprietor / Owner

Café Gelato
05.2007 - 05.2010

District Operation Manager

DUNKIN’ BRANDS
06.2004 - 12.2008

Proprietor/ CEO

American Building Services Property Management, Inc
10.1985 - 05.2001

Quality Control Supervisor

FRITO-LAY, INC
01.1978 - 01.1986

Marketing Major -

Bucks County Community College

Some College (No Degree) - Corporate Law

University of Law in South Vietnam
Mary Mai