aaron dawson
Culinary Operations Director at Something Classic Catering
culinary operation director
driven food beverage expert 21 year culinary experience foodservice hospitality management including growth , profitability , client interfacing . skilled hiring , training , team building , managing project initial concept completion . adaptable passionate leader proven ability managing large multi-unit team achieve steady sustainable growth market share .
Something Classic Catering
Oversee 4 million+ multi-department catering kitchen operations and direct supervisor of four satellite café operations and wholesale accounts at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. 
•	Daily responsibilities include all culinary operations, product purchasing, costing, menu development, vendor management for central location and four cafes, P & L spreadsheets/cost controls, Hiring/Interviewing/Training, scheduling, inventory, delivery and kitchen Roundsman. 
•	Accountable for stabilizing and consolidating food and paper cost to a consistent 28% of revenue from 50%+
•	Directly revitalized profitability and market share growth at all food outlets under the Something Classic catering and Cafe’s umbrella.
•	Systematized products, vendors and execution into a coherent, traceable, and attainable model
•	Coordinated, honed, and executed Home Delivery menu system within our online platform to remain fluid with current pandemic challenges.
•	Conceptualized and implemented safe and efficient packaging for Home Delivery and micro catering events to ensure maximum precautions for our clients.
•	Other duties including brand development while focusing on our coherence to our “Green, Compostable and Recyclable” philosophy.
•	Primary Caterer for 2012 Democratic National Convention, Charlotte Event - Responsible for culinary and vendor operations for 25,000 people and federal and state health department compliance.
•	Operations Manager and Cultural Liaison for food service partnership with Dubai's Royal Horse Racing Team, Crown Prince and the Royal Entourage at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, NC.
Charlotte, North Carolina Area
Culinary Operations Director
The Tavern on Main
Executive Chef
•	Charged with all kitchen development aspects of opening a new restaurant from ground-up, including contractor and equipment management, kitchen set-up/specifications/buildout, and creating action plan for opening. 
•	Daily responsibilities include food service management, product purchasing, restaurant and catering menu development and implementation, hiring/training associates, scheduling, community involvement, and ensuring customer satisfaction. 
•	Catering and Special Event Sales Consulting
Wise, VA
Executive Sous Chef
The General Morgan Inn
Executive Chef
Effectively managed a full-service historic hotel kitchen and catering operations. 
•	Daily responsibilities include product purchasing, budget and menu development and implementation, sanitation management, hiring/training associates, scheduling, and ensuring customer satisfaction.
•	Achieved Lowering and Stabilizing Food and Paper Cost by 20% to a 30% Overall Average- Restaurant and Banquets.
•	Catering and Special Event Sales Consulting
•	Featured in The Business Journal of Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia - On the Move, December 2006
•	Featured in Marquee Magazine for Local Tastes of The Mountain South, Autumn 2004, Signature Dishes of the Mountain South, Winter 2007, and Restaurant Retrospect, Holiday 2008.
•	Self-Advancement from Bus Boy to Executive Chef.
Executive Chef
Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager
Rels Maples Institute for Culinary Arts
Associate's degree
Rel Maples Institute for Culinary Arts at Walters State Community College
Associate of Applied Science-Culinary Arts
•	ACF Certified Culinarian (C.C.)
•	ServSafe Certified
•	WSCC Deans List, 2003-2005
•	One of the first culinary students to be featured in Walters State’s: Invest In Yourself Campaign
Culinary Arts/Chef Training
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C510BAQGAPkkIG9u5jQ/company-logo_100_100/0/1519893359685?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=JjgjWFQutT3gm5Dpp_2L_5BQrrE_bwi9hPTRK8LgnPE
Walters State Community College
https://www.linkedin.com/school/walters-state-community-college/
Architecture
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E0BAQEwEfeFeMexWw/company-logo_100_100/0/1632518206158?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=gE3ZPyW2G2WOW3ByK0RYH9NiCIZpLdPhk1N2Ar2GUxw
East Tennessee State University
https://www.linkedin.com/school/east-tennessee-state-university/
March of Dimes
Chefs Choice Award, Chocolate Fantasy presented by March of Dimes, Kingsport 2005-2008
Greenville S
Holiday Cooking School presented by The Greeneville Sun, Guest Chef/ Instructor 2005-2008
TN Chamber of Commerce
Participated In Signature Chefs of East Tennessee, 2004-2008
Taste of Greeneville
People’s Choice Award, Best Savory Dish, Taste of Greeneville 2009
ServSafe Certified
Servsafe
March of Dimes
•	Chefs Choice Award, Chocolate Fantasy presented by March of Dimes, Greeneville 2004 & 2005
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherfernandez1
Charlotte Metro
Heather Boone Fernandez
Sales Manager at  UNIVERSAL DISTRIBUTION GROUP
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-dossantos-4343a21b6
Hollywood, FL
Jose Dossantos
General Manager Operations at Latin Gourmet Restaurant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-morrison-28098596
Greater Tampa Bay Area
Kerry Morrison
Area General Manager at Sodexo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-howell-0a516065
Greater Sacramento
Barry Howell
Operating Partner PF Changs China Bistro
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-hoben-70a61b93
Newburgh Junction, NY
Tim Hoben
General Manager of Operations at Aramark-NYU
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-pawloski-875ab389
West Bloomfield Township, MI
Chris Pawloski
Development Operations Manager at International Dairy Queen
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-masiello-05657711
Greater Tucson Area
Joseph Masiello
Director of Operations at D&J Holdings LLC dba Five Guys Burgers and Fries
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-cirillo-19093347
Washington DC-Baltimore Area
James Cirillo
Multi-Unit Director Food/ Retail Services@MedStar, Hospitals Division, Government (U.S. House of Reps), Universities. National winner Sodexo 2021 Spirit of Service Award;  Diversity Inclusion Ambassador (2016-18)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-cantu-b78b7561
Brownsville, TX
David Cantu
Director of Operations at Whataburger
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-wabeke-987954149
Grand Rapids, MI
Ryan Wabeke
Director of Culinary Operations at Maru Hospitality Group
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilson-benavides-214327193
Miami-Fort Lauderdale Area
Wilson Benavides
General Manager
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-werson-7b062b92
Jacksonville, FL
Matt Werson
Bakery Operations Manager at Panera Bread
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-krug-87b75872
Wexford, PA
Gary Krug
Operations Manager - Open
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lopaka-tengan-30991268
Honolulu County, HI
Lopaka Tengan
Operations Manager @ Allure Waikiki AOUO
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-constantino-34255aa8
Chula Vista, CA
Michael Constantino
Director of Operations at Chick-Fil-A
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-noble-3a982311a
Tucson, AZ
Katrina Noble
Director of Operations at Olive Garden
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-baumann-15946b87
McHenry, IL
Christopher Baumann
Manager at SCHOPEN PEST SOLUTIONS, INC.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-rutter-12878299
United States
Scott Rutter
Director of Culinary Operations
https://www.linkedin.com/in/o-s-gayle
Nashville Metropolitan Area
O.S. Gayle
Supply Chain Leader | Customer Service | Manufacturing | Operational Excellence | Logistics & Last Mile | Vender Management | Strategic Planning | Team Leadership | Sourcing | Strategy Transformation
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-dawson-194b9510b
Hillsborough, NC
Aaron Dawson
Workforce Development Manager at The Industrial Commons & Licensed Great Game of Business Coach
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronrdawson
College Station-Bryan Area
Aaron Dawson
Hospitality Professional - Advanced Certified Birkman Consultant
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/aaro1270
Manchester
Aaron Dawson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-dawson-89228796
Noblesville, IN
Aaron Dawson
Sublimation Manager and Production Artist at Impact Race Products
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarondawsonit
Kansas City Metropolitan Area
Aaron Dawson
Systems Administrator at Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC