1. Douglas Vandeven
4543 Du Bourg Lane, St. Louis, MO 63128
314-359-1393 dvandeven0347@sbcglobal.net
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
EXECUTIVE MANAGER offers the following:
 Extensive experience as a General Manager in the food service industry, with
skills applicable to any industry.
 Background includes operations management, customer service management,
marketing and sales management, and human resources management.
 Well-organized and efficient, quickly learn procedures and methods, with major
strengths in organizational management, profit and loss responsibility, budgeting,
maintaining reports, customer relations, and communication.
 Excellent leadership, planning, organization, problem-solving, critical thinking,
and time management skills.
 Works well in a high-pressure environment, consistently producing exceptional
results, and effectively interacting with individuals at all levels.
 Recognized for outstanding communication skills, a positive attitude, with an
exceptional ability to relate to people of all ages and backgrounds.
 Computer literate and have a working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and
PowerPoint.
 Successful career with a record of business growth and development.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
 Outstanding ability to lead an organization and instill a sense of purpose and
vision in all employees.
 Skilled at managing the operations of a food service establishment while
maintaining responsibility for daily profit and loss.
 Effective at managing the scheduling process to ensure adequate staff is available.
 Strong ability to forecast growth, establish goals, and oversee goal attainment.
LEADERSHIP / SUPERVISION
 Managed full time employees with direct involvement in performance reviews.
 Responsible for resource planning and monitoring and tracking inventory.
 Effectively manage variables and fixed costs to remain profitable.
 Demonstrated ability to establish efficient policies and procedures.
 Strong ability to motivate outstanding employee performance.
 Managed the recruitment process, along with employee training and development.
 Determined employee compensation levels and employee benefits.
 Led staff meetings and served as a point of contact for the team members.
COMMUNICATION / CUSTOMER RELATIONS
 Skilled in developing rapport with employees and customers, handling issues,
concerns, complaints, and escalations while maintaining professional and ethical
behavior.
 Excels at meeting and exceeding the needs and expectations of all stakeholders.
 Strong ability to effectively and efficiently handle customer requests, with
effective conflict resolution experience.
 Communicate effectively to establish direction and organizational goals.

2. EXPERIENCE
General Manager
Applebees Neighborhood Bar & Grill, Mid River Restaurants dba Applebees-Natchez, MS
(Previously owned by DineEquity and Applebees International)
(03/2003 – 09/2015)
 Held General Manager position from 04/2005 – 09/2015.
 Held Assistant Manager position from 03/2003 – 04/2005.
 Responsible for profit and loss of the restaurant.
 Built sales through local marketing in the store area with creative strategies.
 Managed vendors to control costs.
 Controlled labor and product costs in order to optimize profitability.
 Oversaw facility maintenance to ensure a positive guest experience and shareholder
value.
 Direct involvement in staffing, which included recruiting, interviewing, screening,
hiring, and training both management and hourly employees.
 Successfully created an atmosphere that led to employee and guest satisfaction, in
all aspects of business operations and execution.
 Skilled with implementing new company initiatives and marketing strategies.
 Special Accomplishments:
o Successfully managed a restaurant that led the company (consisting of 48
restaurants) in guest satisfaction for five years in a row.
o Designed an associate recognition plan with the input of all management that
resulted in consistently higher scores than both the market and national
averages.
o Received numerous awards based upon guest satisfaction results.
o Led and helped bring out the best performance of a six-member management
team and 50 hourly associates, working towards a common goal.
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Assistant Restaurant Manager (02/2000 – 03/2003)
Specialty Restaurant Development dba Applebees, Orlando, FL/Melbourne, FL
Assistant Restaurant Manager (03/1998 – 02/2000)
Applebees International, St. Louis
Assistant Restaurant Manager (09/1997 – 03/1998)
Apple Gold dba Applebees, Little Rock, AR
General Manager (1987 – 1997)
Pizza Hut, Taco Bell
EDUCATION
B. S. in Geography: Emphasis in Cartography
Minor: Earth Science
Southeast Missouri State University
Post-Graduate Classes: Math and Cartography
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL
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