- Ken Hack has over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, successfully managing the opening of over 20 restaurants across Western Canada
- He is a dedicated, professional leader with excellent training and coaching skills, known for getting the best out of teams
- Hack has international experience researching food/beverage and exploring production techniques for items like olive oil, cheese and wine
1. Ken Hack
Cell: (780) 721-7818
E-mail: KHack@shaw.ca
SUMMARY:
Several years of service in the hospitality industry
Dedicated and professional people leader who knows how to get the best out of my team
Successfully project-managed the opening of over twenty restaurants with four different
companies across western Canada
International research in food and beverage
Coach, Mentor and Problem solver: Acknowledged as an effective team builder with excellent
training and leadership skills
CAREER HISTORY:
ABC Country Restaurants 1994 – 2015
Corporate Field Consultant:
Opened fifteen locations as a lead trainer:
Introduced the “open kitchen” concept to the company
Lead “train the trainer” sessions prior to new restaurant openings
Developed plating manuals for all standard recipes
Created standardized corporate training guidelines
Consulted weekly with franchisees to assess operational issues, and advise solutions:
Visited stores throughout western Canada experiencing major challenges
Coach and mentor to owner/operators to share best practices and offered solutions to help
mitigate financial losses
Facilitated seminars with managers and staff to implement new policies and features:
Met with restaurant personnel to teach cooking/plating procedures for new menu items, and
discuss changes to corporate policies
Conducted weekly SWOT analysis on store statistics, and recommend appropriate changes.
Operations Auditor:
Conducted audits to ensure adherence to corporate guidelines:
Visited stores on a rotational basis to assess compliance
Presented annualawards to top performing restaurants
Taught Food-Safe Program to all restaurant management and staff as required.
Restaurant Manager:
Managed stores on three separate occasions due to corporate take-over of poorly performing
restaurants:
Hired and trained all restaurant staff
Performed monthly food and liquor inventories
Conducted staff performance reviews
Held customer focus groups to help grade restaurant success.
Produced excellent results in cost controls, and sales growth.
2. Earl’s Restaurants 1987 – 1994
Regional Quality Leader:
Opened five locations as a lead trainer.
Hired, trained and developed kitchen managers.
Travelled on three separate occasions to the United States and Europe for the purpose of
assessing new food and beverage items, and cooking procedures:
Explored the California produce growing areas and fishing ports
Toured severalwineries and breweries on both continents
Learned different regional cooking techniques, including wood-fired roasting and authentic
Italian pasta and pizza making
Observed the classic production of many different foods, including chocolate, balsamic
vinegar, olive oil and Parmesan cheese.
Conducted extensive operations audits on all franchise restaurants in my territory.
Corporate Kitchen Manager:
Responsible for the day-to-day operations of a corporate kitchen.
Conducted weekly food inventories to assess profitability of existing menu.
Hired, trained and developed all new kitchen staff:
Visited local high schools and B.C.I.T. to assess and recruit students.
Conducted quarterly, detailed staff performance reviews.
Tested new food products prior to menu implementation:
Worked side by side with the corporate chef, Chuck Currie, to develop and test new dishes
prior to menu commitment.
Fernie SnowValley Resort 1983 – 1987
Hotel / Restaurant Manager
Kelowna Restaurants Ltd. (The Keg) 1979 – 1983
Food and Beverage Manager
EDUCATION & SELF DEVELOPEMENT:
1994 Private Pilot’s Licence
1990 Vancouver Vocational Institute
Red Seal (Trades Qualification – Cooking)
Hotel and Restaurant Management Certificate
1988 Vancouver Health Department
Food Safe Certificate (levels 1 & 2), and qualified to teach this course
Coaching and Counselling Skills Certificate
1984 – 1987 RCMP Auxiliaries President
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Children’s Network Telethon volunteer
Home renovations: Completed severalmajor projects over the last twenty years
Outdoor activities including fishing, hunting, camping, etc.
Coin and stamp collecting