Lance Nicholson Email & Phone Number

Atlanta Metropolitan Area

Mcdonough, Georgia, United States

Sweet Auburn BBQ is a high-volume full-service restaurant.I manage the back-of-house smokehouse strategy and operations, comprised of three live wood smokers. In this capacity, I lead the full scope of scheduling, production, food safety, food cost and labor management, and the performance of matrixed teams. Key achievement:►Collaborating across the leadership team in delivering sustained P&L improvements through profitable menu innovations, data-driven production schedules that reduced waste, and cooperation on improvements to our labor utilization, P&L reviews, and output.

United States

Hog Pit BBQ is a barbecue restaurant concept in Fayetteville, Georgia.I was recruited to collaborate on the planning and launch of this new concept. As a core member of the senior management team, I hired and directed an organization of five employees and matrixed staff in the back-of-house operations driving P&L performance via strategic planning, menu development, food preparation and presentation, procurement, inventory, and food safety. Key achievements:►Bringing Hog Pit BBQ live on time and within all KPIs. I designed the kitchen and smoking processes, instituted food safety protocols that achieved consistently outstanding audit scores, hired and trained the team, and constructed and tailored the menu and inventory to our volume demand.►Developing a loyal clientele via multiplatform marketing. I personally created the creative elements and assets, time-and-action calendars, and social media feeds attracting more than 1,500 followers and driving extensive foot traffic.►Leading a portfolio of strategic marketing and operations initiatives.

United States

The BBQ Place was a startup premium fast-casual dining concept.I was initially engaged by the ownership group as a consultant (2019 to 2020) to architect the initial operating strategy and menus. During the COVID-19 shutdowns, I recruited to serve in a full-time role tasked with transforming and leading the full P&L performance, business operations, and talent management across the front and back-of-house. I managed a total organization of 15 employees, with responsibility for strategic planning, sales strategy development, brand standards, financial operations, food preparation and safety, pricing, inventory planning and management, catering quotes, customer service, marketing, business development, and staff recruitment and development. Key achievements:►Architecting a roadmap that grew annualized revenue by 44% with strong profit margins. I defined the core SOPs, deployed the marketing plan, elevated our leadership capabilities, and defined scalable playbooks modeled on large multi-unit chains.►Orchestrating initiatives that improved long-term sustainability and profitability. These included launching catering and special events to capitalize on stay-at-home trends, extracting cost across the business, documenting best practices, and cross-training the team.►Ideating 360º marketing programs that strengthened brand equity and drove rapid growth. to this end, I developed the visual elements, produced a highly polished social media presence, and performed high-impact community-based B2B/B2C outreach and advertising.

Atlanta Metropolitan Area

Panera Bread is privately held by JAB Holding Company. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast-casual restaurant platforms in the US There are Panera stores in 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada.I co-managed the financial performance and day-to-day operations for a high-volume, corporate-owned on-campus location. As a member of the leadership team and proxy for the General Manager, I headed an organization of more than 20 employees in premium guest experience delivery, food preparation, quality, safety, inventory, procurement, talent management, and other areas. Key achievements:►Partnering on strategic planning, brand standards integration, corporate training, product innovation, and process improvements.►Turning around an underperforming restaurant, leading initiatives that boosted food safety scores, reduced food waste through order process discipline and sharpened inventory planning accuracy, and enhanced our sales and profit KPIs.►Guiding the organization in rightsizing the business and evolving the service delivery model at the onset of the COVID-19 shutdowns.

Greater Atlanta Area

Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q is a casual Southern-style dining chain.I directed an organization in the back-of-house smoking operations for three restaurants, a concession at Atlanta Braves’ SunTrust Park, and a commissary. As such, I supervised the smoking pits and 30 employees across our locations and worked closely with the Managing Director on business strategy, menu innovation, point-of-sale execution, and talent development. Key achievements:►Playing an integral role in building and executing a strategic roadmap that transformed Fox Bar-B-Q into a successful regional chain, including an ancillary catering business, with outstanding compliance to food quality, brand, and safety standards.►Directing the planning and opening of a new SunTrust Park location as a member of the task force, on time and within budget.►Increasing profitability via the introduction of dynamic inventory management processes, reducing waste and leakage.►Program managing the company's corporate presence at food festivals across the US.

San Francisco, California, United States

Black Bark BBQ is a restaurant in San Francisco.I was a member of the opening team, which was named “2016’s Best Brisket in California” by Thrillist. Key achievement:►Designing the food preparation processes, social media, labor utilization models, and par inventory plans.

San Francisco, California, United States

Memphis Minnie's is a scratch-kitchen barbecue restaurant.After joining as a line cook, I was rapidly promoted multiple times to co-manage the full scope of restaurant operations.

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Cox Enterprises is a global conglomerate with 50,000 employees and $23 billion in revenue.I managed the business-to-business (B2B) sales lifecycle on behalf of Kuzu.com – the company's online professional services review marketplace. In this capacity, I drove product adoption and growth via new and existing small-to-medium business (SMB) accounts via cold calling, lead qualification, relationship development, consultative selling, needs analysis, account reviews, product demonstrations, and conversions. Key achievement:►Leveraging a customer success approach to deliver $25M in annual sales and build an active pipeline of more than 250 SMB accounts.

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Sprint Nextel, now T-Mobile, was a major telecommunications services company.I minimized B2B customer turnover via program leadership in enterprise client retention (initially as a contractor, then in a full-time capacity). My role consisted of collaborating with the national sales teams and call centers in proactive account engagement activities, and utilizing our Salesforce CRM to manage the business.►Reducing customer churn (subscriber loss) in 100% of our target accounts, exceeding KPI targets and boosting P&L growth.

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Comcast is a global media and technology company.In this evolving role, I directed teams of more than 70 field direct sales representatives and installation technicians in B2B/B2C sales and retention activities for Comcast’s video and internet consumers. My organization was responsible for building relationships with customers, promoting our products and services, influencing customer retention, and driving growth via pre-qualification and consultation, guidance on packages and programs, and other strategies. Key achievements:►Building high-performing revenue organizations, rapidly achieving a 2X increase in video sales and a 3X increase in hookups, which boosted the region's high-speed internet from 0% to 20% of the business.►Driving efficiencies that lowered the cost per sale by 77%.

Seattle, Washington & Atlanta, Georgia

Levi's is a global apparel company.I was promoted to build, lead, and execute the next-stage multi-unit visual merchandising vision for Dockers brand in the wholesale channel, directing the performance and development of matrixed teams of 16 visual merchandisers, marketers, and other staff driving brand relevance and P&L performance. Key achievements:►Leading collaboration in the architecture and execution of roadmaps for visual strategy, standards, aesthetics, point-of-sale materials, store design, marketing, and inventory merchandising.►Receiving the Levi’s Brand Award of Excellence for the creation of a highly successful national brand training and sales mentorship program.