Tony Venafro Email & Phone Number

Denver, CO, US

Colorado, United States

Denver, Colorado

District manager for 14 locations in Colorado, Texas and Idaho

Denver, CO Metro Area

• Energetic food operations leader with a history of record-breaking performance and consistently excellent sales, retention and cost management results.
• Go-to problem solver in multi-unit operations: Skilled in asking the right questions, listening, collecting and analyzing metrics and root causes, motivating teams and turning around underperforming operations.
• Enthusiastic about helping people and businesses grow, with strong abilities in mentoring, coaching, training and team building.
• Personable, reliable and driven.

Greater Denver Area

• Oversaw new store openings for fast casual restaurant chain with 700+ locations in U.S. and Canada, 200 of them licensed. Guided licensees in all aspects of operations including recruiting and hiring, training and.
• Oversaw opening of 7 locations, 2 of which had the highest opening-week sales in the history of the licensing program.
• Consistently selected to open the most high-volume locations.
• Met or exceeded sales targets in 100% of new store openings.
• Achieved all first-year retention goals for management staff.
• Cut food costs significantly by streamlining workflows.

• Hired to transform one of the chain’s lowest-performing stores. Led and improved all aspects of store, including operations, scheduling, budgeting and P&L. Led development of local marketing plans, which included.
• Grew sales volume nearly 60% in one year.
• Cut turnover in half by creating stability, improving working environment, developing supervisory group and staff, and providing opportunities for advancement.
• Developed store into a certified license training location.
• Provided field operations support to general managers of other locations.

• Promoted to proprietorship of restaurant in fast casual chain. Managed operations, scheduling, budgeting and P&L. Recruited and trained employees at all levels, from hourly to General Manager roles. Filled in for.
• Increased sales 10-15% YOY, every year, while company growth was 5-7%.
• Reduced 5-year manager turnover to 60%, with 2 of the departures being promotions.
• Grew catering from $100 to $5K/week. Personally implemented new business development through cold calling.
• Piloted online and mobile ordering. Provided feedback to streamline processes and supported training and rollout to other stores.

• Panera Bread, Colonial Heights, VAGeneral Manager2009-2010 Managed all operations including hiring, training, scheduling, budgeting and P&L.
• Dramatically grew sales while reducing turnover.

• Rose from entry level to leadership of O'Charley's brand in Richmond market comprising 4 locations. OCharley’s is a full-service restaurant chain with 400+ locations. Negotiated vendor contracts and managed vendor.
• Served as opening general manager for all Richmond area locations.