I would like the opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Steve Carter, most recently I was a member of the Executive Management Team as the Vice President of Development and Construction at Grill Concepts Inc, owners and operators of The Grill on the Alley and Daily Grill upscale restaurants. Of late Grill Concepts has been besieged by economic difficulty and has set aside future development plans, they asked me to continue as an independent consultant to manage the completion of the final two (2) projects just concluding, with a recent opening of The Grill on the Alley in Aventura Florida my commitment to them has been fulfilled and the chapter on their development is closed.
At this time I am searching for a new situation that offers stability, fair compensation and professional challenges. I am eager to work, and confident my acquired experience, talents and track record could cross over to other industries as well as be put to precious use in the Restaurant and Hospitality industry.
As you will see by my resume, I have vast experience in construction and development, managing the entire progression of projects including budgeting, design, project viability and analysis, procurement, facilities management, acquiring entitlements and permits, developer coordination / tenant relations, and of course the physical execution of Build Outs and Remodels, additionally I have a very strong dedication to Budget Conformity, Quality Control and Schedule adherence.
My area of expertise and chosen field has been Hospitality and Restaurant Development, but I have also participated in Retail Big Box, High-rise, Mixed Use, and Life Style Themed projects in both the Client and Vendor rolls. Successfully executing these challenging disciplines with and without additional staff has given me a unique outlook of projects and provides me the ability to accommodate the many innate challenges, be they financial, municipal, or conceptual. My attitude and involvement, work ethic and accountability promote a great environment for others to be a part of, work in and thrive.
I am eager, energetic, and one of our industries hardest working individuals, whose goal is to provide opportunity and profit to my employer while providing long term professional security for myself. I am anxious to work and have every expectation that I will continue to be successful with a great company.
Please review my resume and references and lets talk further about opportunities to work together.
Sincerely
Steve Carter
Steve Carter, LEED A.P.
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
GRILL CONCEPTS, INC; Woodland Hills, California
Grill Concepts, Inc. is the publicly held parent company of the Grill on the Alley, Daily Grill, and In Short Order concepts. Grill Concepts Inc includes 32 privately held managed and licensed locations. Grill on the Alley, a full service fine dining establishment, Daily Grill an upscale casual restaurant and In-Short Order, which is a new Grill Concepts idea and our first foray into a grab and go coffee/bakery operation. Annual sales for Grill Concepts are $145 million.
2007 – DEC 2008 VICE PRESIDENT DEVELOPMENT & CONSTRUCTION
I joined Grill Concepts to preside over the company’s first significant development undertaking in their twenty five year history. I successfully executed the formation of a new development department, created policies, procedures and best practices to support our planned growth, and built locations on time and on budget for the first time in their history. This included written procedures and guidelines for physical, practical, and financially responsible development with flexibility addressing challenges inherent in emerging nationwide construction efforts. Additionally upon joining the company I was tasked with recruiting hiring a facilities manager and establishing a facilities department to operate from our corporate headquarters. The new Facilities Manager reported directly to the Sr. Vice President of Culinary and I. We worked together to establish and standardize annualized contracts (Trash and rubbish removal, Grease Waste and Trap Maintenance, Floor Drain hydro-jetting or snaking, HVAC repair and Maintenance, Refrigeration Maintenance, Boiler and Water Heater Services, Awning and Window Cleaning and Landscape Maintenance)) throughout our operation territories for to promote consistency and quality in our service providers and to better leverage nationwide pricing for goods and services.
Core Responsibilities:
As a Member of the five person Executive Committee, was part of all decisions and strategic planning and actions affecting our corporation; including personnel, financial, menu, and operational decisions
Comprehensive budgeting of potential projects, I am a firm believer in projects starting and ending with the budgeting process. Calculated focus on establishing development partners and participants assembling the team required to entitle, design, manage, and construct and open new restaurants. Established and fulfilled $500K internal operations budget and $24 million construction budget for fiscal years 2007 & 2008.
Identified and targeted growth opportunities in new and existing market areas. Work with Legal Counsel to negotiate Letters of Intent (LOI’s), Work Letter, and Leases for all GCI brands. Established Landlords delivery timing and development progression based on operations departments ability and desire to open new restaurants.
RITE AID CORPORATION; Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
Rite Aid is a publicly held retail chain and the nation's #3 drugstore chain. It operates 5,200 drugstores in 27 states and Washington, D. C. Annual sales are $29.6 billion.
2006 – 2007 DIRECTOR of CONSTRUCTION
WESTERN UNITED STATES
Core Responsibilities:
Teamed with Regional Real Estate Vice President to establish and implement Development Expansion plan in the Western US (6 states). Prepared comprehensive presentations of development opportunities and submitted them in person to the Corporate Executive Committee monthly at corporate headquarters in PA.
Responsible for the planning, entitlement, architecture, engineering, and construction of 40 - 60 Major Capitol projects per year to fulfill regional goals; this includes Preferred CAP Rate, Ground Lease, Build to Suit, Owner Build, Acquisition and Conversion deals as well as TI opportunities.
Exclusively responsible to identify, in advance of legal commitment, the cost and anticipated timing of development for future projects to contribute to the corporate sales plan calculations. Executed this responsibility through the management of 5 regional construction managers, 20+ consultants, and administrative staff to supervise the development process of projects and oversee the financial, chronological, and quality adherence of individual projects. Additionally tasked to manage all regulatory concerns including; title research, environmental investigation, remediation and compliance, governmental approvals, geotechnical assessments, site planning, schedule feasibility, and existing building and site condition appraisals.
Directed value engineering and alternate designs for jurisdictional approvals while maintaining focus on the company’s prototype design and standards.
Generated, monitored, and controlled, construction budgets & real costs through proactive administration of developer’s proformas, contracts, change orders, and additional scope of service requests from development contributors.
Responsible to identify and secure all municipal licenses, approvals and permits including general plan amendments, conditional use permits and zoning approvals.
POTBELLY SANDWICH WORKS; Chicago, Illinois
Potbelly Sandwich Works is privately held and owns and operates more than 125 sandwich restaurants in Illinois and nine (9) other states. Annual sales are $106.5 million.
2004 – 2006 VICE PRESIDENT – CONSTRUCTION & FACILITIES
With the company’s initial significant development undertaking to corner the “toasted sub†market segment; I was challenged with, and successfully executed the creation of a department from the “ground upâ€, developing, and implementing Policies, Procedures and Best Standards of Practice for the entire development effort. This included written procedural guidelines for future Franchise opportunities by developing Franchise Construction Rules and Standards. Additionally I had two Facilities Managers as direct reports. At PSW we self performed all but the most technically challenging Repair and Maintenance Repairs, and routine Repair and Maintenance for HVAC and Refrigeration.
Core Responsibilities:
Created and managed all aspects of the construction, design, and development departments. Hired and trained a team to construct over sixty (60) units per year with in-house Designers, Construction Directors, Construction Managers, Coordinators, Purchasing Agents, Fixture and Artifact manufacturing, warehousing, installation and its associated personnel.
Presented deal opportunities to Executive Committee to implement growth strategies in new market areas.
Established and fulfilled $7 million internal operations budget and $32 million construction budget for fiscal years 2005 & 2006.
Created and conformed Departmental Standards to comply with Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 planning for a future IPO.
Increased procurement opportunities and developed strategies to acquire materials, supplies, and equipment culmination in per units cost savings of 8% overall on an already lean budget by increasing and streamlining the owner provided items program for roll-out of units. Resulted in a $3 Million one year savings to the development effort.
MIMI’S CAFÉ RESTAURANT CORPORATION; Tustin, California
Participated in the pre-construction process and prepared site investigation reports. Represent the company at municipal planning commission meetings, architectural design review boards, and liquor license hearings.
Constantly value engineered our projects with architects, MP&E engineers, and designers while maintaining brand integrity, design objective, and quality, and struck a successful balance between value added design opportunities and operational integrity of new restaurants.
Negotiate deals with developers including responsibility issues and work letters, coordinated development timelines within mixed use developments and power centers.
1997 – 2001 CONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR
Developed construction schedules, supervised construction, recruited and organized the FF&E program and provided project management responsibilities for all new construction, also served as liaison between construction and operations departments - staying at sites for up to two weeks post turnover to help operations open new locations.
Reviewed plan check and correct architectural and Fixtures Furnishings and Equipment construction documents; project budgeting, bidding, and job costing; bidding negotiating, and awarding contracts with equipment manufacturers and suppliers; establishing and maintaining construction schedules; field visits to supervise construction, adherence to plans, designs, schedules, site conditions, and overall project status and quality; and, contract administration, change order reconciliation, and extras negotiation.
CARTER COORDINATION; Tuscany Hills, California
Carter Coordination was a kitchen equipment design, supply, and installation firm.
1997 PRINCIPAL
My goal with operating my own Project Management Company was to provide the highest quality program and project management to companies with capital expenditure goals. Utilizing my specialized expertise in project management, companies could benefit by quickly reacting and responding to ever-changing budgets, human resources, and market conditions. This resulted in my client’s bottom line profitability by relieving pressures on budgets, payroll, and expenses.
Services included Design Consultation and Management, Fixtures Furnishings and Equipment consulting, procurement and installation and Complete Capitol Development Management, including budgeting, Bid Support and negotiation, Project management, supervision and turn over assistance.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Attended Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA on an athletic scholarship for NCAA football.
Academic Major in Communications / Minor in Secondary Education. GPA 3.2.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Accredited Professional (LEED AP)
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
National Restaurant Association (NRA)
MILITARY SERVICE
I served in the United States Navy and United States Naval Reserves, and was Honorably Discharged in 1994. Awarded Honors of “Distinguished Graduate, Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes Illinoisâ€, and “Most Outstanding New Recruitâ€, additionally selected as the RCPO Commander for Commencement Ceremonies. Upon finishing at the head of my class in Hospital Corpsman School, I was cross assigned to the Marine Corps.
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