Matt Vest
Fishers,IN
Summary
Expert operational control and natural team leadership drive top-tier customer experiences and sustainable sales growth. Achieving top performance in sales generation, operational efficiency, and profit growth at JW Marriott Indianapolis. Focus on empowering teams and fostering professional growth to lead to comprehensive staff development. Upholding corporate values and brand identity, a respected leader of community-based boards, organizations, and events. Expert business leader assessing individual operations and identifying opportunities for improved processes. Driven by a relentless sense of urgency to overcome obstacles and deliver measurable results in performance and bottom-line profits. Notable career highlights include delivering platinum results on a balanced scorecard, consistently increasing year-after-year sales, and achieving record sales of 7.2 million in 2022. Additionally, delivered platinum results in 2022, 2023 on a balanced scorecard.
Gold results for all 4 outlets in 2024.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Operations
JW Marriott - IRD, OP Italian, High Velocity, & LB
12.2023 - 02.2025
- Oversaw daily operations across multiple departments, ensuring seamless coordination and efficient execution of tasks.
- Monitored budget and utilized operational resources.
- Oversaw day-to-day production activities in accordance with business objectives.
- Oversaw successful implementation of operational strategies and policies to drive organizational growth and productivity.
- Conducted regular performance reviews to assess team progress, providing constructive feedback and guidance for continuous improvement.
- Collaborated with senior management to develop and execute long-term corporate goals and objectives.
- Mentored and coached team members to foster productive and engaging work environment.
- Managed budgets and resources, optimizing allocation for maximum impact on business objectives.
- Defined, implemented, and revised operational policies and guidelines.
- Developed and executed strategic plans to achieve organizational goals and drive sustainable growth.
- Established strong partnerships with vendors, suppliers, and key stakeholders to improve collaboration and ensure alignment with business requirements.
- Identified opportunities for cost reduction and process improvement, implementing changes that resulted in significant savings.
- Analyzed business operations and implemented strategies to improve operational cohesiveness.
- Delivered exceptional customer experiences by implementing strategies focused on meeting evolving needs and expectations.
- Worked collaboratively with functional leaders to implement new procedures and corrective actions to improve quality.
- Enhanced employee engagement by developing training programs, fostering a collaborative culture, and promoting professional development opportunities.
- Implemented data-driven decision-making processes to enhance operational performance and achieve targets.
- Established and monitored quality assurance standards to achieve operational excellence.
- Analyzed customer feedback and identified areas for improvement to drive business success.
- Achieved team goals through formalized training plans, coaching, and performance management.
- Championed quality assurance efforts by establishing rigorous standards and monitoring adherence to maintain high levels of service delivery.
- Implemented quality control measures to maintain high standards of service delivery.
- Increased customer satisfaction with detailed quality control checks, ensuring all products met stringent quality standards before release.
General Manager
JW Marriott - OP Italian
04.2023 - 12.2023
- Managed budget implementations, employee reviews, training, and schedules.
- Quarterly audits for all associates for execution of service standards
- Managed a diverse team of professionals, fostering a positive work environment and high employee satisfaction.
- Developed and implemented strategies to increase sales and profitability.
- Cultivated strong relationships with clients, vendors, and partners to ensure long-term success and loyalty.
- Monitored financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth.
- Managed budget development, forecasting, and financial reporting processes to track progress towards organizational objectives accurately.
- Maximized efficiency by coaching and mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, company procedures, and technology systems.
- Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning.
- Implemented operational strategies and effectively built customer and employee loyalty.
- Directed comprehensive sales efforts to exceed revenue targets consistently while maintaining customer satisfaction levels.
General Manager
JW Marriott - High Velocity
09.2021 - 04.2023
- Managed budget implementations, employee reviews, training, and schedules.
- Quarterly audits for all associates for execution of service standards
- Managed a diverse team of professionals, fostering a positive work environment and high employee satisfaction.
- Developed and implemented strategies to increase sales and profitability.
- Cultivated strong relationships with clients, vendors, and partners to ensure long-term success and loyalty.
- Monitored financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth.
- Managed budget development, forecasting, and financial reporting processes to track progress towards organizational objectives accurately.
- Maximized efficiency by coaching and mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, company procedures, and technology systems.
- Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning.
- Implemented operational strategies and effectively built customer and employee loyalty.
- Directed comprehensive sales efforts to exceed revenue targets consistently while maintaining customer satisfaction levels.
Managing Partner
Drake’s Indianapolis
08.2013 - 07.2021
- Delivered 6 consecutive quarters of sales growth from 2017-2019, consistently increasing year-after-year sales
- Sustained turnover rate of less than 68% for more than 7 years
- Voted Managing Partner of the Year 2014
- Leveraging expert operational control and natural team leadership to deliver top-tier customer experiences and sustainable sales growth
- Results-driven operations leader delivering top performance in sales generation, operational efficiency, and profit growth
- Empowering teams and launching professional growth at all levels through comprehensive staff development
- Upholding corporate values and brand identity as a respected leader of community-based boards, organizations and events
- Expert business leader, assessing individual operations and identifying opportunity for improved processes, driven by a relentless sense of urgency to overcome obstacles and deliver measurable results in performance and bottom-line profits.
- Established and implemented business procedures and process improvements
Managing Partner
Outback Steakhouse
01.1991 - 12.2013
- Implemented operational procedures and process with a strong emphasis on increasing the quality of food and beverage while decreasing labor and cost of goods
- Provided focused training with key emphasis on a monthly basis from the top down
- Set expectations with a buy in from the management team
- Led the operations team consisting of Kitchen Manager, Bar Manager, and Service Manager
- Oversaw the growth of the store from 3.1 million to 3.8 million in 10 years
- Average unit volume of 3.25 million a year
- Developed and implemented monthly focus meetings covering 4 categories (People, Process, Profit and Development)
- Increase the capability of our team by identifying key hourly team members and providing ongoing training and development programs
- Provided menu development emphasizing freshness, execution and lowering the number of products in house
- Implemented bi-annual employee roundtables with an emphasis on open feedback regarding the employee experience, food and beverage quality and cost savings
- 4 time Managing Partner
Regional Director of Training
Outback Steakhouse
01.1991 - 12.2001
- Drove sales, profitability and quality performance with full P&L responsibility for 10 locations with a $32M budget throughout Indiana
- Led a support staff of, 10 managing partners and 30 managers to ensure communication and compliance in recipe adherence, customer service, training and food safety standards
- Assessed individual store operations to identify opportunities for increased sales, maintaining focus on high-impact efficiencies
- Provided focused training and staff development from the top down, empowering each team to define improvement opportunities and accelerate growth
- Developed and promoted 6 kitchen managers into their positions, by identifying and cultivating individual strengths to facilitate advancement opportunities
- Opened 5 new locations as Back of House Coordinator, including management selection, and overseeing all staffing and training
- Helped develop and implement new menu items and LTO’s
Education
Some College (No Degree) -
University of Kentucky/Lexington Community College
Lexington, KYSkills
- Leadership
- Sales & Profit Growth
- Cost Control
- Conflict Resolution
- Staff Development
- Recruiting, Hiring & Training
- Operations Management
- Regulatory Compliance
- New-Store Openings
- Budget Management
- Resource Optimization
- Grassroots Marketing
- Community Outreach
- Public Relations & Events
- Process Improvements
- Operational efficiency
Community Service
- YMCA of Central Indiana, Volunteer
- National Kidney Foundation, Volunteer
- Nora Elementary, Volunteer
- Heritage Christian School, Volunteer
Certification
- ServSafe Food Handler's Certification
- TIPS
Timeline
Director of Operations
JW Marriott - IRD, OP Italian, High Velocity, & LB
12.2023 - 02.2025
General Manager
JW Marriott - OP Italian
04.2023 - 12.2023
General Manager
JW Marriott - High Velocity
09.2021 - 04.2023
Managing Partner
Drake’s Indianapolis
08.2013 - 07.2021
Regional Director of Training
Outback Steakhouse
01.1991 - 12.2001
Managing Partner
Outback Steakhouse
01.1991 - 12.2013
Some College (No Degree) -
University of Kentucky/Lexington Community College
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