
Broad background from front line service to senior F&B leadership roles in fine dining, multiple outlet, hotel, and bar settings. Extensive experience consulting in the opening of new restaurant concepts, improving existing operations, team building and training, menu engineering and liquor licensing.
An extensive network built and maintained through work on projects across Canada and the US, backed by a belief in remaining an ongoing resource to clients indefinitely.
Successfully launched and improved a multitude of hospitality operations across the country, from startups and family-owned restaurants to large scale corporate operations. Understands how to build optimal teams specific to each type of venture.
Developed long-standing relationships with clients, and lasting, positive connections with colleagues from a variety of settings.
Successfully helped open multiple leading restaurants, and helped turn around challenging operations to make them ready for sale. Has designed and delivered multiple staff and customer service training programs, exceeded business development KPIs, and produced significant increases in revenues in very short time periods.
With an extensive track record helping open new restaurants and improve the performance of existing ones, Carmen’s career in Hospitality can be summed up in one word – “results”. Building on front line experience as a bartender and server, she has progressed through hands on roles from Bar Manager to Front of House Manager, then to General Manager and Director of Operations, following up with a shift into consulting for the industry.
Carmen’s first management role in Vancouver was as Bar Manager for Tojo’s, one of Vancouver’s premier new sushi restaurants. Moving from there to join opening and management teams at top Vancouver restaurants including Fable and then Vij’s Cambie street location, Carmen continued to help some of Vancouver’s leading restaurants find success. Shifting to work as a freelance consultant, Carmen worked on projects from bar design and operation to service training, while acting in short term roles such as General Manager and Director of Operations for multiple properties across Canada.
Joining The Fifteen Group as a Senior Consultant, Carmen managed several large-scale projects concurrently across Canada and the US, working in areas from business audits to management coaching and staff training. Moving to Rising Tide Consultants as Director of Operations & Consulting, she was responsible for internal operations, marketing and business development, and operational consulting for hospitality and retail clients. While there, her focus on business development and high quality results led to a 20% increase in revenue year over year.
Based in Edmonton, Carmen joined JRoss Hospitality Recruiters in 2024. Her varied, hands-on operations experience in locations from Vancouver to the Atlantic provinces, combined with her time consulting on how to improve results for a variety of organizations has given her a powerful insight into finding the right candidates for JRoss clients.