Cynthia Johansen
Victoria,BC
Summary
Cooking since the age of 10 hosting ‘Family Dinners’ prepared by myself
After a health scare with my father 30 years ago, I became obsessed with food and nutrition and what doctors dietary recommendations were at the time, paying very close attention to the do's and don'ts to lead a heart healthy lifestyle. Here is where the obsession with nutrition came into play. To this day, I spend my waking hours listening and reading about healthy eating and food science. Here on site at ILC Saanichton, we try to educate eager parents on how important healthy eating habits are for little ones., I use my own children as an example. When it is their time to leave home , trusting my children will always make the proper food choices and I can sleep at night peacefully. Healthy foods do not have to taste healthy you just need to know the tricks of the trade. You will find me very good natured, respectful and can maintain composure under severe pressure. I would be ever so grateful to be given the opportunity to show off my management skills. Treat people with respect and kindness they will respect you.
Kind Regards
Cynthia Johansen
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
On Call Cook for Shoal Seniors Center
Beacon Community Services
02.2023 - Current
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by consistently delivering high-quality, visually appealing dishes.
- Reduced food waste significantly by implementing proper portion control and storage techniques.
- Streamlined kitchen operations with effective communication and collaboration among team members.
- Improved menu offerings, incorporating seasonal ingredients and innovative cooking methods.
Cook
Beacon Community Services
07.2018 - Current
- Reduced food waste significantly by implementing proper portion control and storage techniques.
- Improved menu offerings, incorporating seasonal ingredients and innovative cooking methods.
- Maintained clean and sanitary workspace, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
- Supported kitchen staff training and development, leading to increased productivity and efficiency.
- Prepared meals efficiently under time constraints for timely service during peak hours.
- Assisted in inventory management and ordering supplies, maintaining adequate stock levels for efficient kitchen operations.
- Demonstrated strong multitasking skills, managing multiple orders simultaneously without sacrificing quality or presentation.
- Adhered to recipe guidelines while demonstrating creativity in plating and garnishing dishes for enhanced visual appeal.
- Enhanced teamwork within the kitchen staff by fostering a collaborative environment focused on meeting high standards of quality and efficiency.
- Mentored junior cooks in refining their culinary skills through hands-on guidance during meal preparation processes.
- Continuously updated personal knowledge about ingredient trends, nutritional demands/preferences resulting in well-informed adjustments to recipes.
- Ensured adherence to dietary restrictions like gluten-free or vegan options without compromising taste or presentation.
- Achieved cost efficiency by implementing effective budgeting and resource allocation strategies in the kitchen.
- Maintained clean and organized work areas at all times to bring safety and quality to food preparation process.
- Checked for quality, kept track of old and new items and rotated stock to confirm freshness of food and ingredients.
- Managed time by organizing and prioritizing kitchen duties to prepare and serve food quickly.
- Changed and sanitized cutting boards, benches, and surfaces between tasks to avoid cross-contamination.
- Maintained well-stocked stations with supplies and spices for maximum productivity.
- Instructed new staff in proper food preparation, storage, use of kitchen equipment and sanitation.
- Developed relationships with local suppliers to obtain freshest ingredients available.
- Maintained food safety and sanitation standards.
- Kept kitchen clean and organized by performing daily maintenance tasks.
- Restocked inventory and ingredient items to maintain optimal kitchen efficiency.
- Monitored food quality and presentation to maintain high standards.
- Coordinated checklists to keep kitchen clean, stocked and sanitary.
- Managed kitchen budget for supplies and labor hours, consistently meeting targets.
- Planned menus for different events, seasons and customer requests.
- Identified inefficiencies leading to improved productivity.
Cook
Beacon Community Services
03.2020 - 06.2022
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by consistently delivering high-quality, visually appealing dishes.
- Reduced food waste significantly by implementing proper portion control and storage techniques.
- Streamlined kitchen operations with effective communication and collaboration among team members.
- Improved menu offerings, incorporating seasonal ingredients and innovative cooking methods.
- Management of the kitchen
- Oversaw scheduling, inventory management, and supply ordering to maintain fully stocked kitchen
- Measured, weighed and mixed appropriate ingredients according to recipe directions
- Coordinated checklists to keep kitchen
- Followed strict standards for food handling and safety, minimizing risks to children
- Maintained food safety and sanitation standards
- Developed relationships with local suppliers to obtain freshest ingredients available
- Instructed new staff in proper food preparation, storage, use of kitchen equipment and sanitation
- Maintained well-stocked stations with supplies and spices for maximum productivity
- Changed and sanitized cutting boards, benches, and surfaces between tasks to avoid cross-contamination
School Crossing Guard
Beacon Community Services
01.2015 - 06.2018
- Ensured student safety by diligently monitoring crosswalks and traffic during arrival and dismissal times.
- Improved overall crossing efficiency by effectively communicating with students, parents, and drivers.
- Maintained a safe environment for students with consistent enforcement of school zone speed limits and traffic rules.
- Assisted children in safely crossing streets, attentively assessing traffic conditions and potential hazards.
House Manager
Local Eye Surgeon
01.2013 - 01.2018
- Improved household efficiency by implementing detailed schedules and routines for staff members.
- Streamlined communication among staff for optimal productivity and coordination of tasks.
- Enhanced family satisfaction with household management by addressing concerns promptly and efficiently.
- Developed and maintained comprehensive inventory systems to ensure timely replenishment of supplies, reducing waste and saving costs.
- Oversaw maintenance projects within the home, liaising with contractors to ensure timely completion within budget constraints.
- Adapted quickly to last-minute changes in plans or circumstances without compromising on quality or results.
- Managed day-to-day operation of home to comply with regulations and agency standards.
- Recommended or arranged for painting, repair work, renovations and replacement of furnishings and equipment.
- Coordinated with outside vendors to provide supplies and equipment for staff.
Volunteer Farm to School Cook
Myself
01.2014 - 06.2017
- Educating middle age children on cooking and the importance of food sustainability
- Reduced food waste significantly by implementing proper portion control and storage techniques.
- Streamlined kitchen operations with effective communication and collaboration among team members.
- Improved menu offerings, incorporating seasonal ingredients and innovative cooking methods.
Education
Skills
- Food Handling
- Food Presentation
- Fine Dining
- Preventative Maintenance Scheduling
- Efficient Multitasking
- Garnishing and Plating
- Measurements and Calculations
- Flexible Schedule
- Inventory Control
- Cleaning and Sanitization
- Multitasking and Organization
- Food Handlers Card
- Food Production
- Work Planning and Prioritization
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Vendor Relationship Management
- Quality Inspections
- Production Line Management
- Food Processing
- Baking and Broiling Skills
- Works Well Under Pressure
- Safe Food Handling
- Product Rotations
- Shift Scheduling
- Kitchen Organization
- Attention to detail
- Food pairing
- Grilling expertise
- Conflict resolution
- Nutrition awareness
- Special diets knowledge
- Allergen awareness
- Food storage
- Stress management
- Food costing
- Culinary creativity
- Time management
- Food trends awareness
- Food waste reduction
- International cuisine knowledge
- Quality control
- Inventory management
- Sauce making
- Teamwork abilities
- Regional cuisine knowledge
- Equipment maintenance
- Sanitation Practices
- Ingredient Inspection
- Cleaning and Organization
- Kitchen Equipment Operation and Maintenance
- Portion Control
- Plating and Presentation
- Recipes and Menu Planning
- Hospitality Service Expertise
- Food Presentation Talent
- Food Spoilage Prevention
- Food Preparation
- Food Handler Certification
- Beautiful Presentation of Food
- Strong Attention to Safe Food Handling Procedures
- Recipe Development
- Ingredient Selection
- Menu Planning
- Cooking Techniques
- Supply Restocking
- Sanitation
- Contamination Prevention
- Customer Service
- Order Verification
Languages
English
Full Professional
Dutch
Limited Working
Certification
Food Safe
Food Handler
Whimis
First Aid
Violence In The Workplace
Fire Safety
Naloxone Training
References
Donna Douglas ( Associate Director of Childcare)
778 584 4788
Laura Lyn Helton
250 884 9970
Paula Kushner
250 656 2792
Arlene Radford
250 216 5095
Timeline
On Call Cook for Shoal Seniors Center
Beacon Community Services
02.2023 - Current
Cook
Beacon Community Services
03.2020 - 06.2022
Cook
Beacon Community Services
07.2018 - Current
School Crossing Guard
Beacon Community Services
01.2015 - 06.2018
Volunteer Farm to School Cook
Myself
01.2014 - 06.2017
House Manager
Local Eye Surgeon
01.2013 - 01.2018