Don LaBarbera
San Jose
Summary
Three time Funeral Home Manager of the year while working for California Cemetery and Funeral LLC, and managing locations in Redwood City, San Francisco and San Jose. Skilled in staff training and budget control. Enhanced team performance through effective mentoring and conflict resolution, while maintaining a safe environment. Successfully managed resources to boost profitability and fostered positive client relations, ensuring compassionate service during challenging times.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Referee
Northern California Hockey Officials Association
01.2022 - Current
- Coordinated exact start, stop and period break schedules for games.
- Assessed game penalties for rule violations and ejected players with serious conduct violations.
- Inspected player equipment before games to assess participant safety and legal compliance.
- Enforced safety rules to protect players from game injuries.
- Documented fights, threats and damages in reports to management.
- Controlled game flow to maintain safe and fair environment.
Funeral Home Manager
California Cemetery and Funeral LLC
12.2006 - 11.2025
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Maintained professional, organized, and safe environment for employees and patrons.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance.
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.
- Controlled costs to keep business operating within budget and increase profits.
- Improved safety procedures to create safe working conditions for workers.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
Pastry Cook
Hyatt
05.2006 - 12.2006
- Prepared wide variety of goods such as cakes, cookies and tarts by following traditional and modern recipes.
- Decorated pastries with different icings and toppings, using spatulas, scrapers and piping bags.
- Researched new dessert concepts and performed recipe analysis to increase overall sales.
- Created new dessert items for seasonal and special events.
- Coordinated with kitchen staff to guarantee timely delivery of all pastries, cakes and desserts.
Funeral Arranger
California Cemetery and Funeral LLC
05.2003 - 04.2006
- Arranged funeral/memorial services for grieving families to meet budget and memorialized instructions.
- Liaised between hospitals, physicians, county coroner and members of clergy to coordinate final arrangements.
- Picked up deceased at private homes, hospitals and county morgues.
- Closed and secured caskets and led funeral corteges to churches and burial sites.
- Communicated with insurance companies to secure death benefits for payment of services.
- Discussed pre-arranged funeral options and explained pricing to clients.
- Secured and filed burial permits and made funeral arrangements.
- Drafted and published Obituaries on behalf of families served.
- Arranged transportation between sites for remains, mourners, pallbearers and members of clergy.
- Displayed highest level of professionalism and sensitivity when dealing with grieving family members.
- Discussed nature of funeral service, disposition of remains and funeral costs with family members.
- Improved appearance of remains with use of cosmetics.
- Managed timing of floral deliveries for multiple services per day.
Education
High School Diploma -
Andrew Hill High School
San Jose, CABaking And Pastry Degree -
California Culinary Academy
San Francisco, CASkills
- Staff training and development
- Business planning
- Operations management
- Staff development
- Budget control
- Schedule preparation
- Verbal and written communication
- Employee onboarding
Timeline
Referee
Northern California Hockey Officials Association
01.2022 - Current
Funeral Home Manager
California Cemetery and Funeral LLC
12.2006 - 11.2025
Pastry Cook
Hyatt
05.2006 - 12.2006
Funeral Arranger
California Cemetery and Funeral LLC
05.2003 - 04.2006
High School Diploma -
Andrew Hill High School
Baking And Pastry Degree -
California Culinary Academy