1. Karen Southwick
Experienced Mess Manager / Event Coordinator
Block 10 Hammersmith Bks Herford Germany BFPO15  00491637700072
kkarensouth@hotmail.co.uk
A confident, highly resourceful and reliable Mess Manager / Event Organiser with an in depth understanding of the
Mess, bar, food service’s and hospitality. Possessing the required communication skills and flair needed to attract
customers, drive sales and develop a business. Flexible in the ability to adapt to challenges when they arise while
remaining aware of professional roles and boundaries. Having an approachable, cheerful, friendly personality and a
proven ability to ensure that a customer’s / clients experience is always memorable and exceptional. I have extensive
knowledge in Health & Safety, COSHH and Food Safety Regulations.
With exceptional leadership and management qualities I have the skills to surpass service objectives and effective
service delivery, with the proven ability to achieve improvements to drive value and efficiency in all areas of the
operation. As a motivational and experienced leader, I am capable of managing catering and bar services in
conjunction with the military on a large scale. Ensuring the events run seamlessly maximising profit enabling teams to
fulfil their true potential whilst ensuring they make a positive contribution to the achievement of contract and
operational objectives.
Professional Training & Qualifications:
• Intermediate Food Hygiene Level 3 |
• Basic Food Hygiene
• IOSH
• CSE English
• CSE Mathematics
• CSE Biology
• CSE Chemistry
Core Competencies & Areas of Expertise:
• Experienced mess manager
• High Volume Events organiser (up to 5,000)
• Effective & Persuasive Communicator
• Forward Thinking & Solutions Orientated
• Events with Royalty
• Stock Management
• Supporting and Training Key Personnel
• Promoting Sales
• Client Relation
• Budgetary Control & Resource Planning
• Planning Management & Team Leadership
• Flexible, Organised & Methodical
• Inventory Control & Management
• Dealing with High Profile and Senior Clientele
Professional Experience:
Warrant Officers’& Sergeants Mess Manager 1 Signals Regiment / 1 Div HQ
(NAAFI) November 2012 to present
A varied and multi-functional role based onsite in Germany providing Mess services and event planning to the British
Army. My primary role is responsibility for the effective management and running of all daily operations of a living in
facility serving up to 50 customers also organise large scale events up to 2000 in attendance that the unit hold;
Key Responsibilities:
• Ensuring the efficient planning, preparation and delivery of all mess functions from Royal visits, Christmas and
Summer Balls, Regimental Dinner nights to Pub nights.
• Establishing and developing key relationships across all levels and accurately interpreting requirements
• Liaising with the chefs and clients on menus and using innovative ideas to create the best service including
specific dietary requirements
• Order and manage all bar stock for functions and day to day running of the Mess
• Maintain exemplary standards of food hygiene and presentation at all times in line with Health & Safety/Food
standard legislations and company policies and procedures; paying particular attention to the application of 5
star standards, OH&S standards, fresh food production and cleaning programs
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2. Karen Southwick
Experienced Mess Manager / Event Coordinator
• Strictly comply with all Company and client systems by implementing and monitoring the Company's and
Client's Hygiene & Sanitation procedures
• Manage a multinational team of approximately 14 permanent staff. This could rise with our various
commitments and functions to in excess of 50 providing invaluable support and guidance to ensure all areas
of responsibility meet the approved organization quality assurance standards
• Performance and resource management including; organize and record Food Safety and Health & Safety
training for all staff, compile weekly rosters and holiday planer, ensuring all staff have their entitlement to time
off and leave, and all operational needs are met
• Ensure all strict security procedures are adhered to as per location and security level
• Deal efficiently with customer care, complaints, compliments and queries ensuring an exceptional level of
customer service at all times
• Recognise and solve problems on a daily basis offering workable solutions to minimise potential risks and
issues including reporting any malfunction of equipment or infrastructure in the mess or the living in
accommodations to maintenance department
• Constantly evaluate and monitor menus and all associated costs including portion and waist control to
maintain gross profit margins.
• Allocating rooms to living in personnel marching them in and out and managing transit accommodations for
visitors.
• Ensuring successful conflict resolution and record actions taken
• General administration duties including preparation of various reports for senior management team
• Working flexibly to meet the high demands of the organisation and within a highly pressurised environment
Key Achievements:
• Have organised all major events held in Herford station for the past 4 years; 4 bonfire nights up to 2000 in
attendance food and bar service utilising stock from throughout the business, 2 farewell parties before
Afghanistan deployments, 2 welcome home parties these are a few example
• In December of 2014 was awarded by the regiment the GOC coin for my role as mess manager and the
support I had given to the Regiment in my work on Divisional and regimental functions.
• At present with military drawdown in Herford station have revaluated staffing levels in the WOs’ & SGTs’ mess
to still meet KPI requirements but maximise profit as the numbers lessen
Site Supervisor Herford Station NAAFI 2010-2012
This position enabled me to build invaluable relations with our customers by running events, managing the JRC
(Junior Ranks Club) and helping maintain the smooth running of the main restaurant in Herford station;
Key Responsibilities
• Supplying an exceptional high standard of food and service to all in main restaurant
• Managing staff rosters, holiday and training
• Liaised effectively with the Senior Ranks to prejudice high quality functions maximising sales
• Ordering all necessary supplies.
• Stock control including weekly and monthly stock checks
• Managed a busy vending area
• Ensured high kitchen hygiene standards and completion of daily temperature forms and delivery monitoring
sheets
Key Achievements:
Revitalized the JRC and in first year took double my budget in sales.
On one event made €6000 profit on bar sales alone by utilising short dated stock from across the station.
Previous Positions Held:
Navy Army Air Force Institute (Germany) Mess Manager Herford 2012 - Present
Navy Army Air Force Institute (Germany) Site Supervisor Herford 2010 – 2012
Navy Army Air Force Institute (Germany) Site Supervisor Celle 2001- 2012
Navy Army Air Force Institute (Germany) CSA Celle 1996 - 2001
Durham County Council (UK) Youth and Community Worker 1990 - 1996
Additional Information:
• Security clearance enables me to work for the MOD
• Clean British Driving Licence
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