Podcast appearances and mentions of ken mcgarrie

Send us a Text Message.On this episode, authenticity takes the spotlight as we explore what it means to provide genuine care and high-quality service in the hospitality industry with Ken McGarrie and Mark Braver of Fifty/50 Consulting.Listen to an inspiring story from a West Coast resort that showcases the power of meticulous staff training in creating sincere guest interactions. We also shed light on the challenges small, family-run restaurants face when expanding, stressing the importance of embedding authenticity into training and company culture. This episode celebrates the true essence of hospitality, highlighting the 50-50 Group's remarkable COVID-19 initiatives and recognizing industry leaders for their contributions.

I've heard some startup founders say that every graduate should spend a year or two working in government before embarking on their chosen career path.For business students, I believe every new graduate should consider running or managing a restaurant for one to two years because of the people, financial, and entrepreneurial skills needed to keep the store afloat.I'm thrilled to have Ken McGarrie on the show to talk shop about his industry and his book, The Surprise Restaurant Manager.This conversation is especially geared toward those of us outside the food service industry, but those working in it will gain valuable insights from the COO of Fabio Viviani Hospitality.

Ken McGarrie is co-founder of Korgen Hospitality, COO of Fabio Viviani Restaurants, and best-selling author of The Surprise Restaurant Manager. In episode 35 of the Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations) podcast, he is also the featured guest! Tune in to this episode for some of Ken's advice on transitioning into restaurant management for the first time, what features to prioritize for restaurant technology, and more!

Ken McGarrie is the Founder and CEO of Korgen Hospitality, a consulting firm for hospitality leaders, and the COO of Fabio Viviani Hospitality, one of the leading restaurant groups in the United States. Ken has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and is also the Author of The Surprise Restaurant Manager. He and his team at Korgen make it their mission to help restaurateurs reach their full potential. In this episode… In this episode of the SpotOn Series, Chad Franzen sits down with Ken McGarrie, Founder of Korgen Hospitality, to talk about his book The Surprise Restaurant Manager. Together, they unfold some of the biggest challenges facing new restaurant managers today, the solutions to help them achieve success, and how Ken became a leading consultant in the hospitality industry.

What you have to do to be successful as a business owner changed between every business but this conversation is all about the restaurant industry. I loved hearing from Ken about his story life in the restaurant industry. He made a point that everyone should have a career in the industry to see what its all about. That way, people would be a little more understanding. That goes for every industry, you don't know what happens behind the scenes to create the customer experience you have. Remember to be kind and treat people how you want to be treated! Learn to manage your business expenses and how to save for your tax bill as well, those two skills are very important to running a successful business. Not every business opportunity is a good one. Sometimes a career path you thought would be fun turns into your worst nightmare! Enjoy the show and remember to share it with a friend if you get value out of it! -Check out Ken's Book: The Surprise Restaurant Manager https://www.amazon.ca/Surprise-Restaurant-Manager-Ken-McGarrie/dp/1736282301 -Check out his website at https://korgenhospitality.com/

Let's go DEEPER with the surprise restaurant manager himself, Ken McGarrie. Ken is the author of The Surprise Restaurant Manager and founder of Korgen Hospitality. Find him online at... www.korgenhospitality.com www.linkedin.com/in/ken-mcgarrie-245b6922/ ken@korgenhospitality.com

Author and restauranteur, Ken McGarrie of Korgen Hospitality joins the show and shares tips from his book The Surprise Restaurant Manager.

Ken McGarrie navigates through the process of developing a strong team in a field with high turnover. 

Ken McGarrie is the co-founder of Korgen Hospitality, a nationwide consulting firm dedicated to helping restauranteurs reach their absolute potential. Ken has successfully ran several restaurants, bars, and entertainment-based venues with a relentless focus on a hospitalit. He has helped to launch several new concepts and train hospitality leaders throughout the U.S. and Canada. Ken is also the author of The Surprise Restaurant Manager. Pick up a copy of his book here. Connect with us! Subscribe to my YouTube Channel Follow the show over on Instagram Join our mailing list Catch all the good stuff over on TikTok! Want to Schedule A One-on-One with Kyle? Whether you're a restaurant owner who wants to take a deeper dive into a particular subject, or may you're thinking of starting your own restaurant, food truck, or ghost kitchen and want some insight or advice - click here to schedule a one-on-one with me. Support Our Sponsors The National Restaurant Owners Podcast is a complete labor of love - which means I would love it if you guys support our sponsors by clicking the link in my bio and using my referral code, so we can keep the lights on over here, and you can save $$$! Atmosphere TV - Code Kyle BentoBox - Code Fou6 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/restaurantowners/message

With Excitement allow me to introduce today's guest Co-founder Korgen Hospitality Group and Author of The Surprise Restaurant Manager, Ken McGarrie. Ken is also the author of the book The Surprise Restaurant Manager. Ken McGarrie is the cofounder of Korgen Hospitality, a nationwide consulting firm dedicated to helping restauranteurs reach their absolute potential with effective leadership and maximum profitability. For the past two decades, he has helmed many successful restaurants, bars, and entertainment-based venues with a relentless focus on anticipatory service, staff empowerment, and attentive hospitality. He has helped launch new concepts and train hospitality leaders throughout the U.S. and Canada. After failing to start an exceptional college band with only average talent, Ken worked as a server/bartender while writing for magazines and newspapers. He started in management the same way that many people do – by surprise. When his GM asked if he would take a set of keys and open the restaurant on occasion, he was suddenly promoted to manager with no training or preparation, like so many others in the industry. Ken went on to open and manage numerous successful restaurants and entertainment venues. With Korgen Hospitality, he has an exceptional client list, including helping open over a dozen restaurants with Celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani nationwide. Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and get your first 30 days on me!  Connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: “You can do anything in this world that you're big enough to do.” In today's workshop with Ken McGarrie we will discuss: The six rules for all first time managers are: Don't become an elitist Avoid discovery-based learning Eyes open, mouth closed Distance yourself socially Advocate success Manger meal etiquette Today's sponsor: 7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free. PlateIQ- the leading AP automation platform in the hospitality industry. Since 2014, Plate IQ has been saving time and money for companies like Cava, Tender Greens, and more. Just upload your invoices into Plate IQ and our proprietary technology will code each line item to your chart of accounts — automatically. For Bill Pay, virtual cards, and end-to-end invoice automation, head to plateiq.com. At Popmenu, we know that in today's world, a great hospitality experience usually begins online. Keeping the conversation with guests going beyond the meal also requires simple, powerful, fun technology capable of expression through all kinds of channels. Our team takes pride in helping restaurants put their best foot forward digitally so they can focus on what they do best. We think PDF menus are super boring, we believe 3rd party platforms have had too much say in how consumers find their next dining experience and we deeply feel that sharing your beautiful menu doesn't have to be so difficult, time-consuming and expensive. As a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable, you'll receive $100 off your first month of Popmenu!   Contact info: info@korgenhospitality.com Get Ken's book here Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Ken McGarrie for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!   Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Ken McGarrie, Author of the Surprise Restaurant Manager joins Adele Gutman on the Hospitality Reputation Marketing Podcast to discuss:   Why even 1-star reviews are great feedback for restaurant managers   How to inspire your restaurant team   What topics you must not forget on your pre-shift huddle   How to build great reviews starting at the interview process  Please LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE! If you have any comments or questions for Ken McGarrie or Adele Gutman, please leave us a comment below! We are here to help!  Buy the Book Here: https://www.amazon.com/The-Surprise-Restaurant-Manager/dp/B08YP1R14Y  Connect with Adele:  Website:     https://www.adelegutman.com/ LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/adelegutman/ Twitter:      https://twitter.com/AdeleGutman Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspireFiveStars/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirefivestars/

Table Touches, Delegating & How To Reduce Stress... All in today's episode with Author Ken McGarrie. In Ken's book The Surprise Restaurant Manager" he digs into EVERYTHING you need to know when you find yourself running a restaurant. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ken-mcgarrie-245b6922/ Website: www.korgenhospitality.com BUY HIS BOOK & LEAVE A REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/KenMcGarrieBook

Ken McGarrie is the principal at Korgen Hospitality, a nationwide restaurant consulting firm. He has over two decades of experience at the helm of many successful restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues like Topgolf, and also has an amazing book called The Surprise Restaurant Manager.On this episode, he and host Zack Oates discuss:How Ken trains managers across the country to table touch more effectively Technological systems that can compensate for the labor shortageKen's book MoreThanks Ken!

Read more for show notes: ​https://restauranttopia.com/the-surprise-restaurant-manager-by-ken-mcgarrie/ VIP TEXT Group https://restauranttopia.com/text/ Join other independent restaurant owners and professionals on our VIP Text Club and get access to exclusive content, industry news, deals, insights, announcements, pro-tips, and more! join our mailing list and get our newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/dojKlZ5 Enter your email and get the very latest from Restauranttopia - marketing tips and insights, announcements, pro tips, and more! And don't worry, we hate spam too! Check out the show notes at https://restauranttopia.com/category/podcast-episodes/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Restauranttopia/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restauranttopia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restauranttopia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9aRVuDUYsV370Rfh-QxDag Brian Seitz https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-j-seitz-j-d-19863616/ David Ross https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-ross-b6b39175/ Anthony Hamilton https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-hamilton-5805013a/

Korgen Hospitality: https://korgenhospitality.com/ Korgen Hospitality on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/korgenhospitalitygroup Korgen Hospitality on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korgen-hospitality—Show Notes: Setting the Table: https://amzn.to/3kLq2YP—What's next?

At some point, you'll start thinking seriously about your “Exit Strategy” from the business. This might mean retirement, selling your operation, walking away to start a new business, or just spending more time with family. You can't do any of these things without a solid manager or two that you can trust. So many of us spend so much time in our restaurants, but “empowering” our people to take on more responsibility, use solid judgement and shine should be a top-priority. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I'm speaking with Mr. Ken McGarrie a former restaurant manager who now helps other operators find, recognize and develop management talent. We'll be talking all about: - How Front of House staff prepare to become managers (and even G.M.) - Best strategies to deal with the Labor Crisis - Personality traits of the Most Successful Restaurant Managers - Motivating the team to be their best - Why “Empowerment” is more effective than “Delegation” And of course, Ken's new book “The Surprise Restaurant Manager”. Listen on, lead by example and ROCK Your Restaurant! Roger For more restaurant resources: https://restaurantrockstars.com/ The Restaurant Rockstars Academy – The Ultimate Start-up & Management Courses. Everything you need to know to crush it in the restaurant business: https://restaurantrockstars.com/pricing/ Thank you to our sponsor 7shifts – Get 3 Months of Industry Leading Labor Management for FREE: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantrockstars

#122 - INTERVIEW: Navigating the Staffing Crisis with Restaurant Consultant, Ken McGarrie ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: SEVENROOMS With a full suite of products including reservation, waitlist and table management, online ordering, review aggregation, and marketing automation, SevenRooms is the perfect choice for helping you gain a 360-degree view of your guests across both on- and off-premise. Book a demo with SevenRooms today and receive an Amazon gift card for $50. Simply send an e-mail to hello@trysevenrooms.com with "Restaurant Strategy" in the subject line. ***** Ken McGarrie is a Chicago-based restaurant consultant as well as the author of the brand new book, "The Surprise Restaurant Manager." In this interview we talk about the staffing crisis, and how employers can combat the situation. We talk structure, procedures, and development tactics to build a loyal work force. Ken is hilarious and charming, and an all around smart guy. Glad to know him, and even more excited to introduce him to all of you! IMPORTANT LINKS: KORGEN HOSPITALITY - https://korgenhospitality.com The Surprise Restaurant Manager (Amazon for 99 cents) - https://www.amazon.com/Surprise-Restaurant-Manager-Ken-McGarrie-ebook/dp/B093P5GGBV/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1625858274&sr=8-1 The Surprise Restaurant Manager (The Strand paperback for $14.99) - https://www.strandbooks.com/product/9781736282304?title=the_surprise_restaurant_manager *****Interested in a FREE 60-minute coaching call? E-mail me directly at chip@chipklose.com *****Come join the community on Patreon where a monthly contribution will give you access to a bunch of different perks and benefits like monthly Q&A sessions, podcast swag, and one-on-one coachings with me. SUPPORT US: https://www.patreon.com/restaurantstrategy

#122 - INTERVIEW: Navigating the Staffing Crisis with Restaurant Consultant, Ken McGarrie ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: SEVENROOMS With a full suite of products including reservation, waitlist and table management, online ordering, review aggregation, and marketing automation, SevenRooms is the perfect choice for helping you gain a 360-degree view of your guests across both on- and off-premise. Book a demo with SevenRooms today and receive an Amazon gift card for $50. Simply send an e-mail to hello@trysevenrooms.com with "Restaurant Strategy" in the subject line. ***** Ken McGarrie is a Chicago-based restaurant consultant as well as the author of the brand new book, "The Surprise Restaurant Manager." In this interview we talk about the staffing crisis, and how employers can combat the situation. We talk structure, procedures, and development tactics to build a loyal work force. Ken is hilarious and charming, and an all around smart guy. Glad to know him, and even more excited to introduce him to all of you! IMPORTANT LINKS: KORGEN HOSPITALITY - https://korgenhospitality.com The Surprise Restaurant Manager (Amazon for 99 cents) - https://www.amazon.com/Surprise-Restaurant-Manager-Ken-McGarrie-ebook/dp/B093P5GGBV/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1625858274&sr=8-1 The Surprise Restaurant Manager (The Strand paperback for $14.99) - https://www.strandbooks.com/product/9781736282304?title=the_surprise_restaurant_manager *****Interested in a FREE 60-minute coaching call? E-mail me directly at chip@chipklose.com *****Come join the community on Patreon where a monthly contribution will give you access to a bunch of different perks and benefits like monthly Q&A sessions, podcast swag, and one-on-one coachings with me. SUPPORT US: https://www.patreon.com/restaurantstrategy

In the next of our Bonus Episode's we chat to the brilliant Ken McGarrie, Passionate hospitality advocate, Founder of Korgen Hospitality in Chicago, USA and author of the superb "The Surprise Restaurant Manager". We get through loads including:- The career start Finding “A real Job” How people arrive at being a restaurant manager Where the book came from Asking for help I have the time The power of language Being alert to the first impression Being aware of your guests mood The complainers who don't complain Covid US & UK Being thankful to your team Making your team "unpoachable" Psychology Whingeing The Surprise Restaurant Manager Ken's pay it forward And of course Ken's superb journey. The book rightly takes front and centre here and Ken has created an invaluable resource for the industry. A massive thank you to Ken for coming on to chat, especially at 4.00am his time! Enjoy! This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Support this podcast

When we talk about the restaurant industry and hospitality industry here are some facts you should keep in mind. According to https://www.smallbizgenius.net• There are more than 1 million restaurants in the US. ... • 9.9 million people are employed in the restaurant industry. ... • The projected number of restaurant employees in 2030 is 17.2 million. ... As we emerge from Covid-19 the hospitality industry is going to be dependant upon consumer frequency to get back to some semblance of normal. Ken McGarrie is the cofounder of Korgen Hospitality, a nationwide consulting firm dedicated to helping restauranteurs reach their absolute potential with effective leadership and maximum profitability. For the past two decades, he has helmed many successful restaurants, bars, and entertainment-based venues with a relentless focus on anticipatory service, staff empowerment, and attentive hospitality. McGarrie joined me this week to discuss the hospitality rebound after Covid-19. Buy the Book: https://www.amazon.ca/Surprise-Restaurant-Manager-Ken-McGarrie/dp/1736282301 For more information: https://korgenhospitality.com/

Do you remember the transition from employee to manager? For most of us, the boss just handed us the keys one day and asked us to lock up. Within a month, we have a title, a lot more responsibility and a lot less money in our pocket. What do you wish you knew before stepping into that role? A lot, right? Ken McGarrie set out to document every lesson he learned along the way to help the next generation of hospitality professionals. Today, we run through some of the big lessons covered in that book. You can pick up a digital copy of The Surprise Restaurant Manager for 99 cents on Amazon today. _______________________________ Sign Up for Our Weekly Newsletter Book time on Josh's personal calendar We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out the FULL COMP media universe by visiting: FULL COMP The Happy Mouth Morning Show Restaurant Marketing School The Playbook

With Excitement allow me to introduce today's guest Co-founder Korgen Hospitality Group and Author of The Surprise Restaurant Manager, Ken McGarrie. Ken is also the author of the book The Surprise Restaurant Manager. Ken McGarrie is the cofounder of Korgen Hospitality, a nationwide consulting firm dedicated to helping restauranteurs reach their absolute potential with effective leadership and maximum profitability. For the past two decades, he has helmed many successful restaurants, bars, and entertainment-based venues with a relentless focus on anticipatory service, staff empowerment, and attentive hospitality. He has helped launch new concepts and train hospitality leaders throughout the U.S. and Canada. After failing to start an exceptional college band with only average talent, Ken worked as a server/bartender while writing for magazines and newspapers. He started in management the same way that many people do – by surprise. When his GM asked if he would take a set of keys and open the restaurant on occasion, he was suddenly promoted to manager with no training or preparation, like so many others in the industry. Ken went on to open and manage numerous successful restaurants and entertainment venues. With Korgen Hospitality, he has an exceptional client list, including helping open over a dozen restaurants with Celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani nationwide. Check out Angel's Envy distillery as mentioned in today's episode. Shoutout to The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group inChicago for hosting this interview! Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join with a 30-day trial Restaurant Unstoppable Network and connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "Enjoy the ride." In today's episode with Ken McGarrie we will discuss: Past experiences influencing you today Lobbying to be manager right out of the gate Working in nightclubs/as a bouncer Language Apathy Training/empowerment The host position Regrets Membership models? The Five G's Today's sponsor: Ecolab: Streamline your clean with Ecolab's new EPA-registered 2-in-1 solution, Sink & Surface Cleaner Sanitizer. It will help reduce risk, simplify your procedures and help ensure compliance. This solution cleans and sanitizes hard non-porous surfaces with a single product, eliminates the rinse step and equips your staff to clean more efficiently. Clean simplified, confidence delivered. 7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free. BentoBox empowers restaurants to own their presence, profits and relationships. The hospitality platform disrupts third-party services that come between the restaurant and the guest. BentoBox puts the restaurant first and offers tools that drive high-margin revenue directly through the restaurant's website. BentoBox is trusted and loved by over 5,000 restaurants worldwide including Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, Lilia and more.   Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Obsession What is your biggest weakness? Rumination What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? Preparation "Who not to hire" Chapter 2 pg 11 From Ken's book What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Second guessing myself Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. If you are comped in a restaurant, tip the original amount, not the discounted amount What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? The guest is usually wrong What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck by Mark Manson GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM  What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Anyone who works for you could work anywhere for anyone Name one service you've hired. Talent Distinctions based in LA for HR What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations? BevSpot If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? My book Bill Hicks standup special "Revelations" Fish Bone album titled Truth and Soul Contact info: www.korganhospitality.com Find Ken's book right here. Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Ken McGarrie for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!   Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Welcome to the 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast, where sit down with the best minds in the restaurant industry to inspire you with new ways to improve your business. On this episode, we dive into how to deal with negativity in the restaurant industry, coming both from guests as well as your own team. Ken also leaves with some advice for restaurant employees who are still unsure about going back to work.The 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast is hosted by Dominick "D.J." Costantino, 7shifts' Content Writer.About Ken McGarrieKen McGarrie is the cofounder of Korgen Hospitality, a nationwide consulting firm dedicated to helping restauranteurs reach their absolute potential with effective leadership and maximum profitability. For the past two decades, he has helmed many successful restaurants, bars, and entertainment-based venues with a relentless focus on anticipatory service, staff empowerment, and attentive hospitality. He has helped launch new concepts and train hospitality leaders throughout the U.S. and Canada. After failing to start an exceptional college band with only average talent, Ken worked as a server/bartender while writing for magazines and newspapers. He started in management the same way that many people do – by surprise. When his GM asked if he would take a set of keys and open the restaurant on occasion, he was suddenly promoted to manager with no training or preparation, like so many others in the industry.Ken went on to open and manage numerous successful restaurants and entertainment venues. With Korgen Hospitality, he has an exceptional client list, including helping open over a dozen restaurants with celebrity chef Fabio Viviani nationwide. An amateur guitarist, avid podcast enthusiast, and stand-up comedy devotee, Ken is currently based in Chicago, Illinois. Learn more at www.korgenhospitality.com.About 7shifts7shifts is a team management platform designed for restaurants. We help managers and operators spend less time and effort scheduling their staff, reduce their monthly labor costs and streamline team communication. The result is simplified labor management, one shift at a time.

Welcome to the 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast, where sit down with the best minds in the restaurant industry to inspire you with new ways to improve your business. On this episode, we dive into how to deal with negativity in the restaurant industry, coming both from guests as well as your own team. Ken also leaves with some advice for restaurant employees who are still unsure about going back to work. The 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast is hosted by Dominick "D.J." Costantino, 7shifts' Content Writer. About Ken McGarrie Ken McGarrie is the cofounder of Korgen Hospitality, a nationwide consulting firm dedicated to helping restauranteurs reach their absolute potential with effective leadership and maximum profitability. For the past two decades, he has helmed many successful restaurants, bars, and entertainment-based venues with a relentless focus on anticipatory service, staff empowerment, and attentive hospitality. He has helped launch new concepts and train hospitality leaders throughout the U.S. and Canada. After failing to start an exceptional college band with only average talent, Ken worked as a server/bartender while writing for magazines and newspapers. He started in management the same way that many people do – by surprise. When his GM asked if he would take a set of keys and open the restaurant on occasion, he was suddenly promoted to manager with no training or preparation, like so many others in the industry. Ken went on to open and manage numerous successful restaurants and entertainment venues. With Korgen Hospitality, he has an exceptional client list, including helping open over a dozen restaurants with celebrity chef Fabio Viviani nationwide. An amateur guitarist, avid podcast enthusiast, and stand-up comedy devotee, Ken is currently based in Chicago, Illinois. Learn more at www.korgenhospitality.com. About 7shifts 7shifts is a team management platform designed for restaurants. We help managers and operators spend less time and effort scheduling their staff, reduce their monthly labor costs and streamline team communication. The result is simplified labor management, one shift at a time.

This episode is brought to you by Wheelhouse - the best revenue management platform for vacation and short term rentals.  Learn more about Wheelhouse here ➡️ https://usewheelhouse.com Use code KNOWINGHOSPITALITY for 50% off your first month with Wheelhouse. --- Ken is the author of The Surprise Restaurant Manager, a book about the tools needed to master the unexpected challenges managers face every day. And those challenges are mounting. Whether it's the inability to fill open positions, a lack of internal resources, finding new customers, or expanding initiatives, this new business climate is stretching business owners, managers and teams in more ways than ever before. We expand on discussions from the book and discuss a wide range of topics from how to avoid burnt out, working with strong personalities, delivering and handling criticism and the idea that self promotion is self preservation. We really try to give insight on leadership and personal responsibility by teasing out actionable and tactical points that could help with your current situation. On this episode we discuss: How to establish more balance in life (6:00) Busy people vs. head down workers and their promotion opportunities (10:47) Self promotion is self preservation (14:25) Why face time with the boss starts with the boss making themselves available (20:50) Alpha vs Beta workers: aka, loud vs. contemplative leadership (24:52) Handing blunt criticism (35:08) The value of using consultants and freelancers (45:05) About Ken Surprise –you're in charge now! Steady money and new opportunities awaited as you moved up from server or bartender to front-of-house manager. But too often, restaurant management find themselves leading with minimal training, aton of responsibilities, and no clue how to improve. You've run the Friday night rush, you've juggled expectations of staff and guests -- but have you figured out how to improve while keeping the restaurant profitable? In The Surprise Restaurant Manager, learn from Ken McGarrie, a restaurant operator who has helped launch dozens of successful restaurants, as he gives you the tools to master the unexpected challenges managers face every day. Get help on the fly with real-life examples, straightforward strategies, and expert insight to better leadership. This is your guide to restaurant industry success beyond basic food knowledge and inventory counts. You'll learn: How to locate quality candidates and interview effectively, including eight signs you shouldn't extend an offer — from subtle clues to outright red flags.Tips on ways to support your staff during challenging situations and how to use genuine suggestions to develop more effective hospitality skills. Common communication mistakes that guarantee FOH turnover and increase work stress -- and how to avoid them. Proven steps to upgrade your table touch and salvage every negative guest experience, including guaranteed methods to improve your restaurant's online reviews. How to embrace blunt criticism, work effectively with strong personalities, and avoid professional burnout.Success as a restaurant manager is a constant quest to level up your game and your team – without sacrificing your sanity along the way. Links Website: http://www.korgenhospitality.com/ (www.korgenhospitality.com) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/102380811875432 (https://www.facebook.com/102380811875432) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korgen-hospitality/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/korgen-hospitality) Book: https://www.amazon.com/Surprise-Restaurant-Manager-Ken-McGarrie/dp/1736282301 (The Surprise Restaurant Manager Book)

This episode of Restaurants Masters is hosted by Ken McGarrie, co-founder of Korgen Hospitality. The author of The Surprise Restaurant Manager, McGarrie has helmed many successful restaurants, bars, and entertainment-based venues for over two decades. Ken has helped launch new concepts and train hospitality leaders throughout the United States and Canada. In part three of his three part series on insight for restaurant industry leadership, McGarrie gives valuable tips for managing your restaurant’s reviews. McGarrie suggests these tips on taking every opportunity to embrace reviews and improve your restaurant’s ratings: -Avoiding the lazy manager table touch. -Understanding why people post reviews.-Not playing detective to determine the legitimacy of the review.-Realizing it is not about being right, it is about disappointment.-Acknowledging the level of passion it takes to write a long one star review.-Changing the communication and making the discussion private, one on one. -Never mention the star rating. “When you reach out, never focus on the star rating itself, focus on the philosophy for why people feel that they have to reach out and for their level of disappointment they experienced and you will be able to recover them each and every time,” says McGarrie. Check out the episode above to learn more expert insight on navigating reviews in the restaurant industry. Also be sure to listen to McGarrie’s part two of Expert Insight for Restaurant Industry Leadership where he talks about management communication strategies. For more industry education listen to the Restaurant Masters Podcast!

Communication strategies can help you manage your team, address challenges, and benefit the day to day operation of your business. Avoiding communication blunders will guarantee staff retention and create a great working environment. This episode of Restaurants Masters is hosted by Ken McGarrie, co-founder of Korgen Hospitality. The author of The Surprise Restaurant Manager, McGarrie has helmed many successful restaurants, bars, and entertainment-based venues for over two decades. Ken has helped launch new concepts and train hospitality leaders throughout the United States and Canada. In part two of his three part series on insight for restaurant industry leadership, McGarrie shares important strategies for management communication. McGarrie identifies five key points on how management should effectively address the staff through proper communication strategies: How managers lose good people. Managers not having balance between hands-on and delegation support. Overestimated familiarity, communicating with staff in an overly casual manner.Using emotion over data in order to communicate with staff. Communicating that someone is not performing. “People that you work with will take cues from your behavior and your energy so if you are the one that comes with positive energy then people sense positivity and mirror likewise.” Mcgarrie advises management on communication. He also points out that a manager’s team must see them as a value to the operation. Check out the episode above to learn more expert insight on communication strategies in the restaurant industry. Also be sure to listen to McGarrie’s part one of Expert Insight for Restaurant Industry Leadership where he talks about assembling the right team. Be on the lookout for more tips from McGarrie on Restaurant Masters Podcast!

Assembling the right team can sometimes be a challenge for even experienced restaurant industry managers. It is important to locate and effectively interview candidates as well as foresee warning signs during the process. This episode of Restaurants Masters is hosted by Ken McGarrie, co-founder of Korgen Hospitality. The author of The Surprise Restaurant Manager, McGarrie has helmed many successful restaurants, bars, and entertainment-based venues for over two decades. Ken has helped launch new concepts and train hospitality leaders throughout the United States and Canada. In part one of his three part series on assembling the right team, McGarrie shares insight on hiring new candidates for your restaurant. McGarrie suggests every restaurant manager should follow these insights before they begin the hiring process to attract top talent:Use creative and welcoming job posts.Change the mentality from “how lucky someone is to work for you” to “how appreciative you are that they choose to work with you.”Use non-traditional means to uncover true personalities.Red flags not to hire an applicant.“It is no secret that right now finding staff is a challenge globally.” McGarrie adds “In order to rise to the top you have to make sure the first thing you are doing is understanding that the people that work for you, you need them more than they need you.”Check out the episode above to learn more expert insight on finding top talent in the restaurant industry. Be on the lookout for more tips from McGarrie on Restaurant Masters Podcast!

“Who's the leader of this madhouse?” I'm not totally convinced this sentiment is exclusive to the restaurant industry…but it's a phrase spoken often in bars, dining rooms and kitchens all over the country. Ken Mcgarrie was hearing it as well and it drove him to complete a 20 year back of the shelf project that's become The Surprise Restaurant Manager. A book of advice on the procedures and processes of successfully managing a restaurant filled with the life lessons and practical recommendations that can be an aide to both the novice and the seasoned pro. The Surprise Restaurant Manager on Amazon Korgen Hospitality – Ken's consulting group Music; I Have A Reservation – Track Tribe

Ken McGarrie’s been in the hospitality business for decades, and his career has led him to major food locales like Ontario, Dallas and New Orleans. Here in Chicago, he was the director of operations for DineAmic Group. More recently, he opened the consulting firm Korgen Hospitality… and has shared his industry knowledge and insights in the new book THE SURPRISE RESTAURANT MANAGER.

Ken McGarrie’s been in the hospitality business for decades, and his career has led him to major food locales like Ontario, Dallas and New Orleans. Here in Chicago, he was the director of operations for DineAmic Group. More recently, he opened the consulting firm Korgen Hospitality… and has shared his industry knowledge and insights in the new book THE SURPRISE RESTAURANT MANAGER.