Jonathan W. Munsell Complete Bio
Jonathan Munsell is a nationally-recognized leader in the food service industry. He brings
more than 16 years of restaurant and food service management experience, including full-service restaurants, catering, and retail outlets. He has worked for The Ritz Carlton, Restaurant Associates, and Compass Group, as well as his own restaurant development company called Trend Setter Enterprises, Inc.
Jonathan has successfully managed annual sales volumes in excess of twenty million dollars, several levels of management reports, and staff counts in the hundreds.
Jonathan has the unique combination of first-class training in both restaurant management and culinary expertise. He received his bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management from Drexel University. His management experience is with both multi-unit and multi-concept companies. Jonathan has been classically trained in Tuscan and Sicilian cuisine, giving him a strong culinary foundation and a passion for Italian food.
Jonathan Munsell began his work in the restaurant industry at the age of 15, getting his
start in a sub shop and pizza delivery store. To pay for his college education, he worked his way through several restaurant positions (both front- and back-house), including working his way up the ranks at Marabella’s, managing the kitchen at the Spaghetti Reef, and ultimately becoming Restaurant Manager at The Ritz Carlton Dining Room in Philadelphia.
After receiving his degree at Drexel University, he was hired to manage the restaurants at Lincoln Center in Manhattan. During his first year as manager, profits grew by 20 percent. This success trend continued to pave new career opportunities, leading him from New York, to Philadelphia, and then to the metro Washington, DC area. Some of the establishments Jonathan has helped refine include Dining Services for the Franklin Mint World Headquarters, Freddie Mac’s World Headquarters, ExxonMobil, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for Compass Group-USA.
With his entrepreneurial spirit burning, he started his own company called Trend Setter Enterprises, Inc. TSE focuses on services to the restaurant industry including contract cleaning, business development, and consulting. Jonathan has enjoyed working with small, high-quality Italian restaurants such as La Grolla in Philadelphia and Geranio in Old Town Alexandria, VA. He has managed and consulted for restaurants and other food service locations, a role which has refined his ideas, honed his operating skills, and fueled his passion for the restaurant business.
At the point when Jonathan was moving forward with his personal dream of family, preparing to marry his future wife, he was offered an opportunity he simply could not pass up. He was asked to head up operations for a conglomerate of four companies. He took the position and spent a few years as the Area Director for Restaurant Operations at three major Airports: Washington-Dulles, Washington-National, and Pittsburgh International: taking this airport food service provider from $20 million in annual revenues to over $40 million in less than 2 years.
Making the final move, Jonathan and his family relocated to North Carolina to open their first branded creation, Jumpin’ Jonny’s Steaks & Subs, which is located in Raleigh, Brier Creek.
Through his networking in North Carolina the realization of a gap in the restaurant market was discovered. Jonathan pooled his resources and brought only the best to share in the BakeHouse endeavor. Surrounded by the best operators the BakeHouse Bistro brand, Bakery Cafe ~ Restaurant ~Wine Bar, was born.
Soon after the first BakeHouse Bistro location was opened and only a couple months after his second son was born, the catering arm of the business became the logical next move. Premiere Catering became Jonathan’s next business endeavor. He purchased, revitalized, reinvented and systematized a long standing catering company. Premiere Catering is now the most sought after catering company in the Raleigh Durham Area and quickly taking a regional presence in the Carolinas.
Within 6 months of purchasing Premiere Catering the second BakeHouse Bistro location was opened and the focus has been operations and community involvement ever since. The company currently has one Jumpin’ Jonny’s Steaks & Subs, with large expansion plans already in place, two BakeHouse Bistro locations also positioned for growth and Premiere Catering which ties the company to a broad range of event sizes and locations further solidifying its regional presence.
Jonathan’s Current Standing
First and foremost is his commitment to his beautiful wife Cheryl and his two amazing boys. Family reins king for Jonathan. His daily work load consists of Principal Operating Partner of Amazing Brands, serving on the Board of Directors for the NCRLA – North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association and fostering industry advancement with his support of independent restaurant operators through his Restaurant Success System.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to;
Jonathan Munsell as a principal manages brand development, strategic planning and financial obligations including working capital, inventory, cash, and marketable securities; perform financial forecasting including capital budgeting, cash flow analysis, pro forma financial statements, and external financing requirements; prepare financial analysis of operations for guidance of management, including the preparation of reports which outline company’s financial position in areas of income, expenses, and earnings, based on past, present and future operations; direct preparation of budgets and financial forecasts; and arrange for audits of company’s accounts.
Jonathan shares responsibility with marketing and advertising including planning, developing, and establishing marketing campaigns. Jonathan shares responsibility for the planning and establishment of employee policies through a written employee manual. He also shares leading the company in matters related to service standards as well as guest relations. He assists in management hiring, discipline, and termination of employees of the company.