Carrie Anne Ugolini
Highland Park,IL
Summary
Quality-focused Specialty Chef with extensive experience in culinary arts and catering management. Delivered exceptional food service in high-volume environments through strong organizational and culinary skills. Committed to enhancing customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Overview
1
1
Certification
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Field Chef
The Paramount Group Chicago
Chicago, IL
05.2022 - Current
- Coordinated logistics for large-scale events, including food preparation and service delivery.
- Cooked for large groups of people and managed various types of food for large events.
- Streamlined kitchen operations by implementing efficient food preparation and cooking techniques.
- Enhanced team morale by fostering a collaborative work environment that promoted creativity and continuous improvement.
- Cleaned and organized kitchen stations to promote team efficiency.
- Worked closely with front-of-house staff to facilitate excellent customer service.
- Trained and managed kitchen personnel and supervised related culinary activity.
- Trained and mentored new staff members in kitchen safety, sanitation and cooking techniques.
- Set up and broke down kitchen for service.
- Disciplined and dedicated to meeting high-quality standards.
- Subcontracted through PGA tour of America/Patina Group as chef for golf tournaments, past four years, including Ryder Cup 2025
Lead Chef-Cold Kitchen
Do&Co Catering
Des Plaines, IL
01.2018 - 04.2022
- Responsible for managing 12 directly, and working with several depts to ensure flights are plated, sealed and delivered to client in due time
- Managed 12 team members and collaborated with several departments to ensure flights were plated, sealed, and delivered to clients on time.
- Enforced strict safety and sanitation guidelines from various agencies to maintain compliance and uphold food safety standards.
- Ensured quality and safety of meals while preparing in specialized kitchens. in both Halal, and Non Halal kitchens ensuring safety and quality from cross contamination.
Deli Manager
Sunset Foods
Highland Park, IL
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Managed daily operations of a fast-paced kitchen, ensuring the deli remained clean, fresh, and on-trend.
- Coordinated catered events with menu planning and meal preparation to enhance customer satisfaction
- Managed 42 kitchen staff, handling purchasing, receiving, scheduling, and training to foster a positive team environment
Specialty Chef
Gate Gourmet
Schiller Park, IL
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Prepared entrees for first class flights at O'Hare Airport in high-volume catering kitchen
- Monitored food logs and managed ordering and receiving.
- Developed innovative menus aligned with seasonal ingredients and customer preferences.
- Supervised culinary staff to ensure adherence to food safety and quality standards.
- Streamlined kitchen operations, enhancing efficiency in meal preparation and service delivery.
Cook 1, Lead Catering Chef
Aramark
Lake Forest, IL
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Prepared and served daily meals for students and staff at Lake Forest College, ensuring quality and satisfaction
- Managed catered events by planning menus, purchasing ingredients, tracking food loss, ensuring HACCP compliance, preparing food, and overseeing setup and breakdown.
Sous Chef
Classic Cuisine Catering
Mt. Prospect, IL
01.2000 - 01.2012
- Collaborated with Executive Chef on menu planning, food purchasing, budgeting, and coordinating party bookings for catered events
- Prepared food for up to 200 guests, including set up and break down
- Supervised kitchen staff to ensure efficient meal preparation and service.
- Developed and implemented innovative menu items based on seasonal ingredients.
- Coordinated food presentation and plating for catered events, enhancing guest experience.
Education
Basic And Advanced Culinary Degree - culinary
Washburn Culinary Institute
Chicago, IL2008
Diploma - General Studies
Good Council High School
Chicago, IL1994
Skills
- Events and Galas
- Regulatory compliance
- Culinary techniques
- Catering planning
- Food safety and sanitation
- Inventory
- Staff training
- Kitchen management
- Effective communication
- Team collaboration
- Customer service
- Multitasking and organization
Certification
Basic and Advanced Culinary Certification
Timeline
Field Chef
The Paramount Group Chicago
05.2022 - Current
Lead Chef-Cold Kitchen
Do&Co Catering
01.2018 - 04.2022
Deli Manager
Sunset Foods
01.2016 - 01.2018
Specialty Chef
Gate Gourmet
01.2014 - 01.2016
Cook 1, Lead Catering Chef
Aramark
01.2012 - 01.2014
Sous Chef
Classic Cuisine Catering
01.2000 - 01.2012
Basic And Advanced Culinary Degree - culinary
Washburn Culinary Institute
Diploma - General Studies
Good Council High School