Nyerere Ellis

About Nyerere Ellis

I am a strategic Operations Leader with 20+ years of experience leading multi-unit portfolios, category programs, and compliance-driven growth across foodservice, logistics, and retail. My strength lies in turning complex challenges into scalable systems—whether I’m launching proprietary food programs, optimizing courier networks, or driving performance across geographically diverse teams.I’ve led $25M+ food and beverage programs across 250+ locations, doubled QSR footprint, and delivered 63% sales growth through category strategy and vendor negotiation. As a Restaurant Operations Consultant, I’ve helped operators boost profitability, streamline staffing, and refine menu execution in markets like Nashville, Atlanta, and Knoxville.I’m ServSafe certified as both Instructor and Proctor, with deep expertise in food safety, DOT/Hazmat logistics, and team performance analytics. Currently, I’m expanding through strategic acquisitions while continuing to build community-driven ventures in Nashville.I’m open to Director of Operations, Category Manager, and COO roles where tactical execution meets strategic vision—and where leadership development, customer experience, and operational excellence are core to the mission.

Experience

1. Operations Excellence Manager

   Jets Pizza

   Dec 2025 — Present

   I get to lead operational excellence across 100+ franchise locations, serving as the strategic partner between corporate leadership and franchise owners. My focus is on compliance, training, and performance initiatives that strengthen profitability, elevate guest experiences, and reinforce Jet’s Pizza’s brand standards nationwide. I conduct daily multi‑state inspections to ensure full compliance with Jet’s America standards and food safety protocols, leveraging my ServSafe certification to uphold the highest levels of quality and safety. I lead onboarding and training for new franchise openings, guiding teams through launch and early success while instilling Jet’s principles of consistency and excellence. I partner with franchise owners to optimize operations, streamline staffing, and translate corporate strategy into actionable store‑level execution. I support the rollout of new products and procedures, ensuring seamless adoption across diverse markets. I investigate and resolve operational issues, coaching franchisees toward sustainable improvement and long‑term compliance. I represent Jet’s Pizza at corporate meetings, aligning field operations with evolving brand initiatives and ensuring franchisees remain engaged and informed. My role requires extensive travel, delivering hands‑on support, inspections, and leadership presence across multiple states.

Education

• Saint Leo University

  BBA, Business Administration – Management

  2010 — 2012

• Jack Welch Management Institute

  Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Business Administration, Management and Operations

  2013 — 2015

• Triton College

  Bachelor of Architecture - BArch, Architectural Design and Business Management

Skills

• Food Service
• New Restaurant Openings
• Strategic Planning
• Retail
• Catering
• Forecasting
• Inventory Management
• Coaching
• Customer Satisfaction
• Training
• Leadership
• Hiring
• Restaurant Management
• Hospitality
• Recruiting
• Marketing
• Serve Safe Certified
• Leadership Development
• Sales
• Menu Development
• Multi-Unit
• Strategy
• Sales Management
• Time Management
• Labor Control
• Restaurants
• Management
• Team Building
• Business Planning
• Operations Management
• Profit
• Budgets
• Food
• Food & Beverage
• Customer Service
• Culinary Skills
• P&L
• Team Leadership