Gregory Baker
Kansas City
Summary
Hospitality and specialty beverage professional with over 10 years of experience in coffee, tea, and restaurant operations, including 8 years with Messenger Coffee and FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective. Experienced in beverage program development, staff training, inventory management, purchasing, customer education, and hospitality leadership. Passionate about specialty tea and helping customers, staff, and hospitality partners build meaningful connections with quality products through education, relationship building, and exceptional service.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Coffee Lead
Messenger Coffee Company
08.2018 - Current
- Lead daily cafe operations while maintaining high standards of hospitality, beverage quality, and customer experience.
- Develop seasonal beverage offerings and specialty menu programs featuring both coffee and tea products.
- Design and execute educational beverage experiences that introduce customers to specialty tea through approachable and engaging formats.
- Train and mentor new and existing team members on beverage preparation, hospitality standards, workflow efficiency, and product knowledge.
- Manage inventory and place product orders to support daily operations and maintain product availability.
- Serve as an internal resource for specialty coffee and tea knowledge, including brewing methods, sourcing, processing, flavor development, and service standards.
- Build lasting relationships with customers, industry professionals, and coworkers through education-focused hospitality and consistent service excellence.
Shift Lead Manager / Restaurant Server
Journeyman Cafe
11.2016 - 08.2017
- Managed daily cafe operations, including staff training, inventory management, ordering, beverage quality standards, and customer service.
- Supervised employees and supported operational planning to ensure efficient day-to-day performance.
- Trained team members on beverage preparation, hospitality standards, and customer engagement.
- Worked directly with guests in a full-service restaurant environment, strengthening communication, sales, and relationship-building skills.
- Collaborated across cafe and restaurant teams to create a seamless and consistent guest experience.
- Developed firsthand experience with both quick-service and full-service hospitality operations.
Shift Supervisor
Starbucks
02.2012 - 11.2016
- Supervised daily operations in a high-volume retail environment.
- Supported employee development through coaching, training, and performance management.
- Assisted with inventory management, ordering, operational execution, and customer service initiatives.
- Maintained service standards while resolving customer concerns and supporting team success.
Education
GED -
Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, KS03-2011
Skills
- Specialty Tea & Coffee Knowledge
- Tea & Beverage Program Development
- Customer Education & Product Training
- Hospitality Relationship Management
- Menu Development & Beverage Innovation
- Staff Training & Team Leadership
Timeline
Coffee Lead
Messenger Coffee Company
08.2018 - Current
Shift Lead Manager / Restaurant Server
Journeyman Cafe
11.2016 - 08.2017
Shift Supervisor
Starbucks
02.2012 - 11.2016
GED -
Johnson County Community College
Technical & Business Skills
- Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook
- Presentation and training material development
- Inventory tracking and reporting
- Recipe documentation and standardization
- Written communication and training resources
- Virtual meeting and remote collaboration tools