Atlanta, Georgia · Operations Executive · MBA · BBA Finance

Operations & Financial
Leadership

Operations and financial leadership professional with 38 years of experience in high-performance service environments — spanning multi-unit management, P&L accountability, process optimization, operational analytics, and AI-driven systems modernization.

38+
Years Leadership
MBA
BBA Finance · AIU
Multi
Unit Operations
P&L
Financial Operator

Profile

Operations executive.
Finance. Systems. Leadership.

Operations and financial leadership professional with 38 years of experience managing complex, high-performance service environments. Expertise spans multi-unit operations, P&L accountability, labor optimization, process improvement, operational analytics, and AI-driven systems modernization. Known for turning operational complexity into measurable results across national brands, high-volume independents, and multi-concept organizations.

Nearly four decades of operational leadership built on multi-unit management, P&L accountability, labor optimization, and process discipline. I have led complex service operations at volume, under pressure, for national brands and independent organizations — and I understand what it takes to keep an operation profitable, consistent, and well-led at scale.

My financial foundation runs deep: P&L ownership, cost forecasting, labor variance analysis, period-end reporting, and break-even modeling are tools I apply daily — not concepts from a classroom. I hold a BBA in Finance and an MBA from American InterContinental University.

Beyond the operations core, I have built and deployed AI-powered restaurant intelligence systems through Sharkey AI — giving me a working knowledge of operational analytics, workflow automation, and modern hospitality technology that most executives in this space don't have.

That combination — deep operational execution experience paired with modern systems and financial thinking — is what makes this profile different from a typical operations hire.

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MBA — American InterContinental University
Graduate Business Administration
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BBA in Finance — American InterContinental University
Bachelor of Business Administration
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38+ Years Operations Leadership
Multi-Unit · Financial Operator · Executive Chef
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Multi-Unit Operations
Cracker Barrel · K&W · Five Guys · Billy Casper Golf
⚙️
Founder, Sharkey AI
Operational intelligence & restaurant systems
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Atlanta Metro · Alpharetta / North Atlanta
Hybrid preferred · Remote open · On-site considered

Career History

Built on execution.
Proven across complex environments.

From large national brands to independent operations — nearly four decades of leading teams, managing financial performance, optimizing processes, and building the systems that drive operational results.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Multi-Year
Associate Manager
Supported full-service restaurant and retail operations for one of America's largest family dining chains. Contributed to P&L accountability, labor scheduling, food cost management, team development, and guest experience standards across a high-volume unit.
K&W Cafeterias
Multi-Year
General Manager
Managed cafeteria-style multi-concept operations with complex labor structures and high throughput volume. Focused on prime cost control, operational efficiency, and consistent guest service delivery across a demanding service environment.
Five Guys Burgers & Fries
Multi-Year
General Manager / Operations Leadership
Operated within the Five Guys system — a brand known for rigorous operational standards and consistency. Managed all aspects of unit operations including staffing, food cost, speed of service, and brand adherence in a fast-paced QSR environment.
Billy Casper Golf
Multi-Year
Food & Beverage Operations Leadership
Led food and beverage operations within a golf and hospitality management company. Managed banquet services, clubhouse dining, event operations, and the financial reporting structures unique to hospitality venue management.
Sharkey AI
Current · Founder
Founder — Operational Intelligence & Restaurant Systems
Founded and built an AI-powered operational intelligence platform for the restaurant industry. Developed and deployed ExecuCore OS — a full restaurant operating system combining P&L analytics, labor management, food cost tracking, and AI-driven financial intelligence. Built and deployed 9+ live systems using modern web technologies. Demonstrates the ability to bridge deep operational expertise with practical technology implementation.

Leadership Philosophy

How I think about operations.

Developed across 38 years of leading complex, high-pressure service environments — and applicable well beyond them.

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Systems Before Heroics
Sustainable operations run on well-designed systems, not individual effort. I build processes, standards, and accountability structures so the operation performs consistently — with or without me in the room.
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Financial Visibility Drives Decisions
Every operational decision has a financial consequence. I maintain close visibility into P&L, labor variance, cost trends, and margin performance — and I use that data to make faster, more accurate decisions than operators who rely on instinct alone.
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Process Optimization Is Continuous
The best-run operations are never finished improving. I consistently audit workflows, identify bottlenecks, and implement targeted improvements — not as a project, but as a permanent operating discipline.
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People Execute the Systems
Technology and process are tools. The people using them determine the outcome. I invest in clear expectations, consistent coaching, and building a culture of accountability where team members understand how their work connects to business results.
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Scalability From the Start
I design operational systems with scale in mind. What works in one location — or one department — should transfer to ten. That thinking shapes how I approach training, reporting, and organizational structure.
Execution Under Pressure
High-volume, customer-facing, real-time operations demand decision-making under pressure. That environment sharpens judgment fast. I bring that operational discipline — and the calm that comes from experience — to every leadership role.

Core competencies.

Developed across nearly four decades of leading complex service operations — from unit-level execution to multi-unit financial oversight and systems design. Applicable across industries where operational performance, financial accountability, and leadership development matter.

Multi-Unit Operations
Scale, consistency, accountability
P&L Management
Full financial ownership
Labor Optimization
Scheduling, prime cost control
Cost Controls & Variance Analysis
Margin management, waste reduction
Financial Reporting
Period reporting, forecasting
Leadership Development
Team building, succession planning
Operational Analytics
Data-driven decisions
Operational Systems Design
Workflow, implementation, training
Customer Experience
Standards, culture, service recovery
Team Development
Coaching, accountability structures
Process Optimization
Bottleneck analysis, workflow improvement
AI-Driven Operations
Modern tools, practical application
Sharkey AI

Operational intelligence,
built by an operator.

Operational intelligence built by someone who has run restaurants — not just studied them. Sharkey AI applies modern analytics and AI tools to the problems operators actually face.

Founder · Systems Builder
ExecuCore OS ↗

ExecuCore OS — Restaurant Operating System

Designed and deployed a full restaurant operating system built around the daily realities of restaurant operations: P&L visibility, labor cost tracking, food cost analysis, invoice management, break-even modeling, and an AI intelligence engine that sends real-time alerts with financial context and recommended actions. Built from operational necessity — to give operators the information they need, when they need it, without waiting for period-end reports.

Labor Analytics Operational Reporting Financial Visibility AI Intelligence Engine Real-Time SMS Alerts Food Cost Analysis Prime Cost Tracking Workflow Automation Break-Even Modeling
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Live · Public
ExecuCore OS
Full restaurant operating system with P&L, scheduling, labor, invoice management, food cost analysis, and the Sharkey AI intelligence engine.
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Live · Public
Sharkey Analysis
AI-powered business intelligence platform. Restaurant cost analysis, retail expansion readiness, and franchise readiness with analyst-grade dashboards and reporting.
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Private · Request Access
Hey Sharkey
Restaurant management platform with role-based staff access — Chef, Menu, Caller, and Admin — with built-in AI operational support.

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Ask Sharkey

Questions about William's background, experience, or what he's built? Ask anything and get a direct answer.

Tell me about his operations background What companies has he led? What is his leadership style? What roles is he targeting? Can he handle high-volume operations? Is he available for consulting?
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Good day. I'm here to answer any questions you have about William Sharkey — his operations background, career history, what he's built, and how he works. What would you like to know?

Let's Talk

Open to the right conversation.

Whether you're a hiring manager, a restaurant operator looking for leadership, or someone interested in operational consulting or licensing ExecuCore — reach out directly. I respond to serious inquiries.

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