Digital Hospitality

How Rean Mckinley Elevated Gusto’s Operations with Connecteam

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Description

Rean Mckinley, The Executive General Manager of Gusto Italian Grill & Bar in Moncton, New Brunswick, is in the midst of a great career in hospitality. Starting at the age of 15 as a dishwasher, Mckinley worked his way up through various roles, gaining international experience with Princess Cruise Lines. His passion for hospitality eventually led him to Gusto, where he now oversees one of Canada’s busiest restaurants.

Under Rean Mckinley’s leadership, Gusto Italian Grill & Bar has flourished, serving over 12,600 guests monthly despite operating exclusively during dinner hours. On peak nights, the restaurant manages between 500 to 600 covers. With business booming and a staff of more than 100 employees, Mckinley realized he needed a way to not only to maintain smooth operations but to also enhance them even further. The solution, Connecteam, a digital platform designed to improve efficiency.

Interview Takeaways:

  1. Changing the Way Tasks Are Received – Restaurant Managers are all too familiar with the challenge of employees overlooking tasks during hectic shifts. In the hustle of a busy night, tasks can easily be missed. Rean Mckinley, Executive GM of Gusto Italian Grill & Bar, is relieved that this issue is now a thing of the past, thanks to Connecteam and their Digital Forms.
  2. Onboarding Staff the Right Way – Rean Mckinley found challenges with onboarding new employees. It was cumbersome and could be a disorganized process. This all changed with Connecteam, the entire process became seamless. New employees now complete Digital Onboarding Forms, which are instantly sent to the Accounting team, the Chef, and other relevant personnel, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
  3. Building Team Chemistry – Building a strong workplace culture is essential, and Rean Mckinley emphasizes how Connecteam’s Recognition feature plays a pivotal role in this. The Recognition tab allows managers and team members to publicly celebrate employee achievements in a social media-style feed, visible to the entire company.



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