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Morreen Rukin Bayles
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Creative Restaurant Solutions, Inc. has been led by Morreen Rukin Bayles since its inception in 1997. Recognized as a dynamic consultant and leader, she has built a team of experts who consistently deliver results with their industry knowledge, creative approaches, and dedication to superior customer service.
Before starting CRS, Morreen acquired 15 years of deep and diverse experience in the industry, starting her career at Houlihan’s where she worked her way up to Assistant General Manager and eventually oversaw all management training and development for the Mid-Atlantic region. She maintained her focus on recruiting and retaining top managers at Darden Restaurants, recruiting managers for 200 Red Lobster locations and decreasing costs per hire by over 50%. Morreen went on to become a Director at Mid-Atlantic restaurants, a Boston Market franchisee, where she managed the conversion of all 110 units from Boston Chicken to Boston Market and also designed and implemented the commissary program, oversaw management and employee training for new products, and wrote a more self-directed MIT program.
Fueled by her desire to impact companies in key areas of training and operational efficiencies, Morreen started her own company in 1997. Creative Restaurant Solutions, Inc. helps companies decrease operating costs, increase efficiencies, and put more fun back in the business through operational consulting, creating and conducting training programs with an impact, and gathering employee and manager feedback through exit interviews and other surveys. With a consistently growing presence in the industry, CRS, Inc. has worked with clients such as ARAMARK, McDonald’s, Dave & Buster’s, and Buffets, Inc.
Morreen earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from University of New Hampshire and also holds a Master’s in Education with a focus on Instructional Design from Pennsylvania State University. An advocate for giving back, she has been recognized as a top fundraiser for Alex’s Lemonade Stand (a children’s cancer research foundation), American Cancer Society, and National MS Society. Morreen is active in the Women's Foodservice Forum, and has served on the Mentoring, Entrepreneur, and Membership committees. For WFF's 2009 - 2010 fiscal year, Morreen is the chairperson for the Membership Committee. The Philadelphia Business Journal recognized Morreen as one of the 2007 Women of Distinction. Additionally, Morreen co-authored Dream, Inc. – Million Dollar Business Strategies from 32 Successful Philadelphia-Area Entrepreneurs. Most recently, Morreen was recognized as one of Pennsylvania's "Best 50 Women in Business."
Christin Myers has served as the Director of Reducing Turnover at Creative Restaurant Solutions, Inc. since 2005. After receiving her Bachelor's in English from Marywood University in Scranton, PA, Christin started her career as a high school English teacher, but was quickly pulled into the business world. As an Administrative Manager at B. McLaughlin Associates, Inc., Christin and her team coordinated collection, processing and distribution of x-ray films, CT scans, and data queries for as many as 15 clinical trials simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment.
Christin spent the next 3 1/2 years as a Staffing Supervisor at Careers Express, an independently owned staffing firm. There she recruited, screened, interviewed, and coached thousands of candidates for temporary and permanent positions, and served as account coordinator for dozens of clients in multiple industries. Christin also created and delivered content for resume-writing, interviewing, and job search classes presented both in the office and at organizations throughout the Philadelphia area.
Christin joined Morreen at Creative Restaurant Solutions, Inc. in 2005 and has been instrumental in increasing the exit interview business tenfold and growing CRS to become the leading provider of exit interview services to the restaurant industry. She is the main point of contact for the 40 interview and survey clients and supervises the exit interview and survey team. She is also influential in the training and operations components of the business, developing content and providing editing support. Christin's current focus is building the survey division of the business, flawlessly executing telephone and online surveys from beginning to end, partnering with clients to develop targeted questions and identify actionable results.
An active member of the Women's Foodservice Forum, Christin has recently stepped in as Chair of the Organizational Readiness Committee. She also serves as VP Membership of her community Toastmasters club and is a member of the Chester County Human Resources Association.
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Deanna Sharp
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Deanna Sharp heads up business development efforts to further engage our current client base and begin to build new relationships both in and out of the foodservice industry.
Deanna brings 20 years of restaurant operations insight and experience in the foodservice industry, as well as 9 years in the non-profit sector to the team. Her foodservice career began upon graduation from Mankato State University with a B.S in Business Management. She and her partners opened a restaurant in 1984 and she managed all day to day operations for 14 years before selling her share of the restaurant in 1998. Her passion for creating a positive guest experience and developing an outstanding team continues, as she is still a trainer for the restaurant’s front of the house employees.
After leaving her position in the restaurant, Deanna served as the Director of Membership and Events for a local chamber of commerce for the next 5 years. During this time she grew the membership base over 70%, led several committees, and facilitated a community-wide leadership development program.
Deanna next worked for The Estee Lauder Companies at the Mall of America, where she led and developed a successful sales team that won regional awards for the highest increased sales over 2 consecutive seasons and an annual customer service excellence award. During her tenure growing and leading her sales team, Deanna was recruited by a Women’s Foodservice Forum staff member and became Member Services Manager. Over the next 3 years she successfully increased membership 30%, engaged a 12% larger volunteer base, and worked directly with 3 committees to accomplish their Annual Business Plan initiatives.
Through all of her transitions and career growth Deanna’s driving passion has been and continues to be building relationships and making a positive impact on those she meets. She spends her personal time volunteering on a Youth Board of Directors for her church, mentoring youth, supporting and walking in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and assisting with various community events.
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Colleen Bellas
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Colleen Bellas joined the CRS Instructional Design team in June 2010, and is responsible for developing impactful training materials and designing leadership development programs.
Colleen began her career as a Middle and High School Spanish Teacher and then joined the business world as the Training and Development Specialist for SunTrust Mortgage in Atlanta. She was the lead Trainer for a mortgage client base of 400 employees, and developed all course content, materials, and assessments and she provided continuous training and evaluative support to the Customer Service Department. Also, Colleen was responsible for onboarding all new SunTrust Mortgage Staff. Colleen coordinated, developed, and delivered Management workshops to all levels of management, including Building Stronger Teams, Maximizing Your Employee’s Potential, and Effective Communication Techniques. She also set up a new Customer Service Department, assisted Human Resources in hiring staff, coordinated operations with all levels of management, and trained new Trainers and Customer Service staff. Colleen was the Featured Speaker for Providing Outstanding Customer Service at the Southeast Mortgage Bankers Association sponsored training event.
When she headed Northwest to Portland, Oregon, Colleen took a position as Technology and Learning Manager with the Educational Service District 112 in Vancouver, Washington. She provided leadership for technology integration plans and initiatives, participated in strategic planning, and recommended and developed programs based on client needs. Colleen had the opportunity to work with agencies and businesses to implement state initiatives across the state as well as at the regional level. While at the ESD 112, she was part of Washington State’s initiative to use distance learning through videoconferencing and web-based learning.
After moving back to her roots in South Central PA, Colleen took a position in the Adult Professional Development Department at the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13. She designed and developed courses for business and industry based on workforce needs and trained adults in English as a Second Language, GED preparation, workforce skills, and technology skills. She also conducted orientation programs and administered assessments to participants in the programs.
Colleen has a degree in Spanish and Business from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and her Master’s Degree in Education and Technology from Lesley University. A lifelong learner, she has pursued additional coursework in Instructional and Curriculum Design. Through all of her professional transitions, Colleen’s passion remains with Learning and Development through coaching and supporting clients in order to help them maximize their training capacity and ROI.