Caitlan Donato
Executive Recruiter
Division: Restaurant
Location: Texas – San Antonio
Caitlan Donato
Executive Recruiter, Gecko Hospitality
Restaurant Division | San Antonio & South Texas
Phone: (346) 694-0501 Email: caitlan.donato@geckohospitality.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlan-whitefield-2406611b9/
About Caitlan
Caitlan Donato is a restaurant recruiter with Gecko Hospitality serving the San Antonio & South Texas market. Caitlan’s focus: Restaurant talent acquisition; high-volume operations background (San Antonio, Texas). Before moving into executive recruiting, Caitlan spent several years in restaurant leadership, including as a Managing Partner, where she personally hired, trained, developed, and led restaurant teams, managed P&Ls, controlled labor and food costs, and was responsible for the overall performance of a high-volume restaurant.
Background & Experience
Before moving into executive recruiting, Caitlan spent several years in restaurant leadership, including as a Managing Partner, where she personally hired, trained, developed, and led restaurant teams, managed P&Ls, controlled labor and food costs, and was responsible for the overall performance of a high-volume restaurant. She understands the positions she recruits for because she has sat on the operator side of the table.
Areas of Focus
Positions: General Manager and Assistant General Manager; Kitchen Manager and Executive Chef; Multi-unit, area, and district leaders; Director and senior operations roles
Markets served: San Antonio & South Texas.
How Caitlan Evaluates Talent
When I evaluate a restaurant leadership candidate, I look beyond just their title and years of experience. I want to understand the size and volume of the operation they have actually led, their P&L responsibility, team size, hiring and retention experience, and how involved they are in the day-to-day business. I also pay close attention to leadership style, culture fit, and how they develop and hold their teams accountable. Coming from restaurant operations myself, I know that sometimes the strongest candidate on paper is not necessarily the right leader for every concept, so I really try to understand the person behind the resume.
Caitlan’s Market Perspective
The Texas restaurant hiring market moves incredibly fast. What a company needs today can look completely different tomorrow, especially with continued growth throughout San Antonio and South Texas. I am seeing employers place a lot of value on strong tenure, proven leadership, and candidates who can develop teams rather than simply manage a shift. At the same time, strong candidates have options, so culture, compensation, growth opportunities, and work-life balance all play an important role in attracting the right people.
Advice
For employers: Before we start a search, know what is truly non-negotiable versus what you are willing to train or be flexible on. The clearer I understand what success looks like in your restaurant, the better I can narrow the search to the right candidates.
For candidates: Be ready to talk about your numbers and your people. Know your sales volume, P&L responsibilities, team size, and accomplishments, and most importantly, be able to explain how your leadership made the operation and the people around you better.
In Caitlan’s Words
“I spent years on the restaurant side of the table, so I know the right leader can completely change a restaurant. Now I get to help match the right person with the right opportunity.”
Caitlan Donato
Executive Recruiter
Division: Restaurant
Location: Texas – San Antonio
Caitlan Donato
Executive Recruiter, Gecko Hospitality
Restaurant Division | San Antonio & South Texas
Phone: (346) 694-0501 Email: caitlan.donato@geckohospitality.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlan-whitefield-2406611b9/
About Caitlan
Caitlan Donato is a restaurant recruiter with Gecko Hospitality serving the San Antonio & South Texas market. Caitlan’s focus: Restaurant talent acquisition; high-volume operations background (San Antonio, Texas). Before moving into executive recruiting, Caitlan spent several years in restaurant leadership, including as a Managing Partner, where she personally hired, trained, developed, and led restaurant teams, managed P&Ls, controlled labor and food costs, and was responsible for the overall performance of a high-volume restaurant.
Background & Experience
Before moving into executive recruiting, Caitlan spent several years in restaurant leadership, including as a Managing Partner, where she personally hired, trained, developed, and led restaurant teams, managed P&Ls, controlled labor and food costs, and was responsible for the overall performance of a high-volume restaurant. She understands the positions she recruits for because she has sat on the operator side of the table.
Areas of Focus
Positions: General Manager and Assistant General Manager; Kitchen Manager and Executive Chef; Multi-unit, area, and district leaders; Director and senior operations roles
Markets served: San Antonio & South Texas.
How Caitlan Evaluates Talent
When I evaluate a restaurant leadership candidate, I look beyond just their title and years of experience. I want to understand the size and volume of the operation they have actually led, their P&L responsibility, team size, hiring and retention experience, and how involved they are in the day-to-day business. I also pay close attention to leadership style, culture fit, and how they develop and hold their teams accountable. Coming from restaurant operations myself, I know that sometimes the strongest candidate on paper is not necessarily the right leader for every concept, so I really try to understand the person behind the resume.
Caitlan’s Market Perspective
The Texas restaurant hiring market moves incredibly fast. What a company needs today can look completely different tomorrow, especially with continued growth throughout San Antonio and South Texas. I am seeing employers place a lot of value on strong tenure, proven leadership, and candidates who can develop teams rather than simply manage a shift. At the same time, strong candidates have options, so culture, compensation, growth opportunities, and work-life balance all play an important role in attracting the right people.
Advice
For employers: Before we start a search, know what is truly non-negotiable versus what you are willing to train or be flexible on. The clearer I understand what success looks like in your restaurant, the better I can narrow the search to the right candidates.
For candidates: Be ready to talk about your numbers and your people. Know your sales volume, P&L responsibilities, team size, and accomplishments, and most importantly, be able to explain how your leadership made the operation and the people around you better.
In Caitlan’s Words
“I spent years on the restaurant side of the table, so I know the right leader can completely change a restaurant. Now I get to help match the right person with the right opportunity.”