Liza Guendouz joins International Smoke as Assistant General Manager, bringing with her a dynamic background in hospitality leadership, operational excellence, and guest experience. Known for her calm, solutions-driven leadership style, Liza excels at building strong teams, improving systems, and fostering a culture of genuine hospitality.

Prior to joining Mina Group, Liza served as Assistant General Manager for the Omakase Restaurant Group, where she oversaw daily operations, hiring, and training. She collaborated on developing the restaurant’s employee handbook and training programs and worked closely with marketing teams to launch successful campaigns that strengthened guest engagement.

Most recently, Liza led the bar team at Flores Cocina and Bar in Emeryville, refining beverage operations, implementing customer feedback systems, and ensuring flawless service execution. Earlier in her career, she held key leadership roles with Pacific Catch, where she developed a strong foundation in guest relations, staff training, and operational flow management.

Liza is passionate about creating meaningful guest experiences and developing future hospitality leaders. At International Smoke, she brings her expertise in team development, financial oversight, and service excellence to help guide the restaurant’s continued success and embody Mina Group’s values of innovation, collaboration, and care.