Strategic Advisor for a Restaurant Tech startup.

Investor and Board Member for a Restaurant Tech startup.

Recruited by H.I.G., a global private equity firm with over $35B of equity capital, to advise, monitor, and report on strategy, management, and business performance for a portfolio company serving as a board member. Provide restaurant industry-specific knowledge and expertise to define and deploy the strategic vision and organizational initiatives to drive growth and improve financial performance. Oversee budgets, implement financial controls, and efficiently track performance metrics to ensure alignment with company objectives. Member of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee.

Strategic marketing and innovation leader of a turnaround strategy for a $1.3B publicly held multi-brand restaurant company with 800 franchise and company-owned locations across 12 countries and 45 states. Implemented innovative growth plans, including the closure of three non-core businesses within 45 days, to focus resources on Ruby Tuesday brand expansion. Redesigned organizational structure and senior leadership team, implementing a new brand transformation plan to transition Ruby Tuesday into a more casual, energetic, and appealing brand to elevate consumer perceptions and improve market positioning. • Restructured support center, reducing G&A by annual $7.0M through the elimination of 70 positions. • Executed strategy to reverse negative sales trends within 12 months, outperforming the industry on sales and guest counts, exceeding the Knapp-Track industry benchmark for three consecutive quarters.• Drove increased guest counts investing $35M in new product innovations and improvements.• Accelerated EBITDA by 51%, resulting in maximum employee bonuses for the first time in 10 years. • Slashed $8.0M of annual expense by implementing labor scheduling and inventory management systems.• Introduced Fresh Start initiative focused on streamlining support structure by closing underperforming locations, implementing cost reduction strategies, and transforming brand through new food and décor investments in higher-performing restaurants, significantly expanding brand growth opportunity.

Leader of brand growth strategy development and implementation for eight leading restaurant brands: Olive Garden, Red Lobster, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Yard House, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze, and Eddie V’s Prime Seafood. • Developed action plans to drive sustainable growth and improve the positioning of all brands in the portfolio. • Appointed to direct Darden Growth Team activities to develop and execute long-term enterprise-wide growth and innovation strategy roadmap for the existing brand portfolio. • Executed enterprise-wide reorganization of marketing processes to increase the focus of resources on growth efforts, significantly improving economies of scale and skill.

Designed and implemented an international expansion strategy, successfully negotiating and acquiring franchise development agreements for 60 units across seven countries in Middle East and 37 restaurants in Mexico. Architected innovative non-traditional growth strategy focused on expanding sales growth from the current brand portfolio to developing new formats, geographies, and channels. • Partnered with CEO and CFO to develop a robust long-term acquisition strategy to add high-growth, value-creating brands to portfolio consistently.• Developed a co-branded Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurant concept, creating a $1.0B small market growth vehicle, significantly expanding casual dining brands.

Drove development and implementation of repositioning focused on expanding appeal beyond the barbeque category, broadening appeal, increasing visit frequency and sales, and developing a brand with national potential, leading to rapid expansion from 70 units and $225M in sales to 130 units and sales of $375M.

Professional Athlete