Mike Lester Email & Phone Number

Tampa, FL, US

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, US

Based in Baton Rouge, La., Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux was founded in 2003 by Brandon Landry, a former walk-on basketball player at Louisiana State University. Leaning on the true spirit of a walk-on and building a winning culture, the brand is rapidly expanding across the United States with 32 locations currently open and operating and over 150 in.

The idea of Walking Tall Brands was formed in 2018 when some friends had an aspiration of creating a value-based and growth-oriented restaurant organization in which they could take pride and have fun. As they percolated this idea, one thought kept coming up, that group took the MOST pride of past accomplishments providing real opportunities for their.

Tampa, FL, US

• Senior executive for $205,000,000 franchisor of 115-store international brand with 112 franchise locations and three company units operating in United States, Canada, Mexico and Qatar. Drove performance by partnering.
• Drove four consecutive years of sales growth in 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, exceeding overall industry norms in sales and guest traffic since 2014.
• Led initiatives resulting in guest satisfaction increases of 138% in perception of value, 56% in pace of service, 33% in overall satisfaction, and 33% in food quality.
• Increased franchisee satisfaction to all-time overall highs in 2016 and 2017 and second all-time satisfaction in 2018. Directly led top-three franchisee-rated departments for the last eight years.
• Led purchasing department responsible for $30,000,000 in spend and created purchasing and distribution strategies to beat Consumer Price Index by over two basis points every year.
• Developed R&D process for sound decision making while implementing “rush to prototype” for certain ideas.

Tampa, FL, US

Served as joint venture partner responsible for 15-unit region in Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, and Toledo, with total sales for all locations in excess of $48,000,000. Led and developed team of direct reports, including 15 managing partners, 35 to 40 managers, 1,200 hourly team members, and five regional support staff. Hired and retained excellent.

General Manager of one of the busiest locations in our system responsible for supervising and developing 5 person management team. Led all operational and personnel matters and had full P&L control.