Not to be confused,Twin Peaks Restaurants has hired Lexi Burns as its new director of training and Lex Berlin as its executive chef.
Burns will be responsible for all personnel recruiting and training for Twin Peaks, including management, kitchen staff, front-of-house support, and the sports restaurant chain’s Twin Peaks Girls. While Berlin will work with John Franke, executive chef of Twin Peaks’ parent company, Front Burner Restaurants, to evolve the menu and its recipes.
Burns was previously at Texas Wings, Hooters of America’s largest franchisee, where she has served a similar role since 2007. Burns is the most recent addition to an upper management and executive team brimming with Hooters expats, including COO Rick Akam and vice president and general counsel John B. Gessner. Burns will report to Akam.
First Financial Bank announces Sheree Andersen, Clinton Barrow, and Dan Chavez as marketing vice presidents of First Franchise Capital Corporation.
Andersen, Barrow, and Chavez will cover the Midwest, Northeast, and Southwest territories, respectively, while Kim Albin and Rick Spicer will continue to cover the Northwest and Southeast territories, respectively.
Whataburger President and Chief Operating Officer Preston Atkinson will assume the role of chief executive of the 720-unit quick-service chain on January 1, 2012.
Current CEO Tom Dobson will continue to serve as chairman of the board of the San Antonio-based burger brand once Atkinson takes his new position.
Toronto law firm Hoffer Adler has added attorney Patrick Westaway. He has more than 13 years’ experience in corporate tax planning and commercial practice.
Hungry Howie’s Pizza has hired Rob Elliott as vice president of strategic marketing.
Auntie Anne’s has hired Mele Sarmiento as its director of franchise sales. Sarmiento, of Chicago, will focus on presenting Auntie Anne’s franchising opportunities to entrepreneurs nationwide.
Prior to joining Auntie Anne’s, Sarmiento served as the vice president, business development for General Growth Properties. In total, she has more than 20 years of shopping center leasing, business development, and marketing experience.
Mom Corps, a national industry leader in flexible employment, announces Bill McPherson as senior vice president of franchise development.
McPherson’s experience includes more than 20 years in franchise development, most recently as vice president and senior vice president with FASTSIGNS International and BrightStar, respectively.
McPherson will direct strategy and operations for all franchise development, including franchise sales, legal & compliance, and territory mapping & management.
Papa Murphy’s International has hired Ken Calwell as president. He will report to John Barr, Papa Murphy’s chairman and chief executive officer.
Most recently Calwell was chief marketing officer for Wendy’s International where he was accountable for all brand marketing, advertising, new product development, pricing, field marketing, and research & Ddevelopment. Prior to joining Wendy’s, he was chief marketing officer and executive vice president of research & development at Domino’s Pizza.
Dan Stone has been promoted to vice president of franchise development for Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company affiliated with the corporate owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, GrillSmith and Burger 21.
Charlie Kerr has left The Entrepreneur's Source and taken a position as chief operating officer for Miracle Method Surface Refinishing. Miracle Method is a 30 year-old franchise company with 125 franchisees nationwide.
Carlson hospitality and travel company announces Mary Kay Caschetta as its vice president of loyalty. She reports to Heather Passe, vice president, marketing, loyalty and e-commerce. The company recently announced the launch of its new hotel loyalty program, Club Carlson.
First Franchise Capital specializes in lending to the franchise restaurant industry and works with well-known restaurant brands across the country.
BELFOR Franchise Group recently appointed Sheryl Mack as community outreach manager for the franchise’s two brands, DUCTZ and HOODZ.
Hurricane Grill & Wings has hired Dick Ren as area director for Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. Hurricane expects to add 233 new franchised restaurants in 19 states coast to coast in 2011. Ren, president of Storm Surge, LLC, is one of the brand’s 14 area directors.
Innovation Capital, a boutique investment bank, has named David W. Hill as managing director to lead the firm's restaurant and retail practice. During his more than 20 year career, Mr. Hill has advised on transactions in the mid-market, restaurant, and retail segments aggregating over $1.8 billion of transaction value.
Michael Vogel has been named vice president of franchise sales for Del Taco. Vogel oversees franchise sales and market planning for the nation’s No. 2 Mexican quick-serve chain. He will report to Del Taco's chief development officer, Jim Lyons, and will direct a team responsible for franchise recruitment, development, market planning and meeting the company's goals for new franchise restaurant openings.
