About Me

Four Decades of Successful Experience

I started my restaurant career at the age of 18, just a week after graduating high school. Dad was a coal miner and mom was a legal secretary so I needed a way to pay for college. So I took a job as a day porter for a fast-food restaurant in my hometown not thinking that this was the beginning of a very fascinating and rewarding career. 20 years later, I’d successfully worked every position from dishwasher to cook to counter cashier to Food & Beverage Director & Director of Operations.

Wanting my service to create a deeper impact, I spent the last two decades Coaching and consulting with successful concepts that include national and international chains, franchises and independent operators in 48 states and six continents (I won’t work in Antarctica!). I grew into an award-winning business Coach, consultant, speaker and writer offering successful, real-world experience in every facet of the food service & hospitality business.

In 41 years of service I have successfully hired, trained and coached:148 independent restaurant owners, 158 multi-unit managers (including district managers, area VPs and Regional VPs), 2,477 unit managers & 16,883 hourly employees. I’ve opened 34 new restaurant businesses. If that’s not enough, there’s tons more below.
(Use the above for a short form biography should you need one.)

Why Operators Call Me

Expertise On Demand

I don’t think you should ever seek help from someone who has never successfully done what it is that you want to do. There is simply no substitute for successful experience. I’m not a theorist. I am a successfully experienced operator. When you face a challenge, you want someone who has been there before, found a solution and achieved successful outcomes. Utilizing my four decades of successful experience allows you to get the exact fit you need to solve a problem or take advantage of any given opportunity.

Free Consultation

If you’re unsure about what you need to do or about where you can turn to for help, then just call me and discuss your situation totally free and confidentially. It’s the last call you need to make in order to find help with either your situation or the ability to take advantage of an opportunity to grow your business.

Flexibility

Why hire additional staff for one single problem or task? Often, you need help on a temporary basis to address an immediate or intermittent need or solve a problem. Once the crisis is over, the staff becomes unnecessary overhead.

Hiring me allows you to address the issue(s) without committing to a long-term employment relationship.

I also utilize either a consulting methodology or a coaching methodology (or both) when addressing my client’s needs. This makes the project or engagement more affordable and offers the ultimate flexibility for any operator of any size or concept to take full advantage of my experience and expertise in order to get help or to realize a particular opportunity.

Growth

You don’t always need to pay a premium to add costly experienced business managers to your permanent staff. Making myself available to your less seasoned players means that you can save money without putting your business at risk. You pay only for the expertise you need, when you need it. You also pay for the work alone–not the employment taxes, benefits, and other overhead costs associated with increasing headcount.

100% Effective Guarantee

The products and services offered by me have a high degree of real world value. In addition, the cost can be spread out over time if necessary (for ongoing clients) and everything I do, comes with my 100% Effective Guarantee!

Continued Follow-up & Support

I also don’t just cut and run after the smoke (and the check) clears either. I continue to follow up with you up to several months afterward, to monitor your progress and advise you on continuing to work your plan or change it if factors warrant.

Objectivity

Sometimes you just need a fresh point of view, from someone without a stake in preserving the status quo. I can provide that objective view of the issues and help find solutions you may have overlooked.