Travel Center, Convenience Store and QSR Divisional Operations Executive
Professional Summary
A results-driven executive with over 27 years of leadership experience in retail, restaurant, travel center, and petroleum marketing sectors. Offers over 25 years of multi-unit operational oversight with a strong track record of turning around underperforming regions, building high-performing teams, and improving financial performance. Demonstrates a strategic mindset combined with tactical execution, having held leadership roles with responsibility for up to 120 locations and 750+ employees across multiple states. Known for transparent leadership, team empowerment, operational rigor, and an owner’s mentality.
Career Experience & Accomplishments
Director of Operations – Restaurant Division
Oversaw 45 restaurants across Missouri and Illinois. Responsible for strategic planning, full P&L, human capital management, operational execution, and franchisor relations.
– Increased average unit volume by $300K within three years
– Ranked #1 out of 10 regions for three consecutive years in overall performance
– Promoted the first internal Area Director and maintained 93–95% internal promotion rate over three years
– Improved product accuracy from ~34% to 80%, leading to significant customer satisfaction gains
– Introduced community-focused marketing, benefit nights, table touches, and suggestive selling scripts
– Achieved best-in-class food safety and brand audit scores
District Manager – Travel Center Operations
Managed 8–11 locations across multiple markets including Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
– Delivered +24.3% store operating profit growth and +5.1% restaurant sales growth
– Reduced net operating costs while improving district performance
– Achieved negative net operating cost and rebuilt broken markets through leadership changes
– Promoted 10 internal leaders and recruited 13 external managers
Region Manager – QSR Franchisee Operations
Led 80 Pizza Hut locations across three states with 13 direct reports.
– Outperformed fiscal sales plan by $1.2M and beat labor and food cost targets
– Recruited and developed five new Area General Managers
Director of Operations – C-Store & Foodservice Chain
Oversaw 61 retail locations and foodservice operations across three states. Led multiple departments including fuel pricing, maintenance, HR, IT, and procurement.
– Improved net income by $1.5M within 9 months
– Increased foodservice sales 28.6%, fuel volume 15.2%, and retail 9%
– Developed and launched a proprietary made-to-order foodservice program
– Led two acquisitions and implemented a new kiosk model adding $500K in gross profit
Division Director – National Fuel Retailer
Managed 120 locations across five states. Led 9 district managers and oversaw $950M in annual sales.
– Improved gallons sold by 1.3M, lowered expenses, and ranked 1st nationally in operational performance
– Selected for national budget development and corporate safety initiatives
– Reduced turnover and improved customer service index scores
Senior Manager, Training & Simplification – Travel Centers
Held cross-functional roles including new store openings (25/year), training, customer service, and technology simplification.
– Implemented self-service kiosk system and centralized checkout saving $12.7M
– Created 25+ training modules, reducing cost and increasing learning retention
– Introduced labor-saving systems such as biometric time clocks and exception reports
Leadership Style & Core Competencies
– Transparent, passionate, and direct leadership style with strong follow-through
– Extensive experience managing operations, HR, fuel pricing, foodservice, IT, and procurement
– Expert in identifying leadership talent, developing succession pipelines, and building winning cultures
– Proven change agent with deep experience in post-acquisition integration, rebranding, and culture transformation
– Known for strategic and tactical planning, supported by strong financial and analytical acumen
Strategic and Tactical Planning
Demonstrated high-level strategic planning capabilities by leading initiatives such as POS transitions, rebranding efforts, fuel pricing strategy creation, and organizational restructuring. Successfully turned around 14 unprofitable kiosks by applying insights from prior roles, transforming them into profitable units generating $500,000 in additional gross profit. Additionally led a $30M investment in centralized checkout systems, reducing labor and operating costs while improving throughput.
Industry Exposure
– Convenience Stores / Petroleum Retail
– Quick-Service and Fast Casual Restaurants
– Travel Centers & Truck Stops
– Branded and Proprietary Foodservice
– Franchised and Company-Owned Structures
Education & Certifications
– B.A., Political Science
– Certifications: SERVSAFE®, Train the Trainer, High Impact Leadership, Investing in People, Infrastructure Training
Location Preferences
Prefers opportunities in the Southeastern U.S., ideally East Tennessee. Open to relocation or travel-intensive roles that offer alignment with company values and long-term potential. Prioritizes proximity to family and cultural fit.
Compensation Expectations
$210,000 (base + bonus). Equivalent to similar experience in the market and also recent compensation history.
