Franchisor, Consultant - Shorty Small's of Beebe, AR - Beebe, AR
(2025-02)
Launched Shorty Small's Food Truck in October 2024
Chief Growth and Transformation Officer - Branson Internet Ventures LLC - Branson, MO
(2022-05 - 2023-06)
One-year contract
- Created and drove hospitality and food-and-beverage (F&B) growth strategy to provide world-class service, quality and value and ensure outstanding guest experience.
- Designed and led implementation of F&B strategy for hotel acquisition.
- Created, developed and opened restaurant concept, Jack Henry's, in less than 90 days.
- Partnered with founder/CEO and HR manager to develop HR talent acquisition and culture change strategy for 400+ employees.
- Developed and promoted employee enthusiasm for learning and growth.
- Implemented mybites.io™ training platform supporting just-in-time microlearning approach.
- Applied MBTI™ and Enneagram™ talent assessments to build engaged teams and align talent to jobs.
- Implemented Talroo™ job advertising platform for profile-driven programmatic candidate sourcing.
- Introduced and facilitated entrepreneurial operating system (EOS) company-wide.
- Integrated Acquire™ with ADP for payroll management.
Founder, President and CEO - Let's Eat LLC - Little Rock, AR; Branson, MO; Oklahoma City, OK
(2011-11 - 2022-05)
- Launched and grew 175-employee operation generating $65 million in revenue over ten years.
- Increased profitability 35% through creation of "shorty bucks," a customer retention and growth program.
- Created employee rewards that increased retention and reduced employee turnover to 39%.
- Led eight strategic business pivots during Covid-19 pandemic and served as public relations expert for the Arkansas Restaurant Association.
- Wrote grants to support successful funding applications for Arkansas Ready for Business, Restaurant Revitalization Fund, Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Payroll Protection Program.
Legendary Service Consultants, Inc. - Little Rock, AR
(1987-01 - 2017-12)
Founder and CEO - Shorty Small's, Inc. - Oklahoma City, OK
(2002-03 - 2011-11)
- Created fast-casual concept and opened four restaurant locations.
- Developed strategic business plan through West Coast Capital for growth funding.
- Installed executive management team including CFO, COO, CMO and operations director.
- Negotiated terms of business leases, site locations and banking relationships.
- Served as project manager for design and construction of restaurant locations.
- Led roll-up strategy combining 11 legal entities into one holding company.
- Raised more than $25 million for mergers, acquisitions and site development.
- Reorganized company into Let's Eat LLC in 2011.
Founder and CEO - Specialty Restaurant, Inc. - Oklahoma City, OK
(1989-01 - 2002-03)
- Operated 19 unique businesses that employed more than 500 team members and included an (in-house advertising agency, centralized accounting, hotels, catering, commissaries) and 36 casual- and formal-dining restaurants, generating $1.15 million in monthly revenue.
- Created human resource center overseeing recruiting, payroll, benefits and training programs based on 12 points of effective service, net promoter scores (NPS®) and legendary service.
- Pioneered marketing strategies with tourism and timeshare leadership in Branson, MO.
- Produced menu layout design, scripts, voiceover for radio/TV, media copy and branded merchandise.
- Managed subsidiary concepts and trademark company, Shorty Small's Designs, which obtained multiple trademarks including Create A Story™, an innovative training gamification platform that enhanced employee and customer satisfaction.
- Formed Shorty Small's, Inc. and transitioned businesses into one holding company in 2002.
