Testimonials

What advice or best practice would you share with someone interested in transitioning to a support office role?

Start with an open mind and do not be quick to judge. Do a lot more listening than speaking until you understand the new work dynamic. The support office role is just that, support. When in a restaurant you are making decisions on the fly, in the support office more planning takes place to minimize issues that may come up.

How did your experience working in restaurants contribute to your success in the corporate office environment?

Back in the early 2000s, Fazolis started testing a new Back of House software called Menulink. I volunteered to be the first test restaurant and I was accepted. That experience opened the door to being selected to train franchisee owners on the new system. I was hired into the Help Desk because of my knowledge of working and understanding how Menulink worked. I worked every week ending close shifts to help the restaurants understand and troubleshoot food costs or labor issues. While doing that, I was able to pick up other IT skills which I had a tremendous interest in but lacked knowledge of how things worked. Learning new skills contributed to my success in the corporate office environment.

How do you believe your perspective as a former restaurant employee adds value to your team or department in the corporate setting?

The perspective of knowing how a restaurant manager thinks is valuable in relating to staff and other departments in the corporate world. Since I have lived and worked in the positions, I understand the pressures and expectations put on the restaurant. Being able to relate to other folks who may not have that experience is a skill many lack.

Allen Harber

Help Desk Manager

What was a pivotal moment or experience from your time in restaurants that influenced your career trajectory in the corporate world?

By sharing my interest with my direct supervisor, I had the opportunity to come to the office and work through a packaging refresh project. This gave me great insight into how supply chain works and what skill set I currently possess and would translate well into the field.

Reflecting on your journey from restaurants to the corporate office, what personal or professional growth have you experienced?

I love being able to have an affect on the success of our brand. This started with running a sandwich table and being able to affect 50-100 guests a shift. Then as a manager and supervisor that starts to grow exponentially. Now I’m at the point where I can have a positive impact on over 200 locations and all their guests. I enjoy being able to contribute to the success and growth of Fazoli’s.
What advice would you give to individuals considering transitioning from restaurant work to a corporate career path?

Work hard and take the initiative to go beyond what is asked. The more informed and proficient in your skill set the more successful you’ll be.

Sam Dawson 

Supply Chain Manager

What advice or best practice would you share with someone interested in transitioning to a support office role?

There are many things that an operator from the field may assume. Throw all those assumptions away, come in with a fresh humble open mind, and be prepared to learn and adapt quickly. The first 3-6 months will fill like a whirlwind, but it is worth the transition. 

How do you believe your perspective as a former restaurant employee adds value to your team or department in the corporate setting?

Understanding the ins and outs of Fazoli’s restaurants helps with your understanding of how decisions should be made and how it has a direct impact on the restaurants. Internal promotions bring a lot of credibility to the team and support office members who have not worked in the field lean on you for better understanding. 

How do you navigate challenges differently now in the corporate office compared to your days working in restaurants?

The restaurant environment is structured every day. As long as you can accurately project the guest flow, you understand every single day what to expect. In the support office, things behind the scenes change very frequently allowing for a smoother transition to the restaurant. A calendar is your best friend. Put everything on a calendar including miscellaneous projects to keep yourself on track. Calendar, Calendar, Calendar.

Kevin Karnes

Senior Director of Training