QSR May 2022

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Nikki Stead Vice President of People Services DONATOS

What was your first job? My first job was at a Donatos on the east side of Colum bus, answering phones and helping to cash out custom ers at the registers. What’s your favorite menu item at Donatos? My favorite menu item is the Big Don Italian Sub What’s your favorite cuisine aside fromDona tos? Outside of Donatos, I love to try new restaurants and get a bit adventurous. At home, I like to experiment with new ingredients and my recent favorite is brus chetta chicken pasta. Who inspires you as a leader? Doing what’s right instead of what’s easy is a true sign of love and integ rity and the most important characteristic of a brave leader. Ruth Bader Ginsberg once said, “Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. That means don’t do it just for yourself. You will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived.” What’s the best piece of advice that other restau rant executives should hear? Don’t lose your con nection to those who are closest to your employees and customers. Your restau rant managers are passion ate, driven, and incredibly smart. You will get much further by listening to your employees. What are some of your in terests outside of work? I am energized and re charged by spending time with my family. We love to go boating and spend time on the lake during the sum mer and sit by the fire in the colder months.

B eing born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, hometown Donatos Pizza was always a family favorite on Friday nights. In fact, Donatos quickly became a family affair as I was growing up when my two oldest brothers started their careers with the company as general man agers delivering the best pizzas. At age 15, I followed in their footsteps and took on my first job at Donatos, and I have been with the company ever since. My heart has always been in restau rant operations and as I grew my career, I had an opportunity to work in many different roles including general manager and district manager. In 2016, I realized that my true passion was on the people side of the business, and I transitioned to the people services department in the home office as the manager of people and culture. In 2019, I was excited to take on a new role as vice president of people services. I have had so many mentors throughout my career and am so thankful for the opportunities that Donatos has allowed me. Throughout the last 20 years, Donatos has

seen tremendous growth and it has been fun to be a part of the journey. Our growth is happen ing in several ways, which is really exciting for our brand. We currently have 169 traditional restau rant locations with plans to open more in 2022 with both new and existing franchise partners. We’re also thrilled to have a partnership with Red Robin where our pizza is now made and served in nearly 200 of their locations, and we look for ward to adding more of their restaurants to that total this year. Another way we are growing is through REEF Kitchens, who use third-party delivery. All in all, our pizza is now served in over 375 locations in 22 states coast-to-coast. In my time at Donatos, I have realized that there is something truly magical about working in a family-owned company where our team is encouraged and celebrated for being their authen tic selves. There are so many career stories just like mine and I am in awe of the truly unlimited opportunities that the restaurant industry and Donatos, in particular, offers. q

DONATOS / TIM JOHNSON

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MAY 2022 | QSR | www.qsrmagazine.com