Our Chili’s Operating Partners:

Keenan McCoy
Harbison Blvd. – Columbia, SC

Jodi Hippert
Myrtle Beach, SC
Jodi is a long-time Chilihead who has worked in several markets over five years in North Carolina for our franchisor, Brinker International. She left for “greener pastures” (Red Robin?) but then came back to Chili’s and joined our team in the Myrtle Beach market when her family re-located in 2007. We can’t think of a lovelier place to live for Jodi – she is not a fan of golf and has a strong fear of thunderstorms and hurricanes! Don’t worry, Jodi – storms, hurricanes and golf are rare in this area… but welcome back to the greener side! Not many of our Operating Partners can see the Atlantic Ocean from their front door - tough gig.

Paula Hall
Evans, GA
Paula started in Augusta, GA during 1999 as an hourly Team Member. We rewarded her strong work ethic and management skills by moving her to Spring Valley as a manager, then back to Augusta, GA then back to Spring Valley and then back to the Augusta market to open our Evans location in February 2009. While the folks at Penske Truck Leasing love us, her husband and extended family are not our biggest fans, but we're trying to grow on them too... It's OK, Paula - you can really unpack the boxes this time. Welcome Home!

Tavis Whitson
Aiken, SC
Unlike his fellow Vol's fan in Augusta, Tavis hasn't resorted to painting a "T" on his lawn, but surely has an opinion when it comes to poor play of the Tennessee Volunteers. You would think you are talking to a different person than the gentle personality you often find working at his Chili's in Aiken. Tavis has spend much of his life in the Aiken area and started with the Chili's team in 2002. While we wished he had allegiance to another team like the Dawgs or the Gamecocks, he's still OK by us.

Hunter Lott
North Charleston, SC
Hunter is long-time Chilihead coming to us from Brinker and the Atlanta market where he was management member of multiple Certified Training Stores. He even had the unfortunate job of training Greg during his training program – it wasn’t all bad as it helped him eventually end up with us. Hunter helped lead the Augusta store until he recently relocated to North Charleston in August 2007 to help us open the new store in Charleston. Hunter's spare time (unfortunately) is filled with drinking the "Kool-Aid" poured from the jug of Nick Saban, and you will find that Hunter is an absolute whipping to be around after a 'Bama win... but we love him anyway.

James Mann
Albany, GA
James and his wife, Molly, spent their first wedding anniversary in a moving van coming from Dallas, Texas to their new home in Georgia. Although still a giddy newlywed, James gets really giddy after a University of Michigan BCS title game (rare?), a Dirk Nowitzki great playoff performance (even more rare?)  or a Dallas Cowboys playoff win (inconceivable!).
James once walked the same hallowed halls of UNT in Denton, Texas, as football great Mean Joe Green and musicians Edie Brickell, the Spin Doctors, and that drummer guy from Pearl Jam.  Somewhere along the way, James taught 3 years of High School Band until the horns and percussion versions of “Beat It” and “Rock the Kasbah” lost out to the lure of restaurant operations. Now if we can just get him to stop telling us about old stories about band camp…. welcome to Bonnaroo, James!

Roy Alnor
Milledgeville, GA
Like many folks in the restaurant business, Roy started out thinking he wanted to do something else - but didn't quite work out that way. After leaving New Jersey after high school, he studied both aeronautical and mechanical engineering in Florida and was introduced to the "business" and the Seminoles. Roy spent 25 years at Bennigan's in Florida and Savannah. He ended up in Milledgeville helping a friend with a new venture, and we were fortunate to cross paths with him and get him back in the restaurant business! But not only have his Seminoles been on a serious downward slide, Roy also claims to be a fan of two of the biggest 2008 season melt downs in pro sports: the NY Jets and NY Mets! We have to find him some new teams!

Brian Tanner
Valdosta, GA
Since the opening of Chili's in Milledgeville (Brian's hometown), Brian has always wanted to work at Chili's. After working in a few different restaurant environments (Choby's, Milledgeville Country Club and Ryan's Steakhouse) he realized casual theme restaurants are the place for him and particularly Chili's. He enjoys a relaxing round of golf, a friendly card game, and most of all grilling out at home. Brian's drive for success is for Valdosta to remain "Title Town" and wear that name proudly. Brian is a graduate of Georgia College & State University and proud supporter of the Atlanta Braves and UGA Bulldogs. Unfortunately for Brian, he has one of the more often-imitated voices within our Company...kind of cross between Gomer Pyle and Mr. Anderson from Beavis & Butthead: "Hey, you boys get out of my tool shed!" Thanks for letting us have some fun, Brian...

Augusta, GA

Jamie Meeks
Carolina Forest (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Jamie started way back in early 1999 with Chili’s in Charlotte, NC as an hourly Team Member eventually becoming a manager and then the Operating Partner in Myrtle Beach . He then moved over to our Carolina Forest store as OP in the fall of 2008.  Jamie hit his mid-life crisis in his early 30’s and went and bought an ever-reliable-and-not-expensive-to-maintain Porsche… but you can’t say he doesn’t look good with the top down and a new $3,000 air conditioning system. Jamie is recognizable to many Myrtle Beach and Carolina Forest residents due to his relentless support of local high schools and their athletic teams.  Hardly a week goes by without his picture in the paper giving out an award to a high school athlete or feeding the local team at the restaurant.  In the fall of 2008 Jamie took over as Operating Partner of Carolina Forest Chili’s.

Jim Vettraino
Spring Valley – Columbia, SC
Jim has been with Chili’s since February 2005 and most recently took over as the Operating Partner of the Spring Valley location after opening the Lexington location. Jim started with ©applebee’s and was with them for 12 years working as both an employee and manager. Jim is originally from Michigan and is a loyal Detroit & Michigan sports fan, and even was an avid oarsman that rowed competitively both nationally and internationally. Believe it or not, Jim is the only “competitive oarsman” we have as an Operating Partner….imagine that. Even though Jim’s accent gives him away as not being a local, but he’s adapted nicely South Carolina !

Kenny Hickmon
Statesboro, GA
Kenny has been with us since mid-2007 and joined our team to open the new Statesboro location. Kenny found us while searching for a way to get back close to his family ties in GA. We're glad he did! Kenny loves golf and talks a better game than he plays according to his wife. Just don't ask him to speed up play... We expect Kenny to run for Mayor of Statesboro someday when his Chili's career is over, but we hope that's many years away.

Jermaine Moncur
Hinesville, GA
Jermaine is originally from the Bahamas and traveled cross water to Miami when he was 16 years old. During his time in Miami he became a Fanatic Miami Heat Fan...season ticket holder and has even met the team. His two children are the priority in his life and enjoys fishing and collects coins. You wouldn't know this by looking at him, but he LOVES desserts...that's the first course of his meals. He doesn't want to get too full to enjoy what one traditionally ends the meal with, so he eats his dessert first! Jermaine has also won our "best dressed" golfer award at the Operating Partners Conference - he looked like he was going to church, and after watching that game, he probably should have gone to church...

Mike Leonardo
Surfside Beach, SC
Mike is originally from New York and still has the accent to prove it. Oddly enough he is a huge Indianapolis Colts fan! He loves golf and has been in the golfing mecca of Myrtle Beach for a number of years. Mike has successfully opened two Bonnaroo Chili’s ( Carolina Forest and most recently Surfside Beach ). His contributions to our Myrtle Beach Market have been many, but most importantly being the Operating Partner of a Certified Training Store and having a large influence in the development of our managers. Mike is also a BIG fan of Sinatra and like the man he does it “His Way" – but unfortunately, we have seen that this looks and sounds nothing like Sinatra… sorry to all of those that had to hear it!

Corey Jones 
Dorchester Rd. (Summerville), SC
Corey has been a Chilihead for over 8 years. He and Hunter Lott were part of the same corporate training store where Greg did executive training in Atlanta. Corey and his girlfriend and Corey's bright yellow Mustang moved to South Carolina from Atlanta and is enjoying much less traffic now in Charleston (except during the summer). Corey grew up in the Miami area, so he's just thankful to be back somewhere near the beach, and now it's barely a few miles down the road from his store.

Mark Millner
River Crossing (Macon), GA

Trey Butterfield
Tifton, GA
Trey honed his restaurant skill operating Applebee’s and Longhorn Steakhouse before making the jump to Chili’s as part of our opening management team in Tifton. Maybe one of our most scholarly Operating Partners, Trey studied English Literature in Oxford, England, after getting accepted into the program from his alma mater, the University of Georgia.
He would love to budge up with you or even doddle about, rapping jolly of his days toiling a fortnight for the Queen Mum across the pond in her fancy Oxie Uni. Even if you dropped a clanger, according to Trey, you would have to be nicked or off your trolley to pass up a chance to go full monty on the English classics in the Mother land.
Like many of our Bonnarooheads, Trey has a great sense of humor mixed with a lot of southern charm and loves talking Georgia Bulldog football with his friends and guests. But unlike most of our Bonnarooheads, Trey can also discuss Great Expectations and Jane Eyre with them during the off season. 

Greg Budzichowski
Lexington, SC
Originally from the Chicago area, Greg settled with his family in Irmo, SC in 1980 and started his restaurant career as a server for Associated Hosts at Julie’s Restaurant & Bar formerly located in Columbia in 1990. It was at Julie's that he met & worked with his wife, Stacy. After working as a manager for Associated Hosts' Bombay Bicycle Club in Mississippi, Virginia & Florida, Greg joined the Chili's Team in the Tampa Market in 1999 and worked with Chiliheads at seven locations in the Tampa market not only in the restaurant but also on the softball field.  After leading two locations to the Regional Softball Championships, he and Stacy decided it was time to return to their “home team” in SC in 2005.  In Greg’s free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife & two parrots, running, playing guitar & hoping for the Cubs to make it back to the World Series. 

Spencer Peters
Sumter, SC

Being our only Operating Partner nicknamed after a terrific Blood Mary mix, Spencer was destined to be in the restaurant business, and started back in 1997.  At Outback Steakhouse, Spencer begas as a bus boy and worked his way up to Proprietor during his 13 years there.  He met his wife, Laura in Charleston, SC and moved to Sumter, SC shortly thereafter.  Spencer "wised up" and joined us in the beginning of 2009 as our Operating Partner in Sumter.  He and his wife Laura had their first child (Sebastian) in late 2009.  On Spencer's days off he enjoys playing with his Rottweiler, Roxy, and spending time with his son.  And no doubt -- we are looking for at least 13 great years from Spencer at Bonnaroo!

Lisa Scott
Florence, SC

Prior to becoming Operating Partner of Chili's in Florence, Lisa was F&B Operations Manager of the former Hard Rock Theme Park in Myrtle Beach.  This was a fun experience for an avid classic rock fan like Lisa.  She'd gladly share with you the endless stories of the concerts she's attended and the cool people she's met: Alice Cooper rocks, The Eagles were very down to earth guys, and Kid Rock looks really different in person (he's hot?).  Lisa's been in the restaurant industry for over 20 years and has learned that you should learn something new everyday in the business...She's very passionate about many things, but when not working Lisa can be found back at the beach playing with our grandchildren, and she's proud to say she's been married for 30 years to a wonderful man!

Our Chili's Operations Directors:

Shelby Wolf
Culinary Training Director
Shelby Wolf- A Dallas transplant, Shelby has spent time with la Madeleine, T.G.I.Friday's, and running the catering operations of the St. Louis Art Museum. He'll proudly tell you stories of the two years he spent backpacking through Alaska, but he'd rather try to convince you he's the biggest Cowboys fan this side of Atlanta. Best described by saying, he dabbles at every sport you can name, but according to his wife and two sons, he's just mediocre at any of them. We're glad he's not because he's darn good at the restaurant business and we're glad to have him on our team. After successfully opening the Valdosta Chili's as the Operating Partner, Shelby became Bonnaroo's Culinary Training Director in January 2009.

Beth Trafford
Area Director of Operations
After spending 14 years at la Madeleine and being based in Austin, TX , Beth moved out east to be closer to the beach and her family. She grew up in Connecticut and has a Restaurant Management degree from Johnson & Wales in Providence, RI . We probably don’t have anyone more detailed than Beth and that would include her ability for wardrobe and accessories. Beth walking into Ann Taylor is like Norm walking into Cheers…”Beer, Norm?” “Have I gotten that predictable? Good!” (You get the translation… there was an immediate sales spike in Charleston and a similar decline in Austin when Beth relocated). Just like Ann Taylor of Charleston , we are happy to have Beth here!

Michael Cook
Area Director of Operations
Michael has been with the Chili’s team in 1999 – all in the Columbia market.  He has brought an order and discipline to the stores he supervises.  You would swear there is a role call, uniform check, barracks inspection… uh, er… kitchen inspection taking place every single shift at his stores.  We believe Michael’s dream job would be the supervisor-of-grocery-store-shelf-uniformity or leader of the free world.  Right now, however, he’s just a darn-good Chilihead and we like it that way.

Executive Team of Bonnaroo Restaurant Group:

Brett Summers
VP of Operations
You remember when Forrest Gump showed up in all those famous moments?  Meet the real-life “Forrest Gump of Every Great Sporting Event” – we call him Summers.  This guy has had a ticket to everything imaginable… drinking beer with Tony Stewart in Victory Lane at Daytona, ten straight years (and counting) to the Masters, the 2004 Ryder Cup matches, the 2005 U.S. Open, 2001 World Series in Phoenix (after spending the day watching the NASCAR race), etc, etc.  When he’s not doing that, he’s been running restaurants for over 20 years and is known for his big smile and going 100 MPH – all the time.  At Bonnaroo, we work hard and play hard, and Brett is the official mascot.

Greg Cyrier
President/CEO
Well, I was actually a cook at Chili’s back in 1983-1984 and then went off to college at Baylor University in Texas .  While I was at college, I worked at Steak & Ale as a bartender and eventually helped manage a pool hall my senior year while studying for the CPA exam – you can figure how that turned out.  After working in public accounting for the “required” 2 years, I joined the Chili’s corporate office and eventually jumped into store operations at the parent company, Brinker International.  Fast forward to 2004 and many restaurants and regions supervised, I was introduced to a group of talented partners by my long-time Chili’s friend, Barry McGowan… Our partnership office is based in Athens, GA with development rights to 35 Chili’s in GA & SC. What a great opportunity and a great brand – and we get to do it all with these crazy partners know collectively as “Bonnaroo” – let’s have a good time!