Our Chili’s Operating Partners:

Paula Hall
Augusta, 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!

Keenan McCoy
Harbison (Columbia) - SC
Keenan comes from his hometown of Charleston, SC and is a graduate of University of South Carolina and remains a loyal Gamecock fan.  Along with sporting events, spending time with his wife and three children is important to Keenan where he enjoys outdoor cooking and even a debate or two over sports.  This isn't the guy you want to be on the other side of the argument from by the way... Keenan also worked in the past for a mortgage company while working part-time in an hourly team member role for Chili's, and has been a Chilihead since 1999!

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.

Marcus Ricks
Albany, GA
After leaving his homeland of lush rolling greens, foggy glens and raised bogs in Dublin, Marcus has joined us as a Chilihead after visiting our Milledgeville, GA location (from Dublin, GA by the way...)  Marcus helped us open the Valdosta, GA Chili's as our bar manager before moving to Tifton for our new restaurant opening there.  And after another short stay in Valdosta, he took over for us in Albany with his own Chili's!  Marcus has a big smile and a passion for the business and we are happy to have him and his growing family in Albany... now let's stay put for while.

Mark Milner
River Crossing (Macon), GA
Mark comes to us after 27 years in the business (did he start when he was 11?)  His first job was at the old Roy Rogers concept up in Baltimore, MD.  Mark shares a passion for the Winter Olympics (as most middle-GA folks do)... he loves snow skiing and even ran the bobsled course at Lake Placid, NY -- home of the "The Miracle on Ice".  Mark has spent most of his past professional career with Ruby Tuesday and was most recently Area Director in the Savannah region.  Mark remains a huge Baltimore Ravens fan, but likely will have trouble picking up a Sunday watching party around Macon.  But he'll still sport the original Ravens logo winter coat around town -- yes, he'll be hard to miss.

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...

Scott Richardson
Evans, GA
Scott has been in the restaurant business for over 20 years at various concepts after attending the University of Missouri and growing up in the Columbia, MO area.  He is married with two children, and is an avid tennis player.  Scott has also held jobs in the real estate investment industry and even worked as a fine wine specialist back in Indianapolis.  This "high-tone" job he had there allowed him to meet (and even dine) with the likes of Michael Jordan and Payton Manning.  He even toasted Dom Perignon with Bill Cowher shortly after he won the Super Bowl in Pittsburgh.  Scott's fast-lane lifestyle has him looking for his next celebrity sighting soon to happen around Masters time in Augusta -- hey Big-Time, Scott.... can you get me on Augusta National?

David Langdale
Camden, SC
David comes to Bonnaroo after 13 years with Fatz Cafe where he earned enough money to buy his prized, Limited Edition Dodge Challenger -- he does also hold his wife and three children in high regard too!  David is a life-long Carolina fan and is also a dog-lover: Bailey, Kahlua and Malibu are his family pets.  Seems like a true Carolina fan would name his puppies Beam & Mellow Yellow or Jack & Coke or Southern Comfort & Diet --- something a bit more well-known than those fru-fru ones!  PS -- park that Charger away from the front door...

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.

Tracy Hicks 
Hinesville, GA
Tracy has been a Chilihead since 2008 starting at our Valdosta, GA restaurant working with future OPs and "catch phrase" wannabees like Marcus and Brian! Tracy prevailed with her own tagline in her Kentucky drawl, "Come'awn Jokerrrsss, yeewr kullin' meh!" After stints of moving far around the country and eventually ending in Oregon and wanting a change, her daughter pointed to a spot on a map, and that is where they moved -- thanks Courtney for pulling a South Georgia pointer! We are happy to have you home...

Mike Leonardo
Surfside Beach & Myrtle 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.

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. 

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!

Shelby Wolf -- Valdosta, GA
Area Director of Operations
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 and Area Director in July 2010.

Beth Trafford -- Charleston, SC
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 -- Columbia, SC
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:

Jeff Jones
VP of Operations
Jonesy has over 24 years worth of Chili's experience and joined our team from Brinker International after having roles that included Franchise Business Director and Regional Director for Chili's.  What is there not to say about Jeff?  He certainly has quotes to say about everything else: "He's Big Time"; "That's the Way he Rolls"; "He's Giving Me the Heisman"; "I'm Getting Blown Up"; "Those are Ridunkulous" -- and that is only a small sample ... Jeff enjoys the simple things in life: being Executive Platinum, a Hilton Diamond Member, vacations to Napa, and a house often confused for the Clubhouse at Stonebridge CC -- he's not trying to be big time, it's just the way he rolls...

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
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!