Tony Roma's names Mina Haque as first woman CEO

Mina Haque named Tony Roma's first woman CEO | Mobile kitchen feeds Floridians who lost power to storm | Simone Biles to lend her name to Houston restaurant Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( October 2, 2024 [WFF Leadership SmartBrief]( Advancing and Empowering Women Leaders [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Women and Innovation in the Workforce [] [Mina Haque named Tony Roma's first woman CEO]( Tony Roma's has appointed Mohaimina "Mina" Haque as its first woman CEO, signaling a strategic shift to use her expertise in business and franchise law to move the casual dining concept toward innovation, sustainability, operational efficiency and global expansion. Haque also plans to increase female franchise ownership as well as support diverse entrepreneurs. Full Story: [FSR magazine]( (10/1) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Mobile kitchen feeds Floridians who lost power to storm]( Mercy Chefs, a mobile kitchen that can operate without electricity, has provided hundreds of hot meals in parts of Florida that lost power to Hurricane Helene, serving jambalaya with spiced carrots and biscuits in a contract with the state. "We're not only chefs, we're storm chasers," says founder Ann LeBlanc, who expects to serve more than 10,000 containers of jambalaya with spiced carrots and biscuits before power returns, at which point Mercy Chefs will leave to give restaurants and groceries a chance to return to normal. Full Story: [The Palm Beach Post (Fla.) (tiered subscription model)]( (9/28) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Simone Biles to lend her name to Houston restaurant]( [Simone Biles to lend her name to Houston restaurant]( Biles (Taylor Hill/Getty Images) Olympic gymnast Simone Biles will open a restaurant called Taste of Gold at Houston, Texas' George Bush Intercontinental Airport early next year in partnership with The Playmakers Group. The menu, curated by restaurateur Mark Brezinski, is a work in progress and is expected to reflect Biles' passion for food. Airport restaurant operator SSP America will run the eatery after its debut. Full Story: [Today]( (9/25) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] - [Good Food Foundation announces Nora Weiser as new executive director]( Candy & Snack Today (9/26) [Say 'Adieu' to Average with Naan Dippers®]( Stonefire® Naan Dippers® take the Original Naan recipe customers know and love, and offer a bite-sized option perfectly shaped to complement dips, soups, spreads, charcuterie platters, and inspired to-go boxes. [Try our deliciously dippable flatbread!]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] Career Progression: Developing Leaders [] [Use ethics to improve company culture, innovation]( Leaders can improve company culture and innovation by encouraging team members to speak up about ethical dilemmas and treating workers fairly, says Alison Taylor, a clinical associate professor at New York University's Stern School of Business. "As a leader, the hard part is that you need to foster this without implying that the company is a democracy -- that you're going to change course if one group of employees yells loud enough," Taylor notes. Full Story: [Strategy+Business]( (9/30) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Use accountability, not punishment, when rules are broken]( [Use accountability, not punishment, when rules are broken]( (filadendron/Getty Images) When punitive measures were not working to correct staff misbehavior at her restaurant, Homeroom chef and entrepreneur Erin Wade writes that she turned to restorative justice, which required accountability from staff to make amends for broken rules. "This approach helped build a sense of cohesion and pride among staff and also paved the way for us to let go of high-performing jerks who were not interested in this level of personal accountability," Wade writes. Full Story: [Chief Executive]( (9/24) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Industry News & Trends [] [Labor shortage continues to challenge US restaurants]( The US restaurant sector faces a critical labor shortage; early retirements, child care expenses and restrictive immigration policies are key factors, along with the looming Great Resignation 2.0, writes Misty Chally, executive director of the Critical Labor Coalition. Eateries are depending more on technology and operating at reduced capacity, and legislative solutions like expanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and streamlining work authorization for asylum seekers are being proposed to help shore up restaurant staffing. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Food]( (10/2) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [Nonverbal Communications Skills -- The 10 Skills You Need to Learn]( - [70+ Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows (Free Cheat Sheet)]( - [Best Practices for Email Etiquette]( - [11 Habits That Will Give You A Complete And Successful Life]( - [Creating Positive Habits - The Ultimate Guide]( [] Read the latest from SmartBrief [] - [Want your children to do better in school? Eat dinner with them]( SmartBrief/Food (9/26) [] - [How are plant-based food makers finding - and growing - their customer base?]( SmartBrief/Food (9/22) [] - [Q&A: How cultural blending, migration are reshaping culinary traditions]( SmartBrief/Food (9/4) [] DEI and Company Culture [] [Opinion: Creating a path for CDOs to the C-suite]( Recent data shows that CEO turnover is rising, yet chief diversity officers remain largely excluded from top positions -- with only eight Black CEOs leading Fortune 500 companies in 2023 -- despite representing 13% of the workforce. Doug Melville, CEO of Jodie AI, encourages corporate leaders to broaden their perspectives by including CDOs in the pipeline to the C-suite, stating, “It’s time we empower a CDO with the opportunity to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company.” Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (9/29) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [BayHaven Festival celebrates Charlotte's Black culinary talent]( The BayHaven Food and Wine Festival -- launched by acclaimed restaurateurs Subrina and Greg Collier to address the lack of diversity at festivals -- returns to Charlotte this month, celebrating Black culinary traditions and showcasing the contributions of the African Diaspora through various events, while also inspiring the next generation of culinary leaders. “It’s a chance for other people to experience Black food and be in the center of it, but also discover new talent they didn’t know about,” said Subrina. Full Story: [The Charlotte Observer (N.C.) (tiered subscription model)]( (9/30) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Work/Life Balance [] [CEO advocates for 4-day workweek to boost productivity]( Dale Whelehan, the CEO of 4 Day Week Global, advocates for a four-day workweek to combat job burnout, improve work-life balance and address recruitment and retention challenges. The trend is seeing increased adoption in regions such as Australia, Europe and Japan, but is less common in the US, where a 2022 survey by Gallup found only 8% of full-time employees worked four days a week. Full Story: [The Associated Press]( (9/24) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Why leaders must focus work culture on well-being]( Leaders should intentionally prioritize work that enhances the well-being of their teams and move away from "greedy" work cultures that can lead to health risks and economic inefficiencies, says Brigid Schulte, director of the Better Life Lab at New America. Schulte, speaking at a conference, stressed the importance of work-life balance, time management skills and the need to rethink traditional notions of productivity. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Insights]( (9/25) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] WFF Reader Poll [] I'm most likely to avoid challenging conversations with [Vote]( [Someone higher up in the organization]( [Vote]( [A direct report]( [Vote]( [A colleague or peer]( [Vote]( [Mentors or sponsors]( [Vote]( [Vendors and service providers]( [] WFF News [] [How to love your job again]( No matter how great your role or organization, frustrations with career progress, internal politics, repetitive assignments, or difficult bosses and colleagues can sometimes make going to work feel more like a chore than a passion. But there are proactive steps you can take at any point in your career to re-engage, exert greater control over your day, increase your level of satisfaction and find new paths to meaning and contribution. 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