HMC Hospitality Group Celebrates Their Fun, Fearless Female Leaders
In honor of Women's History Month, HMC Hospitality Group who owns and operates 22 Hooters Restaurants and 5 Hoots locations in Tampa Bay and Chicagoland spent a week rewarding and celebrating their female leaders.
Most of the women in leadership positions have worked with the company for two and three decades. As the brand continues to grow and expand since 1983 many of the women have also experienced growth, several promotions and additional responsibilities in the organization. Many of the executives started their career as a hostess, Hooters Girl, key holder and assistant general manager and now lead and mentor employees.
Female Leaders Based in Clearwater/Tampa Bay Area
Denise Williams, Chief Marketing Officer (37 years)
Peggy Brock, Regional Director of Operations/FL (39 years October 2022)
Connie Romito, Regional Director of Operations/FL (35 years July 2022)
Leah Roberts, Vice President of Marketing and Brand Management (20 years)
Anissa Ussery, Vice President of Hooters Foods (29 years)
Nicole Johnston, Director of Human Resources (3 years)
Courtney Virden, General Manager of Hoots Carollwood (16 years including time at Hooters)
Jaynelle Hubbell, General Manager of Hoots St. Pete (2 years)
Female Leaders Based in Chicagoland
Andrea Hill, Regional Director of Operations/IL (21 years)
Lisa Allen, Regional Director of Operations IL (26 years)
Melissa Naranjo, Director of Training and Development (29 years)
Brooke Roberts, Regional Manager Hoots (13 years including time at Hooters)
Carrie Switak, General Manager Hooters of Orland Park (29 years)
Nicki Sancen, General Managers Hooters of Joliet (24 years)
Stephanie Fowler, General Manager Hooters of Oak Lawn (16 years)
Angela Tyranowski, Genergal Manager of Hoots Cicero (8 years including time at Hooters)
Peggy Brock was one of the original hires in 1983 and started working behind the bar at the Original Hooters in Clearwater. Her favorite part about working at HMC Hospitality Group is the relationships. Brock gives the following advice to the next generation of female leaders. "Make the most of it, expect to be included in decisions that matter to you. Pay attention, listen, be curious and ask the difficult questions and always realize people are our greatest asset," said HMC Hospitality Group Regional Director of Operations (Florida) Peggy Brock.
Denise Williams was hired in 1985 by Ed Droste, one of the original founders as the Marketing and Promotions Coordinator when there were three Hooters restaurants at the time. "It's so cliché to say we are a family, but that's what makes it work. Our Hooters family, the people I work with, all the laughter plus the commitment to the communities we live and work in and our philanthropic founders make my job so fulfilling," said HMC Hospitality Group Chief Marketing Officer Denise Williams.
In addition to their day-to-day responsibilities many of the women enjoy the philanthropic opportunities they are able to be a part of including fundraising every October for Kelly Jo Dowd Breast Cancer Research Fund that benefits Moffitt Cancer Center, Wings for the Kids for Holy Family School, Children's Dream Fund, Hope Lodge, preparing school supply kits for Back 2 School, donating Christmas toys and taking part in Habitat for Humanity builds.
Andrea Hill has many favorite things about working for HMC Hospitality Group during her almost 21 years with the organization. Hill started as a hostess in Illinois at the Lansing Hooters location. "I have many favorite things but some standouts are the people I work with and being able to change someone's life in the most positive ways. It will never get old to me that this job has changed my life and the lives of so many others. I have met my best friends and mentors through work. I have had the most amazing opportunities. The experience overall is sometimes unbelievable," said HMC Hospitality Group Regional Director of Operations (Illinois) Andrea Hill.
"Everyone I work with inspires me day to day. Be yourself and never give up. Keep pushing forward and no matter how stressful a day is don't give up. You can do anything you set your mind to. I started as a hostess and moved all the way up to General Manager. Anything is possible if you set goals," said Nicki Sancen General Manager of Hooters of Joliet. Sancen started as a hostess in May of 1998 for Hooters.
"The strength and culture of HMC Hospitality Group is second to none," said HMC Hospitality Group Vice President of Marketing and Brand Management Leah Roberts. Roberts joined HMC Hospitality Group in 2003 as an intern.
"My favorite thing about working at Hooters and Hoots is the small company feel. All employees are valued," said Hoots Regional Manger Brooke Roberts. The first Hoots location opened in 2017 in Cicero, Illinois. "My favorite thing about working at Hoots is the customers you meet," said Hoots St. Pete General Manager Jaynell Hubbell.
"My favorite thing about working at Hooters is interacting with the customers and watching employees grow in their professional and personal lives," said Hooters of Oak Lawn General Manager General Manager Stephanie Fowler.
Some of the ways all of the fun, fearless female leaders who play a vital role in the company were honored included a breakfast, spa day, swag bag, floral bouquets and chocolates. Corporate employees, Hooters Girls, hourly staff, and female customers were also recognized on International Women's Day on March 8th. The @OriginalHooters Instagram featured every level of employee throughout the week of March 7th.
For more information about HMC Hospitality Group, please visit http://www.originalhooters.com or follow at Instagram @originalhooters and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/originalhooters.