People With Passion
And A Purpose To Serve

Josh Kern is the Chief Executive Officer for SPB Hospitality. Kern is a seasoned restaurant executive who has served in various leadership roles with SPB Hospitality and other notable restaurant brands.

Kern joined SPB Hospitality in 2018 as Chief Marketing Officer before taking on the role of President of Concepts, where he oversaw marketing, culinary, beverage, supply chain and information technology. As CEO, Kern has expressed a people-first vision for the multi-brand company.

Kern’s other restaurant experience includes Chief Marketing Officer for Cerca Trova Restaurant Concepts, Chief Marketing Officer for Smashburger and Vice President of Marketing for Quiznos.

Josh holds a Bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University.

2021 MOST INFLUENTIAL RESTAURANT EXECUTIVES IN THE COUNTRY - Nation’s Restaurant News

Jessica Hagler is the Chief Financial Officer for SPB Hospitality. She is a seasoned finance specialist with more than 20 years of experience.

Prior to taking on the CFO role with SPB Hospitality, Hagler spent nearly a decade with J. Alexander’s Restaurants. She joined J. Alexander’s as Director of Financial Reporting and Compliance in 2010. She was later promoted to VP, Controller, Chief Accounting Officer in 2013.

Jessica holds an MBA and a BS, Accounting from Middle Tennessee State University.

Mike Casey is known for his vast knowledge of developing markets, brokering deals, and franchise relations. Mike has directed teams in the opening of over 500 units all while flexing his skills in predictive modeling, market penetration planing, design and construction, and also lease negotiation and administration. Mike has previously served as CDO for Ideal Image and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. He has also served as Vice President for Bloomin' Brands and JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Chris Conlon is an accomplished hospitality professional who joined J. Alexander's in 1994 and has since excelled in various integral positions within the organization. With his exceptional leadership skills and innovative ideas, Chris has consistently exceeded goals and played a vital role in the success of the company.

In his current role as Executive Vice President of Operations, Chris oversees key aspects of all operations.

Along with her strong focus on operations, Ellen Rockwell brings a distinguished background marked by her dedication to fostering inclusivity and creating a culture of collaboration and development. Her extensive experience in the restaurant industry, ranging from roles at Surcheros Fresh Mex, Logan’s Roadhouse, O’Charley’s, and Darden Restaurants, positions her as an invaluable asset to the organization.

Ian Dodson is a seasoned culinary professional with an impressive career spanning over 29 years at J. Alexander's Restaurants. He joined the company in 1993 and quickly rose through the ranks, showcasing his exceptional skills and leadership abilities.

As the Senior Vice President of Culinary& Beverage at SPB Hospitality, Ian is responsible for recipe execution and maintaining food quality standards across all concepts.

Scott Adams is an experienced operator and executive in the foodservice industry, with over 25 years of expertise. As the Senior Vice President of Supply Chain at SPB Hospitality, Scott is dedicated to implementing new methods and empowering teams to execute projects that drive results and support revenue-generating objectives.

Kristen Hohl joined Logan’s Roadhouse in 2018 as Marketing Manager and in 2020 continued with SPB Hospitality as Marketing Director. She was promoted to Senior Director of Marketing in 2022 before taking on her current role as Vice President of Marketing. In her role as VP Kristen oversees all aspects of marketing strategies and initiatives to ensure marketing efforts align with the company’s long-term objectives and provide support to franchise partners.

With more than 30 years of experience, John Holzem is an IT operations executive with a wealth of experience in the food service industry. With a core focus on IT operations and technology investments, John excels in increasing value and driving operational efficiencies through the strategic use of technology.

Amanda Hyde has been with SPB Hospitality and Logan’s Roadhouse for nine years, and previously served as Vice President of Operations Services and Director of Operations. Hyde takes a people-first approach and pairs that with an operational expertise that drives sales and profit, reduces costs, and improves the quality of both food and service. A well-respected leader within the industry, Amanda was named a 2023 Change Maker by the Women’s Foodservice Forum and has previously provided operational leadership to Mimis Café and Bob Evans.

Cam Campbell is a results-oriented operations leader with extensive experience in elevating restaurant operations to new levels of sales and customer service performance.

With a proven track record of success, Cam has played a pivotal role in the successful opening of dozens of new restaurants, including international and pilot locations. Through his keen focus on process improvement, he has consistently contributed to the reduction of waste, optimized productivity, and increased sales and profitability while minimizing unnecessary costs.

Matthew Licciardello is a dedicated hospitality operations professional with nearly 20 years of experience in customer service and profitable sales growth. As Senior Vice President of Operations at SPB Hospitality for the Old Chicago and Brewery Divisions, Matthew brings his extensive expertise in business operations, staff management, and creating a positive team environment.

Prior to joining SPB Hospitality, Matthew held various leadership positions. He served as Vice President of Operations at Live! Dining & Entertainment Districts, Vice President of Operations at Ruby Tuesday, and Sr. Vice President of Operations at Fun Eats and Drinks, LLC.

Bio Coming Soon.

Caring for people comes naturally to Eric Phillips. With years of experience in employee relations, recruiting, and employee benefits, Eric has navigated every facet of the HR space. Eric previously served Director of Human Resources for J. Alexander's and holds a BBA from Middle Tennessee State University.

Bio Coming Soon.

Matthew is a skilled finance leader with extensive experience in strategic financial planning, investor relations, and capital structuring. Matthew has previously served at the Managing Director for Sanders Consulting, Director of Strategic Planning for Ignite Restaurant Group, and the Corporate Planning Manager for Landry's Restaurants. Matthew holds a BS in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Missouri and a Masters in Mathematics from Southern Illinois University.