Flynn Panera
EST IN 2015
Flynn Panera By the Numbers
SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE ARE NOW
Flynn Group entered the Panera system in 2015 with the acquisition of 47 cafes. Since then, we have more than tripled in size to become the 2nd largest Panera franchisee in the world and continue grow by building new stores and acquiring other franchise operators.
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Flynn Panera Leadership
PREMIER AS IT SHOULD BE
We strive to hire only the best, starting with our leadership. Our leaders within Flynn Panera have over 190+ years of experience in the restaurant industry, and 60+ years with Flynn Group.
Kelly serves as President for Flynn Panera. He started his restaurant career in 1986 with Steak \u2018n Shake and immediately fell in love with the restaurant business. In July of 1991 he joined St Louis Bread Company (Panera Bread) managing one of their 6 locations. Kelly was promoted to Operations Services Manager in 1996 and Area Director in 1997 with operations in St. Louis, MO and Atlanta, GA. After a successful career in company operations Kelly joined the Franchise Operations team in 2002 as a business consultant and then was promoted to Director of Franchise Operations supporting 1,100 cafes in the U.S and Canada. Kelly joined Flynn Group in June of 2018 as Sr. VP of Operations and now is the Brand President for Flynn Panera operating ~135 bakery cafes in Washington, Northern California, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, and Missouri.<\/p>\n","linkedin":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kelly-cook-aa83399\/","twitter":""})' href="#">Kelly Cook
President, Flynn Panera
Prior to joining Flynn, Jerrod gained 15 years of marketing leadership experience across iconic brands like Wendy\u2019s, Applebee\u2019s, and Hallmark Cards.<\/p>\n
Jerrod graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in Finance and Marketing and earned his M.B.A. from Baker University.<\/p>\n","linkedin":"","twitter":""})' href="#">
As VP of Marketing, Jerrod oversees marketing & PR strategy for multiple Flynn Group brands including Arby\u2019s and Panera Bread. Partnering with operations and brand leadership, Jerrod\u2019s responsibility is to lead sales & marketing initiatives that unlock profitable growth through increased guest frequency and retention. He currently serves on Panera\u2019s Marketing Expert Committee and National Ad Fund Committee while also acting as a key franchise marketing partner for the Arby\u2019s brand.<\/p>\nPrior to joining Flynn, Jerrod gained 15 years of marketing leadership experience across iconic brands like Wendy\u2019s, Applebee\u2019s, and Hallmark Cards.<\/p>\n
Jerrod graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in Finance and Marketing and earned his M.B.A. from Baker University.<\/p>\n","linkedin":"","twitter":""})' href="#">Jerrod Mitchell
VP of Marketing
Ken serves as Market President for Flynn Panera in our Washington Market.\u202f Ken joined Panera in 2001 as an Assistant Manager and served Panera LLC in a multitude of roles finishing his time as Senior Manager, Franchise Operations, supporting over 300 bakery-cafes across the United States.\u202f Ken\u2019s relationship with Flynn Group began in 2015 as an Operations Consultant after their first acquisition of 47 bakery-cafes.\u202f Ken officially joined Flynn Group at the end of 2006 as Director of Operations and is now the Market President of our Washington Market overseeing 24 cafes. <\/p>\n","linkedin":"","twitter":""})' href="#">Ken Adams
Market President, Washington
She received her BBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing at Wichita State University. Prior to Flynn Group she worked in local restaurant concepts and eventually took on a role with a restaurant consulting group. During that time, she developed inventory systems and menus, along with daily standard operating procedures to drive profitability and safety. <\/p>\n
The Kansas market Is the original franchise group for Panera Bread. We are incredibly focused on developing future talent, creating a culture you can\u2019t quit, and are proud to be the leaders in Brand Contribution. <\/p>\n","linkedin":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/amanda-flower-aaba523b\/","twitter":""})' href="#">
Amanda Flower is the Director of Operations for the Flynn Panera Kansas Market. Amanda Joined Panera in 2011 as an Assistant Manager and was promoted to Regional Sales Manager in 2012, Learning and Development Leader in 2013, and then to the Area Director role in 2014. She joined Flynn Group in 2017, and became the Director of Operations in 2023. <\/p>\nShe received her BBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing at Wichita State University. Prior to Flynn Group she worked in local restaurant concepts and eventually took on a role with a restaurant consulting group. During that time, she developed inventory systems and menus, along with daily standard operating procedures to drive profitability and safety. <\/p>\n
The Kansas market Is the original franchise group for Panera Bread. We are incredibly focused on developing future talent, creating a culture you can\u2019t quit, and are proud to be the leaders in Brand Contribution. <\/p>\n","linkedin":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/amanda-flower-aaba523b\/","twitter":""})' href="#">Amanda Flower
Director of Operations, Kansas/Missouri
\nHether\u2019s background is in Clinical Psychology, where she spent several years serving her local communities in rehabilitation and reform, working in the men\u2019s state prison and community centers. She has a BS in Human Services, and a MS enroute to PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Washington\u2019s Professional School of Psychology. <\/p>\n","linkedin":"","twitter":""})' href="#">
Hether Iverson started her career with Flynn in 2013 as an operator in the WA Market of Flynn, Applebee\u2019s. She was promoted to a Human Resources Business Partner in 2015 and shortly after, a Senior HRBP, supporting several Applebee\u2019s markets within the Flynn organization. With the continued Growth of the Flynn Group and an Acquisition in 2021, Hether was promoted to the Director of Human Resources for Flynn, Panera where she currently oversees 5 markets in 8 states. Hether has a passion for building relationships and helping others reach their highest level of accomplishment!
\nHether\u2019s background is in Clinical Psychology, where she spent several years serving her local communities in rehabilitation and reform, working in the men\u2019s state prison and community centers. She has a BS in Human Services, and a MS enroute to PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Washington\u2019s Professional School of Psychology. <\/p>\n","linkedin":"","twitter":""})' href="#">Hether Iverson
Director of Human Resources
Bryan serves as Market President for Flynn Panera in our Pittsburgh market and currently leads 27 cafes. He joined Flynn in November 2019 as the Director of Operations leading the West Virginia Market. In late 2022 Bryan added the Pittsburgh market to his team. Since then, Bryan\u2019s focus on premier operations has elevated both markets to top honors in sales growth and guest experience in the Panera system. His team focuses on 100% internal promotion rates for their management staff and they take pride in growing from within. Prior to joining Flynn, Bryan has been in multi-unit and market leader positions for 27 years with 2 different brands. Bryan is a graduate of Penn State University.<\/p>\n","linkedin":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/brshaffer\/","twitter":""})' href="#">Bryan Shaffer
Market President, Pittsburgh
In the past 15 years with Flynn Group, Kevin enjoyed different roles as Market Support Manager, Marketing Manager, Area Director and Human Resource Business Partner for Flynn Applebee\u2019s in Seattle, Washington. In 2022 Kevin became one of the first Flynn Premier Leadership Program graduates for Flynn Group. <\/p>\n","linkedin":"","twitter":""})' href="#">
Kevin Stoehr currently serves as Director of Operations for Flynn Panera, overseeing 24 caf\u00e9s in Northern California. Having graduated with a B.A. magna cum laude from Dickinson College, Kevin\u2019s passion for people saw him returning to his high school job at Applebee\u2019s where he spent the next 25 years working all positions from host to prep cook to General Manager. <\/p>\nIn the past 15 years with Flynn Group, Kevin enjoyed different roles as Market Support Manager, Marketing Manager, Area Director and Human Resource Business Partner for Flynn Applebee\u2019s in Seattle, Washington. In 2022 Kevin became one of the first Flynn Premier Leadership Program graduates for Flynn Group. <\/p>\n","linkedin":"","twitter":""})' href="#">Kevin Stoehr
Director of Operations, NorCal
Beyond running restaurants, Christina has served on the Flynn Group Family Fund committee since 2017 and is a proud recipient of the Mother Bread award. Christina graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Waynesburg College.<\/p>\n","linkedin":"","twitter":""})' href="#">