Cracker Barrel CEO to headline Nashville Business Breakfast
Kim Chaudoin |
Michael A. Woodhouse, chairman, president and CEO of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. will be the featured speaker at Lipscomb University’s next Nashville Business Breakfast, a networking event highlighting a business leader with local economic impact, at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, July 21, in Allen Arena.
As chairman, president and chief executive officer of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®, Mike Woodhouse is responsible for the strategic direction of this popular restaurant and retail concept. With over 25 years of experience as an officer in the restaurant and retail industries, Mike has led the company through a series of strategic initiatives that divested a subsidiary and dissolved the parent company, CBRL Group, Inc., to allow for complete focus on Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
Mike joined the organization as senior vice president of finance and CFO for Cracker Barrel in 1995 and assumed positions of increasing responsibility over the years, including chief executive officer of Cracker Barrel in 2001 and chairman of the board in 2004. Before coming to Cracker Barrel, he was employed with DAKA International from 1993 to 1995 where he was senior vice president and CFO. Mike has held several other senior positions in the restaurant industry since 1981 including executive vice president and CFO of S&A Restaurant Corporation and executive vice president and CFO of TGI Friday’s, Inc.
Mike graduated from Queens’ College in Cambridge, England, where he majored in Physics and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in natural sciences.
Cost of the breakfast is $30 in advance and $40 at the door. Registration is available online until Tuesday, Feb. 23, at leadership.lipscomb.edu, or by calling 615.966.6609.
The Nashville Business Breakfast is a quarterly series featuring local business leaders presented by Lipscomb University and the Nashville Business Journal.
Past speakers include Carlos Tavares, chairman, Nissan Motor Company's Management Committee-Americas; Mark Emkes, CEO of Bridgestone Americas; Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson; and Kix Brooks, former chairman of the Country Music Association.