Robby Berg, regional director of operations for Genghis Grill, shares a have a look at his profession, his achievements and trade tendencies forward of his look at Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit 2025.
In the present day we’re shining a highlight on Robby Berg, regional director of operations for Genghis Grill. Berg will likely be a speaker on the upcoming Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, which takes place on March 11-13, 2025, in Myrtle Seaside, South Carolina. He will likely be a panelist on a breakout session titled, “Maximizing Catering Income and Increasing Your Attain.”
We thought it might be enjoyable to get to know Berg a bit higher forward of his look at RFIS.
Describe your present function.
Because the working accomplice, I oversee all features of the companies, together with distributors, workers, franchises, amenities and compliance with regulatory and licensing businesses.
What was your first-ever profession function and what’s one necessary lesson you realized from it?
My first job out of school was at Barnes & Noble, the place I realized the worth of building sturdy work relationships. As a supervisor, I realized that the standard of your relationships influences the pace at which the staff can get issues accomplished.
What impressed you to work in your trade?
I first entered the “food-iverse” as a grocery retailer supervisor at New Seasons Market, a pure meals grocery chain in Portland, Oregon. After I moved again to Arizona, I knew I needed to start out a profession within the restaurant trade.
What do you take pleasure in most about your present function?
I’m wondering if there may be something in life extra priceless than making connections with individuals. The best factor about being a restaurant operator is definitely one thing you share with all the workers: the prospect to work together positively with tons of of individuals day by day. The sensation of creating somebody smile with form service is what hospitality is all about! I would like all our workers, prospects and distributors to know they’re coping with somebody who’s trustworthy and honest, as a result of that’s how my enterprise’s status is constructed.
What’s a standard false impression individuals have about what you do?
That my shifts have a definitive ending time. Simply answering the query, “When are you free?” can result in all kinds of misunderstandings. I typically discover myself replying, “I can name you after the dinner rush is over, if it isn’t too late.”
What’s one profession achievement you are most happy with?
In administration and customer support, an important talent is communication. As a result of we function within the Southwest, I’m most happy with my means to learn, write, and converse fluently in Spanish. This implies I’m out there to assist all our Spanish-speaking workers and prospects with out hesitation. Whether or not translating for an English speaker or caring for a scheduling concern, I in all probability obtain essentially the most honest appreciation from individuals who really feel their voice was not heard as a result of somebody didn’t converse their language.
Who’s/was your mentor and what’s one necessary lesson you realized from them?
I am fortunate sufficient to say that my mentors are additionally my enterprise companions! They’ve helped me develop the crucial talent of negotiating and making offers. Whether or not a handshake deal or a contract, your status is your most necessary enterprise asset, and it solely takes breaking your phrase one time to decrease the worth of your handshake perpetually.
What trade tendencies do you assume are at present over-hyped and why?
Software program-as-a-Service enterprise fashions are over-hyped. After all, none of us would need to quit the massive leaps ahead that POS suppliers have achieved lately. However in a restaurant, there are such a lot of duties that may solely be carried out by human fingers, fingers that no tech supplier, regardless of their guarantees, could make go any sooner or carry out fewer errors. Save the SaaS charges, pay your cook dinner fifty cents extra an hour, and use your individual fingers (and never a pill) to assist your staff via the frenzy.
What trade tendencies do you assume do not get sufficient consideration and why?
I wish to see extra lobbying from the nationwide restaurant affiliation to cut back service provider charges for restaurant house owners. Our trade has so many layers of complexity, and preventing for percentages on the PnL can really feel like a Herculean effort.
What recommendation would you give to somebody simply beginning out in your trade?
I might say, begin out by having an trustworthy dialogue with your corporation accomplice concerning the effort and time required to function a profitable restaurant. Many first-time restauranteurs underestimate the dedication of time, vitality and capital that go into beginning up and sustaining a worthwhile enterprise.
When you weren’t working in your present area, what would you be doing as a substitute?
I might in all probability be writing an unreadable novel or a guide of unhealthy poetry.
What do you do to have enjoyable outdoors of labor?
I journey continuously to see my favourite rock band everywhere in the USA.
What’s one attention-grabbing factor about you that even the individuals you’re employed with day by day in all probability do not know?
I’ve an excellent singing voice and know a ton of songs! I am loads of enjoyable at a karaoke spot.
Is there anything you wish to inform individuals about your self or your organization/group?
Firm tradition is all the things, and it comes from the highest. I am very completely happy to function a restaurant beneath the Craveworthy Manufacturers umbrella. If anybody is wanting so as to add to their franchise portfolio, look no additional than Craveworthy.
